Grain Processing Corporation (GPC)
Welcome to Grain Processing Corporation’s (GPC) website! Now more than ever, companies all around the world are searching for fresh, new, innovative ideas. Since 1943, we’ve been building and nurturing a global reputation for providing exactly what companies are looking for, which is how we’ve become a leading manufacturer and worldwide marketer of corn-based products. GPC customers worldwide have discovered the advantages of using our various products to improve process efficiency, functionality and end product quality. That customer satisfaction is why GPC continues to be a leader in the industry.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Manufacturer
- Industry Type:
- Agriculture
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 1943
This company also provides solutions for other industrial applications.
Please, visit the following links for more info:
About Us
Founded in 1943, GPC is a privately owned company with a solid history of innovation and a vision for continued success in the future. Our chosen mission is to manufacture, distribute and market customer-specified food, nutraceutical and industrial grade products of uncompromising quality. GPC's substantial investment in the finest people, facilities, technology and customer support services reflects the seriousness of that commitment to quality.
The cornerstone of our growth is hard work—we work with our customers, as well as for our customers, to satisfy their individual needs. Our growth comes from expanding established markets, introducing new products, as well as improving our existing product line. We also create new marketing opportunities through the knowledge gained from research and practical experience.
GPC has a broadly diversified line of products, mainly derived from nature's abundance: corn. These products include maltodextrins, corn syrup solids and starches for the food, nutraceutical and personal care markets; ethyl alcohol for beverage and industrial use; starches for the paper, corrugated box, textile and wallboard industries; corn oil; and animal nutrition ingredients.
Grain Processing Corporation remains privately-owned, with the third generation of the Kent family holding leadership positions in the management of the company. GPC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kent Corporation, Muscatine, Iowa. Additional affiliates include Kent Nutrition Group, Kent Pet Group and Kent Precision Foods Group.
History
Grain Processing Corporation (GPC) was formed to build and operate a government industrial alcohol plant as part of the World War II synthetic rubber program. The firm was incorporated February 11, 1943, in Iowa, its founders being S.G. Stein and G.A. Kent, both of Muscatine, Iowa. Upon the termination of this program, the company leased the plant from the government with an option to purchase for private operation. Production was then shifted from industrial to beverage alcohol. The facilities were purchased from the government in 1953 and GPC is now one of the largest producers of grain neutral spirits for beverage and industrial use. Our prominence in this area is a result of large-scale efficiency and the ability to produce the highest quality and most uniform product available. These ethyl alcohol products are sold worldwide for use in applications demanding the highest possible degree of purity. As a result of unwavering commitment to total quality systems, GPC has literally set the standard of excellence for ethyl alcohol purity and lot-to-lot consistency.
In 1959, to further increase the efficiencies of the integrated processes, the company came on stream with the initial stages of a corn wet milling operation. This included the steeping, milling, germ separating and oil expelling steps. Following additional engineering and economic studies, the operations were expanded to produce high-quality, unmodified corn starch. This system, which has been in operation since 1960, was expanded once in 1962, twice in 1963, and several times since then. The process was also expanded to produce a range of acid-modified and oxidized starches. Industrial starches are marketed to the paper, corrugated box, textile, building products, mining and oil well drilling industries.
During 1961, GPC produced its first sweeteners on an experimental basis. In 1969, the line of hydrolyzed starch products, MALTRIN® maltodextrin and corn syrup solids, was introduced. These products have been met with wide acceptance by the food industry and the product line continues to expand. In 1990, the third plant expansion in ten years was announced to meet the growing demand for these products. GPC is the world’s largest, most dependable producer of maltodextrins. With an unmatched product line and the GPC commitment to quality, MALTRIN®products are the gold standard for the industry. In addition, GPC is a leading supplier of food, pharmaceutical and personal care starches.
GPC’s broadly diversified line of products, mainly derived from corn, also includes many products vitally necessary to the animal + pet nutrition industry such as Corn Gluten Meal, Corn Gluten Feed, SOLULAC® distillers dried grains and a broad range of feed supplements.
