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Roggenbuck , whose family has been growing sugar beets in Michigan ’ s Thumb Region for generations , explained the new facility allows Michigan Sugar to increase its daily molasses processing capacity from 325 tons to 650 tons .
“ We have had desugaring technology in place in Bay City since the 1990s , but we were previously only able to process about 60 percent of the molasses we produced ,” he said . “ Also , the new technology allows us to capture a higher percentage of sugar from the molasses . One ton of molasses has about 1000 pounds of sugar . Our previous technology captured about 700 pounds of sugar per ton ; our new equipment captures 800 pounds , an increase of more than 14 percent .”
Roggenbuck said the start-up of the molasses desugarization facility ranks among the most significant milestones in the company ’ s history , right up there with the company becoming a grower-owned cooperative in 2002 and merging with rival Monitor Sugar Company in 2004 .
“ This facility not only is an investment in our company , but an investment in our collective future ,” he said . “ As shareholders , it is important that we continue to position ourselves to succeed for another 120 + years . The decisions and investments we are making today will have an impact on generations of sugar beet growers to come .
“ We are proud of our rich history but must never stop looking forward to the future .”
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