Silver Ferns Farms Finegand plant manager Graeme Stanbury
in the old chilling room, which will be expanded over the
coming weeks. Photo by Glenn Conway.
A multimillion-dollar fit-out during the off-season at
Silver Ferns Farms' Finegand plant should lay to rest any
doubts about the long-term future of Clutha's largest employer,
manager Graeme Stanbury said.
Following a $20 million upgrade which included a new effluent
treatment plant and boiler system, the plant, near Balclutha,
is now undergoing a $6 million upgrade of its lamb cutting
and beef boning departments.
Another $5 million will be spent on annual site maintenance.
The plant last season recorded a record beef kill of 61,286,
surpassing the previous best kill of 60,996 in 2003, and up
11,663 on the 2007 figure.
The plant also processed more than 100,000 extra stock
compared with the previous season.
Mr Stanbury said there was no doubt Silver Fern Farms was
positioning Finegand to be a key player long into the future.
The investment showed the plant was thriving and was here to
stay. At its peak, it employed more than 900 staff.
Alterations had started in the lamb cuts department,
increasing the flow of products and creating extra chilling
capacity.
After trials at its Silverstream plant, boning robotics
technology would be introduced into this area in the coming
season.
Developed by Dunedin-based Scott Technology, the system broke
down carcasses, making precise cuts.
Two machines would be installed, but the rest of that process
would still be carried out manually.
The company was deliberately increasing its chilled lamb
cutting and fresh lamb kills as it gradually moved towards
extending the killing season, Mr Stanbury said.
"We definitely want to lengthen the season . . . that means
more production but also more work for our staff."
In time, it would look into processing the 100,000 bobby
calves predicted to be available locally.
This could add up to an extra six weeks to the season.
New machinery, more space and better facilities in the beef
boning room were also planned, with a new carton storage
facility, extra carcass conveyers and larger staff amenities.
Mr Stanbury said these projects were the first two stages of
a three-stage development.
Next season, more improvements to the boning room were likely
as the company looked at improved product identification
services, which would help make it easier to market the
company's product abroad.
Customers wanted to know more about where their meat came
from, Mr Stanbury said.
The new beef processing facilities should be ready for an
October 28 start to the killing season, while the first sheep
and lamb chain kills should be in mid-November.
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