A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WET MILLING INDUSTRY IN ARGENTINA

The discovery that starch could be transformed into sweetening substances dates back to the beginning of the last century, nonetheless its first industrial uses began around 1850.

Wet milling in Argentina began in 1928 when Refinerias de Maiz, currently known as Ingredion began cereal wet milling at its Baradero plant.

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Baradero Factory

In 1942 Molinos Juan Semino began its production of wheat starch, and in the 1950s Glutal also began manufacturing wheat starches and later on cornstarch.

In 1961 Arcor began production of Glucose in Arroyito, Cordoba and in 1968 Georgalos began production in Rio Segundo, also in Cordoba province.

The Argentine company Staley started up its plant in 1971 in Chacabuco, Buenos Aires, and four years later the plant was transferred to Industrias de Maiz. During those same years Arcor installed its first subsidiary, Misty, in the province of Tucuman where it manufactured starches and glucose.

. The last company to join the starch league was Glucovil, of the Cargill group, which kicked off operations in Villa Mercedes, San Luis in 1984. In 1988 Delmaiz, a Georgalos spin-off began production.

Villa Mercedes Factory

Investments were strong during the early 1980s, when most companies began manufacturing second generation fructose products, and when other production lines began expanding their production capacity. During recent years much investment has been made to keep company installations and production capacity updated.

First generation Fructose syrup (Fructose 42) began in 1977 and production of Fructose 55 dates back to 1981. These production process that had been originally designed in the United States and Japan were rapidly applied in Argentina, and plants began production a short time afterwards.

It must be stressed that Argentina has a strong foothold in the production of second generation Fructose. Such production is found in very few countries worldwide.

CAFAGDA • Buenos Aires • Argentina• mail; cafagda@cafagda.com.ar