Site Search for U.S. Facility

Austrian-based Agrana Fruit produces fruit preparations that can be found in one third of the yogurt made worldwide. To better service a growing number of clients in the Northeast and Canada, Agrana partnered with Dennis Group to find a new U.S. site which was well-suited for long-term growth. Access to skilled labor was an important driver in site selection. Ultimately, Dennis Group identified 70 sites in four states, evaluating both existing buildings for retrofit as well as new land for greenfield development. After a cost-analysis, the company chose to build a new facility.

$11.3M in incentives were negotiated for the final site in Lysander, New York. Several energy efficiency measures were part of the design basis. Recovered heat from boiler flue gas went through a direct contact heat exchanger to heat incoming city water from 55°F to 140°F, meeting all facility hot water needs. This resulted in an annual savings of 73,931 therms (carbon reduction of 369.65 MT), which reduced operating costs by $34,000 annually. Dennis Group negotiated $110,000 in energy efficiency rebates to reduce the initial costs of the system

Construction for this project occurred throughout a snowy winter in northern New York, and although weather delayed certain phases of development, the project finished on schedule – a mere 8 months from site acquisition to commissioning.