Jungbunzlauer looking into building a Lactic Acid plant in Canada
As a response to a consistently strong and growing demand in lactic acid and lactates, Jungbunzlauer is considering an expansion of its lactic acid fermentation with a new production plant in Port Colborne, Canada.
Lactic acid is a highly important organic acid used in many food and non-food applications globally. Furthermore, it is an efficient biocidal active substance used in disinfectants. It is also used for making the bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA), a novel polymer that is promising in replacing traditional plastics. The growth in the markets requiring lactic acid has been very dynamic and is even accelerating and Jungbunzlauer is expecting a further growth of the lactic acid demand throughout all applications. The expansion idea therefore is aiming 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. For a better access to 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 major 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 updated with new technology multiple times and it has developed very successfully. A lactic acid project is likely to promote the competencies of the site further and would lay the foundation for a strong future growth of both, output as well as workforce. Special emphasis 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, a long experience in the fermentation industry, main markets nearby, and a sustainability policy framing in all activities are excellent 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.