MG opens new plant

MG opens new plant

BY RODNEY WOODS ON DECEMBER 14, 2016

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  High tech: Cobram's Murray Goulburn plant is now home to a $91 million cheese plant.
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  Murray Goulburn interim chief executive officer David Mallinson said the new cheese plant would provide better milk prices for farmers.
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  Sliced cheese going along the conveyer belt.
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  Plastic being unwrapped from the cheese by a robot. This kind of automation will see a reduction at Murray Goulburn's new cheese plant at Cobram.
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  Block of cheese on the spiral conveyer belt. The spiral conveyer belt is part of the system that stops human interaction with the cheese.
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  High tech: Cobram's Murray Goulburn plant is now home to a $91 million cheese plant.
• 
  Murray Goulburn interim chief executive officer David Mallinson said the new cheese plant would provide better milk prices for farmers.

A new cheese plant at Murray Goulburn’s Cobram factory will be a boon for its milk suppliers, according to the company.
Murray Goulburn is investing $91million into the new plant to complement the one already there.
The new plant, which will process already-made cheese, will have the potential to produce up to 60000tonnes of cheese per year and will help dairy farmers, according to Murray Goulburn interim chief executive officer David Mallinson.
‘‘It’s going to result in higher milk prices for farmers.
‘‘The board and management are committed to delivering the highest farm gate price we can,’’ Mr Mallinson said.
The money invested into the new plant is welcome after nearly three years of planning and construction.

‘‘From planning to completion, it has been two-and-a-half years,’’ Mr Mallinson said.
‘‘By investing in the new plant, it will allow us to be globally competitive as it will lead to lower costs and improved packaging.’’
Despite it being worthwhile for Murray Goulburn’s production, especially with a new deal with Coles just around the corner, employment numbers are not likely to increase.
‘‘As we ramp up to meet the additional volume from the new Coles private label cheese contract, we will utilise both our existing site at Cobram together with the new facility,’’ Mr Mallinson said.
‘‘Longer-term there is expected to be a small reduction in permanent head count across our Cobram operations due to the automation of some processes at the new facility.’’
Mr Mallinson said the new plant would provide an Australian first.
‘‘Re-seal packaging for cheese blocks is a first for Australia.’’
He said the new packaging was exciting.
‘‘I think that’s the one new innovation we are bringing in that’s going to be quite exciting for all consumers as well.’’
The new facility will officially open in February, coinciding with Murray Goulburn’s new private label deal with Coles.