Nestlé unveils extended product technology centre in UK

Swiss food company Nestlé has inaugurated its newly extended product technology centre (PTC) for confectionery in the city of York, UK, strengthening its research and development (R&D) capabilities worldwide.

The extended PTC facility will enable the company to accelerate development of confectionery products for the UK and the rest of the world.

As part of the project Nestlé has expanded its pilot plant, where new technologies are developed and evaluated before they are used at its facilities across the world.

The company has also expanded its sensory testing facility, where groups of confectionery tasters test prototypes and finished products on the basis of smell, bitterness or sweetness, taste preference, and other factors.

PTC York director Stefan Palzer said that the specialist teams at the centre develop technologies for chocolate, wafer and fruit-based confectionery, and chocolate ingredients and coatings for ice cream products.

"The expansion will enable us to intensify product and packaging prototyping using sustainable and high-quality raw materials, innovative manufacturing processes and reliable and efficient equipment," Palzer added.

The extension work on the PTC was done in compliance with the guidelines of lean construction, a global standard for designing and constructing more efficient and environmentally sustainable buildings and systems, according to the company.

The York PTC facility, which employs about 185 people, features teams of technologists, scientists, engineers and other experts who seek to develop new ideas in confectionery.

Located on the site of the company’s confectionery facility, the centre has been designed to minimise water, carbon dioxide and energy waste and maximise output.

Nestlé has made several investments in its global (R&D) capabilities recently – in November it opened an R&D centre in India, and in October it announced plans to set up two R&D units in China – one in Dongguan and the other in Xiamen.

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Image: The extended PTC facility will enable Nestlé to accelerate development of confectionery products for the UK and the rest of the world. Photo courtesy of Nestlé.