diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.C b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.C
index 5dec8815..5d30fd09 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.C
@@ -63,41 +63,20 @@ twoWayMPI::twoWayMPI
 )
 :
     dataExchangeModel(dict,sm),
-    propsDict_(dict.subDict(typeName + "Props"))
+    propsDict_(dict.subDict(typeName + "Props")),
+    lmp(NULL)
 {
     Info<<"Starting up LIGGGHTS for first time execution"<<endl;
 
-    MPI_Comm_rank(MPI_COMM_WORLD,&me);
-    MPI_Comm_size(MPI_COMM_WORLD,&nprocs);
+    MPI_Comm_dup(MPI_COMM_WORLD, &comm_liggghts);
 
-    if (me < nprocs) liggghts = 1;
-    else liggghts = MPI_UNDEFINED;
-
-    MPI_Comm_split(MPI_COMM_WORLD,liggghts,0,&comm_liggghts);
+    // read path from dictionary
+    const fileName liggghtsPath(propsDict_.lookup("liggghtsPath"));
 
     // open LIGGGHTS input script
-    char *liggghtsPathChar = new char[256];
-    int n = 0;
-    if (me == 0)
-    {
-      // read path from dictionary
-      const fileName liggghtsPath(propsDict_.lookup("liggghtsPath"));
-      strcpy(liggghtsPathChar, liggghtsPath.c_str());
-      n = strlen(liggghtsPathChar) + 1;
-
-      Info<<"Executing input script '"<< liggghtsPath.c_str() <<"'"<<endl;
-    }
-
-    if (liggghts == 1) lmp = new LAMMPS_NS::LAMMPS(0,NULL,comm_liggghts);
-
-    MPI_Bcast(&n,1,MPI_INT,0,MPI_COMM_WORLD);
-    if (n > 0)
-    {
-        MPI_Bcast(liggghtsPathChar,n,MPI_CHAR,0,MPI_COMM_WORLD);
-        if (liggghts == 1) lmp->input->file(liggghtsPathChar);
-    }
-
-    delete [] liggghtsPathChar;
+    Info<<"Executing input script '"<< liggghtsPath.c_str() <<"'"<<endl;
+    lmp = new LAMMPS_NS::LAMMPS(0,NULL,comm_liggghts);
+    lmp->input->file(liggghtsPath.c_str());
 
     // get DEM time step size
     DEMts_ = lmp->update->dt;
@@ -109,7 +88,7 @@ twoWayMPI::twoWayMPI
 
 twoWayMPI::~twoWayMPI()
 {
-    if (liggghts == 1) delete lmp;
+    delete lmp;
 }
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * public Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
@@ -240,8 +219,6 @@ bool Foam::twoWayMPI::couple(int i) const
         coupleNow = true;
 
         // start liggghts
-        if (liggghts == 1)
-        {
             // run commands from liggghtsCommands dict
             Info<<"Starting up LIGGGHTS" << endl;
             particleCloud_.clockM().start(3,"LIGGGHTS");
@@ -366,7 +343,6 @@ bool Foam::twoWayMPI::couple(int i) const
 
             particleCloud_.clockM().stop("LIGGGHTS");
             Info<<"LIGGGHTS finished"<<endl;
-        }
 
         // give nr of particles to cloud
         double newNpart = liggghts_get_maxtag(lmp);
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.H b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.H
index 3e05b3a2..0a01c0c4 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.H
@@ -81,14 +81,6 @@ private:
 
   // private data
     dictionary propsDict_;
-
-    // variables
-    int me;
-
-    int nprocs;
-
-    int liggghts;
-
     MPI_Comm comm_liggghts;
 
   // private member functions