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		Soap Production (CDI, 1995, 70 p.)
			(introduction...)
			1. INTRODUCTION
			2. GENERAL INFORMATION ON SOAP
			3. THE RAW MATERIALS
			4. THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP
			5. THE TREATMENT OF OILS AND FATS
			6. SAPONIFICATION: COLD PROCESS
			7. SAPONIFICATION: SEMI-BOILED PROCESS
			8. SAPONIFICATION: FULL BOILED PROCESS
			9. SAPONIFICATION: CONTINUOUS PROCESS
			10. THE COOLING AND DRYING OF SOAP
			11. FINISHING SOAP
			12. PRODUCTION OPTIONS
			13. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
			14. CDI EXPERIENCE IN SOAP FACTORY PROJECTS
			15. IMPLEMENTING A SOAP FACTORY PROJECT
			16. EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
			17. TURNKEY SUPPLIERS AND ENGINEERING OFFICES
			18. THE SOAP MAKERS
			19. DEVELOPING A SOAP FACTORY PROJECT
			20. CHECKLIST: RAW MATERIALS
			21. CHECKLIST: THE SOAP MARKET
			22. CHECKLIST: DATA FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY
			ANNEXES
			23. SERVICES OFFERED BY THE CDI
			OTHER TITLES
			BACK COVER

16. EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS

Soap-making equipment consists of saponification tanks and the soap finishing line. The tanks and storage vats are generally constructed on site by a local boilermaker from technical specifications (dimensions, plans, type and quality of the metal, etc.) supplied by the manufacturer. Civil engineering, piping, electricity, etc. are usually sub-contracted locally under the supervision of the manufacturer.

Differences in prices, technical specifications and quality can be significant, which makes any comparison or recommendation impossible.

As far as equipment manufacturers are concerned, a distinction should be made between:

® the manufacturers* who specialise in equipment, not specifically for soap-making or who do not offer a full range, such as:

· HUBBES, Lage/Germany: mixers, blenders
· IKA-Maschinenbau, Staufen BW/Germany: mixers, blenders, dispersers
· KAHL, Hamburg/Germany: pelletisers, mixers, dispensers, air dryers
· LEHMANN, Aalen/Germany: crushing rolls
· MARCHANT, London/United Kingdom: crushing rolls, cutters, stampers; and

* Addresses in the annex.

® the manufacturers who offer a full range of soap-making equipment.

Of the latter, let us look at the following firms*

BINACCHI
Gazzado-Schianno, Italy

Company of ± 90 people founded 25 years ago by W. Binacchi, an engineer, and widely recognised in the soap-making world. Full range of equipment for batch or continuous production units ranging from 250 to 6,000 kg/h and capable of providing virtually any type of configuration. Vast experience of fully automated turnkey factories.
Offers a wide range of services, from design to execution, and civil engineering. Has a technical department at clients' disposal.
Experience of many ACP countries, particularly in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Sudan, Zaire, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Dominica and Papua New Guinea. Supply of equipment for the SOCITO/Togo extension (project assisted by CDI).

BRITANNIA SOAP MACHINERY
Heathfield, United Kingdom

Company of ± 40 people with vast experience throughout the world. Has a full range of equipment incorporating all potential technological options (saponification processes and forced drying methods) and soap-finishing machinery.
The capacity of the installations available ranges from small-scale 250 kg/h containerised turnkey production units (6 units using coconut oil, of which 4 have already been supplied to the Pacific Islands) which are particularly suited to rural areas, up to large-scale fully automated units producing greater than 2 t/h soap for multinationals such as Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, Procter & Gamble and Henkel (75,000 t/year unit in Nigeria for Colgate Palmolive).
Experience of virtually all African countries. Provides assistance with commissioning and staff training. Interested in any type of technical partnership. Joint ventures looked at on a case-by-case basis.

