Business selling wheat sugar. Sugar business: production of granulated sugar

The food industry is traditionally one of the most resistant to market fluctuations, as the demand for products in this area is constant and stable. The only exception is the so-called. "elite" products: delicacies, expensive chocolates, etc.

But the simplest and least expensive - both in production and in terms of investment in technology - products are often the most profitable, as they are included in the minimum consumer basket and are in great demand.

Ideally, the food product produced should be one-component - increasing the number of items in the recipe increases the investment in production accordingly: for a variety of ingredients, more and more new machines are required. At the same time, the production of such a product should not only pay for itself, but also bring a tangible dividend, that is, be in high demand, since simple one-component production usually produces an inexpensive product.

There are several dozen highly profitable food industries, and one of them is the production of granulated sugar.

Such production meets all of the above parameters: a one-component product - made from sugar cane or (in Russian conditions) sugar beets; consumption of the product is simply huge: in addition to almost every inhabitant of the country, food production consumes sugar in even larger quantities. The cost of equipment for the production of granulated sugar is small (detailed below).

Of course, this production, like others, has its pluses and minuses. In this case, a minus can be called the attachment of sugar factories to raw materials - i.e. to the growing areas of sugar beets. In the case of our country, such regions are the Central, Volga and Southern federal districts - in other regions, production is possible only on imported (imported) raw materials.

There is also a positive point: more than 90% of sugar produced in Russia is produced from imported semi-finished product - raw sugar. This significantly increases the cost and, accordingly, the selling price of such sugar. And production from local raw materials is always cheaper - this will make it easy to enter the market using dumping prices.

Sugar production technology

The technological chain of sugar production can be divided into several main stages, and the first of them is washing and cleaning beets from foreign objects. The fact is that during harvesting, especially mechanized, up to 10-12% of the mass of beets are, in addition to the actual adhering earth (soil), tops, straw, sand, slag, stones and even individual metal objects.

For washing beets, specialized equipment is used with sand and other (for stones and tops) "catchers", that is, it allows you to clean the beets from any foreign objects. The soil is washed off in conditioners. Proper, and most importantly, effective washing of raw materials in the production of sugar is a fundamental point.

To extract sugar from beets, the latter must be given the appearance of chips. The process of obtaining shavings from the beet root is carried out on beet cutters using diffusion knives installed in special frames.

As you know, sugar itself is obtained from beets in the simplest and, one might even say, primitive way - diffuse. Diffusion is the extraction of a component from a substance with a complex composition using a solvent.

In this case, the extractable component is sucrose, the complex substance is sugar beet, and the solvent is water. Actually in industrial diffusers, or, as they are more correctly called, mechanized diffusion devices, the fibers obtained by cutting beets (beet chips) are soaked in water. The resulting liquid is called diffusion juice.

After the time specified by the technology has elapsed, the diffusion juice is separated from the desugared beet chips (in special apparatuses called pulp traps) and subjected to further decomposition into components to obtain pure crystalline sucrose (actually household sugar).

The fact is that diffusion juice is a multicomponent system. It contains sucrose and various impurities, represented by soluble protein, pectin substances and their decay products, reducing sugars, amino acids, etc. Diffusion juice impurities are different in chemical nature and therefore have a wide range of physicochemical properties, which determines the different nature of the reactions leading to their removal from the sediment.

When used as reagents for purification of calcium hydroxide and carbon dioxide, reactions of coagulation, precipitation, decomposition, hydrolysis, adsorption and ion exchange are carried out. But it just sounds complicated. In fact, such seemingly complicated processes require the simplest equipment: vacuum filters, saturators and some other machines.

The syrup formed as a result of the third stage of processing should be thickened to a syrup with a solids content of up to 65-70%, with an initial value of this value of 14-16%. This is done in an evaporator.

Crystallization of sugar is the final stage in its production. Here, almost pure sucrose is isolated from a multicomponent mixture, which is syrup.

Equipment needed for the production of granulated sugar

There are many options for purchasing equipment for the production of granulated sugar. This is an independent layout from different machines, including the alteration of non-specialized ones; and the purchase of a used line, or even an entire sugar plant, of which quite a few still exist; and the purchase of a ready-made sugar production business; and finally the acquisition of new sugar production line(s) from suppliers.

