2 MARCH 2017
Synlait Opens Research And Development Centre in Palmerston North
Palmerston North Mayor, Grant Smith, cutting the ribbon to open Synlait Palmerston North. Massey University Vice
Chancellor, Prof Jan Thomas, stands to his right and Roger Schwarzenbach, Synlait's GM of Technical and Innovation, is
opposite.
Synlait (NZX: SML; ASX: SM1) Palmerston North was officially opened today by Massey University’s Vice Chancellor and the
Mayor of Palmerston North.
“We’re very excited to be opening Synlait Palmerston North today, which is home to our new Research and Development
Centre,” says John Penno, Managing Director and CEO.
“We have some major opportunities in front of us. With the strong team and partnerships we’ve got in place to lead
liquid innovation within our business, we won’t miss a beat,” he says.
The Vice Chancellor of Massey University, Professor Jan Thomas, opened the facility and highlighted the important new
relationship between Synlait and the university.
“The establishment of Synlait’s new Research and Development Centre at Massey’s Manawatū campus is an excellent example
of industry and the university collaborating closely to achieve real, tangible outcomes,” says Professor Thomas.
“Strategic partnerships like these are vital if we are to start and grow new industries, create new jobs, and to remain
competitive in the global marketplace. Massey University is New Zealand’s premier provider of food research and
education, and at the forefront of pioneering such partnerships with the food industry.” she says.
The Mayor for Palmerston North and Accelerate 25 Lead Team member, Grant Smith, thanked Synlait for choosing Food HQ and
Palmerston North City for their investment.
“It’s fantastic to now see commercial companies such as Synlait organically using the value of Food HQ and Massey
University. Assisting companies with R+D and commercialising their products is one of Food HQ’s key roles,” says Mr
Smith.
“The City of Palmerston North is part of Accelerate 25, a regional economic development programme for Central New
Zealand, and Food HQ is one of the key enablers in this programme to grow business,” he says.
The MP for Palmerston North, Iain Lees-Galloway had to be called away at the last minute, however he left a message for
those at the opening, welcoming Synlait to the region.
Synlait Palmerston North is a partnership with Massey University and FoodPilot, one of the New Zealand Food Innovation
Network’s four hubs.
The Palmerston North team will primarily concentrate on innovative dairy liquid product development, as well as
supporting processes and technology.
They will also play an important role in developing innovative export-orientated cream opportunities that leverage
Synlait’s upcoming $125 million advanced liquid dairy packaging facility at Synlait Dunsandel.
“We are serious about growing and applying our research and development expertise to maintain a competitive edge. While
Palmerston North is focused on dairy liquids, we have teams elsewhere working on nutritional powders, packaging and many
other areas.”
Synlait plans to double their investment over the next two years, having committed around $7 million to research and
category development in the current financial year.
“We’ve established an R+D Centre in Palmerston North and will be investing around $2 million on additional equipment for
the FoodPilot facility, which can be used by others,” says Mr Penno.
Synlait currently has around 35 staff members working within the Research and Development Team, but this will continue
to grow as Synlait Palmerston North ramps-up its operations.
ENDS