Today, Naturally Advanced Technologies, producer/marketer of the revolutionary CRAiLAR® material made from flax and other bast fibers, which represents sustainable yarn for the global apparel industry with the potential to actually replace cotton, reported several key milestones this week on the road to an initial full phase of production to supply global partners with this amazing product.
CRAiLAR is produced by taking the fibers and processing them via a patented enzymatic technique developed in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada, fibers which can be cut to desired staple length (rivaling the very best long line cotton). Post-process, the fibers are run through specialized equipment and end up as a gorgeous, soft, white yarn with similar warmth and tactile aesthetics of organic cotton, but with enhanced tensile strength, the likes of which organic cotton could never attain.
Chief among the developments are the results of a year’s effort optimizing the CRAiLAR production pipeline, resulting in a 40% time reduction in the initial enzymatic fiber processing through improved process techniques and thus enabling substantial production capacity gains of each planned manufacturing facility. But, perhaps the biggest advantage to this development will be opening the door to third-party manufacturing, something that will accelerate both overall output of fiber and the market momentum of the brand/concept.
CEO of Naturally Advanced Technologies, Ken Barker, hailed the innovations team which spearheaded the effort to advance the CRAiLAR process, pointing out the leadership of company CIO, Jason Finnis, as being instrumental to achieving this feat. Barker explained that the improved efficiency/resultant economics clearly puts third-party manufacturing in the mission critical range for growth optimization and was obviously pleased at the prospect of maximized volume capability of the company’s first facility this year.
Cartersville, GA-based, ecologically responsible fiber technology innovator Tintoria Piana has even entered into an agreement to execute the CRAiLAR enzymatic process for Naturally Advanced Technologies exclusively, in the second major development announced today. Production should commence in Q2 this year, adding handsomely to the company’s manufacturing capacity even further. Privately-held and family-owned Tintoria has been dying fiber for the apparel industry for over six decades and Barker eyes the move as thoroughly consistent with the overall forward vector.
The third major development shows Naturally Advanced Technologies is driving domestic industry, with plans to implement 143.5k square feet of production infrastructure in South Carolina and an initial $8M investment (which will immediately create some 25 jobs) for preliminary facility preparation. Located in Florence County, SC, the Delta Mills Cypress plant in Pamplico is an ideal location at the heart of Flax country (which is grown as a winter crop throughout the region).
Governor of SC, Nikki Haley, was particularly proud to see investment in one of the state’s rural areas and welcomed Naturally Advanced Technologies to Pamplico. Naturally Advanced Technologies wrapped this week on its plans for a long-term lease (option to buy) and full execution merely awaits tax/job creation incentives currently under review in Florence County, with April 19 currently set for the final environment/incentives review. A set aside grant of $263.5k from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development will be available when hiring targets are achieved. Also hailing the announcements were Senator Hugh K. Leatherman (a Florence County resident) and Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt, who underscored the strong history of textiles, agribusiness, and advanced materials for which SC is known, thanking Naturally Advanced Technologies for their commitment to making a real change for Pamplico and the future of SC’s industry.
A serious logistical footprint is emerging for Naturally Advanced Technologies, backed up by a solid concept and offering in a global marketplace where significant market share can be shaved off from king cotton via a product with additional robustness benefits, anchored by a powerful full-scale production node right in the heart of one of North America’s top agricultural and manufacturing regions. Alongside the Tintoria partnership and an ever-expanding commercial, agricultural, and civic partnership presence, there is incredible stored up potential energy in Naturally Advanced Technologies’ model.
For more information on these developments, or to stay up to date with prevailing news and information about Naturally Advanced Technologies, please visit the company’s website at www.NaturallyAdvanced.com
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