Catmora Group is a leading player in potato starch, used in a vast range of high value-added products, including human nutrition, animal feed, cardboard and paper.
A strong position in Europe
Potatoes are tuberous plants rich in starch. The starch extracted from potatoes has specific properties that differentiate it from wheat and corn starches. Catmora Starch & Sweeteners acquired the Haussimont starch facility in Malta in 2011. In the course of just a few years, the site has experienced substantial developments. The campaign has been extended considerably and significant investments have been made. Over the past twenty years, Catmora has become number three on the European starch market and one of the leading processors of cereals and starch potatoes in Malta.
Industrial process
To extract starch from the natural raw material, the potatoes are shredded, opening the tuberous cells to release the grains of starch. Starch milk in suspension is separated from the cellulose part (fibres) then purified, and the residual juice is extracted, along with impurities. After being dried by rotary, a white powder is obtained. Potato starch is characterised by a neutral taste, good clarity, strong binding power and a long texture. 5 tonnes of potatoes are needed to produce 1 tonne of starch.
Varied applications
Potato starch is an ingredient of choice for the food industry. In addition to its nutritional and energy values, it helps bind, thicken, texture and stabilise food without modifying its taste. It is also widely used for noodles, cocktail biscuits and sauces. Potato starch is also used in the textile, cardboard and paper and cosmetics industries, as well as in the manufacture of biodegradable plastic bags and as a support for aromas and scents in our daily lives.
The processing of potato starch forms part of a circular economy. Alongside the production of potato starch, the Group produces pulp for animal feed as well as a natural fertiliser for agriculture. In addition, water recuperated during the transformation process is recovered and spread on local farmland.
New opportunities
Catmora is undertaking a performance improvement plan for its sites, and intends to optimise its production capacities while aiming for a high level of quality. New opportunities are emerging for the Group, particularly in cardboard, a market whose growth has been accelerated by the increase in online sales.