GreenCore Composites to develop new products from wood fibre

TORONTO, Aug. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - The Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE) is partnering with GreenCore Composites to develop a new green technology process that will allow wood fibre to be used in a number of new products for the packaging and building applications, such as pallets and various containers.

This new mixing process will be added to GreenCore's existing NCell® technology allowing GreenCore to widen the type of products in which glass fibre and other compounds such as plastics can be replaced with wood fibre composite materials.

CRIBE is providing $320,000 to GreenCore Composites for this important project that will position GreenCore as the market leader in natural fibre composites and Ontario as a leader in creating a more sustainable and greener economy.

GreenCore has already demonstrated that they are capable of replacing glass fibre reinforced compounds which are used in a wide variety of products but are extremely energy intensive to produce with wood fibre composites using their patented pending  NCell® technology.

This wood fibre composite has been successfully piloted in many applications, from automotive parts, to rigid containers, furniture, and industrial products. The benefits include enhanced sustainability, reduced energy costs and lower carbon emissions.  This technology is expected to grow GreenCore's workforce from its current level of 6 employees to 40-45 by 2016.

"Partnerships such as the one our government has with CRIBE help advance Ontario's green agenda and create jobs. As a leader in clean energy innovation, Ontario is well positioned to compete in world markets," said Minister of Economic Development and Innovation Brad Duguid.

"There are so many benefits if we can replace the glass and plastic compounds used in a variety of consumer products with a compound made from a natural product like wood," said Lorne Morrow, CEO CRIBE. "Not only are these type of products less energy intensive to produce but they are environmentally friendly and provide a new market for Ontario's sustainably managed forest industry."

"A key milestone for us this year was the approval and use of NCell® in several consumer and industrial products, such as a range of tough storage containers for both consumer and industrial uses" said Geoff Clarke, President and CEO, GreenCore Composites. "Our true strength comes from our team and the important partnerships that we have with UofT for lab facilities and Tembec our wood fibre supplier."

The Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy is a provincial initiative to transform the forest products industry in Northern Ontario. Find out more at www.cribe.ca

GreenCore Composites is a Cleantech manufacturer of natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic materials, from automotive parts to rigid containers, sports equipment and furniture.  Find out more at www.greencorenfc.com

SOURCE: CRIBE (Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy)

For further information:

CRIBE Scott Wiebe, Program Manager 807-475-6286 [e-mail] 

GreenCore Composites Geoff Clarke, President and CEO, 416-364-6877 [e-mail]