A $4-million state-of-the-art upgrade of Viterra's Gladstone site was unveiled on Friday.
The upgrade includes a new classification centre, automatic grain probes, fully-automated 40-metre weighbridge and shed resealing.
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Growers and the community gathered at the site on Friday to celebrate the occasion, with the new classification centre being named in memory of local grower Michael Butterick.
The existing centre has been named in honour of fellow local grower Geoff Millard.
Both were Strategic Silo Committee chairs and served on the committee for a number of years, playing a valuable role in working with the business on behalf of local growers.
Viterra central region operations manager Jack Tansley said the new automated grain probes and classification centre was the first of its kind in the region, but follows the success of a similar upgrade at Tumby Bay.
"The new equipment will improve efficiency, safety and service to grower customers," he said.
"The automatic probes run the length of the truck on overhead tracks and will be controlled by an employee with a joystick inside the classification office.
"Visual inspection of the truck is via video cameras on the probes.
"We've been able to improve safety and efficiency by having the classification office on the ground rather than having stairs - as employees no longer need to probe from a height."
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Mr Tansley said Viterra wanted to make sure they were doing what growers need.
"The opportunity to have this new development here, and honour the past committee members, was a great idea," he said.
"It has been a major project which we have managed in a way to use as many local and SA contractors as possible."
Gladstone Strategic Silo Committee chair Nigel Clogg said it was the biggest upgrade the facility had received in several decades
Dylan Smith
Dylan spent his childhood/teenage years growing up in Port Pirie, located in South Australia's Mid North. He joined The Recorder newspaper [Port Pirie] as a cadet reporter in 2008, moved to The Flinders News as journalist-in-charge in 2010, was appointed editor of The Recorder and The Flinders News in 2012, joined Fairfax Media's national digital team as the state digital editor for SA in 2014 and then returned home to Port Pirie in late 2015 as editor of The Recorder, Whyalla News and The Transcontinental. Dylan enjoys being involved in community groups. He is currently a board member of the Lions Club of Port Pirie, deputy chair of the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery board of directors and publicity officer for Port Pirie's Relay for Life.
Dylan spent his childhood/teenage years growing up in Port Pirie, located in South Australia's Mid North. He joined The Recorder newspaper [Port Pirie] as a cadet reporter in 2008, moved to The Flinders News as journalist-in-charge in 2010, was appointed editor of The Recorder and The Flinders News in 2012, joined Fairfax Media's national digital team as the state digital editor for SA in 2014 and then returned home to Port Pirie in late 2015 as editor of The Recorder, Whyalla News and The Transcontinental. Dylan enjoys being involved in community groups. He is currently a board member of the Lions Club of Port Pirie, deputy chair of the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery board of directors and publicity officer for Port Pirie's Relay for Life.
