Rousselot extends patents to US for key SiMoGel starchless gummy production

The Rousselot collagen solutions business gained a key US patent for the intellectual property for its SiMoGel gelatin technology designed to deliver starchless gummy production for the booming nutraceutical market, writes Neill Barston.

As Confectionery Production has previously covered, its notable breakthrough first unveiled in 2018, means that compared to the previous conventional methods taking up to 24 hours, processing times for gummies are now reportedly possible in a period of under 30 minutes.

Parent company Darling Ingredients’ confirmed the latest legal filing at the Trademark Office (USPTO) and it has been designated US Patent No. 11,490,634, securing its future for a global market and usage across key North American markets in particular.

According to Future Market Insights, the nutraceutical gummy market grew at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5% from 2016 to 2020 and is forecasted to grow 15% compounded annually from 2021-2031.

This has included a growing number of confectionery applications, such as one Rousselot developed with the assistance of equipment firm Baker Perkins – a new segment of ‘gummy caps’ which earned the machinery manufacturer honours at this year’s World Confectionery Conference.

According to Rousselot, its SiMoGel production for nutraceutical gummies uses silicon or metal moulds, which are said to be easily cleanable and eliminate dust during production, unlike traditional starch trays.  In November 2021, the company also received a patent from the European Patent Office (EPO) for SiMoGel for all major countries in the region.

“Because of taste, convenience and effectiveness, functional gummies are one of the fastest growing nutraceutical segments across Europe, North America and Asia,” said Pierre-Albert Thomas, Director of Rousselot Functional Ingredients.

“Darling Ingredients’ Rousselot team has been on the cutting edge of developing world-class, gelatin-based solutions. Receiving patents from both the U.S. Patent and Trademark office and the European Patent Office is a testament to our commitment to new and improved customer gelatin-based formulations.”