Are you ready to be part of a dynamic team at one of South Africa’s leading FMCG companies? At National Brands Limited (NBL), a subsidiary of AVI Limited, we proudly produce some of South Africa’s favourite coffee and creamer brands like Frisco, Koffiehuis, Hug in A Mug, House of Coffees, and Ellis Brown. Working at our Coffee & Creamer Factory in Isando, you’ll contribute to creating high-quality products in a fast-paced environment while being part of a results-driven team. We celebrate collaboration, innovation, and accountability, ensuring every team member plays a vital role in our success.

Why Join National Brands Limited (NBL)?

• Make an Impact: Contribute to producing South Africa’s favourite coffee and creamer brands, influencing daily life.
• Innovative Growth: Be part of a forward-thinking environment that encourages product and process improvement.
• Career Development: Access a range of roles and growth opportunities at one of NBL’s 5 world-class facilities.
• Collaborative Culture: Work in a supportive, team-driven environment where your contributions matter.

Shape the Future with Us! A rewarding opportunity awaits a skilled Spray Drying Tower Specialist at NBL Coffee and Creamer in Kempton Park, Gauteng. Your role will be to identify, actively participate in systematic plant problem solving, optimisation and continuous improvements.                  

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to: Technical Manager

 Key Areas of Impact:

 Efficient Monitoring, Control and Management of drier

• Monitor all process plants through in-touch scada system to ensure process parameters are adhered to and provide technical support to the processing.
• Support spray drying operations & personnel with expertise in areas of process control and automation
• Network with current and new technical partners to obtain assistance where necessary in finding solutions to process automation problems
• Keep abreast of process control trends and assist the plant with migration to new control systems.
• Ensure management reports are functional and the plant derives value from these.

Continuous Improvement and Process Development

• Conduct literature surveys on process
• Produce process instructions
• Develop product and process assessment methods
• Update/create process specification sheets & PID’s
• Conduct mass and heat balance studies
• Lead the trials that result in novel spray drying methods of coffee and creamer e.g. Lecithination etc.
• Liaise with External suppliers like GEA on new developments in coffee and creamer spray drying and transfer learning in house.
• Improve driers performance, energy consumption and yields through the latest advanced process control methods offered by GEA and plant automation institutions (Rockwell etc).
• Reduce rework associated with plant start-ups and shutdowns
• Analyse and interpret scada process data and guide the plants within identified areas for improvement

Manufacturing Support and process optimisation

• Actively support manufacturing in troubleshooting and process optimization in all the towers.
• Participate in validation and verification of processes and operating procedures
• Monitor all process plants through in-touch scada system to ensure process parameters are adhered to and provide technical support to the processing team.
• Analyse and interpret scada process data and guide the plants within identified areas for improvement
• Ensure plant CIPs adhere to Best CIP Practices in terms of chemical strengths, fluid velocities, temperatures, cycle times and equipment drying times
• Document and publish all critical parameters in spray driers. Train relevant operators on these.
• Update Standard Operating Procedures in all spray driers of plant and train where appropriate
• Ensure startups and shutdown procedures are documented with associated checklists.

Quality, Health and Safety Management Systems

• Participate in customer complaints and investigations on product issues
• Participate in GMP and HACCP initiatives
• Maintain GMP in workplace
• Participate in SHE initiatives

What It Takes to Succeed:

Experience that set you up for success:                       

• Min 2 years working in production or Maintenance responsible for spray drying process.
• Knowledge of SCADA/Wonderware is a must
• Be proficient in the operation of all processing and spray drying equipment
• Strong evidence of problem solving and continuous improvement

Qualifications & Certifications that will contribute to your success:

• Minimum - Degree in Mechanical or Process Engineering
• Ideal - BSc Honours in Engineering

Take the Next Step with NBL

Join a leader in FMCG with a proud history and exciting future. If you're passionate about quality, innovation, and teamwork, NBL offers a rewarding career. Apply now and grow great brands, with us!