Engineering Scope

Bulk Grain Handling

Truck and rail receiving, sampling, bulk storage, blending, reclaim, conveying, transfer, loadout, and shipping systems for grains, pulses, meals, flours, and other dry commodities, with attention to flow, access, and dust capture.

Flour & Dry Milling

Process design for cleaning, tempering, milling, grinding, sieving, classification, pneumatic conveying, pelletizing, and packaging. Deliverables can include balances, PFDs, P&IDs, equipment sizing, layouts, and operating narratives.

Starch & Wet Processing

Wet milling, starch and protein separation, washing, centrifugal separation, filtration, concentration, modification, drying, and coproduct handling systems coordinated with process water, CIP, utilities, and wastewater.

Oilseed Processing & Refining

Oilseed preparation, pressing or extraction interfaces, degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, winterization, dewaxing, filtration, storage, and packaging for vegetable oils and related products.

Dust Collection & Hazard Coordination

Dust capture, aspiration, collection, ducting, ventilation, and electrical area coordination for elevators, mills, conveyors, silos, and packaging. Designs follow the project-specific hazard analysis and applicable NEC and NFPA requirements.

Plant Utilities & MEP

Steam, hot water, thermal oil, cooling water, compressed air, process water, HVAC, plumbing, and wastewater systems coordinated with milling, extraction, refining, drying, fermentation, and sanitation loads.

Electrical Power Engineering

Electrical distribution and motor control for high-load conveying and processing equipment, including transformers, switchgear, MCCs, drives, grounding, backup power, and power-system studies appropriate to the facility and project.

Controls & Automation

PLC, HMI, SCADA, batching, sequencing, bin tracking, route control, historian, and network systems for material handling, process, utility, and packaging operations, including OEM integration, FAT/SAT, commissioning, and startup. Milling and material-handling controls can add segmented OT network racks, managed switch and firewall configuration, UL 508A panel build and installation, with fixed-fee or managed T&M delivery.

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Plant and Facility Work near West Chester, PA

Grain Elevators & Terminals Flour & Dry Milling Starch Processing Oilseed Processing Yeast & Fermentation Ingredients Pulses & Specialty Ingredients

Local and Project Context near West Chester, PA

Six US Offices
Project teams work from six US offices: West Chester PA (headquarters), Columbus OH, Chicago IL, Rochester NY, Durham NC, and Denver CO. That footprint supports site visits, construction support, and commissioning across the country.
PE-Licensed in 21 States
LAPORTE Professional Engineers are licensed in 21 US states. Deliverables are stamped and sealed for permitting, insurance, and regulatory review wherever the facility is located.
Sector-Specific Engineering
LAPORTE engineers grain, milling, starch, and oilseed facilities across process, MEP, electrical, and automation disciplines. Bulk handling, dry and wet milling, oilseed processing, and refining are coordinated with dust collection and combustible-dust hazard analysis per NEC and NFPA, plus high-load motor control and automation.
Regulated-Industry Documentation
Work is built around the codes and documentation these facilities run under, from NEC and NFPA to FDA, USDA, and cGMP requirements, so deliverables hold up to permitting and audit review.

Engineering Leadership

Photo of Nate Kocher, P.E.
Nate Kocher, P.E.
Partner, Director of Electrical and Automation Engineering
LAPORTE • West Chester, PA

Engineering and management consultant with 15+ years of work in control systems, power distribution and systems integration for food, beverage and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

  • P.E. Licensed in 21 States
  • Penn State, B.S. Electrical Engineering
  • West Chester University, MBA
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Photo of Keith Morgart, P.E.
Keith Morgart, P.E.
Electrical and Automation Engineer
LAPORTE • Greater Pittsburgh, PA

Electrical power and controls engineer whose work includes power distribution, motor controls and code compliance for industrial and commercial facilities.

  • P.E. Licensed Professional Engineer
  • University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, B.S. Electrical Engineering
  • NEC, NFPA and IEEE standards
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Representative Project Work

pet food • multidiscipline
Project need: A pet food manufacturer required engineering design for a new 370,000 sq ft greenfield production facility ($315M total constructed cost).
LAPORTE scope: LAPORTE provided preliminary and detailed engineering for MEP, automation, instrumentation, and process. Scope included 45 HVAC units, ammonia refrigeration with micro-charging, air compressors, boilers, 40 MBTU cooling tower, chiller skids (2,300 TR), and wastewater treatment. Services included procurement, construction administration, startup, and commissioning with a team of 35.
Outcome: The greenfield facility was designed and constructed as a fully integrated production plant.
food & beverage • automation
Project need: A nutrition company required engineering for a greenfield whey protein plant ($800M total constructed cost) including receiving, heat treatment, filtration, and drying systems.
LAPORTE scope: LAPORTE provided project management, preliminary and detailed engineering design for process and automation, design of automation architecture (50+ control panels, networks, operator stations, control room), procurement support, and commissioning (IQ/OQ/PQ). Scope included HTST heat treatment, disc stack centrifuges, membrane filtration (UF/NF/RO), crystallization, evaporation, spray drying, and CIP.
Outcome: The greenfield whey protein plant was designed and commissioned.
pharmaceutical • multidiscipline
Project need: A national research organization required a new Biologics Manufacturing Centre with biological containment level CL2 for vaccine candidate production (5,000 m², $126M total constructed cost).
LAPORTE scope: LAPORTE provided engineering and construction supervision for the new facility including two cell culture suites (500L and 2,000L), purification by chromatography, vial filling, secondary packaging, warehouse, offices, mechanical/electrical rooms, and QC laboratory. The facility was designed in accordance with GMP requirements.
Outcome: The Biologics Manufacturing Centre was completed and designed for vaccine production.

Project Questions

What grain, milling, and oilseed processes does LAPORTE support?
LAPORTE supports bulk receiving and storage, grain conveying, cleaning, milling, wet separation, starch processing, oilseed preparation and refining, fermentation ingredients, drying, packaging, utilities, electrical distribution, and automation.
Can LAPORTE design grain receiving and storage systems?
Yes. LAPORTE engineers truck and rail receiving, sampling, silos, bins, conveyors, bucket elevators, pneumatic systems, reclaim, blending, loadout, dust collection, electrical power, and route-control automation.
How does LAPORTE address combustible dust hazards?
LAPORTE coordinates containment, aspiration, dust collection, ventilation, equipment layout, housekeeping access, and electrical area requirements using the facility's hazard analysis and applicable NEC and NFPA requirements. Final protection concepts depend on the material and process.
Does LAPORTE engineer vegetable oil refining systems?
Yes. LAPORTE supports oilseed preparation and vegetable oil processing that can include pressing or extraction interfaces, degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, winterization, filtration, storage, utilities, controls, and packaging.
Can LAPORTE modernize an operating mill or grain facility?
Yes. LAPORTE can assess bottlenecks, equipment condition, electrical and utility capacity, dust systems, automation obsolescence, and field constraints, then develop phased upgrades and construction support for an operating facility.

Engineering support in nearby areas

Engineering support for West Chester, PA

LAPORTE Consultants
Suite 200, 158 West Gay Street
West Chester, PA 19382
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