Tue, 09/09/2014 - 00:00

SOEBORG, Denmark (Sept. 9, 2014) – TINE SA is Norway’s largest dairy product cooperative, consisting of around 15,000 farmers and more than 5,600 employees. The company’s increased production of whey-based powders from its cheese manufacturing facility created a need to extend its powder-handling capability at both plants and to take advantage of the latest, most efficient and environmentally sustainable technology. GEA was chosen as a single source to design and deliver a complete, customized powder-handling line including storage silos, contained conveying, sieving and its big-bag and 25 kilogram, bagging, palletizing and re-palletizing technology. TINE’s contract required high levels of production flexibility (within a limited space), maximization of powder throughput, precise product accuracy, stringent dust emission guarantees to achieve exceptional yield, a safe working environment for its staff, the minimizing of power consumption to meet environmental objectives, and future proofing of equipment to protect TINE’s capital investment. An essential requirement was for the bagging system to be sufficiently flexible to handle multiple bag weights and a range of powders with different flow characteristics. The project began in 2011 and was completed in the summer of last year. GEA was able to integrate the powder-handling and packing functions using best-in-class project management practices, innovative system design and market-leading technology. TINE chose GEA because it had in-depth experience with its specific powders, a solid technical reference list and an ability to deliver turnkey solutions on time, within specifications and on budget. “It has been a pleasure to work with GEA on this project,” said Torbjørn Gjerde, operations manager for TINE Solid Products. The new plants at Jaeren and Verdal now represent the ultimate in powder-handling technology. All contractual requirements were met by GEA, and TINE now has a valuable byproduct (permeate powder) that would otherwise have gone to waste. The TINE SA company, which dates back to 1928, produces many brands of dairy products, including Jarlsberg cheese, Snøfrisk goat cheese, Ridder cheese and Ski-Queen. GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft is a supplier for the food processing industry and a wide range of other process industries.