Bühler forms feed JV in Mexico with IMDHER
Family-owned IMDHER is a turnkey supplier to the Mexican feed market, with 20% market share. It is specialized in the integral design, manufacture, assembly, construction, and start-up of facilities, with over 100 feed plants in Mexico, under its belt.
Bühler is buying a minority stake of 49% in the joint venture. The new company, called IMDHER Bühler, will leverage Bühler’s core machines as well as IMDHER’s expertise.
It will be managed by IMDHER general manager, Luis Díaz, who commented on the alliance:
“The joint venture with Bühler represents an opportunity for us to add Bühler’s technology and solutions to our existing assets and therefore to expand the offering to our customers in Mexico’s vibrant and expanding market.”
Sustainability targets
Despite recent trends in western societies towards plant-based alternatives, meat consumption globally is rising, largely driven by increasing wealth and growing middle classes, noted the partners, with Bühler adding that it is committed to ensuring this growth is achieved in a sustainable way.
The Swiss company is looking to help IMDHER’s customers make more economical use of their raw materials and energy, thus improving the CO2 footprint of their operations. The goal it said, is in line with its target to reduce energy, waste, and water in customers’ value chains in all the markets it addresses by 50% by 2025.
“The participation has come about as a result of our talks with IMDHER over several years. Our first joint projects are already under way and working well. We will not only install Bühler core machines but also enable IMDHER’s existing installed base to be connected to Bühler Insights, our central platform for connected products and services. This will improve the efficiency of IMDHER plants, and reduce energy consumption and waste,” said Olivia Enriquez, director general, Bühler Mexico.
Mexico is the sixth biggest producer of animal feed in the world, and is particularly strong in broiler and layer chickens, pigs, and dairy. In addition, the pet and aqua feed markets are currently growing fast, reported Bühler, which has been present in Mexico since 1959.
