Friesland­Campina completes projects to improve production efficiency

NETHERLANDS – FrieslandCampina has completed two major investment projects at its cheese production site in Gerkesklooster, which involve the optimisation of whey processing and the construction of a new milk reception facility.

The new milk reception facility creates more logical and shorter product flows across the site. This enables more efficient operations while reducing energy and water use. The new installation also lowers maintenance costs.

In addition, the optimisation of the whey processing installation has now been completed. As a result, the production site can supply high-quality whey suitable for use in infant formula. The whey produced in Gerkesklooster is transported to FrieslandCampina’s production site in Borculo for further processing.

“With the completion of these two projects, Gerkesklooster has taken another important step towards a future-proof operation. The projects also reinforce one another. The new milk reception facility enhances efficiency and sustainability, while the upgraded whey processing capabilities enable us to unlock even more value from our milk streams,” said Sibble Jan Broos, Plant Director FrieslandCampina Gerkesklooster.

FrieslandCampina Ingredients invests US$103.9M to strengthen whey protein production

The completion follows FrieslandCampina Ingredients‘ investment of more than US$103.87 million (90 million euros) in programmes to strengthen its global position in high‑value whey proteins and further optimise its ingredients production network in the Netherlands.

With this programme, the business group FrieslandCampina Ingredients is expanding its capacity to convert internally sourced whey – a natural by-product of cheese production – into premium protein ingredients for performance and active nutrition, early life nutrition, and medical nutrition.

It includes technological upgrades across multiple production sites to support the manufacture of advanced protein products such as WPC80, instantised whey proteins, and FrieslandCampina’s specialty Nutri WheyTM ProHeat microparticulated whey.

These ingredients are used by food manufacturers in, among other applications, high-protein drinks, bars and yoghurts.

Global demand for high-value whey proteins continues to grow across sports nutrition, lifestyle nutrition and specialised medical applications.

This dedicated investment programme positions FrieslandCampina and its Ingredients business group to respond to this growth by increasing capacity and strengthening the flexibility of its whey valorisation chain.

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