YoCream International Inc has completed a 14-month facility expansion project, adding 21,000 square feet to its now 75,750-sq-ft dairy and manufacturing plant in Portland OR.
The construction project connects the existing manufacturing facility to the neighboring dry warehouse and includes an additional 7,000-sq-ft production room and support area, 10,600 square feet of freezer rooms, 3,400-sq-ft refrigerated shipping dock with three truck bays, and a new quality assurance lab. Freezer and cooler space now totals 22,000 square feet, capable of holding 3.5 million pounds of finished goods and ingredients. Of this space, 8,000 square feet has blast freeze capability.
"Our new energy-efficient freezer rooms are maintained at minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit and hold approximately 1,500 pallets," said Terry Oftedal, director of supply chain operations. "We've already increased our direct customer shipments and significantly reduced outside freeze-down, storage, and handling expenses."
The company also completed conversion of the existing freezer into refrigerated storage and workspace, effectively increasing cooler capacity by 200%. The freezers went online in October 2006, and the production room and quality assurance lab were completed in January 2007.
New filling lines will be installed in the expanded production facility to accommodate growth.
