By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : April 30, 2026 11:19 am
The plant aims to bridge the gap between lab research and large-scale domestic manufacturing
Burns & McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned firm, has been named the engineer-procure-construct (EPC) provider for BioMADE’s inaugural demonstration-scale facility in its Pilot Plant Network. Located in Maple Grove, Minnesota, the plant aims to bridge the gap between lab research and large-scale domestic manufacturing—a vital move for revitalising American production, job growth, and supply chain security.
BioMADE’s Pilot Plant Network bridges the "valley of death" between laboratory research and commercialization by providing innovators access to shared, advanced manufacturing space and equipment. The new Maple Grove site serves as a collaborative contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), allowing companies to refine and scale up their production processes before committing to full commercialization.
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.”