Lakeland, Fla.-Harrell’s has reported that the ambitious modernization at its main manufacturing facility here, including an automated loading system, a new hot-melt process, and updated bagging equipment, has been completed and is in operation. While company officials aren’t talking about costs, Green Markets was told that much of the investment involved repairs from the 2004 hurricane. “We haven’t announced that figure publicly,” spokeswoman Tami Grimes said. “Our primary emphasis was improving quality over quantity. Now we have better logistics getting our products from warehouse to customer.” Grimes said the project was started almost two years ago. The new overhead unloading system for the line product for golf course greens is fully automated, from delivery vessels to holding bins, and is said to improve quality by allowing for raw materials to be moved through the plant above equipment and other materials. The hot-melt process was added to the existing system used to produce impregnated products. “It’s a completely separate line from the regular fertilizer line to ensure that our other fertilizer blends remain chemical free,” Grimes noted. The renovated bagging process includes both new bagging and sealing equipment, which replaces the previous .4 millimeter with .5 millimeter bags and introduces a new look for better product content identification. Harrell’s has also added 1,500 square feet of dock space, which almost doubles the area, as well as new offices for plant administration.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain