Danisco Expands Cultures Production

With its constant low temperature, the UCS secures the 12-month shelf life of the frozen lactic and probiotic cultures produced at the plant for cheese and fresh dairy products.

29 Nov 2010 --- Danisco has taken impressive new facilities into use at its cultures production site in Epernon, France. Guests at an opening ceremony were invited to see the plant’s new ultra cold storage unit (UCS) and warehouse shipment zone.
 
With its constant low temperature, the UCS secures the 12-month shelf life of the frozen lactic and probiotic cultures produced at the plant for cheese and fresh dairy products.
 
“The new UCS enables us to consolidate all frozen shipments from our French sites at Epernon and cuts our CO2 emissions due to the reduced use of dry ice and transport,” says Pierre Cans, Operations Vice President, Cultures Division.
 
Since the modernisation and expansion work began, Epernon has doubled its production of frozen cultures. The ISO-approved plant has also obtained internationally recognised halal and kosher certification.
 
“Global demand for direct vat inoculant (DVI) cultures is growing fast as more manufacturers recognise their more consistent performance and ease of use compared to traditional bulk starters,” comments Olivier Le Lièvre, Plant Manager, Epernon. “The new facilities at Epernon will help us reduce our delivery times and optimise our response to customer needs.”
 
The opening of new facilities at Epernon follows a similar expansion at Danisco’s cultures plant in Niebüll, Germany earlier this year.
 
“By 2012, the investment programme will have added more than 2,000 tonnes to our cultures production capacity in Europe and North America. This forms part of a three-year, EUR 60 million worldwide investment programme, and the facilities are key to maintaining a high growth momentum within Danisco’s cultures business,” says Fabienne Saadane-Oaks, President, BioActives.