Let's consider these options in more detail. We will immediately discard self-assembly as an option: the point is not that it is unprofitable - rather, on the contrary, if you have such an opportunity, then you will use it without hesitation, without delving into this article - those who are so versed in production technology, in general, do not need such advice.

The second option is interesting, but fraught with many "pitfalls". Indeed, a fully equipped old sugar plant can be purchased at a relatively low price: from $0.5 to 5 million (for example, the Biysk sugar factory was recently sold for 57 million rubles, or just over $1.7 million), depending on the technical condition.

The advantages, of course, are undeniable: in this case, you are buying a ready-made sugar plant, usually of high capacity, with infrastructure and often with an established and established network of suppliers - such sugar plants, of course, are located not far from the sugar beet sowing areas.

However, there are also disadvantages, which in some cases are much more than pluses. Thus, a “ready-made plant” can actually turn out to be a dilapidated building built in the 1960s, or even 1930s, with morally unsuitable for production, not to mention the fact that it is physically obsolete and worn-out equipment.

There may no longer be suppliers - today Russia imports 90% of raw sugar (raw sugar), and the safety of the agro-industrial complex for the production of this particular crop should be checked in advance.

With ill-conceived, illiterate actions, you will actually get the ruins of a factory with machines suitable only for scrap metal, which, of course, will not pay back the amount of the transaction, not to mention bringing some kind of profit. So think twice and carefully calculate everything if you are going to buy such a plant.

Buying an operating sugar business can be a good deal. However, one should not forget about caution here either: for example, a new sugar plant, already commissioned in the 2000s, is estimated at $5 million, or 150 million rubles.

In principle, the investments are not so small, but the question immediately arises: why is a completely new enterprise being sold?

When purchasing a sugar factory, you should carefully inspect the equipment: the previous owner can greatly depreciate it over 5-10 years of operation.

If you yourself do not understand the intricacies of the technical condition of the machines, it is better to consult with specialists. Although, if the former owner plays an honest game, he himself will tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of the acquired property, provide a raw material base and introduce you to the sales (sales) sector of products.

The last option is to purchase a new finished sugar production line. It seems that everything is clear with this option at first glance, however, there are some adjustments here.

It will be difficult to open a new plant with a processing capacity, for example, equipment with a capacity (capacity) of more than 50 tons per day, both because of high prices and because equipment of such capacity is manufactured exclusively for large corporations.

In principle, prices should be guided by Chinese manufacturers: as you know, their industrial products are of sufficient quality, which cannot be said about consumer goods.

So, the approximate prices for sugar lines are as follows: a line with a capacity of 10 tons per day costs about 7,000 thousand rubles; a line with a capacity of 15 tons per day costs about 14,000 thousand rubles, and a line with a capacity of 50 tons per day will cost about 35,000 thousand rubles.

The average power of the presented lines - for 25 tons per day costs 3,400,000 yen. As you can see, the choice is very diverse - you can choose different lines, combine them or buy more as needed.

Sugar production: development prospects

The first perspective is, of course, the expansion of the assortment. We are already familiar with the production of granulated sugar.

The next most popular type is refined sugar. Its production does not require significant costs: additional equipment (refining line) will cost only 220,000 yen or 380,000 yen (with a filling and packaging machine). By and large, such a line should be acquired immediately.

Do not forget about secondary products: pulp and molasses. As it was written above, the diffusion juice is separated from the sugar-free sugar beet chips in special devices called pulp traps.

This beet chips are then pressed and sent to the drying section in drum dryers to a solids content of 87%.

This is the pulp - briquettes or a scattering of useful feed silage. Molasses is, in fact, fodder molasses; dark brown syrupy liquid with a specific odor. These two important products can be used, for example, as a means of bartering with raw material suppliers. In addition, do not forget about simple molasses, which also has its own market.

There is also a more exotic product, the production of which should be mastered at least for the assortment - the so-called. candy sugar, or candy sugar. These are simply large transparent sugar crystals obtained by crystallization of sugar syrup in special vessels with stretched threads.

Of course, you should not limit yourself to the production of one sugar - over time, it is worth mastering related industries (for example, powdered sugar, etc.).

