Cal/West Seeds has announced a major upgrade for receiving, processing and bagging at its Artois, California Plant.  Paul Frey, President/CEO of Cal/West Seeds, states, “While the system has been designed to improve the efficiency of conditioning and packaging to all the seed lines handled at the Artois facility, it is especially well suited to the safflower segment of our business. Customers can be assured of shipments that are professionally handled in an expedient and efficient manner.”

These key elements are just part of a complete upgrade to the entire facility designed to provide added efficiency and high capacity packaging with minimal labor requirements due to increased automation:

·         Two new GSI holding tanks with a capacity of 5,000 bushels each.

·         A Conquest Screen Machine for precision seed cleaning that increases recovery and product quality.

·         An Oliver 3600 Gravity Separator Table that doubles present capacity.

·         A Columbia Okura Robotic Arm and a Lantech Stretch Wrapper for palletizing and stacking.

Construction was done by Kraemer & Co. Manufacturing, Inc., recognized as a specialist in design and construction of turnkey installations for agriculture.

Mr. Tom Hickman, National Sales Manager for Cal/West Seeds, adds, “Cal/West Seeds’ new facility enables us to service our customers in a much more efficient and productive manner with excellent, quality product year-round. When it comes off the line, it’s the last time it’s touched. It is a state-of-the-art bulk handling / cleaning facility with extensively automated packaging.” The upgrade also provides Cal/West with increased flexibility in order to provide seed in different packaging from 50# bags to bulk direct loading onto rail or ground transportation.

Cal/West Seeds has a proven record as a reliable source for seed. Established in 1969, the Cal/West Seeds Co-Op is made up of over 550 seed-growing members in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Nevada and delivers a variety of high quality forage seed worldwide. .