Novozymes $36M expansion nearly complete – Novozymes expansion Danish biotechnology company enzyme production - Arhive
Novozymes $36M expansion nearly complete
A new tank at the Novozymes plant in Blair is one of several being installed as part of a $36 million expansion, which is expected to be completed by the end of December.
Joe Burns
A $36 million expansion at the Novozymes plant in Blair is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
In May, the Danish biotechnology company announced the expansion plans for the plant, which is the largest enzyme production plant for biofuels in the U.S. The expansion significantly increases the plant’s fermentation capacity.
Additional tanks were installed one by one during the project. Novozymes Blair General Manager Kyle Nixon expects the last tank to be in place at the end of December.
Blair Novozymes General Manager Kyle Nixon stands in front of a nearly complete expansion at the plant.
Joe Burns
“The goal for us when we made the announcement was to have this project done by the end of the year,” he said. “We’re right there.”
Some of the tanks are already operational, Nixon said.
The expansion produced four full-time fermentation positions, as well as about 11 other indirect support jobs. The plant’s workforce is currently at 130.
“Right now, everything we’re putting in those tanks are for the current product mix,” Nixon said. “The good news, for us, I think, is we started off looking at those tanks for possible different product mixes that could come here. The good news for us has been we have been able to utilize those with our current product mix.”
When the $200 million plant opened five years ago, it was initially designed to make three products. It currently makes 16 — all of which are for biofuel.
The increase in products led to another $11 million expansion, which began in July and is expected to be completed in February. The plant is doubling the size of its warehouse.
“When you’re trying to carry a safety stock for 16 products, we quickly blew out that building,” Nixon said.
About 100 containers are currently being stored outdoors. The existing building holds 205 storage containers. Once completed, it will hold 405.
“Our priority is getting the containers out of the weather,” Nixon said.
Nixon said there is still room for more growth at the Blair facility.
“We’re set up here to do that expansion. It just really depends on the market,” he said.
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