REGINA, SASK. – Alliance Grain Traders plans to install a second production line that will double capacity at a pulse ingredient production facility in Minot, N.D. Capacity should increase to 70,000 tonnes annually.

The new production line, which comes with an estimated cost of $4 million, should be operational by the first quarter of 2014. The facility in Minot also may accommodate a third production line, which would add another 35,000 tonnes of capacity.

The facility produces pulse-based ingredients such as flours, starches and fibers.

“We expect this expansion in production to assist in ramping up our marketing and commercialization program for our pulse food ingredient business,” said Murad Al-Katib, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Grain Traders, which has an office in Regina. “The facility began testing and production in late June 2013, and the positive momentum of sales and production has continued to build both through our agreement with Cargill as an outlet to move our proteins into the North American pet food industry and through our global sales activities focused on food and feed companies.