Richardson expanding grain handling capacity

January 9, 2012, Estevan, SK – Richardson International Limited is expanding its grain handling facility in Estevan, Sask., to increase grain storage capacity and improve handling efficiencies.

Richardson is building an additional 12,000 metric tonne storage facility with a full workhouse and a brand new office to complement its existing Pioneer elevator in Estevan. Total storage capacity at the facility will increase to over 24,000 tonnes.

“We are excited to invest in Estevan, a community in which we have a longstanding presence and strong customer support,” said Darwin Sobkow, vice-president, of Richardson's agribusiness operations. “The expansion project at Estevan will not only increase our storage capacity, it will also allow us to achieve new efficiencies at this facility for our business and our customers.”

The Estevan expansion will increase shipping capacity to 50,000 bushels per hour and expand to a 112-car spot for shipping. A full cleaning line for wheat and canola will also be built at the new facility. Construction will begin early this year and is slated for completion by the spring of 2013. Richardson's existing Estevan facility will remain fully operational throughout the expansion project.

“At Richardson, we continue to invest in our network of grain handling and crop input facilities across Western Canada to enhance our services to customers here at home and meet the growing needs of customers around the world,” said Sobkow.

This announcement is the latest in a series of investments Richardson has made to expand and enhance its Richardson Pioneer network. Construction is currently underway on a 6,000-tonne fertilizer shed with a 200-tonne per hour, state-of-the-art blending tower in Estevan, which was announced in July as part of the company’s $25 million investment to build nine new fertilizer facilities across Western Canada.