Lorneville rendering plant commissioned

The plant produces high quality meat meal sought by pet food manufacturers and for animal feeds, as well as tallow for use in a range of applications from cosmetics to biofuels. The products are exported to international markets such as China, North America, Europe and Asia.

It incorporates the latest technology including a Press Dewatering System, which uses less energy and produces high quality products. The process, is virtually "zero waste", resulting in high product yields and low wastewater output.

The plant is expected to save the cooperative 9000 tonnes of lignite and more than 1.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year, enough to power 170 homes. It also represents the largest single investment at the Lorneville plant for more than a decade.

The plant, which is processing raw material from Alliance's Lorneville, Mataura and Makarewa processing plants, also uses innovative Rendertech technology providing continuous throughput, further reducing energy and handling requirements.

Aiann Cairns, Alliance Group energy management co-ordinator, said the commissioning was a key milestone in the company's plans to consolidate the cooperative's southern rendering operations at Lorneville to improve productivity, reduce costs and increase energy efficiency.

"The commissioning process has gone exceptionally well and the new rendering plant will be a major contributor to Alliance Group's income and the investment in the latest technology will ensure we maximise revenue in this area.

"Alliance measures energy use and the associated greenhouse gas emissions from its plants to assist in making good business decisions.

"Since 2000, Alliance Group has reduced fuel and electricity use per unit of production by 32% and 14% respectively with an associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions."

Almost 2000 people are employed at Lorneville, which is New Zealand's largest sheepmeat processing plant.