Hamul ice cream plant set to begin production by June

The ice cream plant being set up by Hassan Cooperative Milk Union Limited (Hamul) would become operational by June 2017 if all goes according to the plan. The work on the plant was launched around six months ago.

The estimated cost of the plant, which will have a capacity to produce 10,000 litres, is Rs 40 crore. However, initially, Rs 30 crore is being pumped in for the works. State-of-the-art equipment is being purchased from Europe for the purpose.

Initially, there were plans to purchase filling machines from Italy, so that the plant would be able to produce 12,000 cups of ice cream, 6,000 cones and 1,200 family pack tubs and 9,000 ice candies, every day. Interestingly, self-powered robots would be used in all phases of production right from manufacturing to packaging.

It may be mentioned that the first ice cream manufacturing plant was set up in the state at the mother dairy in Bengaluru, during the tenure of H D Deve Gowda as prime minister. The second unit is now being set up in Hassan, totally funded by Hamul.

In the second phase, self-powered machinery, at a cost of Rs 20 crore, would be imported from other countries for production of extrusion ice creams, which are now being sold only by private ice cream companies with a huge market.

With the demand for ice cream increasing during summer, a deep freeze godown is also being constructed on the premises. The three-lakh litre capacity godown would work at minus 40 degrees Centigrade. This would enable continuous supply of ice cream to market to meet the demand.

Speaking to DH, Hamul general manager Gopalaiah said, the ice cream plant is being set up at an approximate cost of Rs 50 crore.

“While Rs 30 crore is being spent in the first phase, Rs 20 crore will be spent on the second phase of works. There was no provision for small-scale industries to manufacture ice creams till 1995. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda brought an amendment and de-reserved manufacture of ice creams, enabling companies like Joy, Quality and Amul to enter the market,” he added.

MLA and Hamul president H D Revanna said, purchasing and installation of imported machines requires a lot of formalities and time. Hence it would take another five months for the plant to begin operations. It would start production by June 2017, he added.