Videos about sugar production:

The food industry is always the most resistant to competitive changes in the market, since the demand for products in this area is stable. There are several highly profitable industries. One of them is the production of granulated sugar. It can be considered a promising and profitable type of business.

About sugar production

Sugar production is a fairly large branch of the food industry. It has about 320 enterprises. They specialize in the production of products, which are divided into granulated sugar and refined sugar.

As a rule, sugar-sand factories are located near sugar beet sowing areas and operate seasonally. The production of granulated sugar at modern enterprises is quite large-scale. Thus, large and well-equipped plants can process up to 6,000 tons of beets.

Sugar-refinery production involves the production of lump refined sugar or refined granulated sugar. Such plants are located in large cities and can operate all year round.

Features of sugar

Both refined sugar and granulated sugar are high-quality food products that are characterized by a sweet taste. In addition, it is almost pure sucrose. It can be easily and completely absorbed by the body, allowing you to quickly restore lost energy.

It is a disaccharide, which, under the influence of enzymes, breaks down into glucose and fructose. In addition, sucrose is easily soluble in water and forms supersaturated solutions. As the temperature rises, its solubility increases.

Sucrose can be in a crystalline or amorphous state. If we talk about the chemical structure, then sugar is a weak polybasic acid, which, when reacted with alkali or alkaline earth metals, gives compounds called "saccharates".

It should be noted that due to fructose, invert sugar is hygroscopic, therefore it slows down the hardening of bread, prevents the process of candied jam, and also prevents marshmallows, marmalade, fudge or other confectionery from drying out.

Analysis of the sugar market

The production of granulated sugar always remains promising, since sugar has been and will remain a commodity of prime necessity. It is always in stable demand, which does not pass.

It should be noted that the sugar business is characterized by rapid growth. This is due to the reconstruction of factories and an increase in their production capabilities. In addition, one can notice a positive trend in the consumption of sugar by the population.

So, if you indicate statistical data, then a person consumes about 20 kg of this product per year, not counting the amount that is included in other delicacies. And although doctors do not recommend eating a lot of sweets, believing that this negatively affects health, the overall functioning of the body and can lead to diabetes, the demand for sugar is not reduced. That is why a high-quality business plan for a sugar factory is a good opportunity to organize a well-thought-out production and get a good profit.

Features of drawing up a business plan for a sugar factory

From a technological point of view, the production of granulated sugar is a complex and labor-intensive business that requires expensive equipment, significant financial costs, as well as a large number of professional workers. In order to competently enter the sugar industry and succeed in it, you need to clearly find out all the features of this business. For this, they draw up a business plan for a sugar factory.

This is an extremely important document that can determine the future of the enterprise. It is with the help of it that they find out the profitability of the plant, its ability to receive investments and be in demand, as well as the level to which it will be possible to increase production. Errors in the calculation are unacceptable, since the opening of such an enterprise requires significant investments.

The volume of risks depends on the cost of equipment, the lease of premises that will be used as warehouses, as well as the costs of launching the production itself. What matters is the purchase of the necessary raw materials, obtaining various permits, as well as wages.

Key Points in a Sugar Mill Business Plan

To open a new sugar production, you need to make calculations depending on the market situation and the characteristics of the workflow. It should be noted that the business plan is made up for at least 3 years and is constantly updated. It is recommended to collect the following information:

• General information about the project and the sugar market. It is necessary to determine the relevance and prospects for opening a plant. Analysis of the market, demand and competitive environment, profitability assumptions are also of great importance.
• Definition of mission and strategy. For production to be successful, it is necessary to formulate a mission, which is the social idea of ​​the future company, as well as a strategy - an action plan that will help achieve the goals.
• Clarification of the list of all necessary documents.
• Financial part. All expenses and planned profit should be determined.
• Technological line for the production of sugar.
• Sales strategy for finished products.
• Personnel policy.

Raw materials for the sugar business

The raw materials used to make sugar are:

• sugar cane, which is most actively used by enterprises in Brazil, Cuba and India;
• sugar beet - the production of beet sugar is widespread in the USA, Russia, Germany and France;
• palm sap - used in Southeast Asia;
• starched rice - malt sugar produced in Japan;
• sorghum stalks - sugar from this raw material is made in China; it should be noted that it does not have competitive advantages when compared with beetroot or cane.

