Polotsk dairy plant to launch aerated products in December

November 18, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. JSC "Polotsk Dairy Plant" will start producing aerated products in December. This was announced to a BELTA correspondent by the enterprise's director, Vladimir Yatskevich, at the "Vitebsk Region for a Healthy Lifestyle!" exhibition, which opened today in Vitebsk. The new line will include mousses, puddings, and desserts with various fillings. A special technological line of Belarusian-Polish-German production, costing Br3.2 billion and with a capacity of 250 kg of finished products per hour, has been purchased for the production of these products. Its installation is currently underway. In addition, the enterprise has acquired a Bulgarian-Italian line for bottling milk, kefir, and yogurts in PET bottles with capacities of 250 g, 0.5 L, and 1 L. Its cost was 1.6 thousand euros, and its productivity is 6 thousand bottles per hour. The line is planned to be put into operation in the first quarter of 2011. The new equipment will allow the plant to increase the shelf life of dairy products up to 10 days, and will also serve as a basis for implementing subsequent modernization projects aimed at extending the shelf life of dairy products. Thus, in 2011, the plant intends to purchase additional technological equipment for ultra-pasteurization (which will extend the shelf life of milk up to 20 days, and kefir and yogurts up to 28 days), and in the future, for filling into aseptic packaging (up to 4-6 months). The implementation of these projects is aimed at expanding the product range and increasing its export attractiveness, the head noted. In January-October, the plant produced products worth Br125 billion, or 119.4% compared to the same period last year. The profitability of sales is 8.7%. Dairy products worth $20.4 million were shipped to Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Georgia (180% compared to January-October 2009). The share of exports in the total sales volume is 48%. Investments in modernization and technological re-equipment for 2010 are planned at Br12 billion. The enterprise was founded in 1987. The product range includes over 70 types of dairy products, which are produced under the "Molochnoe Razdolye" trademark. The average number of employees is over 600 people. About 50 enterprises from the Vitebsk region, Minsk, and representatives from the Smolensk and Pskov regions of Russia participated in the III International Exhibition Fair "Vitebsk Region for a Healthy Lifestyle." Visitors to the fair can not only purchase products but also receive consultations from cardiologists, oncologists, endocrinologists, pediatricians, therapists, and other specialists. The exhibition will run until November 20. -0-