Novonesis has completed a major expansion of its dairy culture manufacturing facility in West Allis, Wisconsin, increasing production capacity to serve growing demand for dairy products across North America.
The expansion increased the facility’s fermentation capacity by approximately 66% and packaging capacity by 17%, according to an announcement Monday, September 28. The project also establishes the West Allis site as one of the world’s largest lactobacillus production facilities.
The facility produces cultures used by dairy manufacturers, including those making cheese and yogurt. Novonesis said the added capacity will help food manufacturers respond to demand while maintaining product quality.
The company marked completion of the expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by employees, customers, community leaders and industry partners. Guests also toured the expanded production facility and customer experience center.
The West Allis facility has operated since 1929 and currently employs about 360 people. It supplies dairy cultures to manufacturers across North America. The expansion adds new jobs and leaves room for additional growth by using existing infrastructure, automation and robotics.
Novonesis also incorporated several efficiency measures into the expanded facility. These include energy-efficient equipment, water reuse and waste-heat recovery. The measures are intended to reduce the environmental footprint of the manufacturing operation.
The project strengthens Novonesis’ broader North American production network as the company expands its manufacturing capabilities for biosolutions. The company has also expanded facilities in other markets, including Franklinton, North Carolina, as part of its longer-term production strategy.
The West Allis expansion adds another major investment to Wisconsin’s long-established dairy manufacturing base. Novonesis said the facility will continue serving food manufacturers in Wisconsin and other North American markets with dairy culture ingredients.
While Novonesis is expanding specialized food and dairy biomanufacturing capacity in Wisconsin, other U.S. projects are targeting medical production. In New Mexico, Eden Radioisotopes is advancing a planned $1.4 billion medical isotope production facility in Lea County after selecting Kiewit Nuclear Solutions as its engineering, procurement and construction partner. The facility is planned to produce isotopes used in diagnostic imaging and targeted cancer treatment.
Project Factsheet: Novonesis West Allis Manufacturing Facility Expansion
- Location: West Allis, Wisconsin
- Sector: Biomanufacturing / Dairy
- Milestone: Expansion completed September 2026
- Fermentation capacity increase: Approximately 66%
- Packaging capacity increase: 17%
- Workforce: About 360 employees
- Facility opened: 1929
- Products: Dairy cultures for food manufacturers
- Features: Automation, robotics, water reuse, energy-efficient equipment and waste-heat recovery
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