Superior Protein Structuring — Continuous. Controlled. Flexible.
DST develops and supplies the patented Sheartex technology used by manufacturers to produce next-generation fibrous and advanced protein textures at industrial scale.
Our continuous process delivers clean-label products, high ingredient flexibility, and fibrous structures impossible to create with extrusion — all with equipment built for simplicity and low operating costs.
Why DST
Food manufacturers increasingly need clean-label textures, ingredient flexibility, and structures not achievable with extrusion — delivered through equipment that is easy to handle and cost-effective to operate.
Yet extrusion, the industry's legacy technology, brings well-known constraints:
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Limited fiber length and directionality
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High thermal load
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Recipe-dependent mechanical adjustments
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Narrow structural bandwidth
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Complex operation
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Difficulty switching between structure types
Sheartex eliminates these constraints through a continuous and highly controllable protein structuring process.
How Sheartex Works
Sheartex uses unidirectional high shear combined with DST-engineered cooling dies to convert plant-based or hybrid protein formulations into advanced fibrous structures.
Core Principles
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Fully continuous process with stable, reproducible output
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Cooling dies determine fiber length, alignment, geometry & moisture profile
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Low thermal load → clean-label potential
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Independent control of shear, throughput, temperature & residence time
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Ingredient flexibility: soy, pea, blends, fungi, concentrates, isolates
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Modular, sanitary, industrial design
Enables creation of
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Long meat-like fibers
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Layered slices
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Shredded fibers
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Tuna-like flaky structures
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Whole cuts
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Chunk structures
And all this is achieved without modifying the machine — only by adjusting recipe and machine setpoints.
What DST offers
Sheartex Technology
Patented continuous protein structuring technology designed for next-generation fibrous and advanced textures.
Equipment Portfolio
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Sheartex 30
Pilot scale (5–30 kg/hr) -
Sheartex 300
Industrial scale (up to 500 kg/hr) -
Cooling Dies & Add-Ons
Engineered by DST for maximum textural versatility, with in-line dosing and automated CIP to support full continuous processing.
Services
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Demonstrations
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Product development support
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Training (remote & in-person)
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Technical service & Service Level Agreements (SLA)
Structure Gallery
See the variety of textures achievable with Sheartex
Sheartex to the market
In this project ‘’Sheartex to the market’’, the main goal is the development of an innovative, continuous and flexible texturizing technology.
Together, Dutch Structuring Technologies and Sobatech Services work on the further development of the Sheartex technology for commercialisation. The Sheartex technology enables producers to create texturized protein products (plant-based, animal or hybrid proteins), for lower prices and with an unique texture.
