RICHARDSON INVESTS $120 MILLION TO UPGRADE LETHBRIDGE CANOLA PLANT
August 17, 2016 (Winnipeg, MB) – Richardson International Limited is investing $120 million in its canola processing plant in Lethbridge, Alberta to maximize operating efficiencies and modernize the facility to significantly increase canola crush capability.
Today, Richardson’s Lethbridge plant processes approximately 450,000 metric tonnes of canola annually. With these upgrades, the facility will be able to process in excess of 2,000 metric tonnes of canola per day, increasing annual crush capacity to more than 700,000 metric tonnes. Combined with its canola processing plant in Yorkton, SK, Richardson will have the capacity to process over 1.7 million tonnes of canola per year.
“We are continuing ongoing capital upgrades in Lethbridge to increase crush capacity and realize greater efficiencies,” says Darwin Sobkow, Executive Vice-President, Agribusiness & Processing Operations. “This will allow us to better serve our customers and create a state-of-the-art facility that is very efficient for its size, positioning us to compete with the most modern canola crushing facilities in North America.”
Upgrades and enhancements to the facility began last year with the addition of new processing equipment. A modern, high throughput seed receiving facility is now being built to increase efficiency and provide quick turnaround for farmers and truckers delivering seed to the plant.
“Increasing the speed of the receiving plant is a top priority for us to better serve our customers, providing them with the ability to deliver their seed quickly and efficiently,” says Sobkow. “We are committed to making a significant investment in our Lethbridge plant for long-term operations to continue to grow our business.”
The new high speed receiving system will be able to receive 800 metric tonnes of canola per hour, a significant increase from the current system, and will be ready for harvest deliveries in the fall of 2017. Sobkow says the upgrades will be completed with minimal to no disruptions to ensure the Lethbridge facility continues to serve both farm customers and end-use buyers.
As one of Lethbridge’s largest employers, Richardson is committed to investing in the community. The 26th annual Richardson Charity Golf Classic, which takes place Thursday, August 18 at the Lethbridge Country Club, has raised over $1.8 million to supporting charities and organizations in southern Alberta. The proceeds of this year’s tournament will go to St. Michael’s Foundation, Coyote Flats Pioneer Village, Lions Foundation of Canada Purina Walk for Dog Guides and St. John Ambulance.
Richardson International is proud to be truly invested in Canadian agriculture. Recognized as a global leader in agriculture and food processing, Richardson is a worldwide handler and merchandiser of all major Canadian-grown grains and oilseeds and a vertically-integrated processor and manufacturer of oats and canola-based products. One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, Richardson is headquartered in Winnipeg and has over 2,500 employees across Canada and the U.S.
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