Company expected to hire 30 people at full capacity

Fertilizer plant to locate in industrial park

 By Seth Nidever | Posted: Monday, June 11, 2012 12:00 pm | (0) Comments

 HANFORD — A major fertilizer company has announced plans to build a production plant in Kings Industrial Park in a boost to local economic development hopes.

 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc., a subsidiary of Tessenderlo Group headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., says it will construct a production facility on 46-acre site south of Hanford, sandwiched between Verdegaal Bros. and GWF Energy. It has already purchased the property, local officials said.

 Verdegaal is a fertilizer business that processes raw materials. GWF operates an electricity co-generation plant powered by a petroleum byproduct.

 “Tessenderlo is a world-class fertilizer company, and we’re pleased that they’ve selected Hanford,” said John Lehn, CEO of Kings County Economic Development Corp. “Hopefully it’s a sign of great things to happen in the economy of Kings County.”

 The county had a 15.6 percent unemployment rate in April.

 Tessenderlo declined to answer some interview questions, instead referring inquiries to a press release.

 The company expects the plant to be operational by 2014. Tessenderlo says it’s locating the facility in Hanford “to better serve customers’ increasing requirements in the Western region of the U.S.”

 The company specializes in bulk liquid specialty fertilizers for application to grapes, nuts, vegetable crops and other commodities. Many of its products are shipped by railroad, and there is a spur line going to the property.

 Tessenderlo also announced the expansion of its existing San Joaquin Valley plant, which is located south of Fresno.

 The developments come at a boom time for Kings County agriculture. The county’s 2011 crop report, released this week, had the county hitting an all-time record of $2.2 billion in agricultural output. Crops across the board, ranging from milk to cotton to cattle to nuts, increased in value.

 “I think it will be a good addition to our farming out here, certainly to our industrial park,” said Jay Salyer, Kings County EDC economic development manager.

 Tessenderlo Kerley currently operates 10 manufacturing plants in North America, Belgium and Turkey. It’s part of Tessenderlo Group, a global company based in Belgium that employs 7,500 people and has annual revenues of $2.65 billion.

 The reporter can be reached at 583-2432 or snidever@HanfordSentinel.com.

Read more: http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/fertilizer-plant-to-locate-in-industrial-park/article_f7e73038-b3e4-11e1-a3c7-001a4bcf887a.html#ixzz1ypdcwnS5