Page 34 - Food&Drink Magazine October 2021

PLANT DESIGN & FITOUT
Out of the ashes
LEFT: The new
build features a 10-storey automated packaging facility
BELOW: Thomas Foods’ Nekta Nicolaou
• beef processing and animal handling facilities;
• beef boning room with an automated packaging technology fitout;
• stockyards;
• employee amenities and
administration facilities;
• wastewater treatment plant; • fully automated carton
chilling, freezing and storage systems; and
Australia’s largest 100 per cent family-owned meat processing company Thomas Foods is well underway with the construction of its new meat processing plant in Murray Bridge, South Australia. Kim Berry writes.
IN January 2018, Thomas Foods International’s meat processing plant in Murray Bridge, South Australia was destroyed by fire.
It was a major blow to the company, which specialises in meat processing and global distribution across wholesale, retail, and food service sectors.
But from the ashes is arising a 10-storey plant that will service the international operations for decades to come.
The build is in what was a large paddock, around
10 kilometres from the town centre of Murray Bridge.
Up until now, initial earthworks have been working to level the field, moving 180,000 cubic metres of existing soil
around the site. Thomas Foods
International group engineering manager Nekta Nicolaou says the focus has been on the earthworks and pouring of concrete footings and foundations.
“Using existing soil has avoided the need to import or export additional amounts. Two large lagoons have also been excavated for ourwastewater
treatment plant,” Nicolaou says. “Approximately 13,500 cubic metres of concrete is being laid
and from this solid base the plant is beginning to emerge from the ground up.
“It’s now when you can start to picture the full magnitude of this build and it’s exciting to see.
”This site will become a hive of activity over the months ahead as the build continues to
“ Approximately 13,500 cubic metres of concrete is being laid, and from this solid base the plant is beginning to emerge from the ground up.”
progress as planned,” he adds. And magnitude there is. The
10-storey automated packaging building is part of more than 1700 tonnes of steelworks earmarked for the development.
It is a key component of the world-class facility being built in the once empty paddock.
As the highest structure on the site, the packaging building will have capacity to store 40,000 cartons of frozen and chilled meat products within the storage and retrieval system, and will feature the latest in automation and robotics technology.
StageOneincludes:
• electrical, refrigeration and boiler systems to the highest energy efficiency standards. Subsequent stages will see the
addition of small stock (sheep and lamb) processing facilities and further expansion of the beef facilities, Nicolaou says.
South Australia’s largest private commercial contractor and one of Australia’s largest privately-owned builders Badge is completing the design and construction of Stage One, while South Australian family owned business Ahrens is supplying steel for the project.
Stage One is expected to be finishedbylate2022. ✷
34 | Food&Drink business | October 2021 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au