June 15, 2015
Van Aarsen gets royal seal of approval
Press Release
None other than Prince Carl Philip of Sweden was on hand to open the new state-of-the-art Kronan feed-mill at the southern Swedish port of Kalmar.
Construction of the new plant, the most modern of its kind in the world, was commissioned by the Kalmar Lantmän Cooperative. Its realisation- from concept to completion- was made possible by Van Aarsen, representing the largest ever order in its 66-year history.
Growing demand
Built to replace two existing facilities in the region, the ultramodern feed-mill was required to meet the growing demand for feed in the expanding chicken, pork and cattle industry sectors in southern Sweden. This €50 million investment brings about massive improvements in terms of flexibility, efficiency, hygiene and cost-savings in feed production. The new, fully automated feed-mill now has a capacity to produce 100 tonnes of feed per hour on five dedicated lines for specified animal species.
Concept to completion
When plans were first presented in 2009 for construction of the hyper-modern Kronan feed mill in Kalmar, Van Aarsen was placed on a short list of possible candidates drawn up by Kalmar Lantmän to take on responsibility for the entire construction of the plant – from its design to completion. Potential contractors were asked to meet the following requirements:
• Significant reductions in production costs per tonne of animal feed
• Maximisation of production automation (thus minimising labour costs)
• Optimisation of hygiene and (fire) safety levels
Ultimately, the chosen candidate would be charged with effectuating efficiencies on all fronts.
In spite of the intense competition, Van Aarsen was awarded the contract on the back of extremely compelling technological, organisational and financial arguments, but not least because the solutions they put forward were the most effective. Consequently, the deal for realisation of the plant was signed in February 2012.
Construction started in April 2012 with foundation works and was followed later in the year by the installation of pre-fabricated concrete structures. The entire shell was completed by May 2013 following uninterrupted building operations throughout the winter months in all weather conditions. Plant, processing lines and building-engineering systems were installed on schedule according to meticulous just-in-time planning.
Why Van Aarsen
In addition to Van Aarsen''s long and distinguished past in the feed-milling industry and its global reach, the client was won over by its pitch for a number of reasons, but key incentives were cost-savings, flexibility and efficient production. Smart engineering concepts, for example, meant that Van Aarsen''s design would lead to 30% savings in on-site space using state-of-the-art machines capable of producing a lower cost per tonne of feed. Likewise, the plant infrastructure has been organised in such a way to maximise flexibility and efficiencies in production processes, with dedicated production lines for pig, chicken and cattle feed, an extensive raw material dosing system, and high-capacity hammer mills.
The Kalmar Lantmän feed-mill came on-stream in 2014 and after being "run in" over a period of several months is now operating at full capacity, and so consolidating its position on the Swedish animal feed market. For Van Aarsen, the completion of this major project demonstrates its ability to meet the technological requirements of ultramodern feed mills well into the 21st century.