2022-08-03 08:49:11
INCA Renewable Technologies announced plans to build a state-of-the art 200,000-square-foot fibre processing and composites manufacturing facility in Vegreville, Alta.
Their chosen location is adjacent to InnoTech Alberta – the Alberta government’s premier research facility for hemp composites, genomics and agronomics. The INCA factory is expected to be operational in early 2024 and create 70 jobs, scaling to about 100 jobs by 2026.
“When ramped to capacity, INCA’s operation will purchase 54,000 tonnes of biomass per year generated from farmers growing hemp for plant-based protein,” said David Saltman, chairman and CEO of INCA. “We will process this renewable resource into highly refined fibre. The short fibre will be transformed into INCA BioBalsa, a direct substitute for the balsa wood used as an essential core material in the construction of boats and wind turbine blades. The long fibre will be sent via rail to our second factory in Bristol, Indiana where we will manufacture BioPanels for the RV industry and BioPlastics for the automotive indus - try. Winnebago and Toyota are commercialization partners for these products.”
INCA chose Alberta in part thanks to the provincial government’s investments over the past 20 years to develop a thriving hemp supercluster and research capability. Alberta is now a global leader in the production of sustainably grown hemp and responsible for 40 per cent of Canada’s hemp production. INCA’s purchase of waste hemp fibre from local farmers will make hemp a dual use cultivar and one of the most valuable cash crops in the prairies.
Alberta Agriculture Minister Nate Horner said, “by purchasing hemp directly from Alberta’s farmers, and processing it here in the province, this project will mitigate production risks for producers, and create new value-added hemp products that will help grow Alberta’s thriving hemp industry.”
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