Koch Modular announces its fabricated process modules have been installed at Origin Materials
Koch Modular Process Systems, LLC (Koch Modular), a market leading provider of engineered and fabricated modular mass transfer systems for the chemical processing industry, today announced its fabricated process modules have been installed in support of the first manufacturing plant for Origin Materials (Origin), located in Sarnia, Canada. Installation of the key production modules of the plant (Origin 1) was completed in October of 2021, six months ahead of their schedule.
Koch Modular was engaged early in the process by Origin because of the company’s demonstrated expertise in reaction, distillation, and filtration unit operations. The front end of Origin’s process was a primary focus, converting biomass to sustainable materials including chloromethylfurfural (“CMF”) and hydrothermal carbon (“HTC”). Downstream of Koch Modular’s system, Origin’s process involved the conversion of CMF into PET (polyethylene terephthalate); a strong and lightweight thermoplastic material commonly used in packaging, textiles, and many other products.
Koch Modular designed and manufactured the plant’s 17 core process modules which were delivered to site on schedule. Module installation of Origin 1 was set to be completed by the end of Q4 of 2021 as announced in April 2021. Module installation took place well ahead of schedule, in October 2021, significantly de-risking the project. The plant remains on track for completion by the end of 2022, with commissioning and production start-up thereafter.
Origin’s technology will turn carbon found in biomass, such as wood residue, into useful materials such as plastic. The technology eliminates the need for fossil resources and captures carbon in the process. The carbon negative products created with this technology are expected to be cost competitive with petroleum-based products and recyclables.
Koch Modular used their skilled engineering services, process conceptualization and pilot testing to take Origin’s manufacturing technology to commercial production. “We are very pleased to be working alongside Origin on this innovative technology that will enable future mass production of carbon negative plant-based plastics,” said George Schlowsky, president of Koch Modular.
“Our partnership with Koch Modular has made our vision of this disruptive technology come to life. Koch’s methodology, coupled with their 40-plus years of engineering expertise and experience, enabled robust manufacturing for our Origin 1 plant,” said Origin Materials co-founder and co-CEO John Bissell. “We are well on our way to commercial-scale production, a key milestone in our mission to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials.”
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