Mass production As the medical application was established, the Oxford team found that it was impossible to produce usable amounts in their laboratory. Failing to persuade the British government, Florey and Heatley travelled to the US in June 1941 with their mould samples in order to interest the US government for large-scale production. They approached the USDA Northern Regional Research Laboratory (NRRL, now the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research) at Peoria, Illinois, where facilities for large-scale fermentations were established. Mass culture of the mould and search for better moulds immediately followed.
mass pRoduCTiOn as tHe meDicAl apPLicatioN wAS estaBLIsHEd, the oxford team fOUnd thAt it Was IMpoSsIBlE To prodUce usaBle amOunts in their laboratory. faIliNg To perSUAdE the BriTisH GovernmEnt, fLOrEy aNd heaTLEY tRavElLeD To thE us iN jUNE 1941 WITH their MoULD samplEs in oRDer to inTErEst the us GOveRnMent FOr LaRge-scale pRoducTioN. tHey approacHed The usda NorthErn REGional rEsearcH LaboRatory (nRrl, NoW the nAtIOnal Center For agrICulturaL UtIlIzatioN ResEARch) at PEOriA, IlliNois where FaCIlITies FOR larGe-SCale fERMeNTatiOnS wErE establIShed. mass culturE oF ThE mould aND searcH FOR bettEr MoUlds IMMeDIATeLy fOlLoweD.