BURLINGTON, N.J., - Michael Geiger, COO and EVP of American Casein Co. (AMCO) and American Custom Drying Co. (ACD) announced the recent passing of the companies' founder and president, Richard L. Shipley, on January 30, 2005, at the age of 89.

Mr. Shipley, an alumnus of the University of Michigan with a master's degree in chemistry, founded American Casein Co. in 1957. In 1967, he founded a related business, American Custom Drying Co., when he perfected the process of spray drying casein into caseinate. ACD ultimately became a custom toll processor for drying and blending services for the food and chemical industries.