- Agreement with G. J. Littlewoods & Son, Inc. Enables Crailar Organic
Fibers to Project Initial Revenue in the Fourth Quarter of 2009 -
PORTLAND, OR, July 29 /CNW/ - Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. (NAT,
OTCBB: NADVF, TSXV: NAT) a company committed to unlocking the potential of
renewable and environmentally sustainable biomass resources from hemp and
other bast fibers, signed an agreement with G.J. Littlewoods & Son, Inc. to
manufacture Crailar(R) Organic Fibers for use in commercial products made by
apparel companies.
Littlewoods, located in Philadelphia, is a commission dyehouse,
specializing in the dyeing of synthetic fibers, as well as natural fibers. It
intends to use state-of-the-art conventional machinery to process Crailar.
"We are excited to have signed the foremost fiber processor/dyer in North
America for the next step in executing our Crailar Organic Fibers
commercialization plan," stated Ken Barker, CEO of NAT. "In September, we
expect to begin producing approximately 20,000 pounds of fiber per week for
our apparel partners as well as provide testing yarns to spinning companies
for the home furnishings, denim and work wear markets. As such, we anticipate
delivering our first revenue from Crailar in the fourth quarter. Our agreement
secures initial capacity of approximately 40,000 pounds per week, with the
capability to aggressively ramp up from there to meet the needs of our
commercialization plans."
Crailar Organic Fibers is a proprietary enzymatic processing technology
for transforming bast fiber into superior organic fiber for apparel, home
furnishings and carpeting applications. The enzyme bath produces fibers that
are used as a more cost-comparable and sustainable alternative to organic
cotton.
In November 2008, the company announced test results from its trials at
North Carolina State University, which were sponsored by Hanesbrands Inc. In
the trials, the testers spun hemp yarn and knitted fabric on conventional
cotton equipment with no modifications using Crailar Organic Fibers
technology. The resulting yarn was knitted into a five-ounce per square yard
jersey fabric, which resulted in a 50% reduction in shrinkage, a 45% increase
in tensile strength, a 20% reduction in dye uptake, and demonstrated wicking
capabilities.
About Naturally Advanced Technologies, Inc.
Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. is committed to unlocking the
potential of renewable and environmentally sustainable biomass resources from
hemp and other bast fibers. The company, through its wholly owned subsidiary,
Crailar Fiber Technologies Inc., is developing proprietary technologies for
production of bast fibers, cellulose pulp, and their resulting by-products, in
collaboration with Canada's National Research Council and the Alberta Research
Council.