Expansion for Lincolnshire grain store
Woldgrain Storage has started construction of an additional 18,000t storage facility in time for harvest 2010.
The go-ahead, which will see capacity rise to 49,000t, follows a partnership between Woldgrain, Openfield and the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA).
A further 7,000t grant-aided expansion is planned for 2011-12.
But growth of the North Lincolnshire facility won’t stop there: The business has planning permission for a further 30,000t to become an 85,000t facility by 2017.
Last year, Woldgrain announced it had secured a 37% EMDA grant, totalling almost £1.5m.
With 19,000t of commitment already signed up from growers and finance in place, phase one of the project is now under way.
Woldgrain’s John Burnett said the first phase would address the strategic issues the company has had in the past with intake and drying.
It will see the introduction of a new 500t/hour intake facility, increased drying capacity and new computer software to maximize throughput and blending opportunities within the plant.
Mr Burnett said: “This will help us improve our operational efficiency with lorry turnaround times reduced to just 20 minutes across all commodities. Ultimately the strategic aim is for a 900t/hour intake facility.”
The bigger intake could see 4.5 times more grain moved every day than is currently possible, Mr Burnett added.
Completing the expansion would see the store well-placed to deliver the demands of the supply chain by having high specification cleaning and blending units and the ability to colour sort produce on behalf of the customer.
The move follows research commissioned by EMDA and undertaken by English Food and Farming Partnerships in spring 2006 confirming that the region needed additional storage facilities.
The study showed that around 30% of all farm stores were over 30 years old, leaving many growers unable to meet supply chain requirements.
Woldgrain chairman, Richard Milligan-Manby said: “The design of the new plant will allow the management of information to add value and deliver vendor assured grain to the food producers.”
He added: “Woldgrain, through its partnership with Openfield and NetworkGrain UK, is now well placed to ensure Lincolnshire cereal farmers own a facility fit for the 21st century.”
The venture is supported by another local central storage business, Lingrain from Boston, which has initially invested in 2000t of storage rights at the Hemswell site.
In addition, Openfield is also taking 5000t to meet its own member requirements locally.
