UK feed manufacture to invest millions in new energy efficient facility
l'Anson is a North Yorkshire based, independent, fourth generation, family-owned and managed company with more than 70 employees, supplying ruminant and horse feeds to over 3,000 customers locally, as well as nationally and internationally.
It has been based at its current mill in Masham for 60 years. The feed manufacturer said the physical limitations of that site mean it has reached production capacity, constraining the company’s ability to grow, despite the investment in new technology to increase production volumes and efficiency at that plant over the years.
The new facility will focus on the production of bulk farm feeds - pelleted and blended feeds, it said.
“We currently export a number of our products and this new facility will allow us to grow this volume,” Chris I’Anson, chairman and managing director of l’Anson, told FeedNavigator.
The business’s headquarters will remain in Masham, with the mill there continuing to manufacture an extensive range of micronized feeds, specialty rations and horse feeds.
The MD anticipates that the new facility will open in 2022.
When built, it will cover around 23,000 sq. ft. (2136.7 sq. m) in terms of scale; the plant will be located at the Dalton Industrial Estate in North Yorkshire.
Energy savings
The feed manufacturer said the facility has been designed to be as energy efficient as possible:
“We will utilize solar panels and heat pumps as much as can to achieve this. The production lines have also been designed to minimize energy use,” said l’Anson.
The facility will also rely on computerized operations to deliver precision usage of ingredients, variable speed control of electrical drives and vehicle routing to save road miles, said the company.
The new factory will initially create a further 10 new jobs, and is expected to grow the company’s existing network of local producers, farmers and suppliers from whom it buys a large proportion of its raw materials for manufacture.
Adapting to changing landscapes
As regards the likely impact of Brexit - deal or no deal - on the business, l’Anson said, “Like most businesses, we’re waiting to see what sort of Brexit is delivered; however, over the last 119 years, our business has continually adapted to changing landscapes and we believe that we have the right plans in place for our future growth.”
In April this year, l'Anson also announced it was collaborating with Glasgow University in a research partnership, paving the way for a three-year project looking at how technology can aid and advance animal nutrition.
The alliance will focus, in particular, on how the micronization process improves the digestibility of a range of raw materials. The results will inform future feed development at the company.
