P U B L I S H E R ’ S D E S K
KIWIS FLY HIGH IN GERMANY
The stats for Anuga FoodTec were impressive and
equivalent to my feet’s ‘ache scale’ - which was off
the chart - with more than 1700 exhibitors at the
Cologne show spanning some 500,000 cubic feet
in space.
But more important to me than the 50,000
attendees from 152 countries was the number
‘2’; the number of Kiwi companies who made the
trek at serious expense to show their wares at the
German show.
Yes, Milmeq and Cuddon Freeze Dry did the Kiwi
flag proud and they took their companies’ offerings
to the world and European stages (Nb: Cuddon
Freeze Dry is a division of Cuddon Limited that also
includes 80-year-old-this-year Cuddon Engineering
– congratulations from all of Engineering News’ staff
to a great Kiwi company).
You may wonder, ‘why?’, perhaps thinking about
your own business operation and how the addition
of an international show of this magnitude on your
own agenda might be simply too much effort. But,
as Milmeq’s Mike Lee and Cuddon’s John Cuddon
explain, opportunity is plenty, that’s why.
Milmeq specialises in automatic carton chilling
and freezing systems for meat, poultry and dairy
processors around the world.
“Forty years ago Milmeq pioneered the introduction
of automatic chilling and freezing tunnels to the
meat and dairy industries, and today our tunnels
are recognised worldwide for their performance and
reliability. In the 1980s we introduced large scale
plate freezers to the meat industry. With the ability
to halve freezing times, our plate freezers have
revolutionised freezing operations for processors in
Australasia and we are now seeing interest in them
around the world,” explains Mr Lee.
Mr Lee says that from a Milmeq perspective,
“in Australia, New Zealand and other regions
we have seen automation happening
particularly in the chilling and
freezing space.
“We operate in both the meat and dairy sector. In
dairy, we have clearly seen automation progressively
occur over the past 20 years, backed by some
major investment, and we see meat progressively
moving through an automation process too.”
Mr Lee says the move to automation is being
driven by significant labour shortages that are
restricting abilities to grow and run business, as
well as the obvious return on capital when you have
streamlined a business.
“So, I guess if you look at Europe, that’s what is
happening there, just like the dairy industry in New
Zealand. And these early adopters are now picking
up from this transition and entering the next phase
(from a very manual operation that involved labour
challenges, product damage, multiple handling and
product consistency challenges).
“We have nine installations in
Europe now in the two sectors
– these companies are finding
changes in their operations as
they are putting in automatic
chilling and freezing systems – the
next evolution will be going into
automated storage and retrieval.
Milmeq was at Anuga because the
company recognises opportunity.
Cuddon has been a trade show
‘junkie’ for the past 20 years, and in
that time has gained significant business internationally
by attending more than 40 shows.
With over 300 freeze dryers installed worldwide
and more than 40 years’ experience, Cuddon's
freeze drying equipment is used in a wide range of
industries across the world.
Engineering News will feature this company later
this year. John, as promised, we agree you guys
have an awesome story to tell.
Cuddon and Milmeq are great examples of Kiwi
companies getting among it and experiencing
growth beyond our shores.
What’s your excuse?
Greg Robertson
Publisher
Milmeq has taken its
products to the world