The pressures shaping today’s dairy industry

Behind every glass of milk is a complex challenge.


Today’s dairy producers operate under some of the most stringent safety standards in the food and beverage industry, all while grappling with rising energy costs, raw material prices, and logistics demands. In this high-pressure environment, efficiency isn't optional; it's essential.

 

That’s why ABB delivers advanced automation solutions that help dairies streamline production, ensure uncompromising safety, and bring quality products to market faster, smarter, and more sustainably.

Addressing core challenges in dairy processing

The dairy industry faces increasing pressure to deliver safe, high-quality products while navigating evolving regulations, fluctuating demand, and operational inefficiencies. Overcoming these challenges is vital to ensure consistent supply, sustainable growth, and customer satisfaction.

Energy and water intensive processes

Dairy production involves processes like pasteurization and cleaning-in-place (CIP), which consume significant energy and water. Reducing resource usage while maintaining hygiene and efficiency remains a key challenge.

Stringent hygiene and quality standards

Maintaining consistent quality and meeting strict food safety standards (such as HACCP and ISO) demands precise process control and traceability, especially with perishable products and sensitive cold chains.

Dairy safety and compliance

Ensuring compliance with safety and hygiene standards while managing equipment and process risks is critical in dairy operations to deliver safe, high-quality products to customers.

How we can help you

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Tailored offering for dairy

Efficient pumping without cavitation

Smart control for dairy operations

ABB variable speed drives for dairy feature built-in cavitation protection to extend pump life and reduce maintenance. By adjusting speed to real-time demand, they cut energy use in pumping, chilling, and washing processes, all while ensuring reliable, continuous operation in hygienic environments.

Automated milk processing control

Ensuring consistent quality and efficiency

Delivering consistent quality dairy products under the pressure to reduce costs at the same time can only be achieved through tighter control and higher level of automation.

Motors that keep dairy flowing

Hygienic motors for reliable dairy production

Dairy relies on nonstop pumping, chilling, and washing under strict hygiene rules. ABB NEMA class motors, stainless steel, food-safe, and washdown-duty, stand up to CIP cycles, moisture, and corrosion, with EC Titanium™ and Super Premium IE4 designs cutting energy use. ABB IEC class motors power milk processing, pasteurization, pumping, cooling, and packaging, built to perform in humid, hygiene-critical environments. Together, they protect freshness, ensure compliance, and optimize efficiency from farm to fork.

Liquid Routing Library

Provides customers with optimal routing

The System 800xA Liquid Routing Library provides optimal routing and Cleaning in Place (CIP) functionalities that are of vital importance in food and beverage industry sub segments like dairies where products are transported and/or stored or processed in tanks and lines.

Resources

Dairy production

Changing customer tastes and demands mean the dairy facilities need the flexibility to meet these trends, while avoiding high energy costs and unplanned downtime.

Seamless technology switchover to System 800xA at Bregott factory

In dairy processing, time is critical in ensuring the safety, shelf life and quality of milk and its by-products. For Arla Foods, manufacturer of well-known Swedish butter, cheese and margarine brands, production stoppages are nonnegotiable.

Continuous flow measurement during milk collection

In dairy operations, milk collection is the first critical step, and accuracy here sets the tone for the entire supply chain. With ABB’s continuous flow measurement solutions, dairy processors can monitor milk volumes in real time, ensuring precise tracking, improved yield management, and regulatory compliance right from the source.

Moving your dairy business from farm to fork.

Proven sustainability, reliability and safety solutions for the dairy industry

ABB in action