Staff photos by Clay Schuldt ICP-MSInductive Couple Plasma Mass Spectrameter...low level metals and minerals detection in water. Colleen Skillings CEO, Mike Grob Operation Officer, Jerry Balbach President.

NEW ULM — If there is one constant at Minnesota Valley Testing Lab (MVTL) it is change. As an independent testing lab, MVTL has a wide range of clients and there is always something new to learn.

Last year, MVTL saw a change in leadership. Former owner, Tom Berg, sold the business to the executive team. CEO and CFO Collen Skillings, Chief Operating Officer Mike Grob and President of Sales and Marketing Jerry Balbach transitioned leadership roles in Oct. 2022. After a year of running MVTL, Skillings, Grob and Balbach said it was a smooth transition.

MVTL’s work is divided into four sections: food science, agriculture, environmental work and energy technology.

“We started in the food world,” MVTL President Jerry Balbach said “moved into environmental work from there and then agricultural and water testing.”

Later, MVTL moved into energy lab work with a lab in Bismark, North Dakota. With the increase of oil drilling in North Dakota, there came a need for more environmental work.

Independent labs provided a much need service. They can provide third party testing to assure non-bias testing.

Grob said nationwide independent testing labs are somewhat unique. There are other independent labs, but many labs are connected to some kind of production or manufacturing.

“Our strength is when you have a buyer and a seller who need an independent tester,” Grob said. “Food companies need an outside service.”

Balbach said MVTL is also unique in that it does testing in multiple fields. Some labs specialize in one field. Balbach said it’s not unusual for them to provide testing for customers in multiple areas. It is more efficient for clients.

This diversity of work is a benefit for the lab. Depending on the season, certain types of lab work is uncommon. In the winter, there’s little call for ag testing but food testing is needed year round.

MVTL has done work in all 50 states, four Canadian provinces, export work to half a dozen other countries.

“We’re not a little New Ulm lab,” Balbach said.

In the last year, MVTL has stepped up testing for the “forever chemicals” perfluoralkyl and polyfluoroalky, sometimes called (PFAS). Some PFAS can be toxic to humans. In recent years there has been a push to develop tests to detect PFAS.

MVTL has been testing water for PFAS, but this year they are planning to begin testing in solids. Grob said PFAS testing in soil is expected to come online at MVTL within the first quarter of 2024.

Skillings said it is a long procress getting to the point of providing PFAS testing service. In addition of purchasing the proper testing equipment, staff needs to learn the proper procedure for testing PFAS.

Grob said two years ago there was no official test method for PFAS in soils. It was only recently a draft procedure was approved. Currently, MVTL is waiting for a government stamp of approval on this method. Then, it is a question of the lab getting certified to do this testing procedure.

MVTL is confident staff is up to the challenge of learning the new testing procedures.

“We’ve been really fortunate to have great workforce,” Skillings said. “We have a lot of good people working for us, who work hard. All the technology is great, but it means nothing if you don’t have the people.”

Balbach agreed that lab employees were very flexible and willing to jump different departments when needed.

“From an asset standpoint, our employees are by far the greatest,” Grob said. “The thing I like about working here is the diversity. There is not a dull day. We’re never bored.”