New Zealand’s first and only independent product development spray dryer is one step closer to being open for business.
The $11 million product development spray dryer facility is the Waikato component of the government-sponsored New Zealand Food Innovation Network.
Finance for the dryer, which has a capacity of half a tonne an hour, came from Innovation Waikato and a government grant of $3.95 million.
Construction of the facility will be completed in April this year with the product run booked for mid-May.
“We’re now looking for commitments from companies that want to research and develop new spray-dried food products in the pilot plant,” says chief executive of the Waikato Innovation Park Derek Fairweather.
“Our message out to the market is that we’re open for business and we want to help companies create new products and reach new export markets.
“We believe this dryer facility is a key mechanism for moving the dairy industry from a focus on commodities to value added production.”
Mr Fairweather says there is huge potential for specialty milk producers in particular.
“This facility will give innovators in the industry the ability to come up with the next speciality milk product – along similar lines as Stolle, A2 and colostrum products. I also expect to see the facility helping create entirely new industries, such as dried sheep milk products.
“This facility creates opportunity for anyone who’s ready to scale up a new spray-dried product to commercial production. As our facility gains momentum, the opportunities for product innovation will be that much more possible in smaller dairy companies,” says Mr Fairweather.
The Dairy Goat Cooperative has already committed to utilising 40 percent of the plant’s capacity. The company’s commitment was a critical factor in
creating the commercial case and gaining government funding and approval to build the plant as a true Private Public Partnership.
The cooperative’s chief executive says the dryer facility will help the company bring on extra capacity to meet expansion requirements.
“We’re going through a major growth phase at Dairy Goat Cooperative and intend to install a second dryer on our Hamilton processing site within the next few years.
“Using the new dryer at Waikato Innovation Park to produce our goat milk powders has provided us with the perfect bridge.”
Dave Shute, operating manager for the new plant, says the dryer facility gives smaller, innovative players in the speciality milk industry a chance to move innovation to commercialisation.
“New Zealand is a major player when it comes to supplying milk and food products to the world. And, Asia – particularly China – is an extremely important export market that is right on our doorstep. The challenge for producers, however, is developing new products that appeal to
these consumers.
“The issue is that if you are a smaller player in the specialty milk industry, it’s difficult to gain access to a commercial manufacturing facility where you can test a new product and then scale it up to commercial production.
“The Innovation Park’s new dryer gives the innovators in the industry an amazing opportunity they never had before,” he says.
The long-term strategy for the plant is to expand the spray dryer’s capability to manufacture infant formula and fruit and vegetable juice powders.
For more information:
Derek Fairweather
Waikato Innovation Park
Tel: 0274 465 809
Dave Shute, Operating Manager
Food Innovation Waikato
Tel: 021 356 912
