In sugar factories, space is often limited and the installation of large equipment therefore requires careful consideration. Replacing the countercurrent cossette (CCC) mixer from BMA presented Michigan Sugar in Bay City, USA, with particular challenges. Since the mixer was for installation inside a building with limited accessibility, it had to be delivered in individual segments that would be assembled at the place of installation.
New plant installed at Michigan Sugar in Bay City
Preparing for the countercurrent cossette mixer from BMA
Detailed planning makes for easier installation in the sugar industry
In the sugar industry, it is common for large plants to be delivered in segments that can be transported and assembled on site. That was the approach used for replacing the CCC mixer at Michigan Sugar, where factory access routes are tight, requiring a larger number of smaller segments. Michigan Sugar and BMA planned the entire process, from disassembling the old plant to installing its replacement in precisely the same location. As a result, potential difficulties could be identified at an early stage and different assembly options considered.
An efficient solution thanks to a high degree of disassembly
We developed a disassembly strategy that was perfectly tailored to the location. The new CCC mixer was disassembled to precisely the degree required at the installation site. This turned out to be a key advantage: even in such a tight space, the compact segments can be more easily handled, moved and accurately positioned.
Start of production for CCC mixer is approaching
Manufactured in Braunschweig, the components of the new countercurrent cossette mixer were shipped in late December as scheduled and have now reached the Michigan Sugar factory in Bay City. They will be installed right next to the existing extraction tower, also from BMA. According to the project schedule, the plant should be fully ready for operation for the start of the campaign, in September 2025.
