H.J. Baker &Bros. Inc, an international feed, fertilizer and sulphur company, has a new sulphur processing facility that opened in Irricana on Oct. 2 and aims to expand the future of the town.
The new facility will be “the largest of its kind in the world.”
“They are financially strong. They have a strong product, it’s already established and the people seem very warm,” said Irricana Mayor Valerie Squires.
The new plant will also create more than 10 local jobs and help put the town on the map on an international scale, according to Squires.
“The plant at Irricana is going to be the largest sulphur-bentonite plant in the world. That is so impressive because that will make Irricana, small as it is, a world name. That is amazing to me,” said Squires.
Several agricultural fertilizers utilize sulphur products, which are applied to soil to increase yields.
The building features an 18,000-foot processing area, a new 7,400 square foot administration and operations building, and storage facilities.
H.J. Baker & Bros. opened its doors to members of the public, media and dignitaries on Oct. 2.
The event featured a breakfast, lunch, a tour of the facility and laboratory and a number of speeches from H. J. Baker President and CEO Chris Smith, Corporate Vice President Don Cherry and Squires.
According to presentations given by administration, the plant is a Tiger-Sul brand crop nutrient manufacturing facility serving the region.
The business moved their operations from Calgary to Irricana after acquiring the facility in 2013. The existing plant was built in 1998 to process sulphur, according to Cherry.
“We took this last year to dismantle the equipment that was inside,” said Cherry. The equipment was auctioned off and H.J. Baker & Bros. transported their equipment from their Calgary facility to begin production.
“The plant opened two weeks ago, we actually started production here at the facility and we’ve produced quite a few thousand tonnes already,” said Cherry.
During October the facility will be at full production he said.
“Most of the product is going directly out to the field now because with the harvest that is occurring in the area, farmers are now beginning to apply the product,” Cherry said.
The staff at the facility will also conduct research and the plant will include Tiger-Sul University classrooms.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on the development of new products and the new technology that we have involves a coating of materials rather than a pastille (a small pebble sized object),” said Cherry. The process involves taking a material like ammonia-sulfate and coating it with Tiger90 CR, a micronutrient. Tiger-Sul crop micronutrient products are aimed at improving crop yields.
“Knowing that it is a financially stable company, I think there are an awful lot of people that are going to be very interested by the concept of local jobs,” said Squires. “Any community is thrilled to have something that will provide more jobs and my understanding from talking with the Plant Operations Manager Brad Miller, is that we could be looking at 10 positions in the next few months.”
Squires said, the prospect of that many jobs is significant for Irricana. “It could grow to more, as they are planning on growing.”
