The new automated preprocessing facility will become operational in 2025
Food company Valio is having a new preprocessing facility constructed at the Suonenjoki production plant’s old freezer storage. The more than €10 million investment will enhance the preprocessing of the frozen berries, fruit, vegetables and herbs processed in the plant and increase predictability in production and raw materials management. The new automated preprocessing facility will become operational in 2025.
Construction of the new preprocessing facility at Valio’s Suonenjoki plant began in December 2023. The upgrade will add several hundred square meters to the preprocessing area, and a new melting system for frozen products will be introduced to improve and facilitate the handling of frozen raw materials at the beginning of production. The construction work will not affect the plant’s operations.
“The investment will also bring new technology to the plant, enabling it to raise the temperature of frozen raw materials from -20°C during transport and storage to the product processing temperature of -2°C in a matter of a few minutes. Additionally, new automation will facilitate the handling of heavy, frozen raw materials. This will significantly increase the efficiency and speed of the plant’s production and bring flexibility to the manufacturing of products,” notes Markku Ihasal, Suonenjoki Plant Manager.
