HKScan reveals site of Finland poultry factory
The added capacity and optimised technology enabled by the investment would allow the group to develop innovative products for the home and export markets under its Kariniemen brand, the company said. The factory would have the capability to speed up production rates, it added.
“The investment will strengthen HKScan’s foothold on the rapidly expanding poultry market and in value-added product categories, which are our strategic focus segments,” said CEO Hannu Kottonen.
‘Efficiency’
“Our productivity will improve significantly thanks to technology, automation and greater overall efficiency. At the same time, we will be able to utilize side-streams more efficiently for the production of biotech products. The investment will also generally improve our environmental efficiency.”
Complying with HKScan’s corporate responsibility programme, the new facility would adopt solutions to promote occupational health and safety and maximize material, energy and environmental efficiency, it claimed. Biosecurity related to risks of animal diseases would also improve.
The investment would help protect long-term employment opportunities in the meat industry in western Finland, said HKScan. It would have significant direct and indirect employment impact.
Headcount reduction
After reviewing the alternatives, the company and its personnel agreed that the new facility would employ close to 300 meat experts when completed from the end of 2017 onwards. Related statutory negotiations were concluded last month in Eura and some reduction in headcount would be involved, it said.
Now that the location of the facility had been decided officially, HKScan said it would apply for the necessary permits without delay in the hope of gaining approval from the authorities as soon as possible.
Preliminary permit surveys have already been made. When the Rauma facility is completed, it would replace HKScan’s current production unit in Eura, which would remain operational until the new facility opened, it said.
The investment is valued at approximately €80. The project would rank among the most significant production-related investments in HKScan history so far, the company claimed.
