FACTORIES IMPROVED

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 26 (Supplement)

FACTORIES IMPROVED

MANY EXTENSIONS THIS YEAR RENEWALS AND RENOVATIONS. PLANTS BEING KEPT UP-TO-DATE. Extensive additions and renovations have been made to many of the Taranaki dairy factories during the “off season” so as to keep the plant up-to-date and capable of handling the growing output of the province. The necessity of maintaining dairy factories at the highest possible Standard is fully realised by the directorates, and even with prices far from encouraging it has been their policy to maintain the factories and equipment so that the best conditions are available for manufacturing only the highest quality produce. There is even greater necessity for high quality now than in times of greater prosperity, and even at considerable expense many factories have been renovated in readiness for the coming season. Although a number of new factories have been erected and .others remodelled within the past few years, there are still some that do not fulfil the requirements of the times, and it is the intention of the manag- rnent in the near future to inaugurate' a -re-building programme. The dairy authorities are interesting themselves in a policy of bringing the dairy factory buildings and plant of • the province up-to-date in every respect, ■and estimates are being obtained as to the total Costs involved and just how far these can be borne by the industry under the -evailing conditions. This year there are no less than three new factories in South Taranaki. These are the J/mgatoki Dairy Company’s branch at Kaponga and the Kaupokonui Dairy Company’s branch at Waiokura, both of which were destroyed by fire, and the Mangawhero Road branch of the Joll Dairy Company. At Toko another new factory has been constructed to replace a loss by fire. The nwz Mangatoki factory, which will' contain six vats—twice the capacity of the old building—has been constructed on the most modem lines known in dairy architecture. A new feature is that the sweet whey tank is to be' of “staybrite” steel constructed overhead instead of a submerged tiled reservoir. There will he a tiled drain to a small sump from which the whey will be pumped directly to the overhead tank. This method will give greater facility for feeding the separators. PROGRESS ON THE “PLAINS.” doll’s new Mangawhero factory provides for eight vats—three vats larger than the old factory—and gives ample room for accommodating the output for some years ahead. The Waiokura factory also will contain eight vats, an increase of two, which is considered adequate provision for the future.

The Kaponga company has also been faced with the necessity of providing for a growing supply, and at each factory—Kaponga, Rowan and Riverlea —an extra vat has been installed. While this will cope with the immediate future it is believed that the main factory will have to be considerably enlarged within a few years. The plant has been well maintained in the past and is quite up-to-date. At the Mahoe branch the Mangatoki company has ' converted the old hoist stage into a "roll in” stage, 28 feet long to take two weighing machines. A new receiving vat has been put in under the cooler to feed the regenerator, and new concrete slabs have been built in front of the stand and the whey tank. The main Mangatoki factory is at an efficient standard, and no improvements were necessary this year, nor at the Matapu branch, but next year extensive alterations are contemplated at the latter. The Joll company has adopted the practice of painting two factories and the attendant cottages each year, thus completing the circuit in four years. At the main factory, Okaiawa, . the packing room has been extended and the curing room freshly insulated, while not long ago a new'A.P.V. pasteuriser, working n the heat exchange principle, was installed. At Palmer Road a new cottage is to be erected for the first assistant, while at Otakeho boiler repairs have been carried out. Last year the Otakeho factory was thoroughly remodelled and enlarged and the extensions have brought the plant and premises up-to-date. A new roof has been put on the Okaiawa bulk store building. The Meremere Co-op. Dairy Coy's, factory at Ohangai is also an up-to-date building with accommodation in. the making room that should be ample for years to come. The old factory was burnt down about two years years ago —the first of several such fires in Taranaki—and was rebuilt in time to commence operations at the beginning of last season.

Ordinary repairs have been effected at most of the Kaupokonui branches, including general painting and renewal of vats. Most of the boilers have had the annual overhaul or been the butter plant has been brought to a more efficient standard. A new separator is being put in a* Normanby factory, where much repainting has been done this season. Recently a new detached storage room was erected, giving greater facilities for storing produce for shipment. The Riverdale factory is well up-to-date, and except for re-bricking of the boiler'required little attention this year. The Awatuna factory is comparatively modern and has not needed any attention this year. The plant at the Taunga-

tara branch was extensively overhauled last year, and this factory, too, is in first-class order.

The factories of the Eltham Dairy Company are fairly well up to modern standards, a new factory having been built at Cheal Road last year, while at Mata the building was added to and the making room nlarged last season. This year general renovations have been carried out at the branches and several new vats installed. A new churn is being put vin at the butter factory in Groves Street, while at Rawhitiroa a new whey tank and concrete floor are among the improvements. Boilers have been overhauled at most branches, and at Mountain Roed the bailer has been re-bricked, while a new tile whey drain has also been put, in.

The Lowgarth factory is comparatively modem, and except for minor renovations had needed no improvements this year.