Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. (NAT), Vancouver, Canada, has set a Dec. 17, 2012, date to
begin commissioning of equipment at its CRAiLAR® Flax Fiber processing facility in Pamplico, S.C.,
and expects to begin processing the fiber beginning December 28. The plant will process flax that
is grown as a winter crop in the surrounding area.
The company has invested $8 million to open the 143,500-square-foot facility — formerly the
Delta Mills Cypress plant — and provide 25 jobs. It also has been granted incentives totaling
$263,500, approved by the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development, for
building upfits and job development credits.
“We are thrilled about our progress in Florence County and look forward to having a fully
operating facility there this December,” said Ken Barker, CEO, NAT. All of the equipment has
arrived at the facility, and NAT’s engineers are in the process of installing it.
NAT will move all operations formerly conducted at its Kingstree, S.C., pilot processing
plant to the Pamplico site. Once production is up and running at the Pamplico plant, the company
will begin processing 150,000 pounds of Crailar Flax Fiber per week in the first month of
operation, increasing to 300,000 pounds per week the following month, and then 450,000 pounds per
week, with further increases projected later in 2013.
October 30, 2012
