Wednesday, 29 November 2017 07:55

Synlait opens new plant

Written by 
John Penno. John Penno.

Synlait milk has doubled its milk powder canning capability with the opening of a $55 million facility at Mangere, Auckland.

The blending and consumer-goods packaging plant can pack 32,000 tonnes annually.

The plant removes the single-site risk inherent in operating the Dundandel plant only.

The company expects demand for consumer packaged products to increase significantly in the near term. A tremendous amount of work has gone into this milestone, says chief executive John Penno.

“We acquired this partially completed facility in May and have done a lot of work to commission it in just over six months.

“We have employed a great team of 30 people to operate the facility and we expect that number to increase to 100 in the coming year as we add additional shifts.”

Synlait is bracing for growth in business with infant formula customers.

“Under the Chinese Food and Drug Administration infant formula rules coming into effect on January 1, 2018 this second site enables us to increase the potential number of our customer brands we can export to China.” 

More like this

Brighter future

OPINION: The abrupt departure of Synlait chief executive Grant Watson could be a sign that Chinese company Bright Dairy, the new majority owner of the listed company, is taking charge.

'Quite a journey'

Former Synlait chief executive Grant Watson says the past two years have been quite the journey.

Synlait CEO departs

The first change in Synlait’s management team, since China’s Bright Dairy securing 65% ownership, has been announced.

'Mood change' among Synlait farmers

Canterbury milk processor Synlait says some farmer suppliers have been inquiring about the process to remove their cessation notices, handed in earlier this year.

Featured

Time for young farmers to step up

Departing Fonterra director Leonie Guiney is urging the next generation of co-operative farmers to step up and be there to lead in future.

Net zero pilot farm success

A net zero pilot dairy farm, set up in Taranaki two years ago to help reduce on-farm emissions, is showing promising results.

DairyNZ chair wants cross-party deal

New DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown says bipartisan agreement among political parties on emissions pricing and freshwater regulations would greatly help farmers.

National

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of…

Machinery & Products

BA Pumps expand

Cambridge based BA Pumps & Sprayers, specialists in New Zealand-made spraying equipment, has acquired Tokoroa Engineering’s product range, including the…

Entries open for innovation award

Fieldays and its renowned Innovation Awards are celebrating their 57th year, marking a longstanding tradition in the agricultural calendar, with…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Outflanked

OPINION: Greenpeace tried its best to disrupt Fonterra’s annual meeting at a hotel in New Plymouth earlier this month, but…

Koru-koi

OPINION: Call it what you want, a hikoi, a car-koi or a koru-koi, the recent protest march against Act's Treaty…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter