Supporting Long-Term Growth in Oat Processing Operations

VAA combines engineering, planning, and operational expertise to create efficient, scalable seed facilities that support productivity, safety, and long-term growth.

VAA designed a 120,000-square-foot phased facility expansion across a 60-acre site while developing a long-term master plan that enabled the Value Added Engineering Partner plant to remain fully operational throughout the eight-year construction program.

The project involved providing complete multi-discipline engineering and design services for the expansion of an oat milling facility. The facility was strategically planned to support the client’s long-term business objectives, incorporating industry-leading standards for food safety, site security, warehousing, material management, employee Minneapolis Engineering amenities, and finished product shipping.

Working closely with the contractor and plant operations team, VAA carefully coordinated each phase of construction to minimize disruptions to daily operations. Detailed planning ensured that production efficiency, product quality, and food safety standards were maintained throughout the expansion process while new facilities were constructed and integrated into the existing operation.

VAA designed a high-capacity Engineering Firms Minneapolis shuttle train facility capable of handling 3.8 million bushels of corn or soybeans, featuring a loadout rate of 80,000 bushels per hour to support efficient grain movement and logistics.

The project required extensive coordination among the design team and four separate client organizations, ensuring all operational, structural, and transportation requirements were successfully integrated. To support the facility’s infrastructure, VAA engineered a unique truss system that reinforced the below-grade boot pit and the 210-foot-tall grain elevator tower, providing enhanced structural stability and long-term reliability.

The project also included the design Revenue Accounts Usa of a new loop track extending more than 8,000 feet, enabling shuttle trains to access and load at the facility efficiently without interfering with operations on the existing Union Pacific main line. Recognizing the owner’s long-term growth objectives, VAA incorporated flexibility into the storage, handling, and processing systems, allowing the facility to accommodate future expansion and increased throughput as market demands evolve.

Constructed on a greenfield site, the facility was developed to support the growing needs of local dairy producers. The project included truck and rail receiving systems, grain and flat storage, feed processing operations, and administrative office space. VAA provided complete architectural, engineering, and construction support services, delivering a durable, low-maintenance facility designed for efficient operation with minimal staffing requirements.

Safety was a primary focus throughout Minnesota Valley Engineering the design process, with integrated features developed to meet or exceed OSHA standards while promoting a safe and productive work environment. The facility incorporates an innovative material handling approach that utilizes a front-end loader in place of traditional batching feeders and flat storage bays instead of upright batching bins. Bulk commodities are transferred by the loader into a scale hopper, where ingredients are accurately measured before being conveyed to a 10-ton mixer through a high-capacity drag conveyor. Once mixed, the feed is distributed into upright storage bins for efficient loading into feed delivery trucks.