"The products of theClextral Group have beencreated in partnership with theGroup's customers throughout its 50-year history.In half a century, our Clextral Group has establisheda stable culture and a solid position.From 38 different countries, our numerous visitorsto the scientific congress on 18 and 19 Octoberdemonstrated that our image is also strong:I am grateful to them for their loyalty.Our technologies and our company are also veryyoung. By simply looking back on the high-qualityconferences during the congress, we can appreciatethe promising development perspectives forour customers and our company in the fieldsof global health and the environment.In this spirit of youth, enthusiasm, confidenceand respect of our partners, we look forwardto 2007 and the years to come".

SUMMARY OF EXHIBITIONS

IN BREF

summary

Summary of exhibitionson 18 and 19 october 2006Logistics

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SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS250 customers coming from 38countries overthe 5 continents. 4 - 5

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PRESENTATIONThe EVOLUM 25twin screw extruderClextral extrusion SMARTLine

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TECHNOLOGYThe CLEXTRAL Fish Feed offer 12 -13

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TRACEABILITYThe ClexTRACE solution

CLEXTRAL, subsidiary in AlgiersThey retire – They have joined theClextral Group teams

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Number 15 - February 2007

Georges JOBARDPresident of the Board

50th ANNIVERSARYCelebration of CLEXTRAL’SanniversaryOpen day : 14 october 2006

You can meetthe CLEXTRAL Group teams

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CELEBRATION OF CLEXTRAL’S50th ANNIVERSARY :OCTOBER 2006

From left: M. D. CINIERI, Deputy- Mayor Firminy,M. B.LAGET, Vice-President St. Etienne Métropole,

M. G.JOBARD, President of the Board, CLEXTRAL GroupM. J.L. GAGNAIRE, Vice-President of

the Regional CouncilOctobre 18th, 2006

50 years of existence,a major milestone inthe development of agroup like CLEXTRAL.It is a time to reflect onthe know-how and skillgained in the past, yetalso a time to expressnew ambitions, capitaliseon the experienceacquired and innovatein other promisingsectors.

In this issue of CLEXTRUSION,we want to share with youthe highlights of a day ofprivileged dialogue, followedby a scientific seminar ofexceptional quality.

This event wasmarked byits friendlyatmosphere andrewarding culturalenvironment..

This day was anenthusiastic beginningof the CLEXTRAL 50thanniversary celebration,in conjunction with thescience week organisedby the Ministryof Research and theNational CompanyOpen Days programsponsored by the FrenchAssembly of Chambers ofCommerce and Industry.

CLEXTRAL opened its doors tothe public on Saturday 14 Octoberfrom 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. on 2 sites:Chazeau, with its 3000m2 test cen-tre, and Firminy, with its machiningand assembly workshops as well asvarious technical departments.

Numerous stations were prepared tooffer an instructive and engaginginsight into CLEXTRAL's professionsand its skills in the fields of mecha-nics, metallurgy, food processes(extrusion lines, pasta and couscousproduction lines), chemistry, specia-lity papers and liquid metering withDKM pumps.

1500 people were welcomed on thisopen day; in addition, in coopera-tion with the schools in the region,students and their teachers came tovisit and communicate directly withCLEXTRAL employees.

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We were honoured by the presenceof numerous VIP’s, elected represen-tatives, parents, and friends of CLEX-TRAL, who took this opportunity todiscover the Group's activities.

The guests observed an operatingsnack production line at theChazeau pilot station, as well as

several numerically-controlledmachining stations in the Firminybuildings. In the assembly work-shop, visitors examined highly tech-nical parts, learned about twinscrew extruders and their accesso-ries, plus packaging machines anddryers.

The electrical/process control sys-tem and design/documentationaspects were extremely popular: theCADD tools, technical explanationsand variety of applications wereadmired by everyone (even creating

bottlenecks at some periods duringthe day!)

From the start, our partners activelycommunicated and contributed tothe success of this day. The Stateand the Rhône-Alpes region, theSaint-Etienne Chamber of Commerceand Industry, the professional asso-

ciations CLEO (entrepre-neurs' club fromOndaine), ACCTIFS, ClubGier, SPF Mécaloire,technical centres suchas the CETIM, the AFIL,etc. as well as many sub-contractors exhibitedtheir products and servi-ces, demonstrating thestrong interdependencebetween a group likeCLEXTRAL and local

scientific and industrial expertise.

