SternMaid expands into U.S. with new facility in Illinois

EUROPE’S major contract manufacturer SternMaid is expanding into the United States with its first facility opening recently in Illinois.

SternMaid America’s new microblending plant in Aurora, near Chicago is the German sister company’s first production facility outside Europe. It will be used for the production of powder food supplements. 

The facility aims to meet American customers’ diverse contract manufacturing needs for compounding powdered substances, in particular food supplements. It is equipped to offer a complete and customised service chain covering compounding, quality control of raw materials, co-packing, warehousing and logistics. Its location is expected to provide logistical advantages as well.

The first phase of construction of the multifunction production plant covers 32,000 square feet and constitutes a semi-automated blending line with a capacity of about 4,000 tons p.a. The blending line uses state-of-the-art technology and can meet varying order sizes ranging from 500 lbs to more than 22,000 lbs. It boasts a high blending precision of up to 1:100,000, with fast setup times.

The plant uses special atomising nozzles to spray liquid components homogeneously onto the powder for fine dispersion of microcomponents such as flavourings, oils, or emulsifiers. High percentages of fats and highly viscous liquids can be added as well.

The facility likewise has two separate packaging lines for industrial and retail packs.

Filling machines can accommodate small and large containers such as bags, fiberboard boxes, drums, and flexible intermediate bulk containers or FIBCs.

Germany’s SternMaid is a member of the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe in Hamburg.