If you specify the types of sugar according to the method of manufacture, then raw sugar is isolated. These are individual crystals composed of sucrose. There is also powdered sugar. These are finely ground sugar crystals. As a rule, powdered sugar is used in the confectionery industry. The main type can be called granulated sugar. It is sucrose crystals, the dimensions of which are approximately 2.5 mm. If a product is made from a very pure substance, then they talk about refined sugar.

Features of beet roots

Sugar beet is an important ingredient in sugar production. It is a biennial plant that is drought tolerant. In the first year, root crops with a powerful root system are grown. The following year, new rosettes of leaves appear, as well as stems with flowers and seeds.

It should be noted that in the production of sugar only root crops of the first year of development are used. They are fleshy and highly compacted sections of the root system, have a cylindrical shape. The mass of the root crop averages 200 grams. Its pulp consists of microscopic cells that perform various functions. The outer tissue is protective, called the periderm. The main tissue is the parenchyma, which accumulates beet juice in its cells. It is rich in sucrose and other substances in dissolved form.

It should be noted the peculiarity of the structure of beet parenchymal cells. They have a shell, which consists of fiber. Its walls have a semi-permeable protoplasm with proteins and surround the vacuole containing beet juice. They do not let dissolved substances out of it, therefore, in order to extract sugar from beet cells, it is necessary to heat the protoplasm to a temperature at which its proteins coagulate.

Features of the chemical composition of beets

The quality and quantity of products obtained by special processing of sugar beet depends on its chemical composition. The ratio of various components, in turn, depends on the seeds that are used in cultivation, as well as on climatic conditions.

Generally speaking, sugar beet contains 75% water, the rest is dry matter. If we recalculate for 75 kg of water, then 3 kg hold colloids, and 72 kg act as a solvent with 17.5 kg of sucrose and 2.5 kg of non-sugar compounds. There is an important indicator - the purity of beet juice. This is the percentage of sucrose content and the amount of dry matter.

As a rule, the first number (this indicator is sometimes also called sugar content) ranges from 15-22%. This means that the average sucrose content in beets is 17.5%.

If you specify the content of solids in the finished product, then their share in granulated sugar is 99.75%, and in refined sugar even more - 99.9%.

Production stages

The production of granulated sugar is a peculiar process, which is characterized by the following stages or stages:

• supply of sugar beet, its cleaning from various impurities;
• obtaining sugar chips and diffuse juice from it;
• purification of the resulting liquid;
• thickening juice by evaporation;
• cooking massecuite and obtaining sugar in the form of small crystals;
• drying and cooling of granulated sugar with its subsequent storage.

Thus, the process of producing sugar from beets includes washing and cleaning, weighing and cutting into chips, which are placed in a special diffuser. Here sugar is extracted from the plant mass using hot water. At the same time, diffusion juice with sucrose is obtained, as well as pulp. This is beet chips after the extraction stage, which can be used for the production of animal feed. Next, there are stages that make it possible to purify the diffusion juice and obtain sugar crystals.

How are sugar crystals obtained?

After the diffusion juice is obtained, it is mixed with lime in a saturator. Next, the resulting solution is heated and carbon dioxide is passed through it.

As a result, filtration takes place, during which a "purified" juice is obtained. Sometimes ion exchange resins are used at this stage.

Then such a “purified” juice is evaporated, obtaining a syrup containing 65% sugar, and crystallization is also carried out in special vacuum apparatus at 75 ° C. In this case, the massecuite of the first crystallization is obtained.

It is a mixture of sucrose and molasses, which enters the mixer, massecuite distributor and centrifuge. The sugar crystals that remain in the last device are bleached and acted upon with steam, resulting in the usual crystal sugar.

It should be noted that the production of sugar from cane is characterized by a similar technological process. The difference is the absence of an extraction stage (the cane is simply squeezed out), as well as the method of purification of the resulting juice (it is treated with a much smaller amount of lime).

Equipment for the production of sugar from beets

To establish the production of sugar, you need to purchase a set of specialized equipment. With it, you can prepare the beets for the further technological process.

This set of equipment includes:

• sugar lifting plant;
• hydraulic conveyor;
• sand, haulm and stone trap;
• water separator;
• beetroot washing machine.

