How CPM’s Crown Iron Works Leads the Way in Sustainable Fuel
Since 1878, CPM’s Crown Iron Works (Crown) has been shaping a better future through innovation. As Kris Knudson, President and General Manager at CPM Engineered Solutions, explains: “The company originally started as a family-owned iron forger in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After the Second World War, the family decided to pivot and transition the company into process technology, primarily focusing on oil seed processing.
“In 2008, Crown became part of CPM, which allowed us to refine our processes even further. We integrated industry-leading brands from sister business units and cutting-edge equipment such as flakers, crackers, and pellet mills—incorporating them into our solution-driven projects.”
Under the CPM umbrella, Crown has expanded into a variety of industries. Kris continues: “The Crown brand is a key business unit within CPM. In 2018, we broke ground on a new global headquarters in Blaine, Minnesota. Our goal was to pair our exceptional resources and talent with more advanced tools and equipment, helping to chart a new course for the brand. In 2019, we officially opened our global headquarters and innovation center, which quickly proved successful. Over the past three and a half years, we’ve experienced strong customer engagement and steady demand for our expertise. To strengthen our offering, we have been building an internal team dedicated to research and development.
“The innovation center is constantly evolving. We’re always expanding into new capabilities and refining our facilities. Our latest advancement is a liquid processing unit, which features a liquids tower and pre-treatment bay. The pilot plant now covers all of our core unit operations, but our work is far from done. We remain committed to investing, growing, and adapting—because that’s what it means to be an innovator.”
Creative, Curious, and Forward-Thinking
Today, CPM and its brands are driving sustainable fuel solutions for industries ranging from renewable fuels and biomass to biogas and waste. “For us, everything begins with the customers and the markets we serve. The first step in any development process is listening. We conduct thorough research, analyze major trends, and align those insights with our core capabilities. The goal is to create a distinct value proposition.
“There are significant opportunities in sustainability right now. As experts in process engineering, we help clients optimize their operations to reduce utility consumption. We also develop more efficient ways for them to manufacture and distribute their products. Within CPM Engineered Solutions—the division that brings Crown innovations to market—we have established four key commercial segments. One is our specialty segment, where a dedicated team of experts leverages core technology and industry expertise to develop bespoke client projects. Additionally, we have segments focused on our core strengths: crush, liquids, and aftermarket and field services. These cover preparation, solid and liquid solvent extractions, and liquid purification for edible oils, biofuels, and oleochemicals.”
CPM has successfully adapted its technology for new markets beyond oil seed processing. “A great example is textile recycling. The western textile industry is increasingly shifting toward recycled materials as part of broader sustainability efforts. In response, we collaborated with CPM’s other business units to gain insights into preparation equipment, then adapted our soybean oil extraction technology for testing material capabilities in textiles. Other markets are also looking to recover and reuse materials in similar ways. For instance, waxes bound to other materials can be extracted and repurposed. If a substance has both solid and liquid components, chances are we have the knowledge and resources to extract it.”
“These successes stem from the creative, inquisitive, and innovative culture that CPM’s Crown has nurtured. Our team has the expertise to test processes, gather data, collect samples, and enhance our technological capabilities. We’re showing customers what our systems can achieve—often exceeding their expectations,” Kris enthuses.
Pushing the Limits of Innovation
As businesses increasingly seek sustainable solutions, CPM continues to lead the way. Bill Morphew, Global Vice President of Sales in Engineered Solutions’ Liquid Segment, shares: “Our journey in sustainability has been ongoing for years. We initially focused on biodiesel, and that experience in biofuels paved the way for where we are today—with renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It’s fascinating to see how these ideas have evolved, demonstrating our commitment to new possibilities.
“Our expertise makes us industry leaders. We’ve been working on renewable fuel sources for over three decades, and since 2018, we’ve had a dedicated team focused on RD and SAF.”
Meeting Market Needs
“Our work in this area centers on pre-treatment for RD and SAF technologies,” Kris adds. “This was a natural progression for us, as it aligned directly with our liquid segment strategy. We had already been enhancing those capabilities within our innovation center.
“CPM’s broad expertise and innovative mindset also allowed us to integrate biofuels into our wider capabilities, providing customers with a holistic approach. Our teams collaborate closely, so when a customer needs a solution spanning multiple departments, we seamlessly connect the dots to deliver a comprehensive, multi-faceted offering.”
Always looking ahead, CPM’s Crown has positioned itself as an industry pioneer. Bill shares his vision for the company’s future: “Our strategy remains focused on growth and expansion, always with the goal of delivering a full-service experience for our customers. There’s a market need for long-term support through site assessments, annual shutdowns, and training, and we plan to invest further in these areas to help our customers succeed.
“We also continue to work collaboratively across CPM, analyzing major trends and market shifts. Some of our biggest breakthroughs happen in moments of collective problem-solving—when we’re truly enjoying the process. It’s in these creative discussions that new opportunities emerge. Innovation thrives on collaboration, and that’s where the most exciting discoveries happen,” he concludes.