What a protein drink manufacturing plant does
A protein drink manufacturing plant blends protein powder, milk or a plant base, water, sugar syrup and flavors into a smooth, uniform drink, then fills it. Two stages decide most of the result.
- Getting the powder in without lumps. Like other food powders, protein and milk powders tend to float, clump or foam when they are tipped in by hand, and whey protein needs thorough dispersion to spread evenly. A liquid powder mixer draws the powder into the flowing liquid under vacuum, so it is wetted at once, without dust or lumps.
- Homogenizing. The homogenizer breaks down fat globules and disperses the protein evenly, for a uniform particle size, better texture and long shelf life.
Blending, filtration, heat treatment, cooling and filling are built around these two stages and sized to your recipe, batch size and level of automation.
Protein drinks the plant makes
| Drink | What the line has to do |
|---|---|
| Whey protein shakes and ready-to-drink whey drinks | Disperse whey protein powder without lumps, then homogenize for an even, smooth drink |
| Plant-protein drinks: soy, pea, almond, oat | Fully hydrate the plant proteins and stabilizers and emulsify any added oil, so the drink does not separate |
| Protein water | Dissolve protein powder in treated (RO) water with flavors, and filter before filling |
| Dairy drinks: protein-fortified milk, flavored and cultured lassi, drinking yogurt, spiced buttermilk | Reconstitute milk powder without lumps, hydrate the stabilizers and homogenize |
For the process detail behind some of these, see plant-based milk production for oat, almond and soy bases, and our pages on flavored milk and yogurt premix. For fruit juices, see the fruit juice plant.
Wahal equipment in a protein drink line
Wahal designs, builds and installs the processing core of the line: the powder mixer, tanks and agitators, and the homogenizers. Fillers come from partner suppliers, and the complete line is put together for your recipe and pack.
| Stage | Equipment | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Powder dispersion | Liquid powder mixer (LPM) | Draws protein and milk powders into the liquid under vacuum, dust-free and lump-free. Also used for SMP milk preparation and sugar syrups. Models LPM 10 to LPM 200. |
| Blending and storage | Agitators and tanks | Agitators matched to the product and the mixing duty; SS316L insulated milk cooling and storage tanks with temperature control. |
| High shear homogenizing | Inline homogenizer | One, two or four rotor-stator stages in the pipeline, 15 to 200,000 L/hr, self-pumping. The closed system keeps air out of the product. |
| High-pressure homogenizing | High pressure homogenizer | Pump homogenizer for the nano range, used for milk products. Works best with a fine premix from a high shear homogenizer. |
| De-aeration | Vacuum processing plant | Blends, homogenizes and de-aerates in one sealed vessel, so packs are not under-filled by trapped air. Wahal lists protein drinks among its food uses. |
| Heat treatment and cooling | Pasteurization and cooling stations | Part of the line, chosen for your product. |
| Filling, sealing and capping | Partner fillers | Matched to your pack format. |
Capacity, pack formats and startup lines
- Capacity. Protein drink lines are typically 100–500 kg/hr, sized to your daily output. The inline homogenizers in the line come in sizes from 15 to 200,000 L/hr.
- Pack formats. The filler is chosen for your pack: bottles, jars, pouches or the format you specify.
- Startup and small-scale lines. We build smaller, customized lines for startups and small food manufacturers. Batch size and floor space are settled once the product and the equipment are chosen.
- Recipe and pilot work. Our lab homogenizers start from 2 litres, and the laboratory inline homogenizer uses the same rotor-stator principle as the production models, so lab results give a sound basis for scale-up.
Who we build protein drink lines for
We build protein drink lines for dairy cooperatives, health beverage startups, functional food brands, Ayurveda and herbal product makers, and contract manufacturers.
Looking for a company to make your protein drink? Wahal Engineers builds the plant. If you are a brand setting up your own line, or a contract manufacturer adding protein drinks, we design the line around your recipe, and you can trial it on our machines first.
Trial your protein drink recipe before you buy
You can run a trial with your own recipe on Wahal machines in our fully equipped laboratory, and see what results you get and how long the process takes. Mixing speed, temperature and duration can be fine-tuned during the trial. If you need longer, our rental program lets you keep a machine pre-configured to your requirements, with expert process guidance and back-up from our technical department. See trials and rentals.
Frequently asked questions
What is a protein drink manufacturing plant?
A processing line that blends protein powder, milk or a plant base, water, sugar syrup and flavors into a uniform drink and fills it. Wahal's line runs from powder dispersion and blending through filtration, homogenization and de-aeration, pasteurization and cooling to filling, customized to your recipe.
Which protein drinks can the plant make?
Whey protein shakes, plant-protein drinks made with soy, pea, almond or oat, protein water, and dairy drinks such as protein-fortified milk, flavored and cultured lassi, drinking yogurt and spiced buttermilk.
How do you stop protein powder forming lumps?
By drawing it into the liquid instead of tipping it on top. Our liquid powder mixer creates a vacuum in the flowing liquid, pulls the powder in below the surface and wets it at once, dust-free and lump-free. Homogenizing then evens out the protein and fat.
What capacity can a protein drink line have?
Typically 100–500 kg/hr, sized to your daily output. Smaller customized lines are available for startups.
Do you supply the filling machine?
Fillers come from our partner suppliers and are integrated into the line for your pack format. Wahal builds the processing equipment ahead of the filler.
Do you build protein drink lines for contract manufacturers?
Yes. Contract manufacturers are among the businesses we build protein drink lines for, along with dairy cooperatives, health beverage startups and functional food brands.
Can I test my protein drink recipe before buying?
Yes. You can trial your own recipe on our machines in our laboratory, and a rental program lets you keep a machine pre-configured to your requirements. See trials and rentals.
What does a protein drink plant cost?
It depends on the drink, the recipe, the daily output, the pack format and the level of automation, so the price is on request. Send us those details, or trial your recipe first.