The day ended with a reception,open to CLEXTRAL employees,during which CLEXTRAL's 50 birth-day candles were blown out in anvery sociable atmosphere.

CTOBER 2006

The presentations illustrated the activities of the Group14 October 2006

Alain BrissetMarketing Director

The highlightof the 50th anniversarycelebration wasa scientific seminarof exceptional quality,held on 18 and 19 Octoberat the Saint EtienneCentre de Congrès.CLEXTRAL welcomed250 customers comingfrom 38 countries over5 continents.

Together with our local part-ners, 300 congress participantsattended two days of captivatingpresentations. (see insert).It would have been impossible towelcome such prestigious guestswithout presenting our cultural heri-tage: guests enjoyed a guided tour ofa church designed by Le Corbusier,Saint Pierre, in Firminy. Le Corbusierwas a designer who revolutionisedmodern architecture, and the excep-tional wealth of his work in Firminyearns the town its internationalreputation. Afterwards, guests weretreated to a dinner with the presi-dent to honour Mr Pierre Troisgros(one of the most renowned chefs inFrance) on 17 October.During this reception, Mr. DinoCINERI, Deputy Mayor of Firminy,awarded the gold medal of the townto Mr. Georges JOBARD, President ofthe Clextral Group Board, for theoutstanding work of the Loire com-pany and all the Group's employees.

The tone was set to enthusiasticallytackle the two days of intensivework on 18 and 19 October with the

seminar focused on the themes:environment and health.

In organising this event, the goal ofthe CLEXTRAL Group Managementwas to create a forum for discussionon the stakes of the planet regardingfood and preservation of our envi-ronment, and the possible solutionsbased on its technologies.Another objective was to showcasethe progress made by CLEXTRALcustomers: the themes discussedand the innovations presentedduring the high level scientific confe-rences on 18 and 19 Octoberdemonstrated the wealth and poten-tial of the Group's expertise. This was also an occasion todemonstrate the central role of theinnovating and exporting industrialSMEs as a driving force of Frenchpresence throughout the world,while highlighting CLEXTRAL's rootsin metallurgy at Saint-Etienne.Lastly, the various regional playerswere associated with this event: theLoire department presented its sus-tainably creative values in the indus-trial and cultural sectors; represen-tatives of the Saint EtienneMétropole, the town of SaintEtienne, the Chamber of Commerceand Industry, the University, theEcole des Mines, the ENISE, INERIS,the VIAMECA pole, the Museum ofArt and Industry, … - the list isendless - actively communicatedwith the participants.

The atmosphere was exceptional;the visit to the Museum of Art andIndustry on 18 October broke downthe last cultural and linguistic bar-riers as visitors shared emotionswhile viewing the extraordinary

blend of techni-cal innovation andaesthetics.Mr LAGET, Vice Presi-dent of Saint-EtienneMétropole and MrGAGNAIRE Vice Presidentof the Regional Council,expressed their pleasure inwelcoming 38 nationalities,a demonstration of outstan-ding multisector activity.These few days in October2006 left an indelible mark onour memories and formed thefoundation of the Group'sfuture directions in line with ourenvironment and global demo-graphic resources. In his closing speech, GeorgesJOBARD, President of the Board,thanked his customers, partnersand shareholders of the CLEXTRALGroup for the confidence displayedover the years; "your presencetoday demonstrates that you sharewith us the determination to take upthe challenges of tomorrow's world".

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SCIENTIFICCONGRESS

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1 - The congress attendees at the Art and

Industry Museum of St. Etienne

2 - St. Peter’s Church by the architect

Le Corbusier

3 - Mr. S. BOUILLON, Prefect

of the Loire Department

4 - Visit to the Art and Industry Museum

5 - Preparations in the control room

of the Centre of Congress

6 - M. Prof. M. MAZOYER

7 - Speakers’ table

8 - The Deputy Mayor of Firminy

presents the gold medal to CLEXTRAL

17 October 2006

9 - Dr. S. KAUSHIK

10 - Sociable discussions and

networking at lunch time

11 - A «welcoming » team

at St. Exupéry airport

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18 OCTOBER

1 – THE GLOBAL DIVIDEBETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD AVAILABILITY

Professor MAZOYER – InstitutNational Agronomique Paris-Grignon, Vice-President of theFrench Association for the F.A.O(France) presents the global situa-tion regarding cereal production andthe enormous productivity differen-ces (1 to 2000) in some regions ofthe world. These production inequa-lities affect hundreds of millions ofpeople, mainly rural populations.These differences are reflected inthe level of consumption of vegeta-ble and animal proteins. Solutionsare proposed to guarantee a sus-tainable food supply for a popula-tion estimated at 9 billion people 40years in the future, in the form ofexchanges protected by large com-mon market areas with equivalentagricultural productivities.

