Hargrove Controls & Automation, an industrial automation system integrator and a subsidiary of global EPC firm Hargrove Engineers & Constructors, retrofitted an existing 88,000-sq-ft brownfield facility in Winchester, Ky for the biotechnology company Danimer Scientific, leading the future of plastics.

Danimer Scientific develops renewable and sustainable polymers that reduce dependency on petrochemicals. Recognizing the market demand for products that are compostable alternatives to single-use plastics, they develop revolutionary biodegradable plastics that utilize an environmentally friendly PHA. They needed to upscale their demonstration plant process into an automated manufacturing facility.

“We are so excited about what we make because this solution is very much needed by the world. Hargrove worked hand-in-hand with our team of scientists and engineers to take a demonstration plant process and scale it into full production at a brownfield facility,” said Michael Smith, COO of Danimer Scientific. “We aren’t a typical manufacturing company as we initially didn’t have an inside engineering group. Hargrove was a true partner to us with excellent communication on every step of the process to bring this unique product to market.”

Due to their biotechnology being so new, Danimer needed a completely unique process design to take their product out of the pilot phase and into reality. They needed an integrator to guide them through the process of automating and designing a functional facility so that they could begin raising capital. The project had intense budget and scheduling constraints to meet stakeholders’ expectations.

“This new process was one of a kind and required a unique approach. I’m proud of the team’s ability to take on the challenge and be agile and innovative to deliver the solution that Danimer needed,” said Josh Payne, Division Leader at Hargrove Controls & Automation. “We look forward to future work with Danimer to help them continue to grow and find success in the market.”

Hargrove Controls & Automation utilized their experience in the life sciences industry and their ability to design pioneering processes to guide Danimer Scientific through the journey of transforming the Kentucky facility into a fully realized manufacturing plant.

To learn more information about the project, read this article.