because the programmers had decided to curtail the iterative process to save time. The differences between Format and the competition were particularly apparent with multi-product formulations. The other abiding memory was that many competitors used menu-driven software, which was both time-consuming and infuriating. In this author’s career, he can recall using: Adifo (Ofida), Applesoft Solver, Bestmix, BP, Brill, Computone, Feed-Man, IBM LP/90, Mixit-3, Nutec, Optifeed, Scicon Micro Feed, Ultramix and Wang. By 1987, this author having visited some 120 feed and flour


companies in 22 countries, recognised that there are two ways to run a feedmill: either the buyer is in charge and tells the nutritionist what to use, or the nutritionist is in charge and tells the buyer what to buy. However this is a conundrum, as often the buyer receives a higher salary than the nutritionist, but ideally the nutritionist should be in charge. Multi-Mix®


amounting to £5-20k per month for a 100,000 tonne per annum feedmill. Therefore CEOs with an overview of the whole business, and who understand raw material purchasing and linear programming, have a substantial advantage over their competitors by removing (temporarily or permanently) non-critical artificial constraints or policies to achieve more cost-effective solutions. Conversely, many operators of LP will only look for the least-cost


is usually sold as a tool for allocating scarce and


surplus raw materials, and indeed it is. However, it is much more than that; it is first and foremost a buying tool and strategic weapon. Thus if the buyer does not work hand-in-hand with the nutritionist, agreeing strategies on how to manage raw material shorts and longs, then they are not fighting on the same side. Multi-Mix®


allows the nutritionist


and buyer to play ‘what if’ scenarios for this month, next month and six months’ time. Most CEOs have not had the good fortune to have worked


their way up from humble nutritionist, so may have only a simplistic understanding of Linear Programming, and therefore trust junior officers in the company to run the software efficiently. The cost of raw materials comprises approximately 80% of the turnover of a feed business, and operators have to make strategic cost decisions typically


solution, ignoring palatability, pellet quality, density, particle size, mixing time, the total liquid and amperage load, bridging coefficients, colour, etc. This author has visited many feed businesses, where mill managers were obliged to invest in new machinery e.g. to improve pellet quality whereas an investment of £1-2/t in a sub-optimal formulation would negate the need for capital investment. The mathematics of mill investment versus sub-optimal formulation cost is rarely carried out, because the least-cost formulation produced by the junior operator is often believed to be sacrosanct. LP is only a tool which, in skilled hands, can become a weapon wielded against both competitors and the market, and the results can be recognised as beautiful. Formulation is a science as well as an art, or as Einstein (1923) put it: ‘After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well.’


This article is dedicated to the managers (both scientists and artists) in my formulation career: Lesley Sylvester at Oldacre; Bruce Cliffe at Oldacre International; and at Format International, Edwin Jones (MD & Joint-Founder), John Hall (Programmer & Joint-Founder), and my colleagues Mike Ablett and Sue Morley.


Construction begins on new £20m mill I’Anson Brothers Ltd. has begun work to construct a new £20m production facility, the largest investment in its 120 year history.


Picture shows: Front (left-right) Will I’Anson (Sales Director, I’Anson Brothers) & Chris I’Anson (Chairman & Managing Director, I’Anson Brothers) Rear (left-right), Lindsay Ross (Dalton 009) Mark Robson (Leader, Hambleton District Council) Mark Smith (HACS Construction Group) & Kevin Baker (Project Design Manager)


Work to construct the access road for the mill at Dalton New Bridge, the next


phase of the Dalton Industrial Estate in North Yorkshire, has commenced after Hambleton District Council planning committee gave unanimous approval for the project earlier this year. The road construction contract has been awarded to the HACS construction group of nearby Harrogate. The ultramodern facility has been designed to be as energy efficient as


possible and will be one of the most technologically advanced feed mills in Europe. The increased production capacity will complement the firm’s existing plant at Masham and enable it to meet growing demand from existing customers, secure new orders, expand its export operations and continue to be a major supplier to the agriculture sector. I’Anson currently employs 90 people from the local community and this latest investment will maintain the existing workforce and also create additional jobs at the new production facility with more expected to follow as the company grows in the future. Chairman and Managing Director Chris I’Anson said: “We are delighted to have begun work on what represents a significant milestone


in the history of the business and a continuation of our commitment to North Yorkshire. This is a fitting way to celebrate our 120th anniversary as a business and as the single biggest investment in our history, lays down a marker for our ambition and future growth as a proud Yorkshire firm, exporter and employer.”


Construction of the mill itself is expected to last for 18 months, with completion and commissioning scheduled for the autumn of 2022. Founded in Masham in 1900, I’Anson has grown to become a leader in the production of animal feeds and has been based at its current


mill for the past six decades. It supports many customers regionally, nationally and internationally, exporting its specialist horse feed products to around 40 countries worldwide. The business’s headquarters will remain in Masham, where it will continue to manufacture an extensive range of micronized feeds, specialty rations and horse feeds. The new facility will focus on the production of bulk farm feeds.


PAGE 36 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 FEED COMPOUNDER


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68