In an effort to centralize its facilities, Ralco announced that it is planning to make a significant capital investment into its feed mill capacities in Marshall, Minn.

The investment in Ralco's animal nutrition business will provide expanded production capacity, precision mixing capabilities and enhanced packaging equipment. The planned expansion will be a significance upgrade of Ralco's nutrition manufacturing facilities, which were originally constructed in 1974.

Ralco's rapid growth during the past decade has required it to utilize several manufacturing and distribution facilities in Marshall to keep up with demand for its products. However, construction of a new 30,000 sq. ft. distribution center at the Lake Road Industrial Park and the prospective feed mill expansion will allow the company to centralize operations for greater efficiency.

The upgrades will also allow Ralco to vacate a current manufacturing facility located near 8th St., the company said. Partial ownership of the facility will transfer to the City of Marshall by June 1. Ralco will continue some of its manufacturing at the location as complete ownership of the facility will be assumed by the city during the next two years.

Ralco vice president of operations Dennis Conlon said upgrading the manufacturing plant and future construction in the Lake Road Industrial Park would provide a coordinated approach to greater expansion in Marshall.

"Ralco has grown very rapidly, which has caused us to outgrow some of our current facilities. The investment we are planning in our manufacturing capacity and the distribution center we have built at Lake Road allows us to consolidate to more central campuses, and utilize state-of-the-art mixing and packaging technologies," Conlon said. "This will promote efficiency and provide us with more opportunity to grow."

Ralco is a third-generation, family-owned multinational company with distribution in more than 30 countries. As a global provider of livestock nutrition, animal health and crop enhancement products, Ralco supports large segments of the livestock, poultry, aquaculture and crop industries.