Beneo Expands Chewing Gum R&D Capabilities

OFFSTEIN, GermanyBeneo announced the installation of specialized confectionery equipmenta kneading, extruding, rolling and scoring machine for the manufacture of chewing gumat its laboratory in Offstein, Germany. The machine tests and produces chewing gum cores on a laboratory scale, and will be used to research the possibilities of the sugar replacer isomalt in chewing gum cores. This addition will enable Beneo to provide its customers with comprehensive support in the development of new sugar-free gum products.

Ingrid Willibald-Ettle, Head of Customer Technical Services at Beneo explains: Some small and medium-sized manufacturers may not have the equipment, expertise or facilities to try out different product avenues, which can restrict growth into new areas. Sugar-free chewing gum is an especially strong growth sector, and with our expanded resources, our customers will be able to work with us on innovative product development using isomalt without having to invest in their own new facilities, at least until the prospective initial development phase is complete and their future needs and directions are clearly defined."

Tests with the new chewing gum equipment at Beneo have proved promising, showing that gum cores containing isomalt provide excellent texture, coating and taste. Using isomalt, the quality of the gums texture and chewability are maintained during its shelf life, ensuring that it undergoes less hardening over time. Isomalt in the core also provides better stability, enabling easy shaping and therefore easy coating. Furthermore, coated gum with an isomalt center tends to become crunchier over time. The coating also sticks more easily and the end product is therefore more stable in storage. Isomalt creates less of a sticky residue, so it is expected that the rolling and scoring process will be improved overall and the manufacturing equipment will be more easily cleaned, creating a more efficient production line.