ArNoCo begins whey and lactose production in Germany

A joint venture between Arla Foods Ingredients and Deutsches Milchkontor (DMK), ArNoCo, has commenced production of whey and lactose at its new facility in Germany.

The €50m factory is located 22km south of the Danish border in Nordhackstedtbuilt, and will process value-added ingredients.

The new facility is positioned next to a DMK cheese factory that produces 60,000t a year of mozzarella and semi-hard cheeses, such as Gouda.

The whey by-product of DMK’s cheese-making operations will be used by ArNoCo to manufacture a concentrated whey protein. This concentrate will then be transformed into high-quality ingredients for the nutrition, dairy and bakery sectors.

In addition, 25,000t of lactose will be produced at the facility every year. This lactose will be processed and made into Arla Foods Ingredients’ premium quality Dry Blend lactose, to be sold as a formula for infants.

Although currently running at 80% capacity, after July’s test production phase, the ArNoCo factory will soon reach full capacity.

ArNoCo’s project director Hans Jørgen Lauridsen said: "The construction of the new ArNoCo factory in Nordhackstedt is part of our quest to fulfil the pledges we make under our ‘quality starts here’ brand platform, which promises to offer our customers security of supply backed by adequate capacity, logistics and documentation, along with uniform high product quality, supported by strong traceability."

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Image: ArNoCo has commenced production at its new whey and lactose facility in Germany. Photo: courtesy of Arla Foods Ingredients.