MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Burns & McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned firm, has been selected as the engineer-procure-construct (EPC) provider for BioMADE’s first demonstration-scale facility within its Pilot Plant Network. The facility, in in Maple Grove, Minnesota, is designed to help move biotechnology from the laboratory to reliable U.S. manufacturing, a step toward bringing production, jobs and supply chain strength back to the United States.

BioMADE’s Pilot Plant Network is designed to give innovators access to shared manufacturing space and equipment they may not be able to build on their own. The Maple Grove site is planned to operate like a contract development and manufacturing organization, enabling companies and organizations to demonstrate and refine processes on shared equipment before moving to full commercial production.

The 122,000-square-foot facility will transform an existing commercial structure into a flexible, multiproduct bioindustrial manufacturing environment supporting fermentation and downstream processing technologies from lab scale to 25,000 liters, with provisions for future expansion. Designed with advanced security and safety features and capabilities, the Minnesota facility will focus on chemicals and materials, including the ability to process defense materials like lightweight composites, anticorrosive lubricants, energetics and energetic precursors.

“We are proud to partner with BioMADE on this transformational project that will expand the infrastructure needed to scale bio-based products in the United States,” says Rob Rainbolt, vice president of manufacturing at Burns & McDonnell. “A shared, demonstration-scale facility helps close a major gap between a promising idea and reliable production — a critical step for domestic manufacturing, supply chain resilience and accelerating the pace at which new processes reach the market.”

The Maple Grove facility is expected to create a practical proving ground for organizations that need pilot-scale capabilities without taking on the full cost of building and operating a dedicated site.

“We’re excited to partner with Burns & McDonnell as we continue to grow the Pilot Plant Network nationwide,” says Jack Starr, chief manufacturing officer at BioMADE. “Their deep technical knowledge and proven experience will play a key role in advancing the success of this program.”

About Burns & McDonnell

Working from more than 75 offices around the world, Burns & McDonnell designs and builds critical infrastructure. Our family of companies — driven by engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists — delivers projects grounded in safety and a desire to make a difference as we make our clients successful. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn more.

About BioMADE

By supporting the development of biomanufacturing technologies, BioMADE and its network of over 325 members across 40 states are strengthening American competitiveness, creating a more resilient supply chain, reshoring manufacturing jobs, and producing biobased products without relying on foreign inputs. BioMADE is also building a globally competitive STEM workforce to ensure American workers are prepared and ready to fill new jobs within this rapidly growing industry. BioMADE was catalyzed by the U.S. DoD in October of 2020 and is a proud member of Manufacturing USA^®.