In terms of sugar production equipment, the main machine line includes the following:

• conveyor equipped with a magnetic separator;
• beet cutter;
• scales;
• diffuse installation;
• screw press;
• drying for pulp.

In addition, in the production of sugar, filters, heating devices, saturators and sulfinators, as well as sedimentation tanks, defecation devices are used. The equipment that is considered the most energy-intensive is the vacuum apparatus, centrifuges and evaporators with concentrators. If maximum automation of production is required, then a vibrating container, a vibrating screen, as well as a cooling-drying unit should be purchased.

Features of the purchase of equipment for the sugar business

Sugar production equipment can be purchased in several ways. You can make an independent layout from different machines (including non-specialized ones), buy a line of devices or an entire plant that has already been in use, purchase a ready-made sugar production business or completely new devices. The first option is the most economical, but can only be used by people who are perfectly versed in technology.

A significant advantage of the purchase of an inactive sugar factory is the developed infrastructure and the developed network of suppliers. But one should also remember about a serious minus - it can have worn-out equipment and be simply unsuitable for profitable production.

If you buy a new ready-made sugar factory, then you should carefully weigh everything, because the costs are rather big. Attention should be paid to the quality of the equipment, since the previous owner could depreciate it heavily even after several years of operation. For an optimal assessment of the technical condition of the machines, it is better to consult with a specialist.

It is difficult to open a sugar factory on your own due to too high material costs.

Features of the organization of sugar production

The best option is to organize a business that provides for the establishment of production with a focus on a small city or even a separate urban region.

At the same time, a mini-factory for the production of sugar from beets can become an integral part of a profitable business. Subsequently, it can be expanded, reaching a higher level and increasing the volume of production and sales.

It should be noted that the production of sugar is almost all automated, if you do not take into account the harvesting and primary processing of root crops. That is why the issue of recruitment of staff is not a paramount task.

The most important thing in this business is high-quality equipment, which would be characterized by durability and reliability, as well as a high level of production capabilities.

In addition, it must be remembered that when planning a sugar factory, one should take into account not only investments and income from the sale of the main product, but also profit from the sale of waste generated during the production process.

Given all the features of the sugar business, good earnings are guaranteed.

Sugar is a sought-after product that is used in its pure form in the confectionery, beverage, pharmaceutical, plastic and other industries. Thus, an entrepreneur who has established an efficient production of sugar can count on a high profitability of the business.

The main advantage of the sugar business is that the products are in demand regardless of the season. Moreover, the volumes of its consumption are constantly increasing, which creates prerequisites for the opening of new enterprises. On average, one resident of Russia eats 20 kg of sugar. Huge volumes are needed by the food industry. Thus, there is every chance to establish mutually beneficial cooperation with large consumers in almost any region of the country.

Advantages and disadvantages of this business

The main disadvantage of this business is a significant dependence on the places of growth of raw materials. On the territory of the Russian Federation, most of the products are made from sugar beet, the cultivation centers of which are concentrated in the Central, Volga and Southern districts. Thus, for manufacturers from other regions, transportation costs increase significantly.

The basic advantage lies in the single-component nature of the product - it is enough for an entrepreneur to find one or two responsible suppliers to ensure uninterrupted supply of the enterprise. In addition, the level of sugar consumption is high, and the organizational costs are relatively low, which allows for a quick return on investment.

Organization of sugar production

To open a large-scale business, the organizational form is optimal. It is also necessary to issue permits to the SES, fire inspection and other authorities. Specific norms are recommended to be clarified locally, as they may vary from region to region.

The requirements for the final product are regulated by a number of standards, the main ones being:

• Sugar beet. Specifications (R 52647-2006);
• Sugar beet. Test methods (R 53036-2008);
• Method for the determination of sucrose (12571-2013);
• Sugar production (R 52678-2006).

Types of sugar products

Using various technologies, it is possible to obtain products that differ in their properties. There are 4 types of sugar:

• Refined - sucrose of a high degree of purification in the form of separate pieces (more often - a cubic shape).
• Sand - in the form of crystals 0.5-2.5 mm in size.
• Raw - in the form of separate unground crystals.
• Powder - powdered sucrose obtained by grinding crystals.

Sugar production equipment

Each production stage requires the use of certain units. Thus, a set of plants for the preparation of raw materials includes washing machines, a water separator, stone, sand and top traps, a hydraulic conveyor and beet lifting equipment.

