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Background information
DSM Nutritional products' Vitamin C
Dalry: the only large Western plant producing high-quality vitamin C
Situated in a rural setting on a 570,000 m2 site near the west coast of Scotland, DSM Nutritional Products’ Dalry site has been making vitamins since 1958. It has 190,000
m2 of roads and buildings and a total floor area of 70,000 m2.
Historical development
The site was developed in three phases. From 1958 to 1972, vitamin A and some associated products were produced in a small dedicated plant. In 1971, the site was expanded to produce Thiamine (vitamin B1) and Calcium-D-Pantothenate (vitamin B5) in large-scale dedicated plants. In 1979, construction of the company’s largest single production plant for vitamin C started in Dalry. By 1984, the Dalry site was supplying vitamin C to the food, pharmaceutical and feed industries worldwide.
Since then, further expansion and modernization has followed. A new waste water treatment plant was built in 2001, followed by a major expansion of vitamin C production in 2002-2003. The Dalry site became part of DSM Nutritional Products in 2003. In 2006, in accordance with DSM’s philosophy of Manufacturing Excellence, a central control room was established on the site.
Global leadership
Dalry is the only western-based production site where guaranteed high-quality vitamin C is produced in a traceable and reliable manner for all product forms. Our technical qualifications are complemented by an excellent global distribution network which makes use of our own people rather than a third-party distributor.
Quality assurance
Quality is one of the most important features on the Dalry site. The Compliance department operates an effective Quality System throughout the factory, which defines the procedures by which departments function and interact. The Quality System is regularly audited to ensure that it continues to meet the increasing demands of the business. In addition, better sales and marketing services have enabled better understanding of customer needs.
Health and safety
The Dalry site is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees and neighbors. All activities on site are covered by detailed safety procedures which are
strictly enforced. Employees and contractors regularly attend safety training courses in order to create and maintain a high level of safety awareness. To show the site’s commitment to the Dalry community, a DSM-Dalry Community Liaison Group was set up in 1995 with the aim of triggering a dialogue to provide mutual awareness and understanding of what happens “on the other side of the factory fence”. This initiative has been very successful, and the group continues to meet on a regular basis.
The Dalry site is a major employer in the area, and the workforce are mainly locally based. Training and employee development are very important to DSM, and employees are given every opportunity to gain further educational qualifications.
Support for local neighborhood projects is a feature of DSM’s community involvement. This includes charity, educational and health-related initiatives which benefit local people.
