New plants hint at growing appetite in Middle East for processed dairy
Germany-based GEA confirmed it had clinched a €25m order to build a new dairy plant in Israel for Milco Industries.
The plant, in Netivot, will produce extended shelf life (ESL) milk, mixed milk beverages, yoghurt, desserts, several varieties of soft cheese, cottage cheese as well as semi hard cheese.
The company’s process engineering unit supply the equipment, provide the engineering and supervise the construction of the new plant – which is scheduled to be completed in April 2012.
Growing demand for dairy
Meanwhile SPX said its Flow Technology unit had sealed a deal worth over $15m to custom design, manufacture and install process equipment for a new dairy products factory for Turkish food outfit Panagro, a subsidiary of sugar producer Konya Seker.
The dairy will be built in Konya, in central Turkey, in a bid to tap into growing demand for dairy products in the country, said a company statement. Construction is due to begin early next year.
The new facility is expected to produce yogurt and ayran (drinking yogurt), as well as double cream cheese, cheddar, kashkaval and feta cheese, butter, milk produced with ultra-high temperature processes, demineralized whey, skimmed milk powders and fruit juices.
SPX said technologies to be supplied included APV-branded automated thermal milk processing, fresh dairy processes, membrane and CIP (clean in place) technologies; Gerstenberg Schroder butter-making equipment; and Anhydro tubular evaporation and spray drying technologies.
"We are leveraging our advanced food processing equipment and technologies, as well as our engineering expertise, to help Panagro build a highly efficient dairy in Turkey," said Don Canterna, SPX segment president.
