On 31 December 1977, Marijampolė Canned Milk Plant was launched. It was one of the biggest and most modern milk processing companies not only in Lithuania, but also in the Baltic states.

In 1981, Virbalis, Lukšiai, Lazdijai, Jurbarkas, Prienai and Kalvarija milk processing companies were gradually merged with the plant. Later, they became subsidiaries of the factory.

On 16 August 2001, Eksimeta UAB acquired all the assets of Marijampolės pieno konservai UAB and transferred the production process to its subsidiary, Marijampolės pieno konservai UAB. At present, all production capacities and the staff have been retained and the production of all products continues.

Marijampolės pieno konservai UAB is one of the largest and highest performing milk processors in Lithuania and the only canned milk producer in the Baltic region. The structure of the company’s processes ensures large scale production volumes.

The technologies used by the company allow for ensuring that the quality of the products complies with the Lithuanian, EU, and CIS standards. The products are made from milk of especially high quality. The company is approved for exporting to the European and Russian markets. The production is carried out in accordance with the requirements of certified Food Safety (HAACP), Quality Management (ISO 9001) and Environmental Management (ISO 14001) systems.

Marijampolės pieno konservai UAB is an active exporter, so it uses the services of the biggest and the most universal banks, DNB bank and UniCredit bank, which ensure secure payments.

The company’s service sector is well developed: the company provides customs services, including preparation of customs documents, handling of import and export formalities, representation of partner companies in customs-related matters, and control of customs procedures.

Upon the client’s request, the company offers product transportation services by rail, road transport, or by sea via the Klaipėda, Riga and Kaliningrad seaports.

Marijampolės pieno konservai UAB has developed a new marketing strategy for domestic and foreign markets. In the domestic market, the company successfully cooperates with the biggest retail chains VP Market, IKI and Norfa. However, most produce is exported to Latvia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Spain, Portugal, France, Libya, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, Africa, etc.

To modernise the management process, the company has implemented the accounting and business management system Navision Attain, salary calculation program Vikarina, and planning, budget preparation and control program Corporate Planner.

Technologies

Cans can be made from lacquered, food-grade enamel covered or lithographic tinplate. The can manufacturing unit operates in accordance with certified Quality Management (ISO 9001) and Environmental Management (ISO 14001) systems. The following production lines are installed in the unit:

• One Krupp line for the production of three-piece (prefabricated) cans with a weld seam; for can types (Diameter x Height) 73 x 84 mm; 73 x 109 mm; 99 x 110 mm; 215 x 253 mm.
• One Krupp line for the production of two-piece (stamped) cans; for can types (Diameter x Height) 99 x 38,3 mm.

Manufacturing capacity: up to 10 million cans per month.

The following modern equipment is installed in the canned milk production unit:

• three Alfa-Laval (Sweden) automated milk collection lines;
• three Alfa-Laval (Sweden) automated primary milk processing lines;
• Westfalia (Germany) milk separator (bactofuge);
• four Sheffers (Holland) vacuum milk evaporators;
• two labelling and packaging lines;
• FAM (Belgium) automated unsweetened condensed milk canning, sterilisation, labelling and packaging line;
• Ferrum (Switzerland) milk canning and sealing line with packaging gases. It removes air from the space between the product and the top of the can, thus increasing the shelf life of the product;
• FMC (Belgium) milk canning and sealing line with packaging gases;
• four automated machines for loading corrugated cardboard boxes with products onto pallets.
• GEA primary milk processing line with a stabiliser and additive injection equipment;
• Prasmatic (Italy) universal line for wrapping product cans in film;
• canned milk production processes have been automated and a computerised control system has been implemented recently.

Condensed milk products are packaged into 320 g, 385 g, 397 g, 410 g, 530 g, 1 kg, and 11 kg cans produced by the company as well as into 13 kg plastic buckets. Bulk products can be loaded into containers, road tankers or any other containers preferred by the client.

The modernisation of the canned milk production unit under the project called ‘Renovation of the Condensed Milk Technological Equipment and Modernisation of Process Control Equipment’, the value of which totalled LTL 8.6 million, was completed in 2007. As a result of this project, the canned milk production technological process from raw milk collection to product production was fully automated and computerised. The implementation of the project facilitates and simplifies process management and, most importantly, ensures stable high production quality and saves energy costs.

The unit’s production capacity: up to 4,000 tonnes of products or 10 million nominal cans (400 g) per month.

The production of butter and blended spreads is carried out in accordance with the requirements of certified Food Safety (HAACP), Quality Management (ISO 9001) and Environmental Management (ISO 14001) systems.

The following equipment is installed in the butter production unit:

• two partially automated cream processing lines;
• two KM-2000 continuous butter-making machines (Czech Republic);
• FB/FC1 continuous butter-making machine (Germany);
• PA1 butter packaging machine;
• two machines for packing butter into 25 kg bulk containers (capacities are available for the installation of a third machine);
• vegetable fat melting container and blending line.

Production capacities: up to 6 tonnes of products per hour.

The production of powdered milk is carried out in accordance with the requirements of certified Food Safety (HAACP), Quality Management (ISO 9001) and Environmental Management (ISO 14001) systems. Most of the powdered milk production processes are automated and computerised.

The following production equipment is installed in the powdered milk production unit:

• four automated milk collection, separation and thermal processing lines;
• Unipektin AG vacuum milk condensing line, type FS 1801Ve-T/MM (Switzerland);
• VRA-4/250-131 milk powder spray dryer (Czech Republic);
• ZT-500 milk powder spray dryer (Germany);
• LU RS-1000 automated milk powder spray dryer (Slovakia);
• automated line for vacuum packaging of powdered milk in bags (Slovakia);
• powdered milk bag packaging lines:
  • for vacuum packaging in sealed bags;
  • for packaging in tied bags.

Production capacity: up to 2,200 tonnes of powdered milk per month.

On 24 January 2011, an agreement with the National Paying Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture was signed, according to which the sides undertook to implement the ‘Modernisation of the Production Processes of Marijampolės Pieno Konservai UAB’ project, the total value of which is LTL 46,612,530.

After the project is implemented, powdered milk production volumes are expected to be increased by 87%. Production capacity will then reach up to 2,250 tonnes of powdered milk per month.