Moscow, February 19, 2004 — Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC (NYSE:WBD) today announced the installation of a new production line for the bottling of dairy products in plastic bottles (PAND) at Siberian Milk OJSC, Novosibirsk, the Company's leading plant in the Siberian region. Total investment in the project amounted to 4 million Euros.
Two bottle blow-moulders produced by Urola (Spain) and a filler produced by ACMAGD (Italy) were installed at Siberian Milk OJSC, Novosibirsk, with ACMA-GD supplying and managing the overall line installation. The new line allows the bottling of dairy products in 0.9 liter and 0.45 liter bottles using ESL clean production technology. The production capacity of the bottle blow-moulding and filling line is 150 tons per day for 0.9 liter bottles and 90 tons per day for 0.45 liter bottles. This equipment allows the shelf life of fermented milk products to be extended up to 30 days.
The installation of this equipment enables Wimm-Bill-Dann to widen significantly the range of dairy products produced at the plant. The company plans to use this line to produce dairy products (milk, kefir, ryazhenka, drinking yogurt) under the Chudo, Domik v Derevne, Bio-Max and Neo brands.
These investments represent Wimm-Bill-Dann's on-going modernization program across its production base. The project is aimed at meeting consumer demand and enhancing operating efficiencies through the introduction of world-class technology to dairy production.
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