Switzerland-based Tetra Pak announced earlier today that it had acquired DSS - which in recent years has supplied filtration systems for dairy applications to the likes of FrieslandCampina, Kraft Foods, and Norwegian dairy processor TINE - for an undisclosed fee.
Membrane filtration processes, such as reverse osmosis, nano-filtration, ultra-filtration, and micro-filtration, are most commonly employed in the dairy industry for the treatment of cheese manufacturing by-product, whey. It can also be used to concentrate milk and manufacture certain types of cheese, including feta.
Speaking with DairyReporter.com, Tetra Pak spokeswoman, Linda Bernier, claimed that the combination of its existing filtration portfolio with DSS’ will make it the “leading industry expert” in dairy filtration applications.
Combined dairy filtration portfolio
Silkeborg-based DSS, which was established in just 2000, designs, manufactures, and markets a range of membrane filtration systems for the dairy industry. Tetra Pak’s existing dairy filtration offering includes its Tetra Alcross microfiltration systems and its Tetra Centri separation technology.
Bernier believes that the combination of the two parties’ technological offerings will enable Tetra Pak to “deliver more value to the dairy market.”
“The acquisition combines DSS Silkeborg’s expertise in membrane filtration technology with Tetra Pak’s existing portfolio, expanding Tetra Pak’s broad-based portfolio of system and application knowledge for milk, cheese and whey processing applications,” she said.
“Combining all the capabilities in polymeric and ceramic membrane systems will make Tetra Pak the leading industry expert in dairy-based filtration applications.”
Giving examples, Bernier listed milk concentration, bacteria removal in whey and milk, cheese milk standardization, whey fractionation, cream cheese production, yogurt production, quark production, and water recovery.
“This acquisition is furthermore creating a solid platform for Tetra Pak to speed up the development of filtration applications and further expand into other food markets like beverage,” she added.
“New phase of growth” for DSS
DSS will remain in Silkeborg, Denmark under the control of its current management team as part of Tetra Pak’s Cheese and Powder business unit, Tetra Pak confirmed.
Commenting on the deal, DSS co-founder and managing director, Niels Osterland, said: “Becoming an integral part of Tetra Pak, a large multinational company focused on the dairy sector, offers DSS an opportunity for a new phase of growth in the global dairy industry.”