Valent BioSciences’ $150M New Manufacturing Facility On Track for Completion in Iowa

OSAGE, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A 500-ton crane, the second largest in North America, has hoisted the large scale industrial fermenters into Valent BioSciences Corporation’s (VBC) new 130,000 square-foot manufacturing plant. The six-story tall fermenters have an annual production capacity in excess of 15 million gallons and will soon drive the first ever facility designed and built specifically for the manufacture of biorational products.

“As knowledge about how our products work and how they create value has increased, we’ve seen tremendous growth on a global scale. This facility puts us in position to feed that growing demand efficiently, and with the highest quality products.”

VBC is a global leader in the development and commercialization of biorational products used in agriculture, public health, and forestry. The establishment of this facility furthers the commitment of Valent BioSciences, and its parent company Sumitomo Chemical Company, to continue delivering high quality biorational products to customers. The plant will have the capability to manufacture a broad range of biorational products including microbial insecticides, fungicides, and nematicides, as well as plant growth regulators.

Tom Green, VBC Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Manufacturing, reports that the Osage project remains on budget and ahead of schedule, having completed 330 consecutive safe work days to date since last year’s groundbreaking. Once operational, the plant will not only be manufacturing products for use in agriculture but will also be a major consumer of corn, soybeans, and other commodities.

“This is an exciting time, not only for VBC but also for our customers and markets around the world,” Green said. “As knowledge about how our products work and how they create value has increased, we’ve seen tremendous growth on a global scale. This facility puts us in position to feed that growing demand efficiently, and with the highest quality products.”

Plant utilities are scheduled to come online this fall, as VBC’s new quality assurance laboratory will become the first functioning portion of the facility. Green reports hiring has begun in earnest to fill the 90 skilled positions being created with the creation of the plant, and anticipates the full staff will be in place by the first of the year.

The plant is scheduled to come online in spring of 2014.

About Valent BioSciences Corporation

About Valent BioSciences Corporation: Headquartered in Libertyville, IL, Valent BioSciences is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd. Valent BioSciences is the worldwide leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of biorational products, with sales in 95 countries around the world. Valent BioSciences is an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company. For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.valentbiosciences.com.