In line with the announcement last month, CRAiLAR Technologies Inc. commissioned its first full-scale CRAiLAR manufacturing facility in Pamplico, S.C.
“This is a milestone event for us as a company and an industry partner, heralding a new era in sustainable natural fibers for multiple market applications,” said Ken Barker, CEO. “We are particularly excited about the level of fiber quality our new state of the art facility will deliver. This uniquely innovative facility will not only deliver on production volume, but will equally showcase process efficiencies and product enhancements which are needed by our business partners around the world.”
The CRAiLAR team is working with the equipment manufacturer’s representative onsite at the Pamlico facility on a variety of activities. This includes commissioning of auxiliary motors, which began last week slightly ahead of schedule, with startup moving into the decortications line components this week.
The manufacturer’s representative is onsite making instantaneous tuning adjustments with the CRAiLAR operations team, implementing safety procedures, call signals and stops. With operating system software and connectivity in place and trial runs ahead, it is anticipated that bulk fiber production runs and adjustments for quality control will be completed ahead of the planned December 28 production commencement date, outlined on the Corporate Update call in October.
Reiteration of Production Expectations
The Company plans to tier its output at the facility beginning with an anticipated 150,000 lbs. per week in January, increasing to 300,000 pounds per week in February and then to level off in the short-term at 450,000 pounds per week thereafter. By the end of 2013, we anticipate the commissioning of expanded production capacity at the facility of 600,000 lbs. per week and to achieve a total production capacity of more than one million pounds of CRAiLAR Flax Fiber per week by year-end 2013.
CRAiLAR Technologies Inc., previously Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc., offers cost-effective and environmentally sustainable natural fiber in the form of flax, hemp and other bast fibers for use in textile, industrial, energy, medical and composite material applications.
Produced using a fraction of water and chemical inputs compared with other natural fibers, CRAiLAR Flax is the newest natural fiber introduction to the market in decades. The Company supplies its CRAiLAR Flax to HanesBrands, Georgia-Pacific, Brilliant Global Knitwear, Tuscarora Yarns and Target Corp. for commercial use, and to Levi Strauss & Co., Cintas, Carhartt, Ashland, PVH Corp. and Lenzing for evaluation and development. The Company was founded in 1998 as a provider of environmentally friendly, socially responsible clothing.