Genencor transforms science into products

Posted on Sep 15, 2009 by George Ford.

Donald Ward, Genencor Director of Grain Processing Applied Innovation Center, leads a tour of the laboratory during the grand opening of Genencor's new grain processing applied innovation center and expanded manufacturing plant on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at the plant in southwest Cedar Rapids.

Whether it’s the fuel for your car or the detergent you use to wash your clothes, a new laboratory in Cedar Rapids likely will have played a role in its development.

Genencor International, a division of Danisco, on Tuesday marked the grand opening of its $4.4 million grain-processing applied innovation center next to its bioproducts plant at 1000 41st Avenue Dr. SW.

The 20,000-square-foot lab, which will employ 22 scientists, will work with customers to develop new products and refine manufacturing processes.

Tom Knutzen, chief executive officer of Copenhagen-based Danisco, said Cedar Rapids is one of the company’s anchor sites, where Danisco increases capability and production capacity.

“This is absolutely one of our best locations in terms of productivity and also the capability of the staff we have here,” he said.

Eight research scientists have begun work at the new lab, according to Don Ward, director of the applied innovation center. He said the rest will be moving to Cedar Rapids from other Genencor locations or hired from the outside.

Ward said the laboratory will be focused on the grain processing industry, but will share knowledge with Genencor’s laboratory in Palo Alto, Calif., which is working with Dupont to develop fuel ethanol from cellulosic feed stock.

Danisco and Genencor on Tuesday also marked completion of a $47.6 million expansion at the Cedar Rapids bioproducts plant, which will increase production capacity. The expansion created 19 jobs, including seven positions filled by Genencor employees from other locations and 12 hired from the Corridor.

Genencor Director of Operations Travis Rentschler (center) stands in the older portion of the plant while leading of a tour of the expanded manufacturing plant (background) in southwest Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. At right is plant manager Victor Vahanian. Genencor also unveiled its new grain processing applied innovation center.

Danisco is confident that demand will increase for Genencor products because of the new laboratory and growth of the fuel ethanol and biofuels industries.

“With some likelihood, we will need to expand here again,” he said. “Right now, we need to get this expansion behind us and then see what develops.”

Mark Seckman, president of Priority One in Cedar Rapids, said Genencor has changed the focus of grain processing in the community.

“Genencor has really helped Cedar Rapids grow from a commodity-based ag processing community to the next level,” Seckman said. “The company brought in the scientific component and also has enhanced core products. … We’re moving up the chain.”

Gov. Chet Culver said the new Genencor laboratory will be key element in Iowa’s becoming the green energy capital of the nation.

“Genencor will help develop the enzymes that Iowa’s biofuel producers need to create even more energy from the crops we grow in our fields,” said Culver. “That will create even more jobs in communities across the state.”