Hero BX aims to turn shutdown biodiesel plant into 15 million gallon a year facility

US biofuel producer Hero BX is aiming to drastically boost the capacity of a shutdown biodiesel facility it recently purchased in South Roxana, Illinois.  

As reported by Biodiesel Magazine, the acquisition of the 12MGY facility was made in an auction held by Maas Companies, which closed on 24 July 2018. Financial terms for the acquisition of the former Midwest Biodiesel Products facility have not been disclosed.

According to Chris Peterson, President of Hero BX, a number of factors attracted the company to the Illinois facility.

“Hero BX found the location to be appealing in servicing existing national accounts as well as developing new customers,” he told Biofuels International

“Existing feedstock relationships can also service that facility, which is an important dynamic.”

Peterson explained to Biofuels International that the purchase of the Illinois facility comes as part of Hero BX founder and CEO Pat Black’s vision to make the company a ‘household name in the biodiesel industry’ and one of the largest independent producers in the US.

To that end, the company is planning significant upgrades to the South Roxana site.

“Both a redesign and a rebuild of the processes are key to the success of this facility,” Peterson said.

“Hero BX will begin with efforts to tackle efficiencies in order to match the methods of the additional production facilities in the Hero footprint nationally. Once complete, the facility will be capable of producing 15 million gallons annually and is anticipated to come online in late Q1 2019.”