In 1996, Grain Processing Corporation announced plans to construct a new, state-of-the-art corn wet milling plant. The primary objective of building a second plant was to enhance GPC’s ability to serve the needs of customers by providing additional capacity to meet the growing demands for these products. Further, diversifying the physical location of manufacturing assets and capabilities provided even greater reliability and dependability of supply to long-term customers. This significant investment in next generation manufacturing capacity demonstrates GPC’s total commitment to and confidence in the successful growth of the company and industries served. This plant, located in Washington, Indiana, has exceeded expectations in production efficiencies. Since its completion, it has strengthened GPC’s ability to produce consistent quality products and to provide on-time performance.
A new Technology Development Center was constructed at the company’s headquarters in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1997. The mission of this development center is to develop manufacturing processes for new products, model and improve existing manufacturing processes, evaluate and recommend new processing technology, and provide samples for internal and customer evaluations and trials. The center provides development facilities for expansion of existing food, pharmaceutical and industrial product lines, as well as capabilities for specialty and biochemical process development. This development center is the cornerstone for aggressive research and development efforts to provide expanded products and services for GPC customers.
Research, Quality Control and Product Development have paved the way for GPC’s success. GPC’s Research, Technical Development and Technical Service efforts illustrate the emphasis the company puts on new approaches and new ideas; the soundness of this philosophy is evidenced by the progress that has been made in both products and production. The management philosophy of true commitment to quality and long-term customer satisfaction has been the key to growth and success.
Grain Processing Corporation continues to be privately owned and its ownership and management team have a clear vision for continued success in the future with continuing investment in the finest people, facilities, technology and customer support services that reflect the seriousness of our commitment to quality.
Mission Statement
We are Grain Processing Corporation.
We are people committed to safely manufacturing quality products and supplying those products on a long-term basis for the mutual benefit of GPC and our customers.
We are people committed to satisfying our customers' needs in a sustainable, innovative and ethical manner.
We are people committed to doing our jobs right the first time and every time.
We are people committed to success.
Yours and Ours!
Facilities + Services
Grain Processing Corporation (GPC) has made a substantial investment in the finest people, facilities, technology and customer support services in a commitment to product and service quality.
We operate two production facilities: Muscatine, Iowa, USA & Washington, Indiana, USA
Asia Office: Hong Kong, China
European Offices:
Muensingen, Switzerland
The Hague, Netherlands
South/Central America Office: Mexico City, Mexico
Our knowledgeable experts, both domestic and foreign, including our sales team, customer service professionals and our innovation group, are ready to assist you with application and regulatory issues.
GPC’s dedicated Technical Development Center (TDC), located at the Muscatine headquarters, serves not only as a development lab, but also as a pilot manufacturing facility capable of specialized processing. From basic solutions to more complex process development, we create unique and innovative ideas to shorten your R&D cycle and deliver new products to the marketplace.
GPC’s TDC facilities offer:
- Chemical Processing
- Wet & Dry Processing
- Spray Drying
- Solvent Processing
- Fermentation
- Extrusion
- Ultra Filtration
- Analytical Instrumentation
GPC’s TDC personnel bring:
- World-Class Carbohydrate Chemistry Knowledge
- State-of-the-Art Analytical Expertise
- Process Engineering Capability
- Formulation Knowledge
- Application Development Proficiency
- Customer Technical Services
Path to Sustainability
At GPC, we understand the importance of protecting the environment. As a leading manufacturer of corn-based products, we believe in responsible resource management from product innovation to operational efficiency. Our efforts demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices throughout our company. Since 2001, we are pleased to report the following accomplishments:
- Reduced total energy usage (as expressed by Btu per bushel), by approximately 8%
- Decreased water usage by 20%
- Cut carbon dioxide emissions by 49%
GPC continues to look for ways to take care of our most precious resources—air, land and water. We have created an environmental policy statement and environmental targets that guide us in our path to sustainability. Our environmental tracking system will help to establish our targets, evaluate our processes and measure our progress. By having the right people and equipment to meet our goals, GPC is making strides on the Path to Sustainability!