THE MAKING OF CASEIN

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1928, Page 10

THE MAKING OF CASEIN

WHAT THE PROCESS ENTAILS. MODERN PLANT AT MIDHIRST. The new factory and plant is thoroughly up to date and the numerous processes through which the raw product passes call for careful designing. When tt is considered that the casein in the making travels through seven stages of elevation in the three storeyed building, cither <by gravity flow or mechanical conveyor, the intricacy of of the process becomes apparent. The building alone cost 15100, and with the plant and fittings the total cost will be over £15,000. The whole milk is received from suppliers at a new stage and emptied into the usual scales for weighing. It then passes to the separators, whence the cream travels back to the butter factory, and the skim milk, from which the casein is made, spouts into four funnel-shaped apertures and so over the usual factory cooler. A froth-breaking pump then comes into action and lifts the skim milk into three large precipitation vats, each capable of holding 2000 gallons and standing well above the floor. Here the addition of lactic ferment (starter) causes the milk to coagulate and the curd to form. For about 16 hours it stands in the vats, then the touch of a lever sets mechanical agitators in motion and the curd is quickly broken into fine particles. Steam is then admitted to the vats, and, as the bottom becomes warm, the curd rises above the whey, which is thus easily pumped to a tank for the use of suppliers. The curd is covered with boiling water to run into a draining vat from which the pure curd is hooped up and left in presses for about eight hours. TREATMENT OF THE CURD. Having thus obtained the green curd, the more delicate process of preparation for export commences. The curd is taken by lift to the second floor of the large new building and weighed. Here quantities from the main factory and the five branches are recorded before the eurd is broken on a bench and passed into a vicious-looking mill. As the teeth whirl round, the fine particles drop into an immense, tinned storage vat until all the curd has been through the mill. Ports at the bottom of the storage vat are then opened and the curd falls into two huge cylinders supported on rotating axles on the ground floor. These are the drying drums. Each is capable of holding from 60001 b to 70001 b of chopped curd and here the curd remains from eight to nine hours while the cylinders slowly revolve, heat being applied to the jacket by steam kept at the constant pressure of 601 b by a system of reducing valves. About 40 per cent, of the curd is moisture, and as the drying progresses the moisture, in the form of vapour, is drawn off by two vacuum pumps worked by steam engines In an adjoining compartment. When thoroughly dry, the curd is shot into V-shaped hoppers beneath each cylinder, under which mechanical conveyors work it along to a bucket lift which transfers it in a steady supply to the third and top floor, where it is bagged and stacked to cure for three or four days. At the end of this period, the cured article-is tipped into a vertical bin sunk in the floor and by gravity reaches a port immediately above the grinding machine on the second floor. Here two sets of steel rollers grind the curd into very small particles. Back it goes to the top floor in another bucket lift. The buckets travel almost to the roof of the building before tipping their load into a tall series of sifting machines. CASEIN FOR EXPORT. There are five grades sifted. The meshes from one as fine as a piece of silk to one like white-bait netting. The reason for the grading is that different countries demand, different grades. The casein is sifted, caught in a fresh set of hoppers and finally bagged entirely according to the market it is intended to supply. Any particles that refuse to pass through the sieves are conveyed automatically back to the mill to be re-ground and subsequently taken again to the sieves. The Midhirst company expects to export 400 tons of dried casein this season, from a total supply averaging in the flush 4000 gallons at Midhirst, 3500 from the Wharehnia branch, 2400 each from the Tuna and Waipuku branches, 1900 from the Tariki branch and about 500 from the York Road branch. | Individual machines are controlled by i individual electric motors, thus facili- | tating the changing process at the varii ous stages of manufacture. In all, the combined horse power of electric motors in the new building totals 89, while the motors in the factory as a whole make ‘up 180 h.p

