MDG News and Updates

Before we walk through how to help your customers optimize their WAS holding systems, it’s important to understand how they work. How does a WAS Holding System work? Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) holding systems are a common part of operations in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A WAS holding system, typically in the form of a sludge tank or lagoon, holds sludge after it has been wasted or removed from a clarifier. WAS systems may have aeration and mixing to help digest more sludge before hauling. Some systems will only hold sludge until it’s hauled away (liquid disposal), while others will concentrate the sludge by periodically allowing the sludge to settle and remove water from the top (decanting). After the sludge leaves the WAS holding system, it’s dewatered through a sludge press and disposed of or hauled as liquid. Getting to the Bottom of It If you ask an operator if they have any pains or issues, they may say, “I don’t”. However, they may not know if they do if their system has consistently under-performed and it’s always been that way. Typically, until they see a 20-50% reduction in sludge hauling along with reduced odor and labor costs, they may continue to think […]

With environmentally friendly cleaners continuing to trend, more and more chemical manufacturers want to know – what’s inside a bio-enzymatic cleaner? In this article, we’ll walk through some of the common building blocks within formulations. Not all ingredients are essential for every product as it depends upon the application, but by understanding each element, you’ll know what you may want to request when discussing products with a manufacturing partner like us. Microorganisms A foundational ingredient to many bio-enzymatic cleaners are live microorganisms. At MDG, we manufacture a type of rod-shaped bacteria called Bacillus that can be used in janitorial and sanitation cleaning solutions to reduce fats, oils, grease (FOG) and the sources of odor in carpets, hard surfaces, bathroom utilities and other applications. Enzymes Enzymes are proteins that are commonly produced by microorganisms, including Bacillus, that speed up specific chemical reactions to help break down complex materials like fat, oil, grease and even paper products! Adding enzymes to industrial and institutional bio-enzymatic products such as household cleaners and odor removers can accelerate the cleaning process and increase effectiveness. These enzymes act immediately, allowing microorganisms present to metabolize the nutrients efficiently. Surfactants Surfactants are commonly added to cleaners to act as a detergent, wetting agent, […]

When selling microbial products and programs, you’ll inevitably encounter a customer that says, “I’ve tried something like that before and it didn’t work”. This kind of experience often links back to one of four common mistakes that were made prior to or during treatment. In this guide, we’ll go over these mistakes and how you as a distributor can avoid making them by choosing a microbial solution and partner that gives you the tools you need to make confident and accurate recommendations.   PREVENTION: Biotifx® gives you opportunity-specific Application Guides that show you how to apply the product step-by-step. Additionally, Biotifx® gives you a System Survey Tool and Dosing Calculator that make it extremely easy to avoid incorrect application.     PREVENTION: With the Biotifx® Survey Form and ROI Calculators, you can calculate an accurate value assessment for each of your customers. The program also comes with Proposal Templates that help you highlight obtainable results with real value to your customers.     PREVENTION: Our Biotifix® Qualification Guide and step-by-step System Survey make it easy for you to find the right high-value opportunities for your customers.     PREVENTION: Correctly measuring and documenting success is key to customer confidence. Biotifx® comes with […]

FRANKLIN, WI. – Microbial Discovery Group LLC (MDG) www.mdgbio.com is pleased to announce the newest addition to their Biotifx™ wastewater sales force: Luke Mickelson.  The addition will help further advance MDG’s growing collection of regional and national accounts.  Luke comes to MDG with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the wastewater field after spending the last 18 years in several different roles at a regional waste treatment company.  In addition to his tenure at WATERTECH Inc., last serving as the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Luke has served on the AWT wastewater sub-committee and was a CEU certified water and wastewater treatment instructor, training operators on the processes of water and wastewater polymer selection and applications. Luke, a proud Idaho resident and skilled sturgeon fisherman, is joining team MDG as the Western Region Territory Account Manager where he will have a direct impact on continuing the mission of implementing bioagumentation in wastewater treatment Luke Mickelson, Western Territory Account Manager facilities.  When asked about what he is most excited about in joining MDG, Luke commented, “I am fascinated with what the microbial field offers.  I see MDG as an innovative and pioneering company that I have always wanted to be […]

