Membrane Systems

Ultrafiltration (UF)

Ultrafiltration is a gentle, low-pressure process ideal for concentrating large molecules such as proteins and fats. It is commonly used in the production of milk protein concentrates (MPC), whey protein concentrates (WPC), and cultured dairy products like Greek yoghurt, skyr, cream cheese, and quark.

Key Benefits:

• Maintains product integrity and viscosity

• Ideal for fermented dairy and plant-based drinks

• Increases yield while reducing waste

• Efficient protein concentration and lactose removal

• Enables pre-concentration prior to cheese or powder production

Applications:

• Milk and whey protein concentration

• Separation of plant-based proteins

• UF cheese production (e.g. cream cheese, feta, queso fresco)

• Protein standardisation for consistent product quality

Nanofiltration (NF)

Nanofiltration bridges the gap between RO and UF. With slightly larger membrane pores than RO, NF allows smaller monovalent salts to pass through while retaining larger solutes and organic compounds. It is ideal for partial demineralisation, selective separation, and concentrating high-value ingredients from whey or plant-based streams.

Key Benefits:

• Tailored separation of minerals and small organics

• Improves flavour profiles and product performance

• Facilitates partial demineralisation for infant formula or nutrition applications

• Enables recovery of water and caustic solutions

Applications:

• Treatment of whey and milk permeate

• Demineralisation of UF permeate

• Skim milk and plant-based drinks

• Pre-treatment for evaporation or RO

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Reverse Osmosis is the most selective membrane process, allowing only water to pass through while retaining virtually all dissolved and suspended solids. RO is an essential tool for concentrating liquids such as whey and skim milk, reducing water and energy usage, and recovering high-purity water for reuse in production or cleaning.

Key Benefits:

• High-efficiency water removal

• Reduces volume for transport and evaporation

• Produces high-purity water for cleaning or re-use

• Supports environmental targets and resource efficiency

Applications:

• Pre-concentration ahead of evaporation

• Water recovery from dairy or plant-based effluents

• Concentration of skim milk, buttermilk, and whey

• Recycling of sweet whey or white water

Sustainable Processing with Membrane Technology

Membrane filtration not only helps unlock value from raw materials, but also plays a key role in meeting sustainability and cost-efficiency targets. Our systems are designed to:

• Reclaim and reuse water for cleaning or direct processing

• Reduce product losses and transport-related emissions

• Recover valuable by-products for further use

All Gemak membrane systems are:

• Built using high-performance, food-grade membranes

• Pre-assembled and fully factory-tested for rapid installation

• Designed for low utility consumption and extended membrane lifespan

• Operator-friendly, with minimal maintenance requirements