Local champion with a fresh vision of the future

Mamuda Beverages is using its own energy infrastructure and a number of Krones PET lines to supply northern Nigeria with soft drinks.

Mamuda Beverages, a multi-industry company in Nigeria, has undertaken the challenge of establishing a beverage production facility in Kano, a city situated in the northern part of Africa’s most populous country. This endeavor has been particularly challenging due to the absence of significant gas infrastructure in the North, resulting in a concentration of industrial enterprises in the southern region, where access to major gas supply networks is more readily available. To overcome this logistical hurdle, Mamuda Group has taken the initiative to construct its own LNG (liquefied natural gas) filling station near its new plant a few years ago. There, the LNG that is transported by truck from the South to the North can be converted back to its gaseous state for utilisation.

*Mamuda’s LNG filling station is located right next to the plant.* Image credits:
Mamuda

The Mamuda Group is a local champion in the truest sense: It produces bags, leather and baked goods. In 2021, it branched out into beverages, too. Image credits:

Mamuda

Anthony Osunde, Head of Sales at Krones West Africa, commends Mamuda's future-oriented approach, stating, “Mamuda recognized the potential of this hinterland and invested in the infrastructure to facilitate the use of Krones technologies there. That clearly shows Mamuda’s smart and future-driven approach. We are pleased that they’ve placed their confidence in us and entrusted us with seeing this project through to completion.”

Firmly on track for expansion

Approximately four years ago, Krones installed the first production line at the new Mamuda plant. Even prior to the completion of this first installation, the beverage producer ordered further lines. And in 2022, marking a significant milestone of one year of production and in response to escalating demand, Mamuda ordered an additional line, which is slated for commissioning in January 2024.

Project:	PET lines for filling soft drinks, each rated at 45,000 bottles per hour
Customer:	Mamuda Beverages
Location:	Kano City, Nigeria
Commissioning:	June 2023
Scope:	Each of the lines includes: Hydronomic water treatment system SyPro syrup room Contiform Speed stretch blow-moulder Volumetric Modulfill VFS filler Checkmat FM-X and Checkmat E inspectors which check for correct fill level and label placement Linadry container dryer Contiroll labeller Variopac Pro FS packer Utilities

The latest lines are equipped with the new Modulfill VFS-M filler with PFR valves and an integrated mixer. This machine not only reduces filling times and air consumption, but it also has a smaller footprint, all of which helps to save costs. Moreover, its infinitely adjustable PFR valves optimise product quality because they enable the flow rate to be precisely matched to the beverage being filled. This means that foaming losses caused by fast filling, or valuable seconds lost by filling too slowly are now things of the past. Furthermore, both filling lines use skip-and-run technology, which monitors the mould-hanger locking device and allows defective preforms to be ejected without triggering an emergency stop of the entire machine. This makes for a consistently high filling speed and considerably reduces the scrap rate of preforms, thus saving the company in operating costs.

A well-functioning team

One of the new lines was successfully acceptance-tested in June and fills soft drinks into 350- and 600-millilitre PET bottles. Meticulous planning by both Mamuda and Krones West Africa teams ensured that the installation was completed on time: “We had a tight timeframe, only about four weeks. The team from Krones West Africa did an excellent job”, says Hassan Hammoud, Chairman and CEO of Mamuda Group, and adds: “Installing an additional line together was yet another great experience. Each time we join forces to complete a project, we coordinate our efforts to even better result.”

We had a tight timeframe, only about four weeks. The team from Krones West Africa did an excellent job. Erwin Hächl Hassan HammoudChairman and CEO of Mamuda Group

Anthony Osunde says: “Despite the current difficulties in the region – both political and economic – and the precarious safety situation, we worked hard to ensure that our customer’s targets were reached and Mamuda was able to increase production output.”