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Kraig's new R&D facility extends its hybrid silk cocoons
15 Apr '18
2 min read
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc., developer of spider silk based fibres, has announced follow up to its new hybrid spider silk silkworm cocoons, which were produced at the company’s new research and development facility. Kraig Biocraft is a fully reporting biotechnology company focused on the commercialisation of new textiles and high performance fibres.
Development for the new hybrid was completed in-house, at Kraig Labs R&D facility using its dragon silk colony silkworms and a commercial mundane silkworm strain, which resulted in an estimated 100 per cent increase in cocoon weight, compared to the cocoons that the company was producing just four months ago in Indiana.
The company understood that silkworms have been producing mundane silk for thousands of years and, that by employing the existing sericulture infrastructure, as well as expertise and traditions, it can cost effectively scale-up its transgenic spider silk silkworm production. According to Kraig Labs’ data, the company should be able to commercialise some of the toughest natural fibres for almost the same cost as normal every day silk.
The company believes that the new hybrid cocoons, along with its first recombinant spider silk producing silkworms and the development of dragon silk, are among the biggest sericulture breakthroughs in modern history. As such, it’s important that the host countries respect intellectual property. This is one of the reasons that Kraig Labs is looking at the potential of launching production in Vietnam.
Jon Rice, Kraig Labs’ COO said, “Our production optimisation initiatives are vital steps in the drive towards cost structure optimisation and our new cocoons have shown us that even the most efficient fibre making process that exists in the world today, can be improved. A 100 per cent increase in cocoon size from our existing products without any increased labour is a substantial win for our shareholders.”
The company is updating production plans and will update the shareholders and other interested parties when appropriate. (GK)
Development for the new hybrid was completed in-house, at Kraig Labs R&D facility using its dragon silk colony silkworms and a commercial mundane silkworm strain, which resulted in an estimated 100 per cent increase in cocoon weight, compared to the cocoons that the company was producing just four months ago in Indiana.
The company understood that silkworms have been producing mundane silk for thousands of years and, that by employing the existing sericulture infrastructure, as well as expertise and traditions, it can cost effectively scale-up its transgenic spider silk silkworm production. According to Kraig Labs’ data, the company should be able to commercialise some of the toughest natural fibres for almost the same cost as normal every day silk.
The company believes that the new hybrid cocoons, along with its first recombinant spider silk producing silkworms and the development of dragon silk, are among the biggest sericulture breakthroughs in modern history. As such, it’s important that the host countries respect intellectual property. This is one of the reasons that Kraig Labs is looking at the potential of launching production in Vietnam.
Jon Rice, Kraig Labs’ COO said, “Our production optimisation initiatives are vital steps in the drive towards cost structure optimisation and our new cocoons have shown us that even the most efficient fibre making process that exists in the world today, can be improved. A 100 per cent increase in cocoon size from our existing products without any increased labour is a substantial win for our shareholders.”
The company is updating production plans and will update the shareholders and other interested parties when appropriate. (GK)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India
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