This continues to be a complex subject. I placed a referenced definition of mill, refinery and factory on: en:Beet sugar factory. Even so, I am not completely sure yet. Definitions have changed over time. In the past, many beet sugar factories did not refine their raw sugar, but in the United States all sugar factories now do refine their own sugar. The concept of refining also seems to have a meaning depending on location. In rich countries, only white sugar is considered to have been refined. Poor countries also seem to consider plantation white or turbinado sugar to have been refined. Therefore, a modern cane sugar mill/factory seems to be called a mill or factory depending on what is produces, even though modern cane mills and factories are very much the same in a technical sense. As a consequence, the western world has cane sugar mills and beet sugar factories, and poorer countries have cane sugar factories.
However, the distinction between refinery and factory is simple. I do not know of an expert reference that calls a facility that uses sugar beet or sugar cane as raw material a sugar refinery. On the other hand, both a beet sugar factory and a cane sugar mill/factory use those as raw material.Grieg2 (talk) 13:21, 11 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]
Propose to close this discussion@Themightyquill, DarwIn, Ruff tuff cream puff, and Estopedist1:
I want to close this discussion. It started with an idea to add or move to Category:Sugarcane mills (machinery) in order to make a distinction between sugar mills and sugar factories. Then there was an option to distinguish between sugar cane processing and sugar beet processing. Finally Darwin correctly noted that a factory is not the same as a refinery. However, the result is that this stale discussion blocks actions to correct the categorization.Grieg2 (talk) 05:44, 6 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]
Sure, that's fine with me. I looks like I jumped the gun and made changes before initiating discussion, or before letting it finish. Feel free to fix it however makes sense. -- Themightyquill (talk) 10:49, 8 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]
A facility that uses (or can use) sugar beet or sugar cane as raw material to produce sugar, is either a sugar mill or a sugar factory. This is often subject to local use of the term, or the exact process used.
A sugar refinery is a refining facility that cannot make sugar using sugar beet or sugar cane as raw material.