2 – COUSCOUS TECHNOLOGY

Mr. J. MEOT, from the CIRAD(French Agricultural ResearchCentre for International Develop-ment), details the technology formanufacturing couscous fromdurum wheat semolina and makes acomparison between industrial andsmall-scale manufacture. The equip-ment used to manufacture couscoussemolina provides consistent pro-duct with comparable quality to thatproduced on small-scale, and can beused to develop new types of pro-ducts: e.g. rice-based semolinas.

Mr. TAIEB EZZRAIMI, Chief ExecutiveOfficer of the Semoulerie Industriellede La Mitidja (Algeria), leadingAlgerian producer, kindly agreed toparticipate in the presentation.

3 – CO-EXTRUDEDNUTRITIONAL BARS

The authors develop new nutri-tional foods using twin screw extru-sion technology, especially co-extru-ded products enriched with mineralsalts and vitamins for under-nour-ished populations.

4 – WELLNESS AND HEALTH

Mr. FRENIER, PepsiCo Internatio-nal (USA), outlines the vision of theinternational food group concerningconsumers' well-being and health bydefining their new product develop-ment policy and the company’sefforts in the fight against obesity.

5 – THE STAKES OFAQUACULTURE

Mr. KAUSHIK, INRA–IFREMER(France) (National Institute forAgricultural Research) explains thecentral role of aquatic food (fish,molluscs, crustaceae) in our diet.Aquaculture represents the solutionto meet the increasing globaldemand for fish, since the fishinglevel remains stable (populationgrowth). He presents the impor-tance of granulated recipes for aqua-tic animals, in particular the availa-bilities of meals and oils whichconstitute the major ingredients ofcompound feeds.

Solutions are proposed to establishenvironmentally-friendly sustaina-ble aquaculture that guaranteesdevelopment without disturbing theequilibrium of the essential globalmarine sources of proteins and fats;using products of vegetable origin topartially replace fish proteins andoil.

6 – DRYING TECHNOLOGY

After defining the moisture of theair and of the solid to be dried, thespeakers, H. MILLER -and A. GEVAU-DAN, CETIAT (France) provide a sim-ple and concrete presentation ofdrying operations. After describingthe various devices and the associa-ted techniques, they explain the cri-teria which must be taken into consi-deration in developing the dryer.The design of the Clextral EVOLUMdryer is detailed.

7 – INNOVATIONS IN POLYMER PACKAGING FOR FOODPRODUCTS

Professor LANGOWSKI, Fraunho-fer Institute – Process Engineeringand Packaging (Germany) introdu-ces the issues of polymer-basedpackaging materials: they must pro-tect foods from oxygen and watervapour flows. Numerous films of

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SUMMARY OF EXHIBITIONSON 18 AND 19 OCTOBER 2006

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Number 15 - February 2007

varied compositions, with differentpermeability characteristics, may beused. Organic additives dispersed inthe matrix or deposition of an alumi-nium or silica layer may enhancethese properties. The current trend (EuropeanRegulation) is the use of "active" or"intelligent" packaging, in order tocontrol the composition of the gas inthe packaging. Oxygen absorbersare also utilized.

8 – ENVIRONMENTALCHALLENGES FORSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Ms. SPREI, EnvironmentalSciences, Department of PhysicalResource Theory, ChalmersUniversity of Technology (Sweden),explains the environmental challen-ges, especially the relationship bet-ween emission of greenhouse gasesand global warming. Multiple solu-tions are proposed to improve thissituation: reduction in energyconsumption, use of alternativeenergy sources, and storage, ratherthan release of CO2.

9 – INTENSIFICATIONOF PROCESSES

J.LIETO, ISTIL, the EngineeringSchool of Science and Technology ofLyon, (France), explains the impor-tance of chemical engineering in theunderstanding and design of reac-tors. Then, he suggests an intensifi-cation of processes, to reduce thesize of the installations by at least afactor of 100, using safer, cleaner,and more economical processes thatprovide higher product quality : theco-rotating twin screw extruder is agood example.

