ofi commissions new milk powder dryer in Malaysia
Image: ofi
ofi, a food and beverage ingredients company, has increased its ingredient manufacturing footprint by adding significant capacity to its dairy production facility in Johor, Malaysia with the commissioning of a new milk powder dryer, while also expanding its integrated dairy ingredient excellence centre, for customers across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the company says.
A Shekhar, CEO of ofi, says, “Expanding our innovation infrastructure in Malaysia spotlights our bold ambition as we continue our journey to become a more solutions-led, customer-centric organisation. With increasing demand from our global customer base, we will continue to explore growth opportunities within dairy ingredients that drive additional focus on the value-added capabilities within our portfolio.”
The enhancements to the Johor processing facility’s capabilities will more than double the production volume of functional dairy ingredients and fat filled milk powder made per year, in turn enabling ofi’s customers to formulate applications at scale. In addition, the expanded IEC has new laboratory spaces with state-of-the-art research and development equipment dedicated to supporting customers seeking a customisable, tailored and cost-efficient approach to application solutions in beverages, bakery and frozen dairy desserts.
Through working in close collaboration with its Singapore Customer Solutions Center and integrated across its global network of 15 innovation centers, the IEC’s new capabilities enable ofi to better collaborate with brands, grocery retailers and foodservice companies to create their next delicious and nutritious product for consumers, the firm says.
This aligned approach will drive further focus on ofi’s high-growth end-use categories – with ready-to-drink beverages, premixes and blending lines forming part of the wider service offering – along with its Lactorich range of dairy solutions, transforming the way consumers experience this healthy and nutritious product.
Sandeep Jain, managing director and CEO, dairy, at ofi commented: “The demand for nutrition-rich functional dairy ingredients continues to grow at pace, particularly across the Middle East & Africa. Furthermore, the expanded plant has been designed around food safety and operational excellence. This includes an automatic and ergonomic raw material feeding system and an advanced depalletising system, ensuring consistent product quality.”
Sustainability is also a central component of the plant design. It uses solar power, rainwater harvesting and operates at a high efficacy rate with strong energy and water consumption practices, with close to zero raw material wastage.