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JBS has resumed operations at its Friboi facility in Diamantino, Mato Grosso, Brazil, following a fire in June this year. The factory, which has a processing capacity of 3,600 heads of cattle per day, will stand as the largest beef facility in Latin America, employing 3,000 workers across two shifts. The plant currently processes 600 heads of cattle per day, with plans to increase to 1,800 in the coming weeks. During the initial reopening, Diamantino will receive support for "complementary activities" from two other Friboi units, which are located in Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, and Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, plants. The "initial stage" will see a BRL 300 million (approx. $61 million) investment in the factory. The unit, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, resumes operations with the capability to process 2.4 times more cattle than its previous capacity. Additionally, it is prepared to meet the primary criteria of international markets, including halal processing. Renato Costa, president of Friboi, highlighted: "The Diamantino factory is equipped with the most modern automation and the highest technology in beef processing and freezing, with a focus on value-added products and portioned products". Upon the completion of the plant expansion in 2024, Friboi's Diamantino unit will have "unprecedented structures," such as a freezing tunnel, an expanded area for vacuum product packaging, and a dedicated space for future production lines specialising in portioned beef cuts. The facilities aim to support Friboi's long-term goal of expanding the production of value-added products from the unit. According to Costa, "the Diamantino unit plays a fundamental role in the company's growth strategy, as it supplies products to the main markets served by the company, including the most demanding lines in Friboi's portfolio".