15 October 2004 - 00:00
Danisco enhances production capacity for pectin by around 35%
New pectin plant to be located in the centre of Brazil's largest citrus area in the
state of Sao Paulo.
Danisco has decided to carry out its largest investment
in organic growth of the ingredients business in recent time the construction of a new pectin plant
to be located in the centre of Brazil's largest citrus area in the state of Sao Paulo.
The construction of the plant is based on a need for enhanced capacity, as Danisco's pectin plants
in Mexico and the Czech Republic are fully exploited.
Brazil is the world's largest producer of orange concentrate and as mainly orange peel will be used as a raw material in the new plant,
Danisco's investment will effectively enhance its production capacity for pectin by 35%.
"The market for soft drinks is moving towards new types of beverages, e.g. drinking yoghurts and
milk/juice drinks. Pectin is very important for stabilising such beverages, and our new plant
supports this trend. It also allows us to exploit the knowledge we already have in the area and
produce speciality pectin with a relatively low level of costs," says Hans Henrik Hjorth,
President Danisco Textural Ingredients.
Favourable raw material prices and relatively cheap
energy are expected to turn the new plant into one of the world's most efficient and flexible
production sites.
Danisco is making a DKK 300 million investment in the plant, and it meets
Danisco's usual requirements for return on investments.
The investment is included in the
normal investment budget. The plant brings around 110 new jobs to the area and responsible
for the construction is Torben Torsbjerg Møller, VP Operations, Danisco Textural Ingredients,
who will soon be celebrating his 40th anniversary at Danisco.
Danisco has produced pectin for
close to 30 years and developed production technologies that can be exploited globally.
The technologies will benefit the
production in Brazil. One of the major advantages of
Brazilian production is that it is close to the raw materials.
Danisco's share of the pectin
market is around 25%, and the plant is to help retain this share. The global annual growth rate
for pectin is 3-6%.
The plant will be operational in 2007.With the new plant, Danisco has pectin
production in Brazil, Mexico and the Czech Republic.
Pectin is a natural stabiliser derived
from citrus fruits or apples. Pectin is
used for dairy, confectionery, jam, baked goods and
beverages, and as it is based on a natural raw material, it is a preferred stabiliser for the
food industry and consumers alike.
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