C.M.S. srl
Solbiate Olona, Italy

Company of ± 10 people founded in 1979 by engineers from competitor firms in Busto Arsizio. C.M.S. initially focused on the marketing of fully reconditioned second-hand machines, but quickly added new machinery to its equipment line.
Range of equipment for units ranging from 250 to 6,000 kg/h. Finishing lines, laboratory installations, pilot units, etc. Vast experience in Italy and in Europe (Belgium). Units also supplied to Mauritania and Morocco.

EIRICH
Hardheim, Germany

Installation of turnkey plants based chiefly on the "Saponiflex" continuous process used primarily for top-grade soap and highly automated production runs.

ERICH HAUFF
Bad Krozingen, Germany

Small company specialising in the sale of second-hand installations and equipment, sold at up to 1/3 of the cost of new equipment. The machinery (often decommissioned for commercial policy reasons) is robust and reconditioned. Its efficiency is proven, but rarely guaranteed.
Erich Hauff has acquired vast experience in the evaluation of soap-making equipment and of the manufacturers themselves. Involved in all areas of consultancy. Vast experience in Europe and in very many ACP countries. Was involved in a project in Papua New Guinea (intervention financed by CDI), which was not seen through due to a series of difficulties encountered during execution.

I.M.S.A.
Busto Arsizio, Italy

Company of ± 40 people with a full range of equipment for soap factory installations providing a very large number of desired options. The flexibility and reliability of the equipment is widely acknowledged. Experience throughout the world, particularly in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Comoro Islands, the Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan and Trinidad & Tobago.
Co-operation agreement with Extraction De Smet/Belgium.

MAZZONI
Busto Arsizio, Italy

The largest manufacturer of soap-making equipment, recognised throughout the world for its vacuum spray dryer. Recently restructured after a difficult period following the departure of its founder.
Over 2,100 references in 129 countries. Has 3 subsidiaries in Mexico, India, and Brazil, which makes it easier for Mazzoni to provide maintenance for its equipment and supply spare parts. The group numbers 350 people, including 110 in Italy.
Offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of equipment, technology and services, supplying state-of-the-art production units (up to 10 t/h) - chiefly for computer control of operations - for the largest soap factories as well as for small 250 kg/h units.
Offers all technologies.
Services limited to studies (feasibility, design, installation, technical specifications etc.), support for commissioning, training and technical consultancy. Has a pilot unit which enables it to train customers. Laboratory for the development of new soaps. Does not wish to enter into other forms of partnership for reasons of commercial policy.
Contributed to the additional training of HISOAP/Tanzania, an intervention which was financed by CDI.

MECCANICHE MODERNE
Busto Arsizio, Italy

Company of over 100 years old, well-known in the profession.
Varied range of equipment to meet most requirements. Some references and experience in Africa (particularly in the supply of equipment to I.C.S./Somalia, a project for which the CDI was approached to provide support and training), Samoa, Australia and the Far East.

WEBER UND SEELANDER
Helmstedt, Germany

Company of almost 100 years old. Offers the traditional range of equipment, technologies and services, and can supply virtually any type of installation, from turnkey units (up to 6 t/h, fully automated) down to small-scale production units (300 kg/h). All types of processes and drying methods, finishing lines, glycerol recovery, etc. Laboratory equipment and pilot units.
Experience throughout the world, in particular a technical audit of COMINGEM in Zaire, financed by CDI.

* Addresses in the annex.

