The POS Pilot Plant in Saskatoon has completed a $1.5 million expansion to its research and development facilities.
The expansion will give the food research plant the ability to offer clients more scope in processing and product development, said Roy Carr, POS president.
The new space and equipment will also allow POS to better serve the emerging nutraceutical, cosmetics and natural pharmaceutical markets, he said in a news release.
In the next year, a further $1 million will be spent on equipment and improved quality control systems.
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Financing came from Agriculture Canada, Saskatchewan Agriculture and loans through the Royal Bank and Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Product crosses Great Wall
Saskatoon newsroom
The government of China has approved the use of a Canadian-made natural insecticide for use in grain storage.
Hedley Technologies Inc., maker of Protect-It, said in a news release that tests in China showed the product controlled rice weevil, red flour beetle and the lesser grain borer, insects that cause billions of dollars damage to stored grain in China.
Chinese government agencies store up to five years requirements of grain.
“Grain storage is a challenge in China due to climatic and other storage conditions,” said Peter Ormesher, the company’s chair and chief executive officer.
UGG expands
Saskatoon newsroom
United Grain Growers has announced a $1.6 million expansion to its grain handling facility at Hargrave, Man.
The company will be adding four steel bins, to bring total storage space to 5,900 tonnes. The elevator distribution and car spots will be improved to allow the loading of 28 cars in less than 10 hours.
This is the third Manitoba project initiated by UGG since February.
The Hargrave facility serves an area from Virden to the Saskatchewan border.
Sask Pool buys assets
Saskatoon newsroom
Saskatchewan Wheat Pool has purchased the assets of Belle Agro at Indian Head and Edenwold, Sask.
The two facilities will become part of the pool’s Buffalo Plains marketing centre east of Regina. The grain handling terminal is scheduled to open this summer, said a news release.
The Indian Head location will be operated as a full service marketing centre. It and the Edenwold location will mainly serve the communities of Edgeley, Balgonie, Qu’Appelle, Fort Qu’Appelle, Sintaluta, Wolseley, Odessa, Kronau and Regina.
Railink improves earnings
Saskatoon newsroom
Railink Ltd. has posted increased earnings for the first quarter of 1998.
Edmonton-based Railink, which operates a northern Alberta-Northwest Territories line serving the Peace River area, posted net income of $563,000 or eight cents a share. In the same period last year it made $286,000 or 11 cents a share.
The railway also has lines in Ontario and Quebec.
The company said in a news release that operating revenue was up 51 percent to $7.3 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization were $2.06 million compared to $1.53 million in the same period last year.
Profits were affected by poor traffic levels and revenue in the first quarter on the company’s grain-dependent Central Western division in Alberta. Grain traffic fluctuates but Railink thinks 1998 traffic and revenue targets will be achieved.
Operations on the Mackenzie Northern division started May 3 and Gordon Clanachan, Railink president, thinks it will affect results for the remainder of the year with revenue for its eight months of operation in 1998 expected to be around $12 million.
The company has also raised additional equity of almost $17.4 million to fund future growth and provide working capital for general corporate purposes.
