Arla Foods Ingredients’ New Whey Protein Manufacturing Plant, Videbæk, Denmark

Factory set to boost supplies of gold standard whey protein

Arla Foods Ingredients, a subsidiary of Danish-Swedish diary co-operative Arla Foods, announced in September it will build a new whey protein hydrolysates manufacturing plant near its existing whey protein facility in Videbæk, Denmark, with an investment of €38m (about $49m).

The new manufacturing unit will expand Arla Foods Ingredients' capacity to meet the increasing demand for whey protein hydrolysate, an important ingredient in nutrition products specially meant for infants with allergies, as well as for clinical nutrition and sports nutrition products. The project is expected to create 20 new jobs.

'Gold standard' whey protein manufacturing plant details

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Arla invests €38m in new whey protein hydrolysates factory

Arla Foods Ingredients has invested €38m in setting up a new factory in Denmark to meet the increase in demand for whey protein hydrolysates.

The new production plant will be built beside the existing whey protein facility in Videbæk, where the company is also building a new lactose factory, and will triple the whey protein hydrolysates production capacity of Arla Foods Ingredients.

The factory will produce 'gold standard' whey protein, which offers greater benefits compared with intact proteins.

Construction of the plant is expected to be completed by October 2015 and commercial operations are expected to begin by the end of 2016.

The investment forms part of Arla Food Ingredients' strategic initiatives to strengthen its position as a worldwide leader in producing natural whey protein ingredients, while increasing the raw milk intake from its farmer owners.

Sustainability features of Arla Foods' new whey protein plant in Denmark

The whey protein hydrolysates production facility will adhere to the strictest quality and safety standards, and have a lesser environmental impact.

"Construction of the plant is expected to be completed by October 2015 and commercial operations are expected to begin by the end of 2016."

Arla Foods invested approximately $25m in 2013 to reduce the total CO2 emissions from its plants by two per cent. The company has a climate strategy objective that aims to reduce the total CO2 emissions by 25% before 2020.

The company is also investing in 50 'Closer to Nature' projects, targeting cutbacks on energy and water consumption at its processing facilities.

Whey protein hydrolysate applications

Whey protein, usually concentrated in a powder form, consists of more than 76% protein and all the essential amino acids required for an infant's growth. Whey protein is also by athletes who want to take protein rich food while training and in competition.

Whey protein concentrate is also used in protein-based supplements and is easily digestible. It provides the required amount of protein and essential amino acids required by the human body.

About Arla Foods Ingredients

Arla Foods Ingredients, headquartered in Denmark, is a 100% owned subsidiary of Arla Foods, one of the biggest producers of dairy products in Scandinavia.

Formerly known as Danmark Protein, Arla Foods Ingredients opened the world's biggest whey protein and lactose production unit in 1980. The company was acquired by MD Foods and became part of the company's milk powder division, MD Foods Ingredients, in 1994. Arla and MD Foods were merged in 2000 forming a new division called Arla Foods Ingredients.

The company uses state-of-the-art technology to process ingredients at its wholly-owned facilities in Denmark and through joint venture production at facilities in Argentina and Germany.