MDG News and Updates

Could you benefit from higher income per sales hour? Lower hours spent per close? Higher close rates? This is what’s possible when you distribute quality, science-backed bioaugmentation solutions that are paired with an easy-to-understand, product education program for your sales team. Premium Solutions + Effective Training = Success At MDG, we’ve taken the time to work with the scientific community to not only understand what’s taking place inside wastewater systems, but also how to improve the efficiencies within.  This knowledge of the wastewater industry has helped us develop products and an effective training program that allow you to increase your sales while expanding business with your current customers. At MDG our tagline is Real Science, Trusted Process and Proven Success. MDG refines and delivers products and ideas by applying Real Science to a Trusted Process, yielding Proven Success. Here’s a look at what’s possible when you partner with a wastewater treatment manufacturer like MDG and distribute Biotifx® solutions. Sales Per Hour When selling Biotifx® solutions, specifically for lagoon treatment, a team of 5 sales representatives can typically expect to make $1,042 per hour on average after 1-6 months of onboarding. After 7-12 months, that dollar amount typically increases to about $2,083 per hour. These numbers are based on historic data and are possible when your team completes our thorough […]

Jenna Trusso, Industrial & Institutional Sales Manager, is always ready to offer a helping hand. We recently sat down with the head of our Feed Clean Save program to learn more about how it has grown and what’s planned for the future What is the MDG Feed Clean Save Committee? MDG’s vision is to Feed, Clean and Save the World. While our products do that each and every day, our employees also like to extend efforts locally through volunteer projects. The FCS Committee is a group of employees who plan and execute activities in support of our local community. Each organization we work with contributes to an aspect of FCS. In addition to volunteer projects, the FCS Committee also keeps our vision top of mind for employees as it is a huge part of our culture. We like to say that everyone can make a difference, but only through action… the FCS committee is all about action. What is your role in the committee? Alongside the other members of the FCS committee, I assist in setting goals for the year, help to plan activities and participate in all events. As head of the committee, I get to take on a […]

Earlier in this article series, we touched on how bioaugmentation treatments for wastewater have been around for 50+ years to help resolve toxic upsets. We also explored how Bacillus, a certain genus of bacteria that can be used in microbial treatments, are resilient to oxidizers. Today, we’ll examine how Bacillus are resistant to another powerful but non-oxidizing anti-microbial: Quats. What are Quats? Quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC, also referred to as “Quats”) are potent disinfectant ingredients found in both household and industrial cleaners. Some common examples are benzalkonium chlorides (BAC, BZK, BKC), alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides (ADBAC) and several other compounds identified by the words ‘ammonium chloride’ at the end of their names. How Quats Work Quats kill bacteria by puncturing or disorganizing the cell membrane, leading to interior component leakage and ultimately cell death. The use of Quats is especially common in food processing plants as tools for combating bacterial growth and contamination in the end-product. While this is effective for facility sanitization, it can potentially lead to problems in wastewater systems as they depend upon their inherent microbial community to function properly. Effects of Quats in Wastewater When a toxic substance like a Quat enters a wastewater system, it can drastically alter the […]

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 […]

Sona Son, Technical Manager at Microbial Discovery Group, presents a new MDG Technology Development at the Aquaculture America Conference Feb 9-12th, 2014.  See poster abstract below.  If you’re dealing with problems associated with Vibrio aquaculture pathogens, we look forward to discussing our work with you.  Please contact us at info@mdgbio.com. COMBINING THE USE OF WHATMAN FTA CARDS AND DIAGNOSTIC PCR ASSAYS TO DETERMINE THE PATHOGENIC POTENTIAL OF SHRIMP WATER SAMPLES SHIPPED OVERSEAS Sona Son, Amy Lange, Heather Behn and Michael King Microbial Discovery Group and JBS United Pathogenic Vibrio spp. are a major economic concern in the shrimp industry causing global losses of approximately $3 billion USD annually. To find potential Vibrio minimizing strategies, a thorough and regular study of virulent Vibrio species collected from shrimp ponds is required. Studies of virulent Vibrio from the field is impeded by changes in the microbial community during sample transport and current field testing methods that do not accurately assess Vibrio virulence. In this study, the use of Whatman FTA (fast technology for analysis of nucleic acids) cards to preserve Vibrio community DNA during transport was combined with a Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio campbellii haemolysin virulence gene based multiplex PCR assay1. Successful protocols will later give rise […]

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 […]

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 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