PET Food Processing - June 2018 - 33

PLANT PROFILE

Minnesota, and our ongoing construction and our soonto-be-open facilities in Columbus, Nebraska, and Quincy,
Illinois. Additionally, we're moving into other areas in the
pet space evidenced by our Crosswinds acquisition from a
year ago. Obviously, you can see by these investments, we
are heavily committed to this space."
With more than 400 ingredient options, ADM Animal
Nutrition provides vitamin and trace mineral premixes,
dry ingredient blends, specialty ingredients and food additives. There are 200 to 300 ingredients unique to pet
food applications and about 150 ingredients common
across most animal feed applications. Recipes can be as
simple as two or three ingredients up to 30 or 40 ingredients. And every mixer-full is a different lot that customers expect to contain the exact same ingredients in
the same precise quantities lot after lot.
The new facility features multiple batching systems
from APEC/WEM with simultaneous weighing for increased efficiency and output. As part of the facility's
high-tech quality and process control, a bar code system
uniquely identifies each item through its entire journey
within the facility from receiving to shipping and out the
door. Ingredients also pass through ferrous and nonferrous metal detection systems multiple times from receiving to packaging.
In-line screening, sizing and sifting capabilities and
self-cleaning, material-handling equipment allows for
greater product purity, particle size density and better
overall precision. "The automation we've gained here
obviously increases efficiency, but improved food safety
features such as self-cleaning equipment, air blow downs
and the design of the conveyors that move the product
also contribute to a more efficient and sanitary environment," said Steve Allen, plant manager. Automated selfcleaning features will help the plant reduce the time required for product changeovers.
Conditioned air in the entire tower controls humidity
and maintains product quality. An aspiration system for
the 64-bin micro-bin system in the tower pulls in dust
as the bins are filled to help maintain a clean, food-safe
environment. The bulk receiving area in the tower with a
grated floor is not for someone with a fear of heights, but
it does help keep the area free from dust. All bulk ingredients come in and are cleaned before they are stored in
the bulk ingredient bins. Rotary cleaners screen out any
oversized pieces or raw materials that may come in from
the receiving side.
Blended product flows out of the tower into the facility's packaging area. The facility has five state-of-the-art
bagging lines from Premier Tech Chronos, three big bag
filling lines and two industrial bagging lines. The two
industrial bagging lines are completely automated from
bagging to case packing to palletizing and feature push-

"The volumes
through the existing
ADM locations in
Effingham doubled
and then tripled in
recent years."
Chuck Loefer, ADM Animal Nutrition
button changeover. The push of one button switches everything over to a new program. The automated packaging lines further improve process efficiencies and reduce
physically demanding repetitive tasks.
The facility was designed not only to accommodate
ADM's current premix animal nutrition business but also
includes room to expand in the future. "Our industry is
always changing and the standards are getting higher,"
Loefer said. "People want to make sure their animals are
getting the very highest quality feed and food. It's about
using the best and newest technologies to deliver great
value for our customer. It means faster service, more customization to meet every need, higher capacity and the
very highest quality. We're excited about everything this
plant can offer and we hope our customers are too." PFP

A barcoding system
on ingredients and
microbins helps to
ensure accuracy in
formulations.

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PET Food Processing - June 2018

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