Desmet is a multinational engineering company specializing in the design and supply of custom-engineered plants and equipment for the food, feed, and biofuels industries. Founded in 1946 in Belgium by Jean-Albert De Smet, it provides innovative technologies that process oilseeds, grains, and tropical oils into protein-rich feed and food, edible oils and fats, oleochemicals, and various biofuels.
Core activities encompass oilseed preparation, pressing, and extraction; oil refining, modification, and fractionation; grain handling and feed milling; biodiesel production via transesterification; HVO and SAF pre-treatment; and oleochemical processing. The company operates three key brands: Desmet for core oil and biofuel technologies, Rosedowns for continuous oilseed and rendering presses, and Stolz for grain handling and milling machinery. It maintains 16 offices worldwide, employs over 1,000 people, and has delivered more than 28,000 plants or process sections across more than 150 countries, supported by 70 patents and innovation centers in Belgium, France, and Malaysia.
Acquired by Alfa Laval in August 2022 from the Desmet Ballestra Group (with Ballestra operating separately thereafter), Desmet initially functioned as a stand-alone entity within Alfa Laval's Food & Water Division, generating approximately EUR 300 million in turnover in 2021. Full integration into Alfa Laval's Food & Pharma Division is in progress and scheduled for completion by July 2027, after which the Desmet brand will function as a dedicated product and process technology brand. This structure enhances Alfa Laval's capabilities across the value chain from seed to end product in sustainable oils, fats, and biofuel processing.
Also known as Extraction De Smet, Desmet Ballestra, Rosedowns, and Stolz.
Combines upstream extraction with separation, heat‑transfer and downstream processing to offer end‑to‑end engineered solutions; phased integration completes by July 2027.
