LONG touted as the saviour for ailing rural industries, innovative manufacturing has proven to be a winner for an expanding factory at Maryborough.
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Sonac Australia officially opened a $3.7 million upgrade of its blood processing factory on Wednesday - the only of its type in Australia.
The business, under the banner of Darling Ingredients International, bought the nearly bankrupt blood processing plant in 2012 and has since modernised its operations.
The plant now produces spray dried haemoglobin and plasma powders for pet and animal feed applications.
Sonac Australia commercial manager Freddy Horn said the bricks and mortar were the only aspects that remained since the purchase.
"We try to find the best application out of our products," he said.
"Plasma powder is a very important product - it improves the immunisation of animals and is a great binder.
"These are products that might have previously been seen as waste.
"We sell domestically, but our products are also exported to countries in South East Asia, Asia Pacific and to North America."
The main aspects of the upgrade included $1.46 million to connect the factory to natural gas with a pipeline from the Maryborough.
The company also constructed an onsite waste water treatment plant, new blood collection systems at existing suppliers and implemented a nanofiltration system to expand production capacity and improve quality.
Mr Horn said when they purchased the factory, it was producing 7500 tonnes.
Next year, it will operate at a full capacity of 25,000 tonnes.
"The construction of new offices and an integrated laboratory will also open up skilled employment opportunities," Mr Horn said.
"We're committed to creating sustainable jobs and are always interested in recruiting skilled staff, especially in the production, quality and technical departments."
Sonac Australia's Maryborough site currently employs between 20 and 25 people.