INTRODUCTION In the course of the last years, sugar technologies have only slightly evolved. General features of the plants have however completely changed. Factory size constant increase, equipment and machinery evolution as well as computer technologies have dramatically modified the face of the modern sugar industry. A major point of improvement is the decrease in energy consumption. Plant automation has also considerably changed the number, the qualification and the task of the operating and the management personnel. De Smet Engineers & Contractors has largely participated to this evolution.