Customer experience
Customer story: AMINO GmbH
Customer story: AMINO GmbH
From urgent request to complete process line in just seven months
AMINO GmbH produces pure amino acids and related active ingredients for pharmaceutical, medical and dietary applications, among others. From its location in Frellstedt, the company supplies amino acid products worldwide for medical nutrition, pharmaceutical applications and other specialized markets where high purity is important. When a large international customer requested amino acid blends, AMINO had to act quickly. The request marked an important step: from refining individual amino acids to producing complete premixes.
For this, AMINO needed a complete new process line within seven months. AMINO contacted Dinnissen in February 2025. By September, the installation was on site. Dinnissen supplied a complete process line with bag emptying systems, rotary valves, pneumatic conveying, receiving hoppers, vibrating sieves, magnets, central dust extraction, platforms, a Big Bag filling station and a 3,000-liter Pegasus Mixer with retractable mixing shafts. Dinnissen also handled the engineering, project coordination and automation.
In this customer story, Gerrit Dierking, Production and Technology Manager at AMINO GmbH, explains:
- How AMINO realized a complete process line within seven months
- Why the transition from wet cleaning to dry cleaning was necessary
- How process and application knowledge helped define the right design choices
- How the new line successfully passed validation in one go
A new process line under high time pressure
AMINO already had experience producing and refining individual amino acids. However, the request for compounded amino acid blends marked a new step in the production process. “As a producer of individual amino acids, it is logical that customers eventually also ask for blends,” says Gerrit Dierking. “For us, this was a logical next step in our production: from individual amino acids to complete blends.”
The urgency was high. Clear requirements were set for the new process and delivery reliability. If the new line had not been available on time, an important part of the customer relationship would have come under pressure. “In theory, the entire business model was at stake,” says Dierking. “We first contacted Dinnissen in February. The installation had to be in place by September. That meant less than seven months for the entire project.”
AMINO received Dinnissen as a recommendation for a partner that could support the full process. AMINO then contacted Dinnissen. Shortly after the first contact, Dinnissen arranged a reference visit to another Dinnissen customer. For AMINO, that visit was important to see the technology in practice. The team had no experience with dry cleaning and only limited experience with blending at this scale. “We wanted to get a feel for the installation and the cleaning process,” says Dierking. “During the visit, we saw which design choices are needed to make a line suitable for effective dry cleaning.”
"Dinnissen took a clear position and said: we can do this. We will guide you through it."
Gerrit Dierking, Production and Technology Manager at AMINO GmbH
From wet cleaning to dry cleaning
For the new line, AMINO had to switch from wet cleaning to dry cleaning. That was a major change. Dry cleaning requires different design principles, better accessibility and a different way of working for operators and quality control.
“To be honest, it was initially a customer requirement,” says Dierking. “But by now, we also see the benefits ourselves. With dry cleaning, you have fewer risks than with wet cleaning. For example, you do not have to assess whether the line is completely dry before you can continue.”
Dinnissen played an important role in the engineering. The line had to be designed in such a way that dry cleaning could be carried out in practice. This involved many details: accessibility, steel construction, product conveying, discharge, dust control and the cleanability of all product-contact parts.
AMINO involved not only production and technology in the project, but also quality control. For them, it was especially important that the line would be inspectable and cleanable. The transition to dry cleaning therefore had to be incorporated into the design from the start.
Large batches and precise mixing
One of the technical challenges was the batch size. The new line had to process batches of approximately 1,500 kg. The batch size affected dosing, daily planning, conveying capacity and mixing behavior.
Dinnissen developed the line based on proven modules for bag emptying, Big Bag handling, pneumatic conveying, screening, dosing and mixing. According to Dierking, this modular approach made it possible to move quickly from concept to detailed engineering. “It almost felt like a construction kit,” he says. “Dinnissen already had a proven solution for every process step. As a result, the right components could quickly be combined and adapted to our situation.”
