Industrial Development Briefs: Harnois Énergies, CJ Logistics America

Christian Fortin - Harnois Énergies, François St-Louis - Member of Joliette, Nicolas Gamelin - Bruneau Électrique, Serge Harnois - Harnois Énergies, Thierry Lysiak - Genesee & Wyoming Canada Inc., Claude Harnois - Founder, Richard Otis - PNR RailWorks Quebec Inc, Yves Vallières - Ingénierie RIVVAL Inc., Nicolas Framery - CDÉJ, Nicolas Préville-Ratelle - CDÉJ, Pierre-Luc Bellerose - Mayor of Joliette, André Champagne - Mayor of Saint-Thomas, Pascal Rodrigue - Harnois Énergies (CNW Group/Harnois Énergies)

Harnois Énergies (HÉ) inaugurates a rail spur at the Saint-Thomas distribution center in Quebec City. Also, CJ Logistics America announces the opening of a new cold storage warehouse in New Century, Kans.

HÉ

HÉ on May 15 inaugurated a rail spur at the Saint-Thomas distribution center in Quebec City.

According to HÉ, the rail spur’s two new access tracks make it possible for the distribution company to load propane gas into a specialized tank at its Saint-Thomas facilities. Other products, such as aviation fuel and urea, can now also be received directly at this location.

The C$3.9 million rail spur project was made possible through a subsidy from the provincial government. Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility Geneviève Guilbault provided maximum funding of C$1,888,936 to HÉ, an amount that the company says was awarded with “a view to maintaining and developing rail infrastructure, as well as improving the integration of this mode of transport with supply chains.” HÉ invested C$2 million.

The benefits of this new infrastructure are numerous, HÉ says, starting with reduced greenhouse gases (GHGs). In the past, the company says it had no other option but to ship propane by truck from a supply site to its tank in Saint-Thomas. “Thanks to this direct access and the ability to transfer product in the head office’s rear yard, the equivalent of 240 trucks (i.e., 257 tons CO2) will be removed from the road each year,” HÉ said.

In addition to the project’s environmental benefits, HÉ says “the logistical and efficiency aspects are also central to the added value of this investment.” In the long term, this project will eliminate several steps, which will result in “increased volume and better efficiency for HÉ,” according to the company. The new facilities were designed according to strict security standards that ensure optimal protection.

“The realization of this project is the result of excellent teamwork between our teams and external partners, said HÉ President and CEO Serge Harnois. “HÉ is looking toward the future and is taking action to reduce its environmental footprint and, therefore, ensure the company’s sustainability.”

CJ Logistics America

Supply chain and technology company CJ Logistics America on May 15 announced that it will be opening a new cold storage warehouse in New Century, Kans., just 30 miles outside of Kansas City.

Developed in a joint venture by Yukon Real Estate Partners, a national cold storage developer, and BGO, a cold storage real estate company, the project boasts a rail-served 291,000-square-foot warehouse complete with Alta EXPERT refrigeration and is targeted to open its doors in Q3 2025.

The new warehouse facility will be attached to Upfield’s New Century production plant through an above-ground conveyor bridge being constructed by Upfield, allowing its finished product to be delivered directly into the warehouse. Plant-based food company Upfield produces such brands as Country Crock®, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter® and Imperial® at the New Century manufacturing facility.

According to CJ Logistics America, there is currently 100,000 square feet available at the warehouse for other customers looking for space.

The New Century cold storage facility is positioned less than four miles from Interstate 35 and 11 miles from the newly developed BNSF Railway transcontinental line intermodal facility. The project, CJ Logistics America says, “is strategically located to take advantage of best-in-class access throughout the Midwest.”

“With a direct rail spur into the warehouse, customers will benefit tremendously by realizing material savings on their overall logistics costs, including drayage and demurrage, less environmental emissions and increased shipping efficiency, both domestic and cross-border. Whether by highway, rail or air, the greater Kansas City market offers excellent transportation advantages as approximately 85% of the United States is reachable within two days,” the company stated in a release.

“The opening of this new facility continues the momentum from our announcement earlier this year of our new cold storage warehouse in Gainesville, Georgia,” said CJ Logistics America CEO Kevin Coleman. “We see the frozen and refrigerated food market increasing significantly in the coming years. Both of these new buildings expand our capabilities and reach, positioning CJ Logistics as a top supply chain and logistics partner. We are so excited for this long-term partnership with a leading brand like Upfield, and we thank Yukon Real Estate and BGO for their support throughout this process.”

”We are excited about this project as it fits squarely with Upfield’s sustainability focus and sets us up for future growth efficiency, allowing us to streamline our U.S. supply chain as we build around our New Century factory,” said Byron Alvarez, Upfield’s North America Supply Chain Director.