Arla Foods has developed a new mobile milk powder packaging facility out of three 40-foot containers, making it more flexible to test new markets for milk powder in Africa.

The mobile facility will be sent from Denmark to the Ivory Coast, where Arla, in cooperation with a local partner will sell milk powder in small consumer friendly packages.

“When we are to test new markets it’s important to be close to the market, to be able to adjust the production according to the demand,” said Bent Strandfelt, responsible for the new packing facilities. “With the new mobile packaging facility we don’t have to build a permanent facility straight away.” 

The container has an area of 90 square metres, and is painted in a sandy yellow colour. The interior is decorated with cleaning-friendly vinyl on the ceiling, walls and floors. The roof is covered with 96 solar panels which makes the facility self-sufficient. The solar panels can deliver 12 hours production time a day. 

The container is capable of receiving 40 sacks of milk powder of 25 kilos each. The milk powder is delivered by the Danish powder plant Arla Foods Akafa. The sacks are emptied into a large funnel, which, through a closed pipesystem, sends the milk powder into a packing facility machine. The powder is packed into 25 gram units, which is what is needed for one glass of milk. The container also has a laboratory and changing facility as well as a toilet.

The mobile milk powder packaging facility will be placed with Arla’s partner in the city of Abidjan, where it will be run by seven local employees. It is planned that the new mobile facility should be up and running by October 1st this year.