Protein Plant Built On Fast Track.(construction of protein-processing plant)(Editorial)

Story by Mike Larson, Editor

Excellent coordination constructs first-of-kind protein-processing plant safely, on schedule, and within budget

Consolidated Construction Co., Inc., Appleton, WI, was the general contractor overseeing construction of the country's first plant that can process many types of whey into concentrated protein for use in specialty products like animal food, pill and candy coatings, nutrition bars, protein shakes, and infant formula.

The new plant sits in the south-central Wisconsin city of Reedsburg and is owned by Wisconsin Specialty Protein (WiSP), which will seek LEED Silver certification under the United States Green Building Council's Green Building Rating System.

It is the first -- and so far, only -- facility in the United States set up to process the different kinds of whey (a protein-rich liquid left over from cheese making) that come from making cheese with cow, sheep and goat milk.

The other processing plants in the country have each been constructed to handle a single kind of whey. The WiSP plant can handle all three.

When fully operational, the plant will be able to take in 25 tanker loads (about 1.5 million pounds) of whey per day.