Malone Group was employed to undertake an initial front-end design study to develop a design to manufacture lactic acid to produce biodegradable plastic, with dilactose whey permeate a biproduct from cheese manufacture. The design looked at all aspects of the production process and the automation of the facility. Detailed design specifications, P&IDs and general arrangements were developed from first principles. A tender bid analysis in support of the customer was then managed to evaluate the best-in-class technology for the new facility.