MARCUS, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fluid Quip Technologies (FQT) announced today that it will install its patented Maximized Stillage Co-Products™ (MSC) system at the Little Sioux Corn Processors Ethanol Plant. This will be the seventh installation of this technology worldwide and the third installation of the MSC system in Iowa. FQT currently has two other MSC installation projects ongoing, at the Flint Hills Resources plant in Shell Rock, Iowa, and at the Green Plains Renewables facility in Shenandoah, Iowa.
The MSC technology allows dry mill ethanol plants to separate a 50 percent purity protein functional feed containing 25 percent yeast from the residual corn fermentation. The MSC 50 percent protein product trades in the high-value protein feed markets worldwide. The Little Sioux MSC system is designed to produce 156,200,000 pounds of 50 percent purity protein, annually.
“We believe in getting the highest value for the corn we grind. The MSC system is a proven way to, not only significantly increase our revenue, but also diversify our revenue stream so it is not so heavily weighted on ethanol,” said Steve Roe, general manager at Little Sioux. “We looked at a lot of technology options in the space to improve our plant. We chose FQT, because MSC has a proven track record of operating for 10 years and producing a high-quality consistent product across multiple facilities.”
The MSC system also significantly improves distillers’ corn oil yield, further improving the bottom line. The Little Sioux MSC project will require the addition of a new process building, a protein dryer and segregated protein storage and load-out. Engineering has begun and construction is expected to start in spring 2020.
“The plant will remain in full operation during the project’s construction,” Roe said.
Fluid Quip Process Technologies will provide the MSC technology, separation equipment, process equipment, process engineering and construction oversight, as well as full technology commissioning and startup support for the MSC project.
FQT has spent years conducting feeding trials and market development work with partners to bring the MSC specialty protein product to the world marketplace.
“Only the FQT MSC system produces the high quality differentiated MSC protein product,” said Neal Jakel, Partner/Strategy and Technology for FQT. “The MSC product is consistent across all operating facilities. This is critical in driving up the value to end users; consistency of product across the supply chain and a library of proven feeding trial successes to rely on.”
“This is an exciting time for the ethanol industry and, more importantly, rural communities,” Jakel added. “The ethanol facilities making the decision to diversify their revenue and broaden the use of corn with our technologies are setting themselves and their shareholders on a path for continued revenue growth. FQT technologies are helping facilities to realize the biorefinery concept, bringing economic diversity and stability to farm families and the communities that are the backbone of America.”
