DES MOINES, IOWA — Kemin Industries began construction of a new research and development facility in Des Moines the week of April 23-27. The facility will provide 1,215 linear feet of laboratory bench space for about 60 scientists.

Scheduled for completion in the summer of 2013, the new facility will feature two general laboratories, six shared laboratories and three pilot laboratories. Also included are a sensory laboratory and test kitchen for the company’s food technologies division and a test laboratory for evaluating Kemin molecules in personal care products.

“If you want to know what inspires scientists and researchers to do their best work, all you have to do is ask them, and that’s exactly what we did,” said Chris Nelson, president and chief executive officer of Des Moines-based Kemin. “They helped create the design for the new R.&D. facility, which is an open-concept approach and includes shared laboratories. It is the best possible environment for encouraging collaboration and new product breakthroughs.”

The new research facility is part of a global expansion plan that Kemin announced in October of 2010.