Returning to the Cargill plant, VAA is again providing services for Cargill Animal Nutrition. The plant currently operates a processing line for poultry, aqua, shrimp and tilapia feeds. The new mill tower will increase capacity for Sun Valley Poultry Feeds and provide a separate mixing line for tilapia feeds.
The new concrete slip form tower has pelleting lines with 60 bins in the mill. The tower is 19 meters by 23 meters and 57 meters in height. The new tower is going to be tied into the existing feed mill operation and is located on a fairly tight site.
VAA provided the original concept design, which Cargill used to solicit design build proposals. Then, we were commissioned to follow with general arrangement drawing preparation for all the equipment.
Working with tilapia can be especially challenging because there is to be no meat or bone meal in the tilapia feed. It is a highly specialized process. For health reasons, it is kept completely separate from other lines including separate batching and mixing systems. The design of this line required specialized attention and detail in order to maintain its seclusion from the other, poultry line.
Our previous working experience on the site assisted tremendously with facilitating the tie into the existing buildings and working with the tight site. The slip form structure designed and specified is rare in Honduras, due to their lack of knowledge of the construction technique and use of the construction materials. Cargill brought in slip form consultants to help facilitate the construction of the project.