Microbial Discovery Group (MDG) LLC celebrated the expansion of their R&D and production facility with a ribbon cutting on August 5th.  Microbial Discovery Group (MDG), founded in 2007 in their current location in Franklin, WI, needed to expand to meet demand for new opportunities for microbial-based products and solutions. MDG added a second laboratory and expanded the MDG facilities and workspaces to double the number of possible employees and accelerate the rate of technology development.  This expansion was on the heels of manufacturing expansion and processing changes that almost doubled capacity the year before.  According to MDG founder, Michael King, Ph.D., “As MDG continues to scale-up to meet demand; the number of team members has grown from 2 to 20 employees making this expansion an absolute necessity.  We needed to make room for the second laboratory but most importantly needed to house our most valuable asset, our people.”  MDG’s talented team includes scientists, engineers, technical support, production, business development and customer service. The $500,000 expansion and facility update added an additional 3500 square feet of laboratory and office space for two recently hired microbiologists, one admin position and additional interns. MDG is currently recruiting two more scientists, a production manager and a regulatory/international registration […]

Microbial Discovery Group LLC (MDG) is pleased to announce the hiring of Ardean Veldkamp as Business Development Manager. Veldkamp’s strategic focus will be to create partner relationships, product platforms and licensing opportunities for Microbial Discovery Group. Veldkamp brings over 20 years of sales and business development experience working with microbials in the animal and environmental industry.  Before joining MDG, Veldkamp worked at DuPont, Danisco, Agtech Products and Loveland Industries. “I am excited about the world of opportunity in this field and am especially looking forward to working with MDG”, stated Veldkamp. Veldkamp and MDG founder, Michael King, Ph.D., had worked together previously at Agtech Products to develop and commercialize direct fed microbials for the agricultural industry. “We are very fortunate to have Ardean’s vision and experience here at MDG to help navigate the challenges and see the opportunities within the various market segments,” King added.  “He will be a great asset to our customers and team.”

Franklin, WI. – Microbial Discovery Group (MDG), a R&D driven Bacillus fermentation company, announces plans for expansion to accommodate continuing growth and future developmental plans. Answering increasing demand for their microbial-based products and solutions, MDG will execute short and long term expansion efforts in alignment with their business growth priorities which will provide capacity for increased sales, production, and employees. A phased expansion approach will take place throughout 2017-2019 both within and beyond the existing 20,000 sq. ft. Franklin facility. The Franklin facility is currently gaining additional fermentation and drying capacity that is projected to be operational in August, 2018. The Franklin expansion alone will bring MDG’s revenue capacity to roughly $25M USD. With demand projections continuing to climb, MDG has set strategic plans to creating a future of $50M in revenue creation. MDG is moving its powder and liquid blending operations to a 40,000 sq. ft. building in Oak Creek, WI to create space for the new fermentation capacity and future expansion needs. In 2019, the Oak Creek facility will feature additional offices and laboratories to house an added 40 employees who will be hired over the next 3-5 years. All phases contribute to the companies’ ability and readiness to serve their customers. MDG’s […]

I am amazed by all of the studies and tests taking place in our lab to develop new and improved products. This really keeps our customers on the cutting edge of new technology. Just when I think we have found the final solution to a major problem area for one of our partners, we continue working to find something even better. It seems like everyone at Microbial Discovery Group has an obsession with solving problems, while others just seem to stop working after they find one solution that works pretty well. This year alone, we have developed so many new products, some we currently offer, and others should be available shortly. Don’t hesitate to ask if we have a product that works in a particular situation, you may be very surprised to find out that we have it currently on stability testing. I look forward to your call! – Michael Davis

As consumers, we constantly search for a particular level of quality in everything we purchase. From toilet tissue, cleaning products, or microbial products, there is an expectation to deliver upon standards. Those standards are established through trust, and it’s incredibly important to uphold that trust to keep the customer coming back. MDG is passionate about delivering a product that meets that high and personal standard. A standard we achieve each time through our trusted processes and quality control (QC) testing. Compatible ingredients such as preservatives, dyes, surfactants, and fragrances are recommended from a list of stability tested ingredients guaranteeing a two-year shelf life. Once an existing or newly formulated product is created, its blended and the SPECs (specifications) are tested via our quality control lab. SPECS such as the effective amount of bacteria for the application, factors that prevent spoilage (pH and preservatives), and making sure there are no unwanted organisms such as pathogens present in the final product. The SPECS are essential to consider the level of quality when QC checks a concentrated Bacillus product, see below:   CFU: AKA, CFU/g or ‘Colony Forming Units’ per gram.  This value represents the actual number of culturable cells in a gram of material. This […]