Originally announced last year, the expansion of the plant is set to bring production capacity from 900 tons to 2700 tons annually.
"Strong market interest in our proprietary stabilized rice bran derivatives has prompted our desire to further increase manufacturing capability…," said Margie Adelman, senior vice president of NutraCea.
The Californian company is a leader in stabilized rice bran, a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that is normally discarded during rice processing.
Part of NutraCea's goal is to initiate feeding programmes and enable the use of its technology by rice processors in developing countries so that local populations have access to the nutrition source. However, the company is simultaneously expanding into mainstream foods in developed countries.
NutraCea is in the process of installing process and drying equipment at the Montana plant and it has also announced increased product at its Louisiana plant. Projected for completion during the second quarter of 2007, this second expansion is also going to boost capacity from 1,800 tons per year to 2,700 tons per year.
"This accelerated initiative to increase our manufacturing capacity is intended as an efficient and economical means of boosting capacity on a rapid basis," said Adelman.
NutraCea has been very active of late and recently announced a private placement of common shares worth $50m, which it said it planned to use to finance the large-scale supply of its products.
