The investment affirms ADM’s commitment to “a long history of leading-edge innovation” that “[sets] the standard for technological advancement in our industry,” ADM Milling president Kevin Like told BakeryandSnacks.
“It’s about deploying the newest technology to deliver industry-leading products, the highest quality and faster service to provide even greater value to our customers,” he said.
In May, ADM closed two of its century-old mills in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Salina, Kansas, and said its dated Chicago mill will close by the first quarter of 2020. The entirety of this production will move to the Mendota facility, which can handle 1,000 more cwts than the three mills combined.
Like confirmed that 30 to 40 employees will be employed at the new site, but would not comment on the status of employees from the other mills, aside from sharing that “many of them were able to apply for other positions” in the company.
A flourmill for the 21st century
The new mill boasts three milling units, with a centralized monitoring system, three bulk truck or railroad load-outs, a loop track with a 110-car shuttle rail unloading capacity and a high-speed packer.
There is also be a new lab, a transportation company (including truck wash and RFID-ready system) and a 30,000-square-foot warehouse.
The contemporary space will “ensure ADM can meet customers’ increased production demands across the Midwest,” Like said, noting the benefits of efficiency, variety and flexibility provided by today’s technology.
The mill will also run both hard and soft wheat varieties, with Like noting the company would “continue to monitor the need for additional facilities to meet increasing customer and consumer demand” for organic flour - which ADM introduced to its Lincoln, Nebraska, facility earlier this year.
BakeryandSnacks also inquired how record flooding in the region and the ongoing trade war was impacting that demand. Like said ‘greater production demands’ continued for Midwestern bakers and food producers, adding ADM was committed to “helping our customers address challenges and achieve business success.”
Modernization in Midwest milling
Geographically, the Mendota mill – about 90 miles southwest of Chicago – sits ‘strategically’ near railways connecting farms and markets.
ADM already updated its flourmill in Enid, Oklahoma, likewise consolidating two mills into one ‘highly-automated, state-of-the-art unit.’
“Investments like Mendota and Enid demonstrate that we are a growing, global business that is committed to being a first-call partner and leading provider of high-quality milled products,” said Like.
