ANN ARBOR—Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB), the textile industry startup that has genetically engineered silkworms to produce super-strong silk, announced that it is preparing to transfer production back to its subsidiary in Vietnam, Prodigy Textiles.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, when the company furloughed non-essential staff, Kraig shifted spider silk production to its United States research center. Now, company officials say they are ready to move most production back to Vietnam as soon as the silkworm rearing cycle allows.
During this pandemic, the Company has continued to advance and strengthen its production operations. Though vigorous testing of its Dragon Silk and Monster Silk lines, the company identified its best performing and hardy silkworms ideally suited for large scale production. This first production cycle of 2020 in Vietnam will use these top performing trangenics.
Company officials said they anticipate a rapid scale-up of spider silk production and will use this year’s first production run to fulfill an outstanding order from one of the company’s development partners. The following production runs will be to address fiber requests made by additional potential development partners and to grow the breeding population.
“As we finish preparations for the 2020 production season, the future of Kraig Labs has never looked brighter,” said COO Jon Rice.
Kraig has produced silkworms with spider genes spliced into their genome, which allows them to spin cocoons of silk fibers that have some of the superior strength, resilience and flexibility properties of spiderweb fibers—lighter and stronger than steel. The fibers are being developed for super-strong fabrics for the military and other uses, as well as for structural materials.
More at https://www.kraiglabs.com/spider-silk/.