Paterson Grain announces plans to build 55,000 tonne Unit Train Loading Facility near Daysland
Paterson Grain announced plans Friday, June 26, to build a new unit train loading facility near Daysland.
The facility, which will have storage capacity of over 55,000 metric tonnes, is expected to begin accepting grain in 2016.
The new facility will be Paterson Grain’s third Inland Export Terminal in Alberta, and will incorporate the most modern grain handling and storage concepts.
The facility will utilize a highly efficient loop track rail system.
Shane Paterson said that since the company also owns PTC Construction, they will be ready to start construction as soon as the development permit is approved.
“They will do all the work except the earth moving,” Paterson said. “In addition, we plan to source concrete and building materials locally.”
Paterson expects that up to 30 contract positions may be open for local employees during the build, and once built, 15 to 20 full time positions will be available in the facility.
He says the estimated completion of late summer 2016 is ambitious, but he’s confident it can be done.
The first in the industry to utilize the loop track design, Paterson has been able to minimize train loading times, setting a new industry benchmark at its two loop track sites. An additional side benefit of loop trackloading is noise reduction.
“We want to be a good neighbour,” says Paterson, “as a business and a family, we take a great interest in the communities where we live.”
The new facility will also feature a dual receiving area to allow for efficient truck unloading.
“This is good news for Flagstaff area farmers,” says County Reeve Gerald Kuefler. “It brings more competition into the area. This new high efficiency facility design is said to be the most efficient system in Western Canada.
“It’s a new way of doing things, in an innovative, efficient, and quick manner.
“We don’t want farmers sitting waiting to unload their grain. It’s all about service.
“This is so positive for the entire area,” Kuefler says.
Daysland CAO Rod Krips says Daysland Council is extremely pleased about the facility coming to the town.
“We hope for an influx of traffic to our local business community, and once open, we hope the employees will choose Daysland for their homes.”
Paterson says Daysland was the company’s number one choice out of a few other spots. “We think Daysland is a strong producing area, we think it is a great community.”
Paterson has a similar facility in Gleichen, and another in Dunmore.
Paterson GlobalFoods is one of Canada’s oldest family-owned agri-businesses, founded in 1908 by a Manitoba grain trader named Norman Paterson.
The company has grown into a global organization that sources, sells, and ships high-quality agricultural commodities and food products to over 188 countries around the world.
Kuefler says, “Agriculture is still our number one item in our Economic Development Strategy.
“It’s a bonus for us; all of a sudden we’re on the map.”
Kuefler says the county is working on some other projects, too, but it’s too early to discuss them.
“Things are looking up, it’s our time.”
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor
