INDUSTRY: Chemical | SERVICES: Multiple Engineering Disciplines | Project Management | Construction Management
ABOUT THE CLIENT
Our client is a membership cooperative that owns and operates a soybean crush facility and biodiesel operation. They provide the latest soybean processing technologies and a high-quality renewable fuel source for industries throughout the US.
PROBLEM TO SOLVE
When the State of Minnesota passed new legislation requiring biodiesel blends for all fuel, our client desired to be the first to build an operational $30MM GPY commercial biodiesel plant in the United States. They sought the engineering design and construction expertise of EAD to lead the $15MM commercial biodiesel expansion. The project was both complex and challenging. Because the biodiesel plant was co-located next to an existing 70-million-gallons-per-year soybean oil extraction facility, we were required to both design a 30MM GPY biodiesel facility next to a highly hazardous soybean oil extraction facility and beat the competition down the road who already had a six-month head start on their plant design and construction.
APPROACH & SOLUTION
The schedule was the main driver for this time critical project. EAD developed a schedule that allowed for construction to begin while engineering was still ongoing. The EAD team focused on individual unit operations and delivered construction packages to the contractors on a just-in-time basis. We completed the engineering portion of the project in record time, ensuring the construction schedule stayed on-track for completion.
RESULT & BENEFIT
Our client’s goal to become the largest independent soybean crush facility in the country and grow into a diverse, vertically integrated leader in soybean processing hinged on the success of this biodiesel expansion project. EAD proved we had the experience and expertise to achieve their most critical business goals. We developed and executed on a project schedule that ensured our client finished construction in record time. Engineering began in August, and by late November that very same year, the contractors broke ground. As a result of EAD’s efforts, our client was able to produce biodiesel three weeks ahead of their competition!