Fonterra: Seeking solutions for In-line detection of plastic and rubber foreign matter in dairy processing
Opportunity for
- Technology developers and researchers with advanced in-line sensing or detection solutions
- Start-ups or established companies with food-grade inspection or quality assurance innovations
- Research organisations with expertise in sensors, NIR, hyperspectral, or alternative detection technologies
Opportunity description
Industry challenge
As a leading global dairy manufacturer and processor, Fonterra is committed to ensuring the highest standards of product quality and food safety. A significant challenge across dairy processing operations is the detection and removal of non-metallic foreign matter, particularly small particles of plastic and rubber between 2mm and 7mm in size, in products such as liquid milk, cheese, and milk powder.
While ferrous and metallic detection is well established, current technologies for non-metallic foreign matter can be costly, limited in accuracy, or not suitable for in-line application. Fonterra is seeking innovative, automated solutions that can reliably detect plastic and rubber contaminants in real time to improve quality assurance, reduce waste, and enhance safety.
Current opportunity
Fonterra invites expressions of interest from organisations or technology providers with in-line, food-safe foreign matter detection systems capable of identifying plastic and/or rubber particles in dairy products.
Ideal solutions will be able to operate across different product formats (liquid, semi-solid, powder), integrate into existing processing environments, and detect small contaminants (2–7mm) with high sensitivity and accuracy. Technologies at TRL 4+ are preferred, though earlier-stage innovations with a clear pathway to implementation will be considered.
While this request is focused on non-metallic detection, we are also open to hearing about new approaches to metallic detection that offer improvements over standard practice. Successful partnerships could lead to commercial trials, co-development, or broader collaboration opportunities with Fonterra’s innovation and manufacturing teams.
Opportunity background
Fonterra is actively engaging with research institutions and innovation networks across Australasia to better connect with breakthrough technologies relevant to the dairy and food processing industries.
This specific request builds on ongoing efforts to source new solutions from outside traditional supplier channels and improve visibility of emerging IP with high potential impact. Selected submissions may be invited to present solutions directly to Fonterra’s technical leads.
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