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.
