Production recently began at a new whey and lactose production facility that is a joint venture between Denmark’s Arla Foods Ingredients and German dairy co-operative Deutsches Milchkontor (DMK).

The factory, which cost more than 50 million euros to build, is operated by ArNoCo, an organization created by the two companies to produce high-quality ingredients for the food and beverage industries. Located in Nordhackstedt, Germany, the facility is adjacent to an existing 60,000 tonnes-a-year cheese factory owned by DMK that produces mozzarella and semi-hard cheeses.

ArNoCo will use the whey byproduct from DMK’s cheese-making operations to produce whey protein concentrate ready to be converted into value-added ingredients for the bakery, dairy and nutrition sectors.

The new site will also produce 25,000 tonnes of lactose annually, which will be processed and sold as Arla Foods Ingredients’ premium-quality Dry Blend lactose for infant formula.

“This new joint venture will enhance Arla Foods Ingredients’ position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of the highest quality whey protein and lactose ingredients,” says Hans Jørgen Lauridsen, ArNoCo’s project director. “The market for these products is growing faster than the ingredients industry can supply them, so the establishment of ArNoCo in co-operation with DMK is a significant development.”