Investments
At the beginning of 2008, a comprehensive capital investment plan was adopted, the so called CAPEX plan, which anticipates overall investments in the amount of 30 million Euros within a five-year period. These investments are intended for extending the existing capacities as well as constructing new ones, purchasing the latest machines and equipment, while special emphasis is placed on solving ecological problems.
The aim of realizing this plan is to strengthen and expand Carnex’s leading position on domestic market in the field of meat production, meat processing and meat products as well as to enable the company to enter foreign markets, primarily the market of the Russian Federation.
CAPEX 2008
The total approved Capex plan capital investments in all the business units of JSC Carnex Vrbas in 2008 amount to 2.6 million Euros. These investments included the purchase of nine modern trucks and vans for the needs of the vehicle fleet, a flow grain dryer with aspirators in Žitar BU, a plate freezer, a frozen block chipper and fillers in the Durable Goods Plant.
Also, air compressors, ice makers, equipment for the slaughter line and new computers were purchased while modern changing rooms were built for the workers. Besides that, a great deal of construction and technical work was conducted on the sanation and adaptation of sanitary facilities, worker’s kitchen, dressing rooms and other business and production premises with the aim of meeting highly strict criteria of the ISO 9001 quality standard and HACCAP.
CAPEX 2009
The realisation of the capital investment plan, i.e. the Capex plan, which was adopted at the beginning of 2008, was continued.
The total approved capital investments in all the business units of JSC Carnex Vrbas in 2009 amount to approximately 7 million Euros. Some of the investments were fully completed in 2009, while the realisation of the others is expected to be completed during 2010 and 2011.
The completed investments which stand out are the new autoclaves and evaporative condensers in the durable goods plant by means of which the problem of excessive noise produced by the old machines was solved. Then, there are the frankfurter packing machine, vertical tunnel for scalding pigs, product weight equalization equipment, new farrowing boxes in the Cattle Breeding BU, manual can packing line, electrical equipment which lessens the overall consumption of electrical energy, pallet trucks, a trailer for the transport of animal feed etc.
Major projects with deadlines set for the yera of 2010 and 2011 primarily include the waste water treatment project whose realisation will contribute to the conservation and protection of one of the key problems of the local environment – the Great Bačka Canal, and theconstruction of new facilities for the automatic feeding of pigs on all three farms. This will lead to a decrease in wasting animal feed and an increase in pig growth. Also, a number of projects is planned for the adaptation and reconstruction of production facilities such as installing new industrial floors which meet the strictest European standards, installing panels, replacing drains.
In 2009, Carnex obtained the licence for exporting pate and luncheon meat to the Russian Federation and the export to this country started at the close of the year. When observed by business units, the Vitamix Feed Mill BU recorded the highest output of animal feed for our farms in the last few years. The external income of the Žitar BU was increased for more than 20% by activating the new dryer and cleaner for grains. Also, the delivery of finishers was increased while at the same time the consumption of animal feed as well as the total mortality in the Cattle Breeding BU was decreased. In the agricultural production, the application of organic fertilizers from our farms started which, on one side, decreases the overall expenses of purchasing fertilizers and, on the other hand, contributes to solving ecological problems on the farms.
CAPEX 2010
The total approved Capex plan capital investments in all the business units of JSC Carnex Vrbas up to now amount to approximately 5 million Euros.
From all the approved investments, the following have been completed up to now:
- plant for the separation of slurry on Farmacoop, which should reduce environmental pollution and fees for waste water in the forthcoming period,
- waste water flow meters and piezometers which should enable correct measuring of waste water release level for the sake of a legitimate determination of fees for waste water,
- 9 new trucks and 2 trailers for the vehicle fleet as the second phase of transport modernisation,
- drip irrigation system in fruit growing
- labortatory equipment,
- installing panels on the main plant building,
- reconstruction of the can packing department,
- installing panels in the central warehouse of finished products.
Until the end of the year, the installation of the new line for primal cutting and deboning, the line for slicing meat, stainless steel platforms, machines for washing pigs, the flame dehairing unit and other equipment for the butchery department is expected to be completed, which will provide a capacity increase as well as work efficiency.
