Feed plant gets $6 million upgrade

SALEM, Ohio – More than $6 million will go into an expansion and upgrade at Land O’Lakes’ Massillon, Ohio, feed plant.
Construction is under way and equipment upgrades will start in early 2005, according to Lydia Botham, Land O’Lakes spokesperson.
The expansion is projected to wrap up in early 2006, she said.
Demand up. “The demand for packaged lifestyle feeds continues to grow throughout the Eastern Corn Belt,” said Robert DeGregorio, president of Land O’Lakes Purina Feed.
To meet that demand, the cooperative is expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Massillon to include production of most dry and texturized feeds it markets.
For the horses. Botham said the facility will begin manufacturing equine feeds, and expand its existing poultry and pet food lines.
Also included in the expansion is the addition of packaging equipment.
Currently the plant can only offer truckload or bulk quantities, she said, but the new additions will allow 50-pound packaging.
Customer base. The feed plant supplies farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and western Pennsylvania, Botham said.
The company “really wanted to expand here because of its location” as a provider for those states, where company analysts see increased demand for livestock feeds, especially for horses and pets like rabbits, Botham said.
More to add. Facility enhancements will also include screening, packing and palletizer units and an additional 30,000 square feet of warehouse space.
Plans also call for modified feed mixing and pelleting systems.
The Massillon facility was built in 1977. It currently employs 34 and has a manufacturing capacity of 202,000 tons.
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