ADM Animal Nutrition Facility Unveiled

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Published on May 7 2018 3:28 pm
Last Updated on May 7 2018 3:28 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

(ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND HELD A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY MONDAY TO DEDICATE ITS NEW ANIMAL NUTRITION FACILITY IN EFFINGHAM. VICE PRESIDENT OF A-D-M ANIMAL NUTRITION CHUCK LOEFER SPOKE AT THE DEDICATION. AMONG THOSE SEATED ARE PLANT MANAGER STEVE ALLEN {far left} AND EFFINGHAM MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER {third from left})

The new ADM Animal Nutrition facility in Effingham was unveiled over the noon hour Monday to media and to ADM officials and employees.

The premix facility is located on McGrath Avenue in the Effingham Business Park.

The 284,000 square foot premix facility will replace ADM's existing operation off Willow Street and Gordon Avenue. ADM Plant Manager Steve Allen said they hope to have transferred the entire Effingham operation to the new home by the end of the third quarter.

The new facility features state-of-the art technology, including:

--automation within receiving, batching, packaging and loadout

--multiple batching systems with simultaneous weighing for high efficiency and high output

--metal detection and protection from receiving to packaging

--in-line screening, sizing and sifting capabilities

--a bar coding system that uniquely identifies each item all the way from receiving to shipping

The feed produced at the current operation site is transferred to the new site for distribution. Once the shift is completed, the entire operation will take place at the new site. 

(THIS IS A LOOK NORTHWEST FROM THE TOWER AT THE PREMIX FACILITY AT A-D-M ANIMAL NUTRITION'S LOCATION IN THE EFFINGHAM BUSINESS PARK)

ADM Animal Nutrition Vice President Chuck Loefer said, "Today's pet food and animal nutrition customers have higher standards for quality and process controls than ever before, and our new plant in Effingham has the industry-leading technology needed to meet and exceed their needs. For our customers, this means faster service, more customization to meet every need, and higher capacity--in short, everything they can and should expect from ADM Animal Nutrition."

The Effingham feed mix operation was begun by Goodlife, but was then sold to Central Soya before being acquired by ADM in the mid-90s. While ADM Nutrition has been going on for quite some time, animal nutrition is the newest addition. The operation is 80% pet feed, 20% livestock feed.

The Effingham operation will continue to employ about 65 fulltime employees, working two shifts rather than three shifts. The elimination of a shift will be achieved by better and quicker production methods.

Loefer said they have gone from a handful of products to hundreds of products. To keep growing, Loefer said ADM knew they had to have a whole new plant. The decision was made to remain and expand in Effingham.

Here's Greg Sapp's interview with Chuck Loefer...