Lakeland Dairies unveiled its new €40 million expansion of its milk powder operations in Bailieboro, Co. Cavan earlier today.

The new “technologically-advanced milk powder plant” is expected to increase annual production of milk powders to 160,000t. Approximately 50,000t of butter are also set to be produced at the processing centre.

It is hoped that this expansion will allow great flexibility in milk throughput and overall economies of scale for the food ingredients business.

Lakeland Dairies claims that the Bailieboro facility is among the most advanced milk powder plants in the world and that it is one of the largest such plants in Europe.

The plant was officially opened by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed. The ceremony was also attended by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys.

The new plant was described as a “model of innovation and efficiency” by Minister Creed. It is exemplary of the very high standards of food quality and production which the Irish dairy industry is projecting across the world, he added.

At the opening were: Lakeland Dairies Chairman Alo Duffy; Minister for Culture, Heritage and The Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys; Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Michael Creed; and Lakeland Dairies Group CEO Michael Hanley. Image source: Colm Mahady / Fennell Photography

“International markets hold big growth potential for Ireland as a global exporter of high-quality dairy food ingredients.

“With this impressive new facility, Lakeland Dairies will compete strongly in serving its existing, long-standing customers and will also access new markets,” he said.

Both ministers were joined by the Chairman of Lakeland Dairies, Alo Duffy, the board and regional committees of the co-operative as well as Group Chief Executive, Michael Hanley.

At the opening were: Lakeland Dairies Chairman Alo Duffy; Minister for Culture, Heritage and The Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys; Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Michael Creed; and Lakeland Dairies Group CEO Michael Hanley. Image source: Colm Mahady / Fennell Photography

Speaking at the opening, Minister Humphreys said: “This technologically-advanced new plant is a jewel in the crown of Ireland’s dairy industry. The integration of facilities that Lakeland Dairies has achieved on a single site is very impressive and an excellent achievement of engineering.”

Today’s opening forms part of a series of open days where hundreds of Lakeland Dairies’ milk supplying farmers, and their families, are expected to visit the new facility.

The investment has been supported by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland. This latest expansion is set to create 85 new jobs across the Lakeland Dairies Group, between now and 2019.

Over 180 construction workers were employed by contractors during the building, installation and commissioning phases of the new facilities, the processor confirmed.

With 2,400 dairy farmers supplying milk to the co-operative across 15 counties – north and south of the border – Lakeland Dairies now employs over 800 people.

As one of Ireland’s leading farmer-owned dairy processing co-operatives, Lakeland Dairies processes over 1.2 billion litres of farm-produced milk every year into 240 value-added dairy foodservice products and food ingredients for export to over 80 countries around the world.

Development

The development by Lakeland Dairies is designed to ensure that the co-operative is well positioned to take advantage of all future market opportunities for its milk producers.

The expansion saw the installation of a new 7t/hr milk dryer and evaporators, where total milk powder production capacity has now increased to 20t/hr.

The plant has the highest levels of efficiency, including heat recovery systems, and its energy centre can also supply electricity back into the national grid.

milk

At the opening were: Lakeland Dairies Chairman Alo Duffy; Minister for Culture, Heritage and The Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys; Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Michael Creed; and Lakeland Dairies Group CEO Michael Hanley. Image source: Colm Mahady / Fennell Photography

According to the Chairman of Lakeland Dairies, Alo Duffy, the new facility will help the processor compete at the forefront of of the global dairy food ingredients industry.

This development will underpin our further progress in a rapidly changing world of international trade, where we have a heritage of over 120 years in dairy farming and an unstinting commitment to making the most excellent dairy products for all our customers.

Meanwhile, Lakeland Dairies’ Group CEO, Michael Hanley, outlined that the processor’s strategy is to create long-term competitiveness and sustainability for its milk producers.

“We have created a culture of innovation and excellence across our entire organisation, which will continue to drive the business forward,” he concluded.