BINACCHI Gazzado-Schianno, Italy	Company of ± 90 people founded 25 years ago by W. Binacchi, an engineer, and widely recognised in the soap-making world. Full range of equipment for batch or continuous production units ranging from 250 to 6,000 kg/h and capable of providing virtually any type of configuration. Vast experience of fully automated turnkey factories. Offers a wide range of services, from design to execution, and civil engineering. Has a technical department at clients' disposal. Experience of many ACP countries, particularly in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Sudan, Zaire, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Dominica and Papua New Guinea. Supply of equipment for the SOCITO/Togo extension (project assisted by CDI).
BRITANNIA SOAP MACHINERY Heathfield, United Kingdom	Company of ± 40 people with vast experience throughout the world. Has a full range of equipment incorporating all potential technological options (saponification processes and forced drying methods) and soap-finishing machinery. The capacity of the installations available ranges from small-scale 250 kg/h containerised turnkey production units (6 units using coconut oil, of which 4 have already been supplied to the Pacific Islands) which are particularly suited to rural areas, up to large-scale fully automated units producing greater than 2 t/h soap for multinationals such as Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, Procter & Gamble and Henkel (75,000 t/year unit in Nigeria for Colgate Palmolive). Experience of virtually all African countries. Provides assistance with commissioning and staff training. Interested in any type of technical partnership. Joint ventures looked at on a case-by-case basis.
C.M.S. srl Solbiate Olona, Italy	Company of ± 10 people founded in 1979 by engineers from competitor firms in Busto Arsizio. C.M.S. initially focused on the marketing of fully reconditioned second-hand machines, but quickly added new machinery to its equipment line. Range of equipment for units ranging from 250 to 6,000 kg/h. Finishing lines, laboratory installations, pilot units, etc. Vast experience in Italy and in Europe (Belgium). Units also supplied to Mauritania and Morocco.
EIRICH Hardheim, Germany	Installation of turnkey plants based chiefly on the "Saponiflex" continuous process used primarily for top-grade soap and highly automated production runs.
ERICH HAUFF Bad Krozingen, Germany	Small company specialising in the sale of second-hand installations and equipment, sold at up to 1/3 of the cost of new equipment. The machinery (often decommissioned for commercial policy reasons) is robust and reconditioned. Its efficiency is proven, but rarely guaranteed. Erich Hauff has acquired vast experience in the evaluation of soap-making equipment and of the manufacturers themselves. Involved in all areas of consultancy. Vast experience in Europe and in very many ACP countries. Was involved in a project in Papua New Guinea (intervention financed by CDI), which was not seen through due to a series of difficulties encountered during execution.
I.M.S.A. Busto Arsizio, Italy	Company of ± 40 people with a full range of equipment for soap factory installations providing a very large number of desired options. The flexibility and reliability of the equipment is widely acknowledged. Experience throughout the world, particularly in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Comoro Islands, the Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan and Trinidad & Tobago. Co-operation agreement with Extraction De Smet/Belgium.
MAZZONI Busto Arsizio, Italy	The largest manufacturer of soap-making equipment, recognised throughout the world for its vacuum spray dryer. Recently restructured after a difficult period following the departure of its founder. Over 2,100 references in 129 countries. Has 3 subsidiaries in Mexico, India, and Brazil, which makes it easier for Mazzoni to provide maintenance for its equipment and supply spare parts. The group numbers 350 people, including 110 in Italy. Offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of equipment, technology and services, supplying state-of-the-art production units (up to 10 t/h) - chiefly for computer control of operations - for the largest soap factories as well as for small 250 kg/h units. Offers all technologies. Services limited to studies (feasibility, design, installation, technical specifications etc.), support for commissioning, training and technical consultancy. Has a pilot unit which enables it to train customers. Laboratory for the development of new soaps. Does not wish to enter into other forms of partnership for reasons of commercial policy. Contributed to the additional training of HISOAP/Tanzania, an intervention which was financed by CDI.
MECCANICHE MODERNE Busto Arsizio, Italy	Company of over 100 years old, well-known in the profession. Varied range of equipment to meet most requirements. Some references and experience in Africa (particularly in the supply of equipment to I.C.S./Somalia, a project for which the CDI was approached to provide support and training), Samoa, Australia and the Far East.
WEBER UND SEELANDER Helmstedt, Germany	Company of almost 100 years old. Offers the traditional range of equipment, technologies and services, and can supply virtually any type of installation, from turnkey units (up to 6 t/h, fully automated) down to small-scale production units (300 kg/h). All types of processes and drying methods, finishing lines, glycerol recovery, etc. Laboratory equipment and pilot units. Experience throughout the world, in particular a technical audit of COMINGEM in Zaire, financed by CDI.