National Beef plan major tannery investment
9 March 2010National Beef Leathers have announced that they are to invest around $20 million to upgrade the former Prime Tanning site in St Joseph, Missouri. The tannery employs 100 people.
National Beef Leathers, based in Kansas City, acquired the tannery from Prime Tanning in 2009. The upgrade is expected to take from 18 to 24 months, National Beef officials said. The project is needed to allow the plant to remain in business by meeting is production potential in terms of processing cattle hides. The first phase will involve improving the beamhouse, particularly the liming area and will involve the installation of new equipment. Work includes the demolition of certain portions of the main physical plant. The $20 million price tag is an estimate.
‘It has always been National Beef Leather’s intention in acquiring the tannery to substantially renovate the tannery’s physical plant and to replace a substantial portion of the equipment used to carry out the various processes at the tannery,’ a notification statement said.
