Glycos Biotechnologies Selects Toyo Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd To Construct The Company's Asian Biochemical Facility
Industrial Biochemical Plant to Support Region's Synthetic Rubber Market
Houston, TX - Glycos Biotechnologies, Inc. (GlycosBio), an international biochemical company focused on commercializing renewable, high-value specialty chemicals, announced it has chosen Toyo Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd (Toyo Malaysia) to provide engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for its industrial biochemical production facility located in Johor, Malaysia.
GlycosBio's commercial facility will be constructed in Bio-XCell, a government-supported biotechnology park focused on the advancement of industrial and healthcare biotechnology in Malaysia. Construction of GlycosBio's plant is scheduled for completion in Q2 2013.
GlycosBio's President, Walt Burnap, joined executives from Toyo and Bio-XCell including Rizatuddin Ramli, CEO of Bio-XCell and Toji Kawakami, Managing Director Toyo Malaysia at an event on December 6th in Malaysia during which they disclosed the details of the new relationship.
"TOYO is known and respected for its expertise in building facilities dedicated to the production of petrochemicals and biochemicals and has an impeccable track record of success," said Burnap. "We are confident that GlycosBio's facility will be built with the highest level of quality to aid us in our goal of supporting Southeast Asia's synthetic rubber market. The contract award to TOYO represents another milestone in GlycosBio's path toward becoming a leader in the production of biochemicals."
GlycosBio's commercial facility is being developed in several phases with a production rate capacity of up to 30,000 metric tons per year being reached by 2014 with a subsequent scale-up to 90,000 metric tons. Targeted biochemical for GlycosBio's plant include isoprene, a key building block molecule used in the synthetic rubber market. GlycosBio will initially utilize the facility to validate the ability to produce industrial ethanol from crude glycerin. The company will then further demonstrate its flexible technology platform at commercial scale using a range of feedstocks including fatty acids. Full production of GlycosBio's facility will follow with the production of isoprene from low-value renewable feedstocks readily available in Malaysia.
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with GlycosBio on the construction of their biochemical facility in Malaysia," said Kawakami. "TOYO as a Global company has more than 50 years of experience in engineering and constructing facilities for clients across a wide range of industries around the world. As we do for all clients, TOYO will design, build and commission for GlycosBio a quality state-of-the-art facility always emphasizing health, safety, security and the environment. We envision this project will be delivered on time with optimum cost as we have successfully done in many of our previous projects and completed cost efficiently."
"GlycosBio will play a significant role in strengthening our value chain for industrial bioprocess and biomanufacturing within the Bio-XCell ecosystem. Apart from human capital development and expanded investment opportunities, its technology will be a critical contributor to Malaysia's near and long-term industrial and biotechnology goals," said Ramli.
GlycosBio first announced its intention to expand to Malaysia in 2010 through its partnership with Bio-XCell and is the first US-based company to begin construction at the industrial park in Johor, Malaysia. GlycosBio is also working closely with BiotechCorp, the national agency set up by the Malaysian government for the development of biotechnology in Malaysia. GlycosBio also received BioNexus status in 2011, a recognition awarded by the Malaysian Government to qualified companies that participate in and undertake value-added biotechnology activities in Malaysia.
SOURCE: Glycos Biotechnologies, Inc.