North Cork Co-op opens new €5m milk drying facility

A €5m milk drying plant at North Cork Co-operative Creameries in Kanturk, Co. Cork was officially opened this week.

The second hand plant is fully commissioned and ready to run for the peak milk production season.

The plant, built to the highest standards, will produce high-quality milk powders including skim milk powder and whole milk powder.

With annual revenues of €65m, the co-op currently also produces casein, butter and liquid milk. The casein production operations have been upgraded. North Cork went with a second hand plant because there is value in Britain as many processors there move to larger dryers.

North Cork Co-op CEO Pat Sheahan said: “This investment forms a key element of our business development strategy to improve capability, create new efficiencies and to identify new markets for our value-added dairy product.”

Capacity

The newly commissioned drying plant has a capacity of 2t/hour.

This will allow the Co-op diversify its product range, while also opening up niche markets for its milk.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said the main requirements for the industry post-quota include a continued focus on quality, an efficient processing sector, and pricing mechanisms to overcome volatility.

North Cork is taking part in Enterprise Ireland’s lean business transformation programme.

North Cork Co-op chairman a Martin O’Keeffe said: “Our new milk powder plant is a vote of confidence in the future strength of dairying and milk processing at North Cork Co-operative Creameries.”