Students and staff from the North-West University’s Faculty of Engineering have been burning the midnight oil to assist wherever they can. Years of research and development of extrusion technology at the NWU have resulted in the birth of a spin-off company, CFAM Technologies, in which the NWU is a shareholder. In close collaboration with CFAM Technologies, the need for food supplies is currently being addressed on a huge scale by the committee.
CFAM Technologies specialises in the manufacturing of extruders. Using these complex machines involves the process of cooking raw material (such as maize meal) in an extruder at high pressure and heat to produce a cooked, dry product within seconds. Due to the rapid cooking process, the digestibility, nutrient absorption and palatability of the product are promoted. The main advantage of extrusion is that vitamins and nutrients can be added to the dry final product after the cooking process.
CFAM, with the assistance of volunteers and the business community, has produced 300 000 dry porridge meals, but their aim is to increase this production to 100 000 meals per day.
Contact Prof Willem den Heijer for more information
News Articles
Our hope lies in the power of our people
Students and staff from the North-West University’s Faculty of Engineering have been burning the midnight oil to assist wherever they can. Years of research and development of extrusion technology at the NWU have resulted in the birth of a spin-off company, CFAM Technologies, in which the NWU is a shareholder. In close collaboration with CFAM Technologies, the need for food supplies is currently being addressed on a huge scale by the committee. Read more.
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We are already experiencing a humanitarian food crisis due to Covid-19. It is therefore important that private-public partnerships be established to feed the people of South Africa, writes LJ Grobler and Theo Venter. Read more.
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CFAM has taken their innovation to a higher level and recently developed their first food-ATM. It consists of a reclaimed shipping container that is filled with this dry porridge and can be placed in a strategic area in a residential area. Read more.