August 24, 2007

AFFCO NZ to invest US$10 million for Wairoa plant upgrade

AFFCO New Zealand Ltd is pouring US$10 million to upgrade its Wairoa processing plant for expanding its beef boning room facilities and the freezer marshalling area. The investment is part of the US$9.4 million spent in the past five years on the plant's lamb processing facilities. The company says it will improve the plant's efficiency and competitiveness in beef processing.

AFFCO says using the latest hot boning technology will maintain the quality attributes of AFFCO's beef product, while increasing the volume of prime cattle processed in Wairoa.

CEO Stuart Weston says as part of the project, the beef boning systems will be completely re-configured, providing an improved work environment for boning staff. It will be heavily automated and mechanized.

AFFCO is also investing $4.5 million in building a new rendering plant at its Wairoa site to support its beef and sheep processing facilities.

Weston says the plant will incorporate the latest bio filter technology system to ensure the quality of emissions to air - eliminating the odours associated with older-style rendering plants.