Green Economy help demonstrate efficient means of drying in industry

Halite Global sought Green Economy expertise to identify an innovative drying solution that improves efficiency and quality.

Halite Global is a family business established in 1960s specialising in Himalayan pink salt. UK headquartered in Bolton with operations in Pakistan, the business supply premium salt products to pharmaceutical, medical, food industries and hospitality customers. The business moved into the retail market in 2024, launching the KHAVE brand in more than 40 US locations in 2024, with a UK launch planned this year. The requirement to dry powders is common in industry yet can be very energy intensive.

The business worked with Green Economy to refine its drying process to align with their carbon reduction strategy. Sourced from the Himalayan mountains in Punjab, Pakistan, in 20kg bulk bags, the salt undergoes rigorous quality control, sizing, and drying. Halite Global is the only dedicated single-origin Himalayan salt facility outside Pakistan, producing flake and micro-powder salt without additives or anti-caking agents. Their salt is available in eight grades, from coarse grains to ultra-fine 0.1-micron powder, and repackaged into 0.25kg to 12.5kg packs for diverse commercial and consumer needs. Halite required to dry the salt from three per cent moisture content to below one per cent.

Expert analysis and supplier sourcing led to innovative solution

Green Economy carried out an analysis and recommended that dehumidification could be the most effective way of removing the moisture from the salt. Based on the advice, Halite Global proceeded to test the principle by using an off-the-shelf dehumidifier. Other methods considered included fluidized bed, vacuum and rotary driers, which were discounted due to excessive capital costs, Infra-red and oven drying trials resulted in poor product quality due to crusting.

Potential suppliers were sourced and introduced to Halite Global by Green Economy. Based on successful testing, Halite have now proceeded to build a two-floor drying chamber and purchased two- ECOR Pro DH3500 Desiccant Dehumidifiers, each able to extract 45L moisture per day.

Speaking of the project Irfan Naseem, Founder & Chief Grinde, from Halite Global said:

“With a focus on purity, innovation, and sustainability, we set new standards in natural, unaltered single-origin ingredients. Drying is an essential process to ensure the high-quality products that our customers expect, but it is an energy intensive activity which is expensive and doesn’t align with our ambitions to reduce our carbon footprint by up to 50 times that of table and sea salt production.

“Working with Green Economy enabled us to find an innovative solution to our drying challenge. They researched options and brought years of industrial expertise to find a solution that will reduce costs whilst ensuring the quality of our product.”

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