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In this March photo, police and fire officials watch as smoke billows from a major fire at the Glanbia Nutritionals flax plant in Angusville. A company representative said a decision to rebuilt the flaxseed processing plant has yet to be made.
Glanbia Nutritionals’ senior management is still weighing its options after the flaxseed processing plant at Angusville was devastated by fire in March.
"Glanbia continues to look at all options," executive vice-president Rich Tauberman said.
The fire, that was the result of flax meal overheating in a pasteurizing unit, caused an estimated $7 million in damages with the heaviest damage in the warehouse and processing area of the plant.
"No part of the plant is operational," Tauberman said. "We are operating a sales and administration out of the residential house that remains on the property and was converted to an office centre."
Following the fire, Glanbia committed to paying the 58 employees of the plant for a time, but has since downsized to 18 employees working out of the office.
The company, which processes flaxseed for use in the health food and pet food industries, isn’t sure whether it will rebuild in Angusville or not. For now it will continue to use approximately 12 other processors to meet the company’s customers’ needs.
"The equivalency of 58 employes have been maintained, although all are not with Glanbia," Tauberman explained.
"Some of those 58 positions are new positions at subcontracted manufacturers … 40 of the positions have shifted to the 11-12 subcontracted processors. With the inability to manufacture in Angusville due to the plant being destroyed, the 40 other Angusville facility employees were either offered the opportunity to redeploy to one of the subcontracted processors or were given a severance package. Most accepted the severance package."
When asked if the company is looking at building in another area of the province, Tauberman said the company is looking at all of its options.
Located in the RM of Silver Creek, which has a population between 400 and 500 people, the plant was a major economic driver, supplying good paying jobs in the area.
"It would be a huge blow to our economy if they chose not to rebuild," RM of Silver Creek Reeve Fred Dunn said. "All of the spinoff that has been put on hold, it’s noticeable here."
The RM has been in consistent contact with Glanbia since the fire, according to Dunn, and is committed to working with the company to help rebuild.
"We’ve been working with them trying to put together a package, but they haven’t committed," Dunn said. "Glanbia is a big part of the local economy and those jobs are key to this area."
» ctweed@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition August 20, 2012
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Glanbia Nutritionals’ senior management is still weighing its options after the flaxseed processing plant at Angusville was devastated by fire in March.
"Glanbia continues to look at all options," executive vice-president Rich Tauberman said.
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Glanbia Nutritionals’ senior management is still weighing its options after the flaxseed processing plant at Angusville was devastated by fire in March.
"Glanbia continues to look at all options," executive vice-president Rich Tauberman said.
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