10 – SAFETY STAKES

Messrs CHOUNET and TAUZIA,SNPE (France)-Powders andExplosives National Company -Energetic materials.Energy materials (explosives) areused in military and civilian applica-tions. The authors define propergolsusing two concrete examples: boos-ter rockets for Ariane and the com-posite materials for airbags.The propergols employed on therocket Ariane are manufacturedusing very large mixers. The proper-gol employed in airbags, however, isproduced continuously using twinscrew extruders: extrusion

offers numerous advantages: safety(confinement), low investmentcosts, wide range of suitable rawmaterials, consistent quality, etc.This mix-extrusion process may beused for other applications invol-ving energetic products.

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19 OCTOBER

A break betweenconferencesessions

11 – REACTIVE EXTRUSION AND GREEN CHEMISTRYMr. STADLER President of “Industry and agri resources" competitiveness cluster, and Mrs DUCATEL, CVG (Carbohydrate upgradingcentre) (France).

Reactive extrusion (the chemicalreaction in the extruder resultingfrom the effects of pressure, tempe-rature and shear) can be usefullyapplied to the synthesis of mole-cules. Currently, these reactions areproduced by discontinuous proces-ses, which offer low yield, long syn-thesis time and generate pollutingeffluents. Reactive extrusion offerssignificant opportunities: increasedyield, reduced overall cost, respectfor the environment, and the use ofrenewable raw materials. Twoconcrete examples illustrate thishighly promising approach.

12 – SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY IN THE PAPER INDUSTRY

Mr. LACHENAL, French School ofPaper, (France) presents paper ashaving an excellent growth poten-tial.Although the paper industry hasmade significant progress over thelast few years, it still utilizes vastamounts of water and remains a

major energy consumer (mechanicalpulp). Twin screw technology is aviable alternative because of its lowwater and energy consumption.Many sources of raw materials maybe used: wood, annual plants,woody detritus, etc. This processdoes not use sulphur or chlorine forthe delignification and bleachingoperations.

13 – BIODEGRADABLEMATERIALSMr. Du JEU, Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients (France)

This presentation illustrates theenvironmental advantages of biode-gradable products, used mainly inagriculture (mulching) and forpackaging. The characteristics andstandards are given and the maincategories are described: natural,synthetic or composite materials.One example is the biodegradableplastic BIOLICE, produced on aCLEXTRAL line.Biodegradable materials may beincinerated, composted and recy-cled. They use renewable materials;consumption should progress by afactor of 15 over a period of 20years; however, the need to reduceproduction costs will be a factor intheir success.

14 – EXTRUSION: INNOVATION MODEL AND TRANSFEROF TECHNOLOGYMr. J-M BOUVIER, Vice-Presidentof CLEXTRAL

The speaker presents the advan-tages of extrusion technology, whichemerged at the end of the 19th cen-tury, and describes the differencesbetween single and twin screw tech-nologies; the twin screw technologyexhibits special characteristics, inparticular a mixing function whichhas led to the development of tech-nology transfers from the plasticsindustry to the agribusiness, chemi-cal and paper industries. Co-rotatingtwin screw technology, a processimplemented and refined by CLEX-TRAL for half a century, is an essen-tial vehicle of innovation.

15 – WEAR ANDMETALLURGICAL EVOLUTIONMr. KERMOUCHE, ENISE(Saint-Etienne national schoolof engineers), andMr. LAZZOROTTO, CETIM(Technical centre for mechanical industries), ViaMeca,(mechanical competitivenesscluster (France)

The presentation provides aninformative and simple approach tothe phenomena of equipment wear.After basic definitions, tribology andwear of materials, the authors ana-lyse the various degradation modesand the means to limit them. Theexample of co-rotating twin screwextrusion and the work carried outby CLEXTRAL in the VIAMECA com-petitiveness cluster and the CETIMillustrate the methodology and

SUMMARY OF EXHIBITIONSON 18 AND 19 OCTOBER 2006

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Mr. A. Mounier,President of the Chamberof Commerce and Industryof St. Etienne /Montbrison

action of an SME to improve mate-rials and reduce manufacturingcosts.

16 – TEXTURING OF POROUS POWDERS.

