Fluid Quip Technologies Expands DCO Technology™ Adoption with Successful Installation at Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co. to Enhance Distillers Corn Oil Recovery

August 21, 2025 at 08:00 AM EDT

Fluid Quip Technologies (FQT), a leader in advanced processing and separation solutions for the biofuels industry, today announced the successful installation and startup of its DCO Technology™ system at Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co. (CVEC) in Benson, Minnesota.

FQT’s DCO Technology™ delivers a proven, cost-effective solution for boosting corn oil recovery without the need for recurring expensive chemistry. Leveraging multi-stage stillage washing and thin stillage clarification, the system increases oil yield by optimizing oil separation at multiple points throughout production including recovering oil from backset streams. Designed as a bolt-on to existing facilities, the technology integrates seamlessly with current oil recovery equipment to deliver rapid returns and lasting value.

Within the first 30 days of operation at CVEC, the DCO Technology™ increased distillers corn oil yield by 35%—surpassing the guaranteed improvement. By integrating Thin Stillage Clarification, the system produces a cleaner evaporator stream, allowing CVEC to run higher evaporator solids with less fouling. This improves plant reliability, reduces downtime, and creates potential energy savings. Together, these benefits position CVEC to capture more value from rising corn oil markets while driving greater overall efficiency.

"DCO Technology is a strategic, scalable solution for ethanol producers to create lasting value from existing operations,” said Neal Jakel, President of Fluid Quip Technologies. “With its quick build time, low capital cost, and minimal ongoing operating expenses, it delivers strong ROI for plants seeking to improve profitability. Competing technologies often require significant spend on de-emulsifiers or recycle oil into backset, reducing overall yield. FQT’s DCO Technology avoids both, resulting in higher real oil recovery at lower operating cost to strengthen the bottom line.”

“From start to finish, FQT delivered on schedule and with exceptional quality,” said Chad Friese CVEC CEO and General Manager. “The DCO Technology’s performance has exceeded our expectations, and the operational benefits are already clear.”

Building on a growing portfolio of proven innovations, Fluid Quip Technologies is helping ethanol producers boost efficiency, lower costs, and capture more value—driving both profitability and long-term industry growth.

About Fluid Quip Technologies

Fluid Quip Technologies^® (FQT) is a premier technology and process engineering firm based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. FQT’s skilled engineering and technical teams have been developing new technologies and providing unique process engineering solutions to the beverage, biofuels and bio-chemical markets for more than 30 years. For more information, visit www.fluidquiptechnologies.com.