HK RUOKATALO TO MODERNISE AND IMPROVE IT
HK Ruokatalo Oyj STOCK EXCHANGE BULLETIN 26 August 2004, at 10am
HK RUOKATALO TO MODERNISE AND IMPROVE ITS FORSSA PRODUCTION FACILITIES HK Ruokatalo is to embark on an extensive efficiency and modernisation project at its production facilities in Forssa. The company plans to completely replace the existing pork slaughtering line and machinery dating from 1987. The capacity of the existing line is insufficient to meet future needs. The project will also see the replacement of the animal reception facilities and quick carcass refrigeration plant dating from the 1980s. The project will last two years and is expected to cost just over EUR 20m. This makes it HK Ruokatalos largest single industrial investment in Finland for over ten years. The project seeks to safeguard the long- term conditions for slaughtering pigs in Finland and enables production volume to be competitively increased and production quality improved. Automation will result in fewer arduous, repetitive work stages, whilst better ergonomics will make the remaining stages lighter. Modernisation of the production line will also mean a sharp fall in specific water and energy consumption. Project planning is already well under way and the actual modernisation work will start within the next few weeks. The project will be carried out in stages so as not to disrupt production. The entire new slaughtering line is scheduled for completion in autumn 2005 and the finishing touches in early 2006. There will be no need to enlarge the existing production facilities since adequate space can be made available by re-arranging the present layout. The existing cowshed and animal reception facilities will be demolished and new premises built to replace them. Around 140 persons are employed at the Forssa slaughterhouse and some 350 persons in cutting and fresh meat processing. The modernisation project will not affect the cutting plant or fresh meat processing. The Forssa slaughterhouse specialises in pig slaughtering and cutting. HK Ruokatalo also has a pig slaughterhouse in Mellilä, a beef slaughterhouse in Outokumpu and poultry slaughterhouses in Eura and Säkylä. In 2003, HK Ruokatalo is the largest processor of Finnish meat and processed 140 million kg in 2003. HK Ruokatalo Oyj Simo Palokangas Chief executive officer DISTRIBUTION: Helsinki Exchanges Internet: www.hk-ruokatalo.fi