Silver Fern Farms

Water conservation control at the fingertips is part of the impressive sustainable technology used in this $67 million replacement meat plant – the newest in the country.

Silver Fern Farms, one of NZ’s largest meat companies, was met with disaster in December 2010 when its beef processing operation at Te Aroha burned to the ground. A completely new plant, utilising the latest in water and energy conservation and know-how, has been built in its place and was opened in December 2012 by Prime Minister John Key.

Designed in consultation with internationally recognised experts in process layout and ergonomics, the plant now meets stringent standards for NZ’s most demanding meat customers in the UE, US and China and uses the most up to date meat processing technology.

Plumbing work inside the process building was subcontracted to Turfrey, Hawkes Bay – a Master Plumbers member with a long track record with meat industry projects and a long standing partnership with aquatherm NZ.

aquatherm green (fusiotherm) piping was used on the 43^oC and cold water low-pressure systems.

The challenge was to build a completely new plant, future-proof it and ensure it was as sustainable as possible. This has certainly been the case and all work was completed to the highest possible standards over 15 months.