Josh Boyce – Blackburn News Sarnia, June 20, 2019
LCY Biosciences has a job fair planned this month with production set to restart at the former BioAmber plant this fall.
The company wants to hire 35 employees, including plant operators, maintenance staff, lab and administrative positions.
Plant Manager Trevor MacLeod said they’ll focus on succinic acid production, the same product BioAmber specialized in, but they also have expansion plans estimated at $30 million.
“We’re looking at expanding the production lineup here,” said MacLeod. “So, in addition to succinic acid, we’re looking at producing some nutraceuticals. That, we are hoping to have online in late 2020.”
MacLeod said the nutraceutical operation would make products like vitamin A and beta carotene.
He said they hope to restart the Vidal Street plant for the production of succinic acid in “late September, early October.”
The job fair is being held on June 26 from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Best Western.
BioAmber, which employed about 60 workers, declared bankrupcy and shut its doors in 2018.
The Vidal Street South plant first opened in 2015 at a cost of $140-million, but lost about $320-million before shutting down.
LCY Biosciences bought the plant for $4.34-million as part of a court ordered liquidation process.
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