Mr. SCOTT, INOVO (NewZealand) and Mr. MALLER, R&DCLEXTRAL (France) describe aninvention related to the manufactureof porous powders using extrusiontechnology. This process is descri-bed and compared with the tradi-tional process used to manufacturemilk powder by spray drying.Research shows that the extruded"porosification" process is highlyenergy-efficient, requires a smallproduction area and a lower invest-ment. In addition, extruded milkpowders’ quality is identical tospray dried, and the extruder offersa safer processing alternative tospray drying equipment. This tech-nology may be applied to productsother than milk: e.g. instant drinks.This is a major innovation fromCLEXTRAL, which filed a patent in2006.

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Number 15 - February 2007

It took more thanone year to organisethis event.Initially formed froma die-hard groupof 5 people, the teamwas progressivelyincreased according tospecific requirementsand, finally, a networkof 15 actively participatedin the days of October2006, with occasional helpby CLEXTRAL employees.

LOGISTICS

The bookof presentations, producedby Mr. Prof. BOUVIER,Vice President of the Board,constitutes one of the majorachievements of this event.

Mr.G.MALLER,Director, extrusionprocesses andlines

The Evolum 25twin screw extruder is alaboratory tool designedto simplify the developmentof new products,test new formulationsand explorenew recipes.

This machine, the smallestextruder in the EVOLUM range,offers the same technological advan-tages and performance as the othermodels in this series: high torque,and fast screw rotation for high out-put. It features a temperaturecontrol system which heats andcools each barrel module indepen-dently and a variable speed drive toregulate the screw speed. An auto-matic barrel opening system is anavailable option.Due to its diminutive size, the EV 25can process small quantities, there-by reducing costs when developinga new product. With no wastedmaterial, product designers can testtheir skills and explore many poten-tial formulations and ingredients.

This model may also be used as aproduction unit to manufacture verysmall product quantities. Due to itsmodular design, this versatilemachine is suitable for numerousproduct types: the barrel and thescrew configurations are easilymodified and the self-cleaning screwprofiles allow fast productionchangeovers.This machine is compact and easyto move. With its PLC convenientlylocated in the built-in electrical cabi-net, the Evolum 25 is designed for"plug and play" implementation.

To ensure simple and reliable extra-polation to industrial production,the screw and barrel designs of theEvolum 25 are fully homothetic,obeying the same mathematical lawsthat govern the design of the pro-duction machines in the EVOLUMrange.

Contact : for more information clxsales@clextral.com

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SEEN AT CLEXTRAL’S50 th ANNIVERSARY

The new addition tothe EVOLUM range

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CLEXTRAL introducessmall capacity lines,offering simple operation andreduced production costs forprocessing multiple products.

In the last several decades,crispy food products have gainedprominence in thefood market. All mar-ket analysts predictgreater developmentof these products inthe coming years, asthey simultaneouslyprovide energy, com-fort and pleasure toconsumers.

In this field, extru-sion-cooking techno-logy is usually utili-zed to manufacturecereal-based, crispyfood products suchas : snacks (curls,balls, rings, stars,3Ds…), ready-to-eatbreakfast cereals(pops, crisp rice,loops, cups, flakes),coextrudates (co-fil-led pillows), and flatbread.As opposed to singlescrew technology,twin screw techno-logy clearly bringsp ro c e s s - p ro d u c tdeterminant advan-tages to the manu-facture of crispy food products : - recipe and product flexibility- product quality and consistency - process productivity.

In addition, twin screw technologyoffers a high level of process evolu-tion as it is easily adapted to includeinnovative clip-on technologies suchas bicoloration, inclusion-addition...Yet, current lines available on themarket require high capacities ran-ging from 400 to 1 500 kg/hour,making them prohibitive for newco-mers and investors wishing to enter

the market of crispyfood products.That is why CLEX-TRAL, the world lea-der of twin screwtechnology, has des-igned and recentlylaunched small capa-city lines, calledE x t r u s i o nSMARTLines, whichmeld the advantagesof twin screw extru-sion withCLEXTRAL’s advan-ced process and pro-duct skills. CLEX-TRAL SMARTLineswill allow investorsto enter the crispyfoods marketplacewith minimal capitalinvestment and eco-nomic risk, utilizing atechnology that iseasy to manage witha gentle learningcurve. Recipes of crispyfood productscontain a high levelof cereal flours, from

62% to 95%. This makes SMARTLinesa good fit for cereal millers whowant to add value to their products(cereal flours and semolinas) by

converting them into crispy foodproducts.Depending upon manufacturing andcost analysis, a cereal miller whodecides to invest in extrusionSMARTLines would generate signifi-cant profit (gross margin of 30 to50%) allowing a satisfactory pay-back in 9 to 18 months.

