Milligan Bio-Tech was started by a small group of Foam Lake, SK entrepreneurs working in conjunction with the Local Marketing Club, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the University of Saskatchewan, and Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association who were interested in developing Non Food Uses (NFU) of canola.
Milligan’s humble beginnings into bio-diesel started in the mid 1990’s by moving forward slowly and strategically. As a company, with the vision of the first board members and shareholders, we were the early pioneers for the now emerging bio-diesel industry in Canada. The word bio-diesel today is more commonly used and understood by the general public and government agencies. The investments made by past and present shareholders have been essential to the development of a Canadian bio-diesel technology through collaboration with Agriculture Canada and the University of Saskatchewan. The benefits of these research and development efforts are evident, with an oil extraction system in the final optimization stage and pre-pilot scale bio-diesel technology, that provides for the most optimal utilization for bio-diesel production and co-product development.
Between 1996 and 2001, Milligan Bio-Tech researched potential markets and tested our products, until we were satisfied with the quality. In 1999 – 2000 Milligan began producing the methyl ester (bio-diesel) in a lab scale setting. (The knowledge gained is now being used to construct a pre-pilot plant in Foam Lake.) Work then began to add value to the bio-diesel. This is when research and development of the Diesel Fuel Conditioner and the Penetrating Fluid began. In 2001, we released our Diesel Fuel Conditioner to the public and it was received favourably. From that point, Milligan began building our distribution around Milligan’s Diesel Fuel Conditioner. Since this time, we’ve expanded our distribution to a strong market presence in Western Canada, as well as the rest of Canada, overseas and the United States.
In 2002, Saskatoon Transit with assistance from Milligan Bio-Tech and other partners began a study of the effects of bio-diesel in their busses. This study, better know as the BioBus Project, examined how bio-diesel would effect the fuel consumption, engine wear, and longevity of these heavy duty engines. Phase I & II of the study have been completed and produced positive results. Phase III includes the implementation, monitoring and evaluating the use of 1% bio-diesel in the entire Saskatoon Transit fleet. Also part of this phase is the testing of 5% bio-diesel with Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) using four of the newest buses in Saskatoon Transit’s fleet with the latest emissions technologies.
2004 saw the introduction of Milligan’s Road Dust Suppressant. This product quickly became popular due it’s environmentally friendly properties and longevity compared to other products on the market.
Since production began in 2001, Milligan Bio-Tech has grown at a tremendous rate-nearly doubling its sales every year. This growth rate is expected to continue, as we are expanding facilities to meet the growing demand of the Canadian economy. In 2006 a crushing plant was built in Foam Lake to produce the oil that is used for producing bio-diesel and the co-products.
Milligan released our newest product in 2006, Milligan’s BioTec Penetrating Oil, an aerosol version of our already popular Penetrating Oil.
2007 saw construction begin on our pilot bio-diesel plant. When completed, the production capacity will be up to seven million litres per year.
Today, Milligan has four products in the marketplace as well as others in research and development. The existing products consist of Bio-diesel that is of the highest quality that meets or exceeds both the North American ASTM 6751 as well as the European EN 14214 standards. This high quality Bio-diesel has allowed us to produce our superior renewable environmentally friendly co-products; Milligan’s Diesel Fuel Conditioner, Penetrating Oil and Road Dust Suppressant.
Milligan Bio-Tech has been on the forefront of the bio-diesel industry for over ten years and through our ongoing research and development, we plan to stay ahead of the pack.