Meat processor Harim will extend its current 80,000m2 factory in Iksan, South Korea to house six processing lines across five floors. The 20m-high factory was designed because space is limited in South Korea, said the processor.
The site will include a 500m windowed corridor for visitors, which shows the production process and new processing lines.
Harim chairman Kim Hong-guk said: “Harim wants to be more open about poultry processing. That’s why we open our doors not only to our customers, but also to students and others who are interested in poultry processing.
‘Good quality and healthy chicken’
Kim added: “We like to show how our high-speed lines succeed in producing good quality and healthy chicken meat, with a strong focus on hygiene, food safety and good working conditions.”
Dutch processing line manufacturer Marel Poultry will equip the factory with four of the processing lines.
Harim chairman Kim Hong-guk said: “We have great confidence in Marel Poultry and their people. We highly appreciate the co-operation and it's always a pleasure working with them.”
The four processing lines will include low maintenance, self-calibrating ‘smart weighers’ and advanced equipment monitoring, Harim said.
Protein food processing
Harim is a group of companies which specialise in protein food processing. It has divisions in chicken, duck, pork, beef, feed, distribution, grain transportation and animal health care. It has four poultry processing sites in South Korea, and one in Delaware, US. Harim processes about 120M chickens a year, and employs about 1,900 workers.
Meanwhile, another way for the food industry to avoid using valuable space was showcased in this month’s BBC Food and Farming Awards. Growing Underground – featuring in the awards’ Future Food category – grows micro-greens and salad leaves 33m below the streets of Clapham. The crops are grown all-year round in a pesticide-free environment.
Harim five-storey processing site – at a glance
- 150,000m2
- 20m-high factory
- 500m windowed visitors’ corridor