With Maustaja – toward modern food production

28.2.2020

Maustaja’s development project aims to achieve international growth and improved responsibility and product safety.

Maustaja is implementing a major project which includes investments in product development as well as new manufacturing technology, automation and robots. We are also improving our overall transparency through digitalization.

The project is supported by European Regional Development Fund’s investment aid which is to enhance SMEs’ competitiveness and the traceability and product security of food industry.

Growth from health and well-being

A significant part of the investment project is a new production line for berry, fruit and plant-based snack products. These new product groups are linked to global health and well-being trend, thus providing opportunities for business growth and the promotion of employment.

The orders for the line equipment will be made immediately after next summer, and the new production and packaging line is planned to be in use by the end of 2021.

Maustaja aims to continuously improve its operational responsibility which also includes the well-being of personnel. Accordingly, the EU fund has already been used for new packaging robot. It was used to replace a mechanic work stage which stressed employees’ joints. This clearly improved the working ergonomy.

Another already made investment is a goblet machine which helps, for example, to package vegetarian mayonnaise into handy single portion goblets.

“We are undergoing an ever tightening global competition. Consumer behavior is constantly changing, and rapid technology development enables increasingly smart and agile production and logistics. Digitalization plays a key role in renewing business for the benefit of customers and environment,” says Maustaja’s Chief Executive Officer Arto Tölli.

Transparency is equal to trust

In the coming years, Maustaja will develop its business by operational changes but also with new digital solutions. They are used to improve product traceability and process transparency.

”It’s all about information. People want to know what they eat: what the product contains or not, where it is made, and is it safe to eat,” Mr Tölli illustrates.

”Information can be data about products, processes, ingredients or customers. Important is how this data is managed and made available for customers and consumers. The result of this is transparency which forms the basis for the trust of both customers and consumers.”