Among the different types of dairy products consumed daily, milk is one of the most significant products which are consumed by people all over the world. Today there are various milk processing plants to meet the growing demands of milk. However, there are various developments in the automation of dairy processing plants in the country which aim to enhance the quality and quantity of production.
Similar to several other industries, the dairy industry aims to maximize its production, reduce carbon footprint and reduce downtime and wastage to improve the profit line.
Significance of Milk Processing Plants:
Milk which is obtained in packages and bottles pass through a series of processes before it is made fit for consumption. All these processes are performed in the processing plants. It is then packed and sold in the consumer markets.
The entire process can be categorized into different steps which include collection of milk from the cattle, transportation to the processing plants, clarification, pasteurization, homogenization and finally packing the product.
Milk is initially collected from the cattle in large farms and it is then checked for purity and quality. It is then transported to the plants where it is transferred to huge tanks. The milk is then separated and clarified. It is essential to separate bacteria and other contaminants from the milk to make it fit for consumption. After the clarification process, it is then processed again to separate full cream milk and toned milk.
The process of segregation is followed by the addition of fortified minerals and vitamins in the milk. The product is then made ready for pasteurization. In the process of pasteurization, the milk is heated in very high temperature and then cooled immediately to eliminate bacteria.
The pasteurized milk is then homogenized to remove the fat content from the milk. Homogenization is quite essential as it helps to eliminate fat particles in the product. There are various types of milk products made available quite easily through both online and offline stores.
It is then packaged and sold to the consumer markets. Most of these packages include shelf life and expiry dates. Milk products are available in different forms which include powder, skimmed, whole fat and semi-fat, homogenized and toned, double toned and many more. Most of these products can be bought from online stores too.
Today, there are various companies which offer substantial assistance to processing plants to procure and process milk in hygienic methods within a short period of time.
Automation of Processing Plants:
With the development of automated processing plants, it is easier to monitor the delivery of milk from the tankers and finally to the packets and bottles. Various technologies are being integrated in the automation process to further enhance the functions of the processing plants. Different automation applications are integrated into a single application through modern technologies.
Different programs are initiated to reduce the time consuming process of cleaning the processing plants which is an integral part of the industry. With the right type of applications, it is easier for the dairy industry to deliver quality products on time.
