Media release - July 6, 2010
New technology set to revitalise sugar cane industry
Biomass Technologies’ BT10 Processor – an Australian owned and built world first
A
new Australian-developed
sugar cane processing technology has arrived just as the CSR sugar
division Sucrogen has been sold to an offshore corporation.
Biomass Technologies’ BT10 Processor is a world-first innovation that has the potential to revitalise
local production and revolutionise Australia’s sugar cane growing industry.
The
BT10 Processor is technology unlike any other. It is designed to separate fresh cut sugar cane
into juice and fibre on the spot, without resorting to a traditional mill. It has a custom built shredder,
produces clean fresh juice and
beautifully dry and clean fibre,
and has surprisingly low energy
consumption.
It is currently designed to process at a rate of 10
to 15
tonnes per hour, with future
units likely to target around 50 tonnes per hour.
The BT10 Processor was invented by Queenslander
Trevor Cullinger, and built by Maroochydore
company, Nybro Engineering. It is a world first in its field. It was recently unveiled to cane growers
on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
The potential impact of Biomass
Technologies’
BT10 Processor on Australia’s sugar cane growing
industry cannot be understated.
“The BT10 processor enables cane to be processed outside the traditional milling structure,” said
Chairman Mark Diamond.
“For both growers and millers it offers a way to do things much more
efficiently and in an environmentally friendly way.
This is tremendously empowering
–
we really
believe the BT10 Processor will help local sugar cane industries become commercially viable again.”
The BT10 technology was first developed and patented by Trevor Cullinger in 1997. The company
itself was incorporated in 2008 and
is
100 per cent Australian owned. It is a partnership between
Trevor Cullinger, Sydney investors and members of the Burdekin Irrigation Group from Home Hill in
Far North Queensland.
“We believe our BT10 technology is cutting edge, highly efficient and affordable,” said Mark
Diamond. “Our goals are to get the technology taken up as widely as possible within the sugar
industry, as well as broader applications in sweet sorghum and other crops, and to keep it Australian
owned.”
ENDS
-
Planet Public Relations on 0416 006 821 or (02) 9555 8080.
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