Borthwicks To Expand Works

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 19

Borthwicks To Expand Works

The Belfast works of Thomas Borthwick and Sons (A’asia), Ltd, is to undergo a major expansion programme.

Details of Borthwick’s ssm capital investment programme reveal that the Belfast works will receive a greater share of the expenditure than any of the company’s other three works.

The project will provide for an increased beef kill at all works. A mutton and lamb slaughter block at Belfast is already in progress as part of a project which continues through to 1973, when a new beef slaughter block is scheduled. Capital Spending Details of the scheme underline the comments of the company’s chairman (Mr A. M. Borthwick) when he announced the intended expenditure: “Freezing companies must continue to spend heavily in order to keep abreast of expertise in the highly-competitive world meat markets.”

As a consequence of the Belfast expansion almost all other departments at the works will be affected to some extent .

The stock yards are being extended and subdivided, the mutton board is being converted to the boning room, and chop cutting facilities are planned. To enable older buildings to be gradually repaired or replaced it will be necessary to construct another cold store in or about 1972.

Beef chillers, Devco chillers and local trade chillers are scheduled for extension starting next year, and a new cooling floor and carcase

freezer are to be started soon.

A new fellmongery is almost complete and this will be occupied in the near future. A new general store is well under way. A rendering plant, continuous refining and bulk manure storage facilities will be installed in 1971. This will provide a uniform grade of meal.

Whilst the largest expansion programme is to be undertaken at Belfast, Borthwicks are also spending considerable amounts in their three other works.

The biggest single project, and the most difficult, is the reconstruction of the central core of the main works complex at Waitara. New Store Planned The entire expansion programme for Waitara revolves roubd this as the new top storeys, which will replace old timber construction, will house a side boning room, lamb cutting facilities, and carton freezers and chillers. Before this project can start, the existing storage space in the block must be replaced, and a new store is planned to start later this year. The major expenditure at Borthwick’s Waingawa works is associated with new boning facilities, for which a new block is being built. The design of a new chiller block for Feilding is under way, leaving the old chiller area for local trade and beef board extensions.