Based in Koufalia, Thessaloniki, MEVGAL is one of the largest dairy industries in Greece and a leading exporter of feta and other cheese products. With decades of experience and a strong presence in both domestic and international markets, the company continues to invest in cutting-edge technologies to ensure top quality, safety, and competitiveness.
To increase production capacity and upgrade feta processing, MEVGAL invested in a new, high-tech cheesemaking line from ALPMA. The project required full integration of the Coagulator, cheese tunnels, and the rest of the ALPMA equipment with all peripheral and utility systems of the plant — from CIP and utilities to automation and SCADA — ensuring seamless and highly efficient operation.
AS HELLAS was assigned to design, install, and fully integrate all supporting systems, enabling ALPMA technology to be incorporated safely and efficiently into MEVGAL’s existing infrastructure.
In parallel, AS HELLAS undertook the modernization of the existing milk pasteurization system feeding the cheesemaking line. The project included the replacement of the heat exchanger and valves with Alfa Laval equipment, new automation systems, a complete electrical control panel with monitoring interface, and advanced instrumentation to ensure safe and consistent pasteurization. The upgrade enhanced reliability, safety, local CIP efficiency, and energy performance, further strengthening MEVGAL’s overall production capability.
SCOPE OF WORK FOR AS HELLAS
- New CIP Unit: Installation of a fully automated two-line CIP unit, expandable to three lines. Its design reduces water and chemical consumption by up to 60%, ensuring fast and safe cleaning.
- Product and Utility Networks: Construction of new networks for milk, CIP, water, steam, air, and drainage, ensuring uninterrupted operation of the Coagulator, tunnels, and the rest of the ALPMA system.
- Production Systems: Development of a dedicated culture feeding system and modernization of the pasteurization unit.
- Splitter Automation: Replacement of the manual splitter with a fully automated valve cluster, allowing simultaneous whey transfer and CIP, as well as milk supply and cleaning of ALPMA equipment with full safety.
- Electrical Panels & SCADA: Installation of new 630A and 100A panels featuring Siemens S7-1500 technology, HMI, and remote access capabilities. All new processes were integrated into the central SCADA system, ensuring complete monitoring and traceability.
THE OUTCOME
Upon completion, MEVGAL’s cheesemaking plant benefits from:
- Reliability – Smooth operation of the ALPMA Coagulator, fully integrated into the plant’s infrastructure.
- Performance & Sustainability – Reduced raw material losses, water, energy, and chemical savings, and lower operational costs.
- Flexibility – Ability to run simultaneous production and CIP cycles without interruptions.
- Hygiene & Safety – Fully automated CIP, comprehensive data monitoring and logging, and compliance with the highest modern safety standards.
- Future Growth – All CIP and utility networks are designed to accommodate future capacity expansions.
CONCLUSION
The collaboration with MEVGAL highlights AS HELLAS’s ability to deliver high-complexity projects, combining leading international technology from ALPMA with Greek expertise in supporting systems and industrial automation. Another milestone for a dairy producer that continues to invest in the future of cheesemaking in Greece.
