Weitz Industrial Recognized at 2025 ABC MN/ND Excellence in Construction (EIC) Banquet 

The Weitz Company is proud to announce that the DSM‑Firmenich Petfood Premix Facility has been recognized at the 2025 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Minnesota & North Dakota Excellence in Construction (EIC) Banquet. The project received the Pyramid Award in the Industrial Construction – Over $20 Million category. 

The ABC MN/ND EIC program celebrates exceptional construction achievements delivered by member contractors across the region. Winners from the regional program advance to national consideration. The ABC Excellence in Construction Awards Gala will honor the country’s most innovative and high‑quality projects on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The 70,000‑square‑foot “next generation” petfood premix and vitamin trace mineral (VTM) facility features advanced robotics, automation, and containerized ingredient‑handling technologies, replacing traditional equipment used in the petfood industry. These innovations position the facility as the most technologically advanced premix plant for both DSM‑Firmenich and the broader petfood premix market. Systems throughout the facility automate ingredient receiving, micro‑batching, blending, conveying, and packaging. 

Operator safety was a priority in the facility’s design. Clear work zones, dedicated visitor pathways, and strategically planned tour routes enhance both safety and user experience. Given the significant robotic and automated equipment in motion, machine guarding and safety fencing were carefully engineered to protect operators while maintaining accessibility for maintenance. 

In addition to the Pyramid Award, our team was also recognized with the STEP Safety Management System Platinum award. Reflecting our company’s ongoing commitment to safety.  

Weitz Professional Services, LLC (WPS), Weitz’s internal design and engineering group, provided overall plant layout, process design, and fugitive particle matter recovery systems. WPS also developed and managed the master equipment list. Additionally, they coordinated the engineering efforts of multiple design‑build trade partners to ensure seamless integration across all disciplines. 

Congratulations to the project team for an excellent job. 

For more information about the project, please reach out to Alex Westlind, Business Development Director for Weitz | Industrial.