April 24, 2008

Cargill expands wheat processing plant in Poland to produce gluten and sweeteners

Cargill Inc. has completed a EUR22-million expansion at its wheat processing facility in Wroclaw, Poland, the firm announced Wednesday (April 23, 2008).

A flour mill was added, which will be used to make sweeteners such as glucose and fructose, as well as vital wheat gluten for the food and animal feed industry. An existing ethanol production unit was also extended.

"By integrating the flour mill into our existing wheat processing facility, we will gain significant flexibility," said Frank Van Lierde, head of Cargill's European sweeteners business.

Most of the wheat used in the plant will be sourced locally.

The move comes after Cargill's recent conversion of its wheat processing plant in northwest England, where it a corn sweetener plant was converted to use wheat.