Waikato Innovation Park to host spray-dryer operation
Date: 18 Jan 2012
Dried food product research in New Zealand is to get a shot in the arm from the Waikato Innovation Park building, the country's first and only independent product development spray-dryer facility.
The $11 million Government-funded facility will allow companies to research and develop new spray-dried food, which can prove to be quite a difficult task in large commercial factories. The 7.5 tonne spray-dryer will be lifted into place by crane at Innovation Park on Friday.
It will initially be set up to allow companies to develop and manufacture new whole milk powers, for example goat and sheep milk, and new speciality nutraceutical milks.
The long-term plan is to expand its capability to manufacture infant formula, along with fruit and vegetable juice powders, a park spokeswoman said.
Construction will be completed in April and the first product run is scheduled for mid-May.
The development will help New Zealand industries focused on commodity products to create new products and markets, the spokeswoman said.
"These industries are often hindered by the lack of availability of production time in large manufacturing facilities, which can't afford the time to allow for short runs of test products."
More at Waikato Times.
The actual dryer, itself will be developed by Tetra Pak New Zealand. Tetra Pak, whose Hamilton offices are located within Innovation Park, is the world's leading company for food processing and packaging solutions.
www.innovationwaikato.co.nz
