Grober Nutrition turned to IPD Engineering as the prime consultant to coordinate and provide architectural, structural and MEP engineering for the new construction of this 60,000 SF processing facility. The state-of-the-art plant operates three main pieces of equipment: an evaporator, a dryer and a blender.

The evaporator is used to concentrate excess fluid milk in the marketplace; the by-product is then placed into a dryer to create raw material, which is then blended into a milk replacer – or baby animal formula. Equipment designed to support these processes consisted of liquid storage tanks, high-pressure pumps, multiple exhaust and supply fans, MCC’s and a bag filter house. A conveyor dryer was designed to dry liquid mixture into a powder.

A unique challenge of this project was the integration of new and used process equipment from all over the world including Europe, Mexico, and Canada. Our team faced this challenge head on by working proactively to design systems and spaces that accommodate this equipment, without yet having exact specifications on hand

IPD designed the high-pressure steam boilers, steam infrastructure, MCC’s, electrical infrastructure, fire protection and fire alarm systems as well as the plumbing systems for the building. Our MEP and Structural engineers worked closely with the owner’s international process engineers to coordinate the requirements of this equipment, developing uniquely integrated systems consistent with the needs and goals of the Grober.
This is the first facility Grober built that produces their own raw material for their animal milk replacer, allowing them to increase cost efficiency and better control the quality of their product.