- Beston Global Food Company’s (BFC) lactoferrin production plant is on track to officially open at the end of next month
- The South Australian facility is slated to produce 20 tonnes of lactoferrin from a milk supply of 155 millilitres in the 2022 financial year
- Beston has installed new equipment and infrastructure to ensure the plant is prepared to produce lactoferrin at a purity level of at least 95 per cent
- The first sale of lactoferrin (a protein found in milk) from the new facility is expected to be exported this month, ahead of the grand opening on July 30
- Company shares closed the day up 9.38 per cent at trading at 10.5 cents
Beston Global Food Company (BFC) is progressing the expansion of its lactoferrin facility which is part of its Jervois dairy factory in South Australia.
According to the company, the lactoferrin plant expansion will allow it to produce about 5 per cent of the world’s current annual demand for the multifunctional protein.
In late March, BFC installed two new lactoferrin extraction columns three weeks later than planned due to transport delays. Despite this, the company produced lactoferrin at a purity of over 95 per cent in early April.
“Delivering production of over 95 per cent purity lactoferrin in early April, so soon after commencing the commissioning of the two new lactoferrin extraction columns, was a significant achievement and testament to the skills and experience of the project team,” Chief Operating Officer Frank Baldi said.
The consumer stock faced additional logistics and other challenges due to COVID-19 but has still achieved practical completion of the two extraction columns.
Last month, all the company’s milk supply was processed through the newly installed lactoferrin extraction columns. Beston also brought a new freeze dryer into service to increase capacity to dry the concentrate so it’s ready for milling and packaging for sale.
Beston’s dairy operations at the Jervois dairy factory now have the capacity to produce up to 25 tonnes per annum of 95 per cent pure lactoferrin from 180 millilitres per annum of raw milk.
For FY22 the company is targeting 155 milliletres of milk supply which will enable it produce 20 tonnes of lactoferrin in the upcoming financial year.
The first sale of lactoferrin from the new production facility is expected to be exported in June.
Beston said the new lactoferrin plant would officially open on Friday, July 30 2021, and shareholders will be invited to attend. South Australia’s Premier Stephen Marshall will open the plant.
Company shares closed up 9.38 per cent trading at 10.5 cents.