Siemens has received a contract to equip a sugar refinery, operating in North America, with electrical and control technology. Currently under construction in Gramercy, Louisiana, the plant will be owned and operated by Louisiana Sugar Refining (LSR), a joint venture between Sugar Growers and Refiners, Cargill and Imperial Sugar Company. The refinery is scheduled to begin production in September 2011, producing 1 million tons of sugar every year. As per the contract, the Siemens Industry Automation Division will supply an extensive range of electrical and control system components for the refinery. This will include the Simatic PCS 7 distributed control system, valve positioners, switchgear, smart motor control centers, Sinamics centrifugal drives and NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) certified motors. Siemens will also supply several software templates used to optimize the sugar refining process.