Technologists' Practice Feb 2006/2010
Processing Technologies / Automation & control YEARS 11-13

Cover image of case study

Sweet As – Chelsea Sugar Refinery

From humble beginnings on a picturesque site on Auckland's North Shore, the Chelsea Sugar company has grown to be one of New Zealand's iconic grocery brands, delivering reliable high-quality products not only to New Zealand homes, but to the Food Service industry and Export markets in the Asia Pacific region. This case study tells the story of replacement of the old bone char system used to refine the raw sugar, with a new granular activated carbon decolourisation process.

Teacher Guidance

Technological Modelling

  • Functional modelling

Technological systems

  • Process Flow diagrams
Teaching Activities Additional Material:

Discussion starters:

  • Describe the changes introduced in the redesign of the carbon decolourisation unit. What practical benefits resulted from these changes and how were the overall efficiency gains in the process able to be quantified?
  • Explain the following terminology as related to the re-design process:
    • Resource consent constraints
    • Automation and control

Company web site

You Tube video – refining process

IPENZ-logo Reproduced with permission from Engineering Insight.
Subscriptions are discounted for schools and TENZ members.