CLEXTRAL EXTRUSIONSMARTLine

Jean-Marie BouvierVice ChairmanExtrusion BusinessManagement

In addition to standardproduct types, Clextral‘sexpertise extends to theproduction of very smalland large aquafeedpellets.

CLEXTRAL has supplied twinscrew extruders for fish food pro-duction, especially salmonidae,since 1975. Numerous high-capacityfish food production machines havebeen installed in Scandinavia andSouth America; other major projectshave been completed in SouthernEurope and Southeast Asia. Clextral’s customers benefit fromour considerable experience in thisapplication: we offer more than 60twin screw machines for aquacul-ture production, half with screw dia-meters over 145 mm, and some pro-ducing up to 20 tonnes of pellets perhour.

This specific technical expertise andprocess skill has been transferred tothe production of very large aquaticfeeds (diameter greater than 30 mm)as well as very small products (dia-meter less than 0.6 mm).The constraints inherent to thesetypes of products significantlyimpact the various individual opera-tions on the production line.

Small ProductsTo manufac-ture productswith very smalldiameters (e.g.0.5mm pro-ducts manufac-tured on anEvolum® extru-der) the proces-sor faces threemain challenges:grinding of theraw material, gra-nulation-die, anddrying.

• To avoid obstruction of the dieholes, the granulometry of the extru-ded meal must be controlled so thatthe maximum size of the meal pel-lets is 100 % less than three timesthe diameter of the die holes. Toachieve this limitation, a micronisa-tion-type system is used to preparethe raw materials.

• Concerning the die, flow man-agement in the extruder head andinsert geometry are critical factorsto obtaining good product quality:density, compaction, regularity. Inaddition, product length must beperfectly calibrated due to the spe-cial cutting system.

• The drying step must alsoaccommodate the size of these pro-ducts. A traditional counterflow orbelt dryer quickly reaches its limits.Over the last few years, CLEXTRALhas focused on optimising theRotante-type rotary dryer manufac-tured by its subsidiary Afrem.

Through gentle stirring of the pro-duct to eliminate build-up, theRotante achieves excellent heatexchange close to that obtained in afluidised bed. Other advantagesinclude perfectly controlled resi-dence time with virtually no disper-sion, of type FIFO (First In, First Out)and precise product moisture homo-geneity at dryer output.

Large productsAt the other end of the spectrum,the manufacture of large pro-ducts involves extensiveexperience in die designand the associated granu-lator as well as optimiseddrying control.• It is essential to obtaingood flow homogeneity inthe die to manage the pelletexpansion perfectly and deli-ver a large pellet displayingthe proper and homogeneouscharacteristics: density, be-haviour, regularity. Withoutthe proper die design, there is

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THE CLEXTRAL FISH FEED OFFER :

Floating and sinking products

a risk of obtaining a heterogeneous,brittle product. • Pellet drying is another impor-tant point. For a large product, thewater must be extracted from thecentre of the pellet and diffusedhomogeneously. Products dried tooquickly can form a “skin” that pre-vents inside moisture from escaping,causes surface cracking, and ad-versely affects product behaviour inwater. CLEXTRAL relies on the expe-rience of its subsidiary Afrem indrying sensitive products, which arevery similar in terms of technicalbarrier and quality objective.

For specialty fish feed pro-ducts, CLEXTRAL’s know-how is vital, since rawmaterial performancemust be combined withadvanced knowledge inextrusion cooking, die for-ming, and drying…allthese factors contribute toachieve the quality and behaviourrequired for these special pellets.

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Number 15 - February 2007

Gilles MALLERCLEXTRALDirector ExtrusionProcesses and Lines

TEC

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diameters

from 0,5 mm

to 30,0 mm

CLEXTRAL BC160 twin-screw extruder

Drying with ROTANTE dryer

1) WHAT ISTRACEABILITY?

Traceability was defined inFrance 20 years ago by standard NFEN ISO 8402 as: "the ability to tracethe history, application or locationof an entity by means of recordedidentifications."The entity may refer to:

– a product– an activity, a process– an organisation, a person

The successive food crises associa-ted with quality problems in theagribusiness sector, well publicisedin the press, generated increasingconsumer concern about productquality. State authorities were forcedto initiate detailed studies of thesupply and transformation chains,and pass legislation to protectconsumers. Consequently, the num-ber of laws and regulations hasincreased over the last few years.

