Idaho-based sugar producer The Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC, along with fruit, starch and sugar group AGRANA, has begun producing crystalline betaine at a newly constructed facility in Tulln, Austria. The partnership, Beta Pura GmbH, spent 15 months building the facility at an investment of approximately $ 43 million.
The new plant, with a production capacity of around 8,400 metric tons of crystalline betaine per year, makes the Beta Pura site the third manufacturing site in the world where premium-quality, natural crystalline betaine is produced.
“Amalgamated Sugar is pleased to announce, together with our joint venture partner, AGRANA, that the Beta Pura facility is now operational,” says John McCreedy, president and CEO of Amalgamated Sugar. “While the COVID-19 pandemic caused some delays and challenges, we were able to complete the construction and begin commissioning of the plant in August. We are excited to offer customers in the global feed and personal care segments a new source of high-quality crystalline betaine.”
Betaine is found naturally in sugarbeet molasses and has numerous positive uses and applications. Betaine is a methyl donor with osmoregulatory properties. It also aids the liver in processing fats and biologically degrades the amino acid homocysteine, which can damage blood vessels when present in high concentrations.
Betaine can be used in food supplements or sports drinks to promote muscle development for human consumption, as well as a component in livestock feeds. Due to its osmoregulatory properties at a cellular level, betaine is also used in cosmetic products. In surfactants and detergent substances (e.g., shampoos and conditioners), betaine acts to stabilize the formation of foam and conditions and strengthens hair.
A new crystalline betaine production facility is now in operation in Tulln, Austria.
