Process Systems for Split Hides Collagen
Turn meat industry side streams into high-value protein ingredients. Collagen from bovine and porcine split hides is a widely used animal-based protein in processed foods. Hosokawa Micron’s DMR flash dryer offers a compact, energy-efficient solution for drying this sensitive, cohesive material—saving costs and boosting sustainability.
Split hides collagen is widely used in food applications for its nutritional value and functional properties such as moisture binding and texture improvement. By combining drying, milling and classifying in one system, the DMR flash dryer delivers free-flowing collagen powders—quickly, cleanly and ready for downstream processing.
How the Process Works
A typical line for processing split hides includes:
Chopper > Decanter > DMR flash mill dryer
- Chopper: Reduces hides to ~3 mm flakes
- Decanter: Defats the flakes in preparation for drying
- DMR Dryer: Dries, mills and classifies in one step
The result: a fibrous, grainy non-hydrolysed collagen meal suitable for further processing or direct food applications. The system offers precise control over temperature, shear and particle size, ensuring consistent output tailored to your needs.
Selecting the Right Drying System
The rendering process in the chopper results in small, tough white flakes. They are then decanted or 'defatted'. However, hydrolyzed collagen is notoriously difficult to handle in wet feed, slurry or cake, exhibiting poor flow characteristics and a cohesive tendency. It is also temperature sensitive, which means it is critical to select the right drying solution.
Drying, Milling & Classifying in One
Thanks to its unique design, the Hosokawa DMR flash dryer enables the precise adjustment of a wide range of parameters – including the rpm of the mill disc, the classifier, the suction fan, the feed rate and the inlet and outlet temperature – to carefully manage the exposure time inside the drying chamber. This maintains the optimal product temperature as the particles pass upwards from the mill disc at the bottom to the rotating classifying wheel at the top of the chamber.
The DMR mill dryer is also available with various mill discs and liners to adjust the amount of shear and particle size in line with the required coarseness when drying defatted skin collagen from split hides (bovine, porcine). The end product is high-quality non-hydrolyzed collagen meal – a fibrous, grainy powder with the desired characteristics for numerous food applications.
A More Sustainable Approach
By converting split hides into usable protein powders, producers reduce waste and cut emissions. The DMR dryer boosts this sustainability by using up to 20% less thermal energy per kg of water evaporated. With fewer process steps, lower maintenance and no post-drying milling needed, the result is a cleaner, greener collagen production line.
Test Before You Invest
Run trials with your own materials on production-scale equipment at our 2,000 m² Test & Process Development Centre in the Netherlands. Our experienced process specialists work with you to determine the optimal process, equipment or plant setup. We offer lab and production-scale trials, each supported by a detailed technical report covering setup, process parameters and performance insights—helping you choose the best solution with confidence.
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Let our process specialists help you identify the most suitable solution for your materials, process requirements and production goals.
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Hosokawa Micron B.V. is committed to sustainable and responsible process technology. Our ISO 14001 certification covers key environmental aspects such as air, soil, energy, waste, water, noise and hazardous substances. With an EcoVadis Silver Medal, we rank among the top 3% of EcoVadis-rated companies in the special machinery industry.
