Valio trusts Norelco’s quality

The food company Valio is currently modernising the powder plant packaging line at its Lapinlahti facility in Finland. The company chose Norelco’s products for power distribution. Valio’s Electricity Access Director Jari Rahkola says that he trusts Norelco’s competence and service. 

Valio’s Lapinlahti plant produces cheese, and milk powder- and whey powder-based products for both domestic and foreign markets. The quality of production is closely monitored, and the plant is actively developed.

“As we operate in the food industry, the process of Valio’s Lapinlahti plant is extremely vulnerable. It is of utmost importance for us to ensure hygienic and disturbance-free production and an uninterrupted supply chain,” Rahkola points out.

This is why all the production lines in the area are vital in terms of both the production of value-added powders and processing of milk. Quality-wise it is essential that the products are packaged safely and efficiently.

Norelco’s switchboard systems for the new bag filling line

Valio has a project underway in which the Lapinlahti powder plant’s packaging line is being modernised. The production line will be commissioned in January 2024. Norelco has delivered NorLine 800 and NorPower 1250 switchboard systems to the ongoing Valio project. Rahkola comments on choosing Norelco as the switchboard system supplier:

“The first criterion I would like to mention is the uniform quality of Norelco’s products. There are no deviations. Secondly, Norelco is able to offer a broad power distribution product range from medium voltage switchgears to small, tailored switchboards.

The local presence of the supplier also played a major role in the selection.

“For us, Norelco’s location in eastern Finland means better reliability, efficiency and flexibility in terms of maintenance and service, and spare part deliveries. 

Switchboards are engineered and manufactured for the existing facility

At the powder plant, the existing bagging line is being modernised. In practical terms it means that the switchboards had to be tailored to an existing space. 

“Projects that involve executing new solutions in existing facilities often have spatial limitations. This means that it must also be possible to tailor the product according to the available space. This is why the engineering company chosen by Valio supplied Norelco’s switchboard designer with, in addition to the single line and schematic diagrams, the exact dimensions of the space to which the switchboards were adapted,” Rahkola says. 

Rahkola says that Norelco’s high quality is evident not only in the products but also in the delivery processes as competence and the ability to co-operate. 

“This project requires co-operation between multiple parties. It has highlighted the good co-operation between the engineering company and Norelco.”

Delivery reliability: deadlines are met, and communication works between Norelco and customer

Valio’s Lapinlahti project involves both dismantling and construction work. The schedule is very detailed, and to ensure that the project moves forward it has been highly important that the switchboards have been delivered within the agreed schedule. 

Rahkola emphasises Norelco’s exceptional practice of informing the customer of the progress of the product manufacturing process on a weekly basis. 

“Norelco’s weekly reporting allowed us to follow the manufacturing process, and should there have been delays, we could have reacted to them together. The reporting practice has fundamentally influenced our satisfaction.”

Quality control allows the development of the solution until the last moments of production

Jari Rahkola visited Norelco’s production facility in Savonlinna in July. The visit was scheduled to coincide with the testing of the finished switchboards and included a quality check performed together with Norelco. 

Rahkola says that the visit was part of Valio’s own quality control, the aim of which is to make sure that all the parties are on the same page when it comes to the designs and have completed the solutions as intended. An example of Norelco’s flexibility is that product characteristics can be improved up to and at the testing phase.

“In July, we decided together with Norelco’s team to adjust the switchgears’ protection against accidental contact and the mechanical protection between the cubicles, which further improved the safe handling of the switchboards,” Rahkola says.

Commissioning approaches – Norelco guarantees 100 per cent reliability

In the food industry, reliable power distribution is vital. If the switchboard malfunctioned, there would be negative repercussions on many levels. 

“We count on Norelco’s equipment to work problem-free. And if the switchboards need to be altered, we know that we can always contact Norelco. We can plan the necessary changes together and as a domestic supplier, Norelco can also provide any spare parts at short notice,” Rahkola says.

Jari Rahkola has previous experience of Norelco’s reliability and quality. The company delivered the main distribution board to Lapinlahti powder plant in 2019 in connection with the building of an infant nutrition plant and packaging line for consumer products. 

Valio Lapinlahti is a top unit in its field

Valio’s Lapinlahti plant produces cheese, and milk powder- and whey powder-based products for both domestic and foreign markets. Up to 75 per cent of its production is exported, to 28 countries. Milk-based powders are among the main export products. The plant’s production quality is monitored very closely, and auditors from different countries are a regular sight at the plant. Valio’s regional laboratory operates in connection with the Lapinlahti plant, performing demanding quality control analytics for all Valio plants.

More information: 

Valio Lapinlahti, Jari Rahkola, tel.+358 50 384 0629 or jari.rahkola@valio.fi

More information on products and services:

Norelco Oy, Juha Hakkarainen, tel. +358 50 525 5307 or juha.hakkarainen@norelco.fi