FDBusiness.com

German dairy processor Uelzena Group continues to pursue its strategic goals and is expanding the existing spray-drying technology at its Uelzen site to include an ultra-modern spray-drying plant. The new plant will be housed in a separate building next to the high-bay warehouse finished in 2019. It has been part of the company’s plans since mid-2017, and detailed preparation of the construction project has been ongoing for more than a year. Once the building permit was granted for the first section, the groundwork and excavation began. The first foundations should be laid in January 2021.

The project will enable Uelzena Group to meet the growing need of its customers for spray-dried minerals and vitamins with technically demanding product requirements under the highest safety and hygiene standards. Uelzena has already made a name for itself in this line of business. Its many years of experience in this field and the latest requirements of its customers have been incorporated in the design of the new plant.

In the future, customer requirements will be even easier to implement thanks to the closed system of the new building. The concept also provides a direct connection to the new high-bay warehouse via an automatic conveyor line to further ensure product quality. At a height of 30 metres, the new building will cover an area of 80 metres long by 30 metres wide and will use sustainable technology to optimise energy use and reduce emissions.

Uelzena Group employs about 500 staff at its Uelzen site, including many specialists in spray drying. Uelzena will start operating the new plant with its existing workforce, with commissioning expected to be in May 2022. Additional personnel will, however, be needed from the Uelzen region for the company’s main facility for the new plant to run at full capacity.