Dairy adds PLA preform molding

U.S. dairy, Naturally Iowa Inc. (Clarinda, IA) has invested in a factory, molds, and injection molding machines to create polylactic acid (PLA) preforms for its milk bottles. In addition to control over the production process, the dairy said in a statement that it had already established a manufacturing process that would allow the PLA preforms to be integrated into the bottle blowmolding and filling process.

Working under the slogan, “We milk the cows and grow the bottles,” Naturally Iowa uses cold-separation for the milk processing, eliminating ultrahigh temperature heating and hot filling, which wouldn’t be possible with PLA. The company gained the preform assets via the purchase of former supplier PLA Supply Company, which has a contract with PLA producer NatureWorks LLC, and a dedicated factory space in Waverly, NE. In addition, it has a long-term contractual relationship with Norland International to supply PLA bottle-blowing equipment to other beverage producers.—[email protected]