In February, large equipment for powder milling will arrive, followed by efforts to make the building’s exterior watertight in April
New Zealand’s Fonterra announced in August 2024 that it will invest $75 million to develop its Studholme site in the South Island into a hub for high-value advanced proteins. Construction is progressing well and is on budget.
A significant milestone has been achieved: the foundations and walls of the new processing building extension are now complete. In February, large equipment for powder milling will arrive, followed by efforts to make the building’s exterior watertight in April. Additionally, construction of external processing equipment, including new powder storage bins, batching tanks, and a high-pressure pump, has begun and will continue until March.
Work is also underway to modify processes, which includes a dryer safety upgrade and the installation of the Powder Mill. This involves creating connections for steam, water, and air, as well as product interfaces such as high-pressure feed lines and a connection to the powder transfer system. As a result, there has been increased activity on-site, with several local contractors from Timaru joining to support this phase of the project.
Fonterra’s Studholme Site Manager, Alan Maitland, reports that the site is buzzing with activity as the project moves through these critical stages.