With this development, the company is now on schedule to produce all of the recombinant spider silk necessary to fulfil its contract with the US Government on time and on budget. The company has a large inventory of silkworm eggs ready to hatch and, over the coming weeks, plans to ramp up the hatch rate.

Expanding domestic production

“Bringing this facility online is a major milestone for Kraig Labs and a significant step forward for spider silk manufacturing,” said COO Jon Rice. “These first 40,000 silkworms are just the beginning of our aggressive plans to scale domestic production. With this facility, we now have the capability to rapidly respond to the numerous request we receive for our record setting Dragon Silk. I would like to congratulate our team, whom have been working tirelessly to meet our production schedule and to see this goal realized.”

Over the coming months, the company will be increasing the throughput of the new facility and preparing for an expanded US operation, which will include the planting of thousands of mulberry trees. In addition to its new domestic plant, the company continues to make progress toward the establishment of two separate international production facilities.

US Army contract

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories received a contract worth of up to US$ 1 million from the US Army, for the development of high performance fibres for protective apparel applications, this summer. Under the fully funded base effort, valued at US$ 99,962, the company was contracted to deliver ballistic shoot packs constructed from its proprietary Dragon Silk material for performance testing.

These shoot packs will be tested and evaluated for critical soldier protective applications including ballistic impact. If awarded, the option phase will significantly expand this work with the US Army, according to the company.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, a fully reporting biotechnology company is a leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fibre technologies.

The company says its genetic engineering research has succeeded in developing a practical and cost-effective technology for producing recombinant spider silk based fibres on an industrial scale. Kraig Biocraft Laboratories is moving rapidly to commercialize its spider silk technology, which it believes will have a significant impact on the global textiles industry.

At the same time, the company are continuing to work in cooperation with leading laboratories to create new stronger and more flexible spider silk based fibres with potentially broad applications for consumers and industry in the multi-billion-dollar marketplace for textiles and performance polymers.

www.kraiglabs.com

Further reading

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories expands domestic spider silk production with Indiana facility

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories receives contract from US Army to deliver Dragon Silk