CHICAGO – Silliker, Inc. recently celebrated the grand opening of its Solution Center, the flagship laboratory for North America.

The Crete, Ill.-based facility is the largest in the company’s network of labs at 71,000 sq. ft., the company said. Both the Illinois Analytical Lab and the Food Science Center are housed in the new facility. The center’s amenities include expanded analytical chemistry capabilities; advanced nutritional chemistry testing for composition and nutritional labeling; and state-of-the-art microbiology testing and serology expertise.

“The opening of the Silliker Solution Center is consistent with our global strategic plan to provide our valued customers with the highest level of service from operations based on the latest technologies and instrumentation, combined with a dedicated team focused on operational excellence,” said Philippe Sans, president and chief executive officer.

The facility cost $14 million to build, and more than 200 employees from Silliker’s former Chicago Heights laboratory and South Holland Food Science Center now work from the Solution Center.