VAA worked on two projects for Crystal Valley Coop at its Vernon Center, MN facility. The first was the design of a new updated feed mill manufacturing plant to replace the existing mill primarily manufacturing hog feed. A second project was begun after the 100 year old facility had a tragic grain dust explosion during harvest. The explosion destroyed the existing wood feed mill elevator, offices, part of the warehouse and their drying capacity. While the explosion was not due to the construction, it was critical that operations were rebuilt as quickly as possible. Therefore both projects ran simultaneously.
The feed mill included receiving, batching, ingredient storage, mixing, grinding, and finish feed/load out bins. The new projects consisted of a new grain elevator including grain receiving, storage, drying, truck load out, and grain transfer to the new feed mill. A new office and the warehouse were also designed. Portions of the warehouse and two grain bins were able to be salvaged.
VAA worked directly with Crystal Valley Coop and did the planning, prepared bid package drawings and specifications to solicit final design build construction proposals. VAA provided final design including structural engineering, grain handling, feed processing and general arrangement/equipment layout services to the design build contractor.
The goal of the project also included improved efficiencies through effective site design. All the new facilities had to be designed and built within the footprint of that which was built 80 years ago. We worked to utilize the components that were salvageable and tie them into the new facility. This required a creative and extremely efficient design.
Overall the operations are modernized and more productive. The site includes the new 100,000 tpy feed mill. Grain storage in 300,000 bushel flat bottom steel bins, three 30,000 bushel hopper tanks for wet grain and blending, two 5,000 bushel tanks for screening, and truck load out. Adjacent to the new steel storage, is a covered 1,000 bushel above-ground receiving pit, with a 20,000 bph drag conveyor that feeds a pair of new 10,000 bph legs. The site layout allows the pit to handle multiple commodities and maintain operation when one leg is down for service.
Crystal Valley Coop needed their elevator operational for fall harvest. Our team was able to bid the project in January, break ground in March and the elevator was ready to receive grain prior to new crop, corn and bean, harvest.
