EllisDon successfully completed the fast-track Canola Pressing Plant in Manitoba, which included 25,000 metric tonnes (MT) of seed cleaning, storage, and a utility building which now services all of Interlink Industrial Park.

To facilitate fast delivery, EllisDon undertook this project as a sequence of small lump sum contracts, providing the Owner with the comfort of fixed prices for each component of the work as it was designed. At the earliest possible point in the process EllisDon converted these packages into one overall lump sum contract for the total project with a fixed completion date. This unique process enabled the plant to be ready for operation less than nine months after the start of the design.

The plant produces around 400 MT/day of crude canola oil and about 580 MT/day of canola meal for sale primarily to export markets. The crushing process used by this plant incorporates an environmentally friendly double pressing system, which eliminates the use of harsh chemicals. This results in the production of hexane-free canola oil, which is refined and used in low cholesterol cooking oils, margarine, and shortenings.

The canola meal is used in the production of animal feed. The Canadian Agra Canola Oil Plant is the first plant in North America to use this process on such a large commercial scale.