The European regulation CE178/2002, published in the officialgazette dated 28 January, 2002, laysdown the general principles of foodlegislation, setting up the EuropeanFood Safety Authority and estab-lishing food safety procedures.Through the application of this regu-lation, traceability has become atrue legal requirement. This regula-tion concerns all companies in theagribusiness sector and article 18specifies a general traceability obli-gation beginning 1 January, 2005.

Traceability is a necessity to complywith statutory requirements: In addi-tion, it offers companies significantadvantages:

– greater productivity– consumer safety and loyalty– quality control

It can also provide a competitiveadvantage (brand image, respect ofquality commitments, etc.).

2) FEATURES OF THE ClexTRACE SYSTEM:

The key to a successful traceabi-lity project is the implementation ofa solution fully adapted to the pro-cess in place. It has been observedthat:- 63 % of the traceability projectsdeviate from schedule and budget- In 82 % of cases, the requirement ispoorly defined- 45 % of the failures are primarilydue to focusing on a particular pointrather than a global analysis

CLEXTRAL took the initiative todevelop a computerised traceabilitysolution: ClexTRACE, based on morethan 50 years experience and sup-ported by the process expertise ofthe CLEXTRAL group in variousdomains:

Extrusion lines:- in agribusiness: break-fast cereals, snacks, pel-lets, petfood, etc.- in chemistry and spe-ciality papers

Couscous lines Pasta lines

ClexTRACE consists ofthree modules:Module 1Batch Traceabilitywhose main functionalcharacteristics are:

- Product identification(generation and identification ofmanufacturing batches) - Batch follow-up- Generation of links betweenmanufacturing batches - Data records (batch types,physical situation, ascendingand descending consultation,etc.)

Module 2 : Production Performance Traceability

- Machine performance:analysis of shutdowns (type,cause, management),under-performance (slowdownmanagement, etc.), TRS, TRGindicators, etc.- Material performance: wastemanagement, consumptionmanagement, goods in processmanagement - Labour performance:occupation time, attendance atstation, etc.

Module 3 :Process Quality Traceability

- Periodic controls on line- Balance of instantaneouscontrols- Assistance with controloperations, etc

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ClexTRACE : THE TRACEABILITY SOLUTIONADAPTED TO YOUR PROCESS

3) TWO EXAMPLESOF ClexTRACEIN APPLICATION

Couscous production lines

During the global supply of a cous-cous line which included design,equipment manufacture, transfer oftechnology, commissioning, etc., thecustomer asked CLEXTRAL to installClexTRACE module 1: BatchTraceability. This request was typi-cal in the offer and supply of a com-plete line.This module ensures the customer’scompliance with applicable law; thedata required during possible pro-duct recalls is available immediately(ascending traceability), action maybe taken quickly to isolate a non-conforming product (descendingtraceability); the module simplifiesaudits and inspections by reducingor eliminating the need for paperfiles.

Dog and cat foodproduction lines

In this example, the operator has anexisting dog and cat food productionunit: CLEXTRAL was asked to installClexTRACE module 1: BatchTraceability.To accomplish this mission, CLEX-TRAL specialists first completedan audit on-site, to define the inter-faces between the operator's exis-ting equipment and ClexTRACE.The second step included installa-

tion of a PC, com-puter and electri-cal connections. The last step wasto put theC l e x T R A C Emodule into ser-vice and providespecial training.

CONCLUSION

Traceability is becoming an essen-tial tool to comply with regulationsand increasing consumer require-ments. It also represents an excel-lent way of improving productivity,controlling quality, developingbrand image and taking the lead in afiercely competitive marketplace.

Effective traceability involves anexcellent knowledge of the proces-ses involved.

As a designer and supplier of com-plete production lines with the asso-ciated processes, the CLEXTRAL glo-bal offer naturally includes tracea-bility.

Benefit from our 50 years experiencein agribusiness, chemistry and spe-ciality papers to install the traceabi-lity solution ClexTRACE, speciallyadapted to your process or yournew or existing lines.

