increase font size
Milk processing in Studholme factory.
Fonterra is planning a tenfold expansion in production capacity at its Studholme factory in South Canterbury.
The dairy co-op is soon set to lodge consents for a major upgrade at the former Russian-owned plant, which it bought three years ago from the receivers and which many feared would be put out of commission at the time.
However, far from ceasing work, the factory is at the centre of Fonterra’s growth plans in the South Canterbury and North Otago regions that will see its production capacity grow from the current 900,000 litres a day to closer to 10 million litres a day – when the two-stage dryer development is completed. In addition, a large drystore and two new boilers – for each new dryer – are also proposed.
The planned Studholme factory expansion will require a million hours’ work. Site manager Alan Maitland emphasises plans for expansion remain a proposal at this stage and will require resource consent approval and Fonterra board sign-off. “Once we get consent; we will take it to the board.”
If approved, the factory extension would take up to 18 months to build, requiring up to 500 workers working from 6am until 10pm during this period.
The completed factory would require two extra trains daily taking the factory’s products north to Timaru’s port, and another supplying coal, probably from the south.
The cost of the Studholme upgrade is reported to be about $600 million, covering the two stages, with each phase expected to commence construction in 2020 and 2025 respectively. Once up and running each stage is expected to create an extra 125 new permanent jobs.
The proposed upgrade of Fonterra’s Studholme plant, along with growth capacity at its Clandeboye site north of Timaru and the recent development of the Chinese-owned Oceania plant at Glenavy shows the huge growth potential of dairy production in the South Canterbury/North Otago region.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
OPINION: Farmer shareholders of two of New Zealand's largest co-operatives have an important decision to make this month and what they decide could change the landscape of the dairy and meat sectors in New Zealand.
OPINION: As CEO of the Dairy Board in the 1980s I was fortunate to work with a team of experienced and capable executives who made most of the brand investments that created the international consumer business Fonterra inherited. Soprole in Chile was the largest, but there were more than 20 countries where consumer marketing companies were established and Anchor and other brands were successfully launched.
Fonterra has delivered a fifth straight year of record organic milk price for farmer suppliers.
Fonterra says favourable weather conditions supporting pasture growth is boosting milk production.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…
