Following the fire that disrupted operations at its Holcomb beef complex, U.S. state of Kansas, in August, Tyson Fresh Meats announced reconstruction of the facility is near completion. Efforts to resume harvest operations are to begin the first week of December, with intentions to be fully operational by the first week of January.
The fire is said to have severely damaged a critical part of the plant containing the hydraulic and electrical systems that support the harvest floor and cooler areas. Reconstruction included completely replacing support beams and the roof, hydraulic piping and pumps, installing over 50,000 ft of new wiring and the reconstruction of all new electrical panel rooms and equipment.
Since the fire, cattle have been diverted to the Company’s other beef facilities, where they were able to offset some of the production volume losses, to try and help mitigate disruption to cattle producers and customers. As reported by ILM, the meat processor reported lower sales volume in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2019 due to a reduction in slaughter processing capacity from the temporary closure of the Kansas production facility.
