Chr. Hansen BioSystems, Milwaukee, recently completed a significant renovation of the largest lactic acid bacteria production facility in North America. Located in Milwaukee, the state-of-the-art plant received: a new steam-sterilizable 27,000-liter fermenter, a centralized sanitation system, a dual clean-in-place system, more than 170 new process automation programs, an upgrade of the prefermentation pasteurizer system, a redesigned QC laboratory and several other major upgrades. The project was a multi- million investment that lasted for a period of six months and required the formation of international task force teams from the USA, Denmark and Germany.

Danisco Cultor, New Century, Kan., has inaugurated new confectionery and fruit preparation labs in Kansas City. The facilities give the company's confectionery and fruit prep group the ability to work on a wide range of products: from chocolate, chewy candy and hard-boiled candies, to jams, jellies, bakery filling and yogurt preparations. The new labs feature a 450-sq.-ft. temperature and humidity controlled dry lab, which allows the group to work with low-moisture products, such as chocolate and panned confections, during the entire year. The new equipment includes both atmospheric and vacuum kettles and a TAXT2 analyzer, which provides detailed information on textural attributes such as viscosity, gel strength, chewiness and adhesiveness.

BFGoodrich Performance Materials, Cleveland, has changed its name to Noveon Inc. The company is a leading global producer and marketer of technologically advanced specialty chemicals for a broad range of consumer and industrial applications. The company's headquarters will remain in Cleveland.

The Archer Daniels Midland Company Decatur, Ill., will begin selling ethanol in the New York market in December, in order to significantly increase the supply of clean-burning ethanol to gasoline refiners and blenders throughout New York and other Eastern cities.