At the center of the line is a 3,000-liter Pegasus Mixer with retractable mixing shafts. The retractable mixing shafts make the product-contact parts easily accessible for inspection and dry cleaning. For AMINO, this was necessary to make the transition to dry cleaning workable while also meeting the requirements for homogeneity.
"The homogeneity was good on the first attempt. We did not have to make any adjustments."
Gerrit Dierking, Production and Technology Manager at AMINO GmbH
Dinnissen brings experience to the project
In the first project phase, several design choices were reviewed in detail. Dinnissen also considered the requirements for cleanability and food safety. According to AMINO, this was important. “Stephan Philips, Project Manager at Dinnissen, contributed a great deal with his experience in the food sector,” says Dierking. “He helped prevent beginner mistakes. If we had an idea that was less suitable in practice, it was discussed in detail. Dinnissen then came up with an alternative that worked better in practice.”
AMINO also mentions Jeffrey Theunissen, Project Engineer at Dinnissen, as an important part of the project. From the design phase through installation, communication was always direct, according to Dierking. “We received quick answers to our questions. Even when something became challenging, the conversation remained constructive.”
Bag emptying systems and Big Bag handling make an immediate difference
In daily operation, AMINO sees the biggest difference in the bag emptying systems and Big Bag handling. Previously, the company worked with simpler product infeed systems. The new bag emptying systems with dust extraction and rotary valves provide more control over ergonomics and throughput.
“The bag emptying systems work very well,” says Dierking. “They are more ergonomic, the dust extraction works well and the work is less dusty. That directly helps our employees, and throughput is also higher.”
According to AMINO, the Big Bag station also fits well with daily practice. Operators quickly understand what needs to be done and the controls require little explanation. This was important because the line had to be commissioned under time pressure. “You can see that this design has been used before,” says Dierking. “There were no issues with heights or handling. That gave us confidence during startup.”
Practical solution for a challenging installation
In addition to the short delivery time and the process-related requirements, the mechanical installation was also a challenge. The 3,000-liter mixer weighed 3 to 4 tons and had to be placed inside an existing production hall. The hall was already enclosed and production was already running in other parts of the facility. Local service providers could not offer a suitable solution to bring the mixer inside safely.
Dinnissen therefore engaged a Dutch crane partner through its own network. The crane traveled to Germany to place the mixer inside the production hall. “Conventional cranes and telescopic handlers did not have sufficient capacity or reach,” says Dierking. “Dinnissen quickly found a solution for that.”
For AMINO, this was a practical example of how Dinnissen approached the project. The machines were delivered on time, and the conditions required for commissioning were also arranged.
Validation successful on the first attempt
After installation, validation followed. The line was assessed during a customer audit and achieved positive results in the first tests. Mixing homogeneity was especially important. According to AMINO, the line immediately met the specified requirements.
“We achieved the required homogeneity on the first attempt,” says Dierking. “No adjustment was needed. Dinnissen’s recommendations were confirmed during validation.”
Strong collaboration through direct communication
The speed of the project was not only due to Dinnissen. AMINO also made decisions quickly. According to Dierking, this is an advantage of the organization. “Our management values the ability to make quick decisions. We also have to put that into practice.”
At the same time, Dinnissen’s speed was decisive. Within one week after the first contact, a visit took place. Shortly after that, a proposal was ready. The technical coordination moved quickly and the project was finalized within a short period of time. As a result, the installation components arrived at AMINO on September 1 and Dinnissen could immediately start the mechanical placement in the production hall.
For AMINO, the value of the cooperation mainly lay in the combination of speed and technical knowledge. “The communication was always there,” says Dierking. “Stephan Philips and Jeffrey Theunissen were always available. There was continuous open and constructive dialogue. We would be happy to work with Dinnissen again. We are very satisfied with what has been realized.”
Do you have a question about your process?
- Over 75 years of experience in your industry as a system integrator
- Everything in-house: engineering, production, testing, installation, control, and service
- Always a tailor-made solution for your entire process
