44 | New boiler will improve energy efficiency T T from page 42 AFFCO Horotiu REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Under the leadership of Plant Manager Trevor Bennett, who has been with the company for 19 years and in his current role since 2015, the plant has seen significant modernisation and growth within the plant, positioning it as a vital player in both domestic and international markets. Innovation is a continuous journey at AFFCO Horotiu says Trevor, with the plant having undergone a comprehensive modernisation in 2006 and currently making improvements to its energy efficiencies with the installation of a new pallet boiler. “We’ve started the foundation for new boiler installation, a highly efficient one that will supplement the hot water heating that our rendering plant achieves, with its water heating capabilities,” says Trevor. The plant continuously seeks upgrades to enhance processing efficiencies and reduce its environmental impact. “We’ve just put in a new biofilter which will greatly assist with odour minimisation and discharge from the plant. The biofilter will break down the odours and prevent them from escaping the plant into the environment.” The addition of a further processing room to cater specifically for the domestic market enables AFFCO to provide meal kit suppliers and grocery wholesalers with primary ingredients. “From this processing room, we can do mincing, dicing and slicing of meat cuts for the domestic market and we are specialists in vacuum-packed beef,” says Trevor. AFFCO Horotiu is deeply rooted in its local community. The plant supports local trades through ongoing maintenance and servicing contracts with companies like Pulse Engineering, Hanes Engineering and Excel Refrigeration. Additionally, the plant provides employment opportunities and career advancement through on-site training and apprenticeship programs in electrical and refrigeration trades. “We provide ITO training on site for our staff to obtain credits toward national qualifications in a broad range of skills and we put through trades apprentices such as electrical and refrigeration, on site too.” Trevor says the company is dedicated to maintaining high standards of animal welfare with strict protocols in place for the humane treatment of livestock. “Animal welfare and health and safety are paramount. We prioritise these issues and everyone from the CEO to plant managers and H&S co-ordinators and staff hold a monthly health and safety meeting and we get a lot of work engagement.” Staff are encouraged and rewarded for taking an active role in suggesting health and safety improvements and fostering a safe and productive workplace. Generations of families have provided long service of 20+ years at AFFCO Horotiu and all staff are well looked after with good pay grades and a free lunch provided mid-week and free breakfast every day. “Plus, they enjoy discounts at the staff shop where they can get the range of AFFCO NZ Ltd meat and Talley’s veggies, fish and ice cream products,” says Trevor. A meat processing career is still very much a good choice says Trevor with plenty of opportunity for upskilling and progression. AFFCO Horotiu is one of 12 processing sites around New Zealand strategically placed to be close to rural transport arterial routes and ports and has its corporate office based out of Hamilton. Proud to support AFFCO Horotiu We cover the whole process chain with our innovative solutions for processing and packaging food products. Sales • Service • Training 0800 696 858 info@multivac.co.nz multivac.com/nz MULTIVAC New Zealand For all your engineering requirements. General Design and Developments Stainless Work Maintenance Factory Fit Out’s 0800 8299753 WWW.HANES.CO.NZ www.integratedpackaging.co.nz | 09 274 4499 | 5 Sir William Ave, East Tamaki + Crop Packaging Products + Industrial Stretch Films + Pallet Shrink Film + PVC Food Films — a division of Proudly supporting AFFCO Horotiu + Plain Films + Stretch Hoods + Bundle Shrink + Plain & Printed Bags + Liners & Sheets
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