To meet the demands in lactic acid and lactates, Jungbunzlauer has planned to expand its lactic acid fermentation with a new production plant in Port Colborne, Canada.
Lactic acid is an organic acid used in many food and non-food applications globally. It is a biocidal active substance used in disinfectants. It is also used for making the bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA), a polymer that has the potential to replace traditional plastics. According to Jungbunzlauer, the growth in the markets requiring lactic acid has been “very dynamic and is even accelerating”, and the company foresees a further growth of the lactic acid demand throughout all applications. The plan for expansion is therefore aimed at securing the future supply, and to enable the market potential to unfold to the full extent.
Jungbunzlauer’s activities in lactic acid started in 2012, with a first fermentation facility in Marckolsheim, France. To better capture the Canadian and the US market, the new factory is considered for the Canadian production site in Port Colborne, Ontario. Today, the Port Colborne site runs a citric acid facility paired with a corn wet milling plant as source for fermentation raw material. Since its inauguration in 2001, the site was expanded and upgraded with new technologies. A lactic acid project is likely to improve the competencies of the site further, and would lay the foundation for future growth of both, output as well as workforce. Focus will be laid on using modern technology that ensures a minimal level of greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and product side streams.
A well-developed infrastructure on site, experience in the fermentation industry, being located near to target markets, and a sustainability policy framing in all activities – these are prerequisites for this next step in Jungbunzlauer’s lactic acid project. These enable a substantial, time efficient and state-of-the-art expansion, a move set to benefit the lactic acid and lactates users, Jungbunzlauer’s market position and the further development of the Canadian production site of Port Colborne.
