Kraig Biocraft to Open New Biotech Research and Production Center

On Oct. 2, 2017, Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, a developer of spider silk-based fibers, announced the opening of a new research and production facility in Michigan. This facility will merge the company’s recombinant spider silk production operations with its research into spider silk protein technologies.

Over the 30 days following this announcement, the company will be relocating its current production operations from Indiana to its Michigan facility, and will also transfer relevant production staff to continue operations, with two new lead research positions being created to support the facility. The center will include upgraded environmental control and approximately three times the production space.

“Launching this new larger factory unifies our production and research teams’ efforts.  Having our teams working hand in hand will make us more agile and open up opportunities to move technologies more quickly from the drawing board to tested and validated designs,” said Jon Rice, COO, Kraig Biocraft, in a company press release. “In addition to streamlining developmental timelines and enhancing our ability to tailor fibers, we expect to reduce R&D costs, as we generate new spider silk technologies by fully integrating design, creation, testing, and scale up, under a single roof.  Our plan is to have this facility be the global central hub for spider silk technology and the center of our international operations.”

According to the company, the opening of this center will be followed by efforts to establish production centers in three overseas locations. During October 2017, the company’s management team is scheduled to meet with senior central government officials in Hanoi, Vietnam to discuss this production venture. The company is also in communication with another silk-producing country to scale its spider silk technology.

Source: Kraig Biocraft Laboratories