Patented RE-NUT® technology for processing whole nuts with shell into flour, paste and milk
RE-NUT AG (RE-NUT Inc.)
St. Gallen (CH)New on Amplifa
About RE-NUT
RE-NUT is a Swiss technology company based in St. Gallen that has developed the patented RE-NUT® wet-milling process for whole, unshelled (in-shell) nuts. Instead of separating shell and kernel, hazelnuts, almonds and other tree and ground nut types are milled with water and separated into three value products via a 3-phase decanter: nut solids (flour), nut milk and optionally nut oil. This doubles the yield, unlocks the fiber and antioxidants of the shell and eliminates waste and side streams. RE-NUT is not a manufacturer in the classical sense: the company licenses its IP-protected processes (including EP3903601, EP4138571, EP4226774) to nut processors, nut drink producers and food manufacturers and supports implementation with know-how transfer and technical consulting as well as regulatory support (self-GRAS USA, Novel Food Europe). Licensees are free to choose their equipment partners; upon request, RE-NUT brings its own technology partners into the projects.
- Site
- St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Processes
- RE-NUT® Wet-milling of in-shell nuts (wet milling of whole in-shell nuts), Phase Separation of the slurry via decanter (phase separation using a decanter), RE-NUT® In-shell nut milk and flour technology (patent EP3903601), Extended in-shell nut milk and flour technology (patent EP4138571), In-shell nut paste technology (patent EP4226774), Oil extraction with 3-phase decanter (nut oil as optional extraction), Licensing and know-how transfer of the patented manufacturing process, Licensing of the patented RE-NUT® technology
- Materials
- Hazelnuts (in-shell), Almonds (in-shell), Tree and ground nuts (major tree and ground nuts), Water (process input), Tree and ground nuts, Wet milling (Wet-milling), Phase separation (decanter), Licensing & know-how transfer
- Certificates
- self-GRAS (USA, almonds), Novel Food (EU, ongoing)
- Industries
- Nut processors, Nut ingredient suppliers, Food manufacturers (chocolate, bakery, drinks, dairy products, ice cream), Nut drink producers
- 01
Licensing of the patented processes
- 02
Know-how transfer and technical consulting
- 03
Implementation of wet milling at licensees
- 04
Wet-milling of whole nuts with water
- 05
Phase separation in the 3-phase decanter
- 06
Output of solids, milk and optionally oil
- 07
Regulatory support (self-GRAS, Novel Food)
Raw Materials & Processes
Hazelnuts (in-shell)
Main raw material of the RE-NUT® process, milled whole with shell.
Almonds (in-shell)
Already holding self-GRAS status in the USA for in-shell almond extracts.
Tree and ground nuts
The patented process covers all major tree and ground nuts.
Wet milling (Wet-milling)
Milling of whole nuts with cold water to the target particle size.
Phase separation (decanter)
Separation of the slurry into solids, milk and optionally oil without side streams.
Licensing & know-how transfer
Transfer of the IP-protected processes including implementation support.
Location
St. Gallen
CHHeadquarters with office, licensing and technical consulting
Products & Processes
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RE-NUT® Wet-milling of in-shell nuts (wet milling of whole in-shell nuts)Other | – | – | – | – | Hazelnuts, Almonds, Tree and ground nut types (major tree and ground nuts) |
| Phase Separation of the slurry via decanter (phase separation using a decanter)Other | – | – | – | – | Nut slurry from in-shell nuts and water |
| RE-NUT® In-shell nut milk and flour technology (patent EP3903601)Other | – | – | – | – | Hazelnuts, Almonds |
| Extended in-shell nut milk and flour technology (patent EP4138571)Other | – | – | – | – | Hazelnuts, Almonds |
| In-shell nut paste technology (patent EP4226774)Other | – | – | – | – | Hazelnuts, Almonds |
| Oil extraction with 3-phase decanter (nut oil as optional extraction)Other | – | – | – | – | Nuts (in-shell) |
| Licensing and know-how transfer of the patented manufacturing processEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decanter (3-phase decanter for phase separation) | – | – | – | – | at licensees (free choice of equipment partners) |
| Wet milling (wet-milling plant for in-shell nuts) | – | – | – | – | at licensees |
Additional services
Reference customers
Regulatory Affairs & Quality
RE-NUT supports licensees with regulatory matters: for in-shell almond extracts, self-GRAS status has been achieved in the USA; the approval procedures for hazelnut extracts are ongoing in the USA and Europe (Novel Food).
| Evidence | St. Gallen |
|---|---|
| self-GRAS (USA, almonds) | |
| Novel Food (EU, ongoing) |
History
- 2006
Idea by Roland Laux and Tilo Hühn in a chocolate factory in Venezuela: wet milling of unroasted cocoa beans with cold water and phase separation as precursor technology.
- 2014
Sale of the cocoa patent by Roland Laux and the ZHAW to Dieter Meier ('Oro de Cacao'); further implementations for cold-brew coffee, whole coffee cherries (RE-COFFEE) as well as herbs and spices.
- 2016
Idea for processing hazelnuts with shell (RE-NUT®) during a visit to hazelnut plantations in Turkey.