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Number 15 - February 2007

Sylvie BRUNELExtrusion LinesDevelpment Manager

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They retire :Jean-Claude RIOCREUX ,Simone DESPINASSE, MauriceGRANGE, Jean CELLE

They have joined theCLEXTRAL Group teams :Isabelle ROUSSIAU-DRAGOL,Franck BROTTES,Eric DUBESSET, Richard FAUXJean-Michel RIEU, Sylvain PROVENZANO, Christian BRUYERE, Patrick CHEUCLEJamel KHELIS, François TOBO, Rachid NAÏT-BALK, Irma PONCET,Mohamed KOCHEIDA, Domenico DI TOMA, Michaël MASSON, Fabien DESGRANDFrank DEBRUILLE, Souad JAAFAR, Sonia DURAND, Maxime BARBIER,Rodolphe COURTY, Sylvain GIDROL, Anne PERENON

CLEXTRAL S.A.SB.P 10, 42702 Firminy cedexFRANCETel. 33 4 77 40 31 31Fax. 33 4 77 40 31 23clxsales@CLEXTRAL.com

CLEXTRAL INC.14450 Carlson CircleTampa, FL 33626USATel. 1 813 8544434Fax. 1 813 8552269clextralusa@clextralusa.com

CLEXTRAL LATIN AMERICAMardoqueo Fernandez 128,of. 802PROVIDENCIASANTIAGO DE CHILECHILITel. 56 2 3355 976Fax. 56 3 3355 954jcoelho@clextralusa.comllacau@clextralusa.com

CLEXTRAL ASIA PACIFICRoom 9001Novel Building887 Huai Hai Road (M)SHANGHAï 200020CHINETel. 86 21 64 74 78 06Fax. 86 21 64 74 68 08jchen@clextral.com.cneperroton@clextral.compbreillot@clextral.com

AFREM INTERNATIONALZI de la Martinière42700 FirminyFRANCETel : +33 4 77 40 31 31Fax. +33 4 77 40 31 23sales@afreminternational

LYMAC1 rue du Colonel Riez42700 FirminyFRANCETel : +33 4 77 40 31 43Fax. +33 4 77 89 43 94contact@lymac.com

AFREM-CLEXTRAL-ServicesLot. Mohamed Saddoune.N°163 C Kouba-AlgiersALGERIATel : +213 (0) 21 21 01 17Fax. +213 (0) 21 21 00 79mtonkin@afreminternational.com

IN BREF

SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONSContacts :AFREM: Marc RABANYDKM et LYMAC: Didier THEVENETCLEXTRAL: Alain BRISSET.Contributors for this issue :Mariel BADEL, Jean-Marie BOUVIER,Alain BRISSET, Sylvie BRUNELGeorges JOBARD, Gilles MALLER,Aïda ROCHAS

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2007

Inauguration of a newsubsidiary in Algiers : CLEXTRAL – AFREM – Services.

Mr. Georges Jobard, President ofthe Clextral Group Board, officiallyannounced the opening of the newAlgerian subsidiary "Clextral AfremServices" on 22 November 2006 at theHôtel Mercure in Algiers.

The Group commenced activity as a fullline supplier to this region in the early1980's. Since then, Afrem Internationalhas sold and installed many production

16

PROPAK Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City - VIETNAM 07-10 March 2007 stand 158FOOD & FEED EXTRUSION Bangkok - THAILAND 14-16 March 2007SNAXPO Hollywood - USA 24-27 March 2007DJAZAGRO Algiers - ALGERIA 16-19 April 2007VICTAM International Utrecht - THE NETHERLANDS 08-10 May 2007 stand 7D045IRAN Agro & Bev tec Tehran - IRAN 22-25 May 2007SNACKEX Barcelona - SPAIN 04-05 June 2007 stand 633EXPO PACK Mexico City - MEXICO 26-29 June 2007

lines for pasta and couscous. Today,Afrem lines produce more than 80 % ofthe couscous manufactured in theMaghreb. Mr. Mohamed Tonkin, manager of thesubsidiary, has contributed to increas-ing the Group's presence over the lastten years as representative for Afrem,then for the entire Clextral Group.Within this structure, Mr. ZachariaeBenjelloun will be responsible for provi-ding technical support for all activitiesrequired by customers throughout theregion.The inauguration hosted customers,prospects and journalists from acrossAlgeria. It was also attended by Frenchcompanies on a mission in Algeria, or-ganised by the Federation of MechanicalIndustries (FIM) whose President for theRhône-Alpes region is Mr. GeorgesJobard. Mr. Yvon Jacob President of theFIM for FRANCE, honoured this event.