The basic line is completed with beet cutter, pulp dryers, screw press, diffuser, scales, conveyor with magnetic separator.

Juice purification is carried out using settling tanks, sulfitators, saturators, filters with a heating option, defecation units.

Crystallization is carried out with the participation of an evaporator with a concentrator, a centrifuge, a vacuum apparatus, a drying and cooling chamber, a vibrating sieve and a vibrating conveyor.

You can organize a plant both from scratch and by purchasing a ready-made sugar production line. In the first case, the cost of equipment directly depends on the power. For example, equipment designed to produce up to 10 tons of products per day will cost about $20,000. The price of the complex, which allows to produce 50 tons of sugar, is about $200,000.

When buying an existing complex, it is important to assess the degree of wear and tear. As a rule, specialized organizations are involved in this. On average, the price of equipment launched before 2000 is up to 2,000,000. More modern complexes can cost $5,000,000 or more.

Raw material

In the CIS, a stable tradition of sugar production from sugar beets has developed. But at the moment, more and more manufacturers prefer imported raw materials. Along with root crops from the USA, France, Germany, widely used:

• stalks of bread sorghum (mainly from China);
• starchy rice and millet (obtaining malt sugar);
• palm sap (from Southeast Asia);
• sugar cane (supplied from India, Cuba, Brazil).

Sugar production technology + Video how they do it

Beet sugar

The classical technology for making sugar from sugar beets includes the following steps:

• Extraction. Root crops are washed, peeled, weighed and sent to shavings. The obtained intermediate product is loaded into a diffuser, where it is mixed with water and heated, thus obtaining a diffuse juice with 15% sucrose content.
• Diffuse Juice Purification. Milk of lime is added to the mass and several stages of purification are carried out.
• Evaporation of liquid. Under the action of high temperature, the water gradually evaporates. The result is a syrup in which about 50% of the volume is sucrose.
• Crystallization. The syrup is sequentially fed into centrifuges, massecuite distributors and vacuum units. Having passed the listed stages, the raw material turns into sugar, which the consumer is used to seeing.

Video how to do it:

Rafinated sugar

A Chinese-made plant capable of producing 150-200 kg of products per shift costs about ₽2,000,000, equipment from one of the Turkish companies costs about ₽7,000,000. Along with this, a packaging line will be required (₽600,000).

Such sugar is of two types: pressed and cast. The first is made from granulated sugar by centrifuging, pressing, drying and dividing into cubes of a set size. Cast sugar is obtained by loading granulated sugar into molds and holding until completely solidified. Then the raw material is poured several times with pure sugar and washed to remove molasses. The prepared layers are dried and split into cubes.

Cane sugar

In general, the process is similar to obtaining sugar from sugar beets, with the exception that instead of extraction, the pre-soaked stems of the plant are pressed on special rollers. Thus, 90% of the sucrose contained in the cane is extracted. After that, the juice is fed into the sieve and processed on the juice meters.

Molasses and pulp

By-products from the sugar manufacturing process are used as livestock feed. As a rule, they are bartered for beets from agricultural producers. Bagasse (or molasses) is also in demand by a certain category of consumers.

A source of additional income can also be the receipt of sugar-candis, which is a fairly large transparent crystals. This will require the purchase of special equipment.

room

The requirements for the premises where the production equipment will be located are similar to those put forward for any food production. Its area is torn depending on the dimensions of the equipment. It is necessary to have communications (water supply, sewerage, electricity), a sanitary facility, a dry and well-ventilated warehouse complex, since sugar quickly absorbs odors.

Seasonality of the production process

The main load on the production complex falls on 3-4 months, when the raw materials ripen. After this period, it is necessary to carry out a technical inspection of the equipment and, if necessary, repair it.

Sugar production processes are considered safe as they are not sources of dust, toxic gases, etc. The high noise level during operation of the plants must be taken into account.

Capacity expansion

Most start-up manufacturers initially focus on the production of granulated sugar. And only after reaching the payback, they decide to expand production. As a rule, we are talking about the manufacture of the following products.

Profitability of the sugar business

With an effective organization of production, investments pay off in 6 months. In this case, the purchase price of the equipment is of great importance. Thus, European units with a capacity of up to 20 tons of sugar per day will cost at least €90,000.

