ICM, Inc. announced the successful installation and startup of its FOT Oil Recovery™ System at Western New York Energy (WNYE), an ethanol facility located in Medina, New York. The installation marks the eighth commercial deployment of ICM’s proven mechanical oil separation technology, with additional systems under construction.
Following a smooth, quick startup, WNYE reported an increase of nearly 80 percent in corn oil yield, going from 0.67 to as much as 1.20 pounds per bushel. This represents a significant performance gain, particularly in a region where the fat content of incoming corn is typically lower than the national average. Additional benefits include a 4 percent reduction in natural gas usage, improved distillers grain quality, and a rise in fermentation yield.
“In my 18-year career, this was probably the quickest and most successful project I’ve been a part of,” said Isahia Schoolcraft, Vice President of Operations at WNYE. “We completed construction, started up the system, and the very next day we saw the results we were promised.”
“We evaluated multiple technologies and felt this was the best fit for us,” added Timothy Winters, President and CEO of WNYE. “The system integrated smoothly with our existing operations, and the ICM team was flexible and collaborative throughout the process. They designed around our plant, trained our operators, and made sure we were set up for success.”
ICM’s FOT Oil Recovery™ System is a mechanical solution that does not require the use of chemicals or demulsifiers. It helps ethanol producers recover more corn oil while offering flexible configurations to meet plant-specific goals and budget.
“Western New York Energy continues to be a strong partner, and we’re proud to help them achieve this level of performance,” said Chris Mitchell, President and CEO of ICM, Inc. “The results speak for themselves. Greater yield, less energy use, smooth startup, and a very happy customer. That’s the kind of impact we aim to deliver.”