The architect was Mr. E. E. Gillman, Hamilton, the contractor, Messrs J, T. Julian, New Plymouth, the machinery and plant were supplied and installed by Messrs. Mullan and Noy, Hamilton, and the plumbing and electric systems by Messrs Smart Bros, New Plymouth and Stratford. The control of the plant will bo under the direct supervision of Mr. A. Guthrie, general manager of the company, w’ho will bo responsible for the whole process of casein manufacture as well as the overseeing of the work at the main butter factory at Midhirst and the five creameries. ADVENT OF SUMMER GAMES. AVON BOWLING & CROQUET CLUBS Inclement weather conditions prevented a large attendance for the opening of the Avon Bowling and Croquet Clubs yesterday, but nevertheless there was a fair gathering, including visitors from Hawera. In declaring the bowling green open, Mr. J. Masters (president) welcomed the visitors and expressed the hope that members would enjoy a good season on the green. He presented trophies won last year to Air. A. Dickinson (A grade cup and Roger Cup), and to Mr. C. Hill (IB grade cup). Mr. H. C. North opened the croquet green for the ladies and wished the club a happy and prosperous year. He commented upon the high standard of play attained by the Avon ladies, which had brought them to the front rank among the croquet clubs in Taranaki. Details of the bowling match in which the vice-president’s rink defeated those of the president by 75 to 68 points are as follow, vice-president’s being mentioned first in each case:— V.P. P. Martin, Moss, J. Weston, North (s) 21 - Brown, C’lemow, Shaw, J. Mas- t ters (s) 15 Hunt, Ball, Hardv-Jones, Harris <s) :........ is - C. Thomson, Alan tie, Dickinson, Corkill (s) 18 White, Collingwood, Lonsdale, F. Weston (s) 16 Dixon, Mclnnes, Hill, C. Jackeon (s) 20 Rudkin, Colman, Woods, Brett (s) 20 - Parry, T. Wilson, Brown, Fletcher (s) 15 Totals 75 68 MONEY FOR MOUNTAIN ROAD. Mr. E. Walter, M.P., stated last night that a grant of £3OOO had been made for th© metalling of the road to the Stratford mountain house and £3OO would be spent this year. The amount had been placed on the supplementary estimates. ELTHAM C.E.M.S. CLUB. In common with a number of social clubs in the country the Church of England Men’s Society Club in Eltham is feeling the effect of the altered conditions of present-day living, and the club, once in a particularly flourishing condition, is faced with the problem of carrying on with the loss of a great deal of the support it formerly had. With a view to giving the members an opportunity of considering the position, a general meeting was held in the club rooms on Wednesday evening when a fair number attended. After considerable discussion it was decided that the position as shown did not warrant the club’s continuing its operations. A further meeting would be held to consider liquidation. The club was inaugurated in 1916, it was stated, and had proved a boon to both the adult and younger members of the community. It was with considerable reluctance that the present members decided on the course adopted. From reports received from other quarters it appeared the club was not alone in its unfortunate position, as many similar institutions were adversely affected by the vogue of the motorcar and the resultant ease of journeying further afield for amusement and social life. ELTHAM GENERAL ITEMS. During the past month Eltham has been visited by an unusual number of severe thunderstorms. On Wednesday evening a combination of wind, rain thunder and lightning made everybody seek the shelter of the fireside. Yesterday, though fine, was made unpleasant by a strong south-westerly. The opening day of the Eltham Bowling Club was held yesterday, when, in spite of the somewhat adverse conditions there was a good muster of players and visitors. The green was in good order and promised well for the season. Afternoon tea was served in the pavilion, those present being the guests of Mr. and Airs. H. P. Best. St. Joseph’s Tennis Club opened its 1928 season yesterday. An enjoyable afternoon was spent by the members and visitors. “THE COLLEGE WIDOW.” Even Dolores Costello has never been quite so devastating as she is in “The College Widow,” the Warner blaster Picture, showing at the King’s Theatre, to-night. One is familiar with Miss Costello’s tears, here is her laughter —gay, winning, Alaytime laughter, for the “College Widow” is the daughter of a college president, who, to win money for the institution ..nd to secure her father’s position, uses her feminine charm to recruit a team of footballers which sweeps the school to victory. Forty have “fallen for” her, and she has “fallen for” one. The latter discovers her duplicity, and there is pandemonium among the hob-nailed heroes, each of whom had thought himself her favourite. In the cast are William Collier, jun., Anders Randolf, Douglas Gerrard, Charles Hill Mailes, Robert Ryan, Sumner Getchel, Big Boy Williams, Grace Gordon and Jess Hibbs. Archie L. Mayo directed. GENERAL ITEMS. I “The whole question of hydro-elec-tricity needs investigation,” said Air. I W- J. Polson at Stratford on Wednesday night. He understood recent investigations by the Auckland City Council had led to the conclusion that electricity could be generated by Diesel engines at about half the cost of water; yet the Government was going ahead and opening up fresh hydro schemes. Already £20.000,000 had been sunk in

hydro-electric schemes in New Zealand. The matter urgent required investigation, for the Government was spending money unwisely and foolishly and the time had more than arrived when it should “go canny” until it could clearly see its way. The team to represent Stratford Cricket Club to-morrow in the opening competition match of the season against Excelsior, will be selected from the following players: Wilson, Cole, Young, Court, Beere, Soundy, Richardson, Herdman, Irving, Hancock, Graham, Hamilton, Bcardmore.