Linc Grain Store Expands
Woldgrain Storage Ltd has started construction of an additional 18,000t storage facility in time for harvest 2010. Once completed, this will make it one of the largest central storage businesses in the UK. The go-ahead – part of a strategic partnership between Woldgrain, Openfield and EMDA - comes on the back of grant support and farmer commitment that will see the capacity rise to 49,000t, with a further 7,000t grant aided expansion planned for 2011-12.
The expanded storage facility will see a mix of new and existing farmer members - most within a 35 mile catchment area of the Hemswell site - place more grain into the central store.
The move follows research commissioned by EMDA and undertaken by the English Farming and Food Partnership survey in spring 2006 confirming that the region needed additional storage facilities. Read the report in more detail.
Last year, Woldgrain announced it has secured a 37% grant, totalling almost £1.5m from the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA). With 19,000t of commitment already signed up from grain producers in the N Lincs area, and finance facilities (HSBC) in place, phase one of the project - to be undertaken by Clugston Construction Ltd - at a capital cost of £3.1m, is now being progressed.
According to Woldgrain's John Burnett, the first phrase will address the strategic issues Woldgrain has had in the past with intake and drying. This will see the introduction of a new 500t/hour intake facility, increased drying capacity, and a new computer software system called SCADA which will greatly improve the control of information and help to maximize throughput and blending opportunities within the plant.
"This will help us improve our operational efficiency with lorry turnaround times reduced to just 20 minutes across all commodities," he said. "Ultimately the strategic aim is for a 900t/hour intake facility which could see 4.5 times more grain moved every day than is currently possible.
"By completion of the expansion, the store will be well placed to deliver the demands of the supply chain from the producer to the processor by having high specification cleaning and blending units and the ability to colour sort produce on behalf of the customer.
This project has been supported through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, and is delivered by East Midlands Development Agency (emda).
Contact Paul
Paul Rhodes
Regional Manager
Email Paul
T: + 44 (0) 1430 860552
M: +44 (0) 7834 337344
East Midlands
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