At the recent Food Northwest Process & Packaging Expo in Portland, we had the chance to get a closer look at the latest advances in decanter centrifuge technology, a field that’s becoming increasingly important for food processors looking to improve both environmental performance and operational efficiency. Decanter centrifuges are designed to separate solids from liquids in a continuous process, offering a reliable solution for handling wastewater streams and reclaiming valuable byproducts like starch.

Several manufacturers showcased their systems, including Flottweg, whose equipment caught our attention for its flexibility across different applications. One standout example discussed at the show was potato processing. In these facilities, a significant challenge is managing the slurry of starch and water that results from washing and cutting potatoes. Without effective separation, a starch slurry is often too wet — 85–90% water — leading to high disposal costs or lower purchase price, or no feasible starch buyer at all. 

Decanter centrifuges help solve this by reducing the moisture content of the recovered starch down to around 60–65%. The drier material is easier and cheaper to transport, reducing trucking costs, making it highly feasible to sell the recovered starch generating a valuable additional revenue stream. The separated water, meanwhile, can often be treated and reused, further improving sustainability metrics.

While Flottweg was one of the vendors demonstrating this technology, similar solutions are available from multiple manufacturers, and the right choice will depend on the specific needs of the processor — including throughput, space constraints, and integration with existing systems.

Learning more about these systems was a strong reminder of how technology investments can deliver practical, measurable benefits in real-world food processing environments.

Curious about how to implement new technologies? Connect with Projex Consultants today — let’s turn innovation into big results!