South Carolina: Naturally Advanced Technologies Announces Sublease of Facility in Kingstree

Submitted by restore on Mon, 08/16/2010 - 19:01

40,000 Square Foot Facility Utilized As Pilot Scale Facility For Crailar Decortication Process

By Michael Bachara, Hemp News Staff

40,000 Square Foot Facility Utilized As Pilot Scale Facility For Crailar Decortication Process The hemp industry in the United States has taken a step forward in the Carolina's as Naturally Advanced Technologies, Inc (NAT) has announced that it has signed a ten month sublease of a facility at 164 County Camp Road, Kingstree, SC, 29556.

NAT has always committed to unlocking the potential of renewable and environmentally sustainable biomass resources from hemp and other bast fibers and this decision to locate closer to the HanesBrand headquarters is no exception to their track record. The move will create a presence as the demand for organic fibers increases worldwide. NAT's positive studies at North Carolina State University with their 80% Cotton/20% Hemp blend show great promise to the development of organic fibers worldwide. (See Video)

The space has been attained for use as an initial scale-up flax fiber facility to conduct the decortication process of Crailar Organic Fibers. The facility was originally established to conduct processing of flax fiber under a USDA initiative.

In addition, the property is housed near 300 acres of flax crops that will also be utilized to conduct the company's flax fiber growing trials taking place beginning October, 2010.

"Having a facility in the USA that we operate and manage for the dry process or decortication of our Crailar Organic Fibers brings the entire patented Crailar process together under NAT control, enabling us to manage our process entirely," said Ken Barker, CEO, Naturally Advanced Technologies. "As well, the opportunity to conduct full scale flax trials furthers our vision of utilizing a variety of bast fibers as the foundation for Crailar and its multiple principal uses."

Kingstree, SC is a town of approximately 3,500 people; the new facility is expected to create job opportunities for the people of Kingstree as well as create opportunities with local farmers in the surrounding areas.This town has the potential to become a powerful player in the chess game of alternative organic fibers infiltrating the cotton stronghold.

For more information about Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc., visit: http://www.naturallyadvanced.com

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