You should also pay attention to the implementation of the finished product. An entrepreneur needs to create a recognizable brand, develop an attractive packaging design for the consumer, and establish a stable sales market.

Sugar production is one of the most profitable types of business. Sugar is a product that has a high degree of purification. This substance has a pleasant sweet taste. The taste of sucrose is felt at its concentration in the liquid from 0.4%, it is considered an easily digestible product. During digestion, it breaks down to fructose and glucose. These substances are the main source of energy and material for building fats, protein-carbohydrate molecules and glycogen.

• Sugar production technology
• What equipment to choose for the production of sugar?
• Principles of organization and conduct of sugar business
• Step by step plan to start a business
• How much can you earn in the production of sugar
• How much money do you need to start a business
• Which OKVED to indicate when registering a case
• What documents are needed to open a processing plant
• Which taxation system to choose for work
• Do I need permits to start a sugar production?

Sugar production technology

Sugar beet and cane, which grows in tropical regions, are used as raw materials for the production of sugar. Palm, sorghum and corn can be used in production. As a rule, sugar factories are located near the places of growth of the above crops, they work seasonally. Modern enterprises organize the production of sugar on an industrial scale. Thus, large plants can produce up to 6 million kg of product per year. Enterprises for the production of refined sugar can be located anywhere, and they work all year round.

The technology of sugar production is quite complex, it requires the purchase of expensive equipment and the hiring of a large number of highly qualified employees. The business plan of a sugar factory allows you to take into account all the subtleties of this business. It is on the basis of the calculations made in it that the profitability of the future enterprise and the possibility of finding investors are determined. The risks depend on the cost of sugar production equipment, the size of investments in the purchase of raw materials. The need to obtain various permits should also be taken into account. To open your own business in this area, you need to assess the situation on the market. It is necessary to determine the relevance of opening an enterprise, the number of similar enterprises in the district, information about future income.

The technology for the production of sugar from sugar beet is a process that takes place in several stages. At the first stage, the beets are cleaned of impurities. Then sugar chips and juice are extracted from it. The resulting juice is purified and thickened by evaporating the excess liquid. Ready sugar is cooled and dried for further storage. The sugar extraction scheme includes washing and peeling the roots, weighing and slicing, and placing them in a diffuser. Here, sugar is produced from vegetable mass using high temperatures. The beet chips remaining after processing can be used in the manufacture of livestock feed. At the last stage of the production process, sugar crystals are extracted from the juice.

After evaporating the excess liquid from the juice, lime is added to it. The resulting mixture is heated and treated with carbon dioxide. Filtration yields a purified intermediate. Sometimes the production of sugar involves the use of ion exchange resins. The syrup obtained as a result of all the processes described above contains 65% sugar. Crystals are obtained in a special chamber at a temperature of 75°C. The massecuite of the first crystallization contains sucrose and molasses, which pass through mixers and centrifuges. The crystals remaining in the centrifuges are bleached and steamed to obtain the familiar granulated sugar. The production of sugar from cane eliminates the stages of extraction and juice purification.

What equipment to choose for the production of sugar?

In order for a plant to start functioning, it must be properly equipped. Sugar production equipment includes: sugar lifting plant, foreign matter trap, hydraulic conveyor, water separator, washing machine. The main production line consists of a conveyor with a separator, a scale, a vegetable cutter, a diffuser, a press and a pulp dryer.

To extract sugar in production, filters, heaters, saturators, settling tanks are used. The most energy-intensive are centrifuges, vacuum chambers and evaporators. If there is a need for maximum automation of production processes, you will need to purchase a vibrating screen, a vibrating container and a drying unit. Equipment can be purchased individually or as complete production lines. There is an option to purchase a ready-made plant. The option of self-assembly of production lines is considered the least expensive, but is only suitable for those who are well versed in the equipment.

Buying an entire plant has the advantages of established distribution channels and a developed infrastructure. However, the equipment in this case may be worn out, which will not allow to produce products on the intended scale. The construction of a new sugar plant involves considerable costs, therefore, when starting such a business, you should carefully assess your own capabilities. When buying used equipment, you should pay attention to its quality, because devices can fail even after a year of operation. It is best to invite a specialist who will objectively assess the condition of the equipment.