Legumex Walker Subsidiary Pacific Coast Canola Names Plant Manager
-New Hire Ken Scheuer Brings Two Decades of Canola Processing Experience-
WINNIPEG, March 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Pacific Coast Canola, a subsidiary of Legumex Walker Inc. (TSX: LWP), announced today that it has appointed Ken Scheuer to the position of Plant Manager of the Company's canola crushing plant, which is currently under construction in Warden, Washington. Mr. Scheuer will assume his duties with the Company effective March 19, 2012.
"The canola industry is about 35 years old; Ken's been running canola crushing operations for about two-thirds of that time," said Kevin Raymond, Pacific Coast Canola vice president and general manager. "He brings us a wealth of experience in our industry, including his most recent job of overseeing the commissioning, start-up, and operation of a new canola and soy crushing facility. We're delighted to welcome him aboard and look forward to his contribution as a leader of our PCC team."
"Demand for canola products is growing at an aggressive pace and this project is well-timed and well-located to benefit from that trend," Scheuer said. "I'm eager to work with the construction team to build out a wonderful facility and with the management team to staff and train our workforce and to bring this plant to life. That's a special experience and I'm truly excited to be a part of it."
"With the addition of Ken as plant manager, we have our Pacific Coast Canola senior management team in place," said Joel Horn, president and CEO, Legumex Walker. "This is another important milestone in our progress as we continue to advance construction of the plant toward commencing operations in early 2013."
Horn added that the Warden project remains on time and budget and that above-ground construction has commenced at the site. A recent photo of the site is available at http://bit.ly/AAWNeE.
Prior to joining Pacific Coast Canola, Scheuer was plant superintendent/manager at TRT-ETGO in Becancour, QC where he was responsible for managing the commissioning, start-up, and operation of a new canola and soy crushing and refining operation. From 1985 to 2010, Scheuer held a number of positions at Bunge Canada, Canada's largest oilseed processor, capped by 20 years as plant manager in charge of canola processing at the company's Nipawin, SK processing facility. Altogether, Scheuer has nearly four decades of experience in the agricultural sector and is a Certified Management Accountant.
About Pacific Coast Canola
Pacific Coast Canola is constructing its first canola crushing plant in Warden, WA. Designed to process 1,100 metric tonnes (MT) of canola per day, the Warden facility will produce expeller-pressed canola oil and high-quality canola meal. The plant will be the first commercial-scale canola crushing operation west of the Rockies and is well-positioned to supply the expanding demand for canola products on the west coast of the United States. Warden is in the heart of a multi-state region that is ideal for canola production and well-served by rail and surface transportation routes.
The facility is expected to be operational by early 2013 and is being constructed by Industrial Construction Group of Portland, OR. Total cost of the plant is expected be approximately $110 million (USD). The plant has a design output capacity of 142,500 MT of canola oil and 227,000 MT of canola meal per year. Pacific Coast Canola is 85 percent owned by Legumex Walker and 15 percent by Glencore Grain Investment LLC.
About Legumex Walker Inc.
Legumex Walker is a growth-oriented processor and merchandiser of pulses (lentils, peas, beans and chickpeas), other special crops and canola products. The Company is one of the largest processors of pulses and other special crops in Canada, with 12 processing facilities strategically located in key growing regions in the Canadian Prairie Provinces, the American Midwest, and China, a global sales, logistics, and distribution platform and access to multimodal transportation capabilities.
This press release contains "forward‐looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to the status of a subsidiary's canola seed processing plant currently under construction, the anticipated completion date of that plant, its staffing plans and management team as well as statements relating to the reporting of financial results for future periods. Such forward‐looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those set out in the final prospectus of Legumex Walker dated June 30, 2011 available on sedar.com. The Company does not undertake to update forward‐looking statements or forward‐looking information except as required bylaw.
For further information:
MEDIA
Jon Austin
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(612) 839-5172
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Marin Landis
Manager of Investor Relations - Legumex Walker Inc.
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(206) 535-2427
Lawrence Chamberlain
TMX Equicom
[email protected]
(416) 815-0700 ext. 257
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