Canadian Greenfield Technologies Corp. (CGT) is proud to announce the successful commercial launch of the next generation of CGT’s Hemp Bale Processor- a major technological upgrade of CGT’s Baled Straw Opener – for the HempTrain™ Advanced Processing Plant.
In 2018, after extensive research and development, CGT developed and commercially implemented the world-only non-destructive processor for opening dense hemp bales. To our best knowledge, besides our Bale Processor, there are no other non-destructive openers/processors in the world designed specifically for industrial hemp bales. General use bale openers, usually supplied in Europe for any baled material, ranging from agri-products to recycled plastic, are not designed for opening densely baled long hemp stalk. Furthermore, claims about the efficacy of bale “unwinders” for the high-throughput processing of round hemp bales have not been demonstrated or supported. Without continuous, non-destructive processing of baled long hemp stalk, it is impossible to have mass production of high-value bast fiber from industrial hemp. It is well recognized that fundamentally the fiber market is yet to be developed, but without the production of high-value fiber, to develop such a market would be extremely challenging considering the overseas competition. Without the production of high-value fiber, the nascent hemp fiber industry in most countries will be stifled.
The 2021 technological upgrade of the Hemp Bale Processor, based on years of CGT experience, innovative engineering, and development, further improves HempTrain’s ability to process high fiber varieties of hemp. CGT’s Hemp Bale Processor opens round AND square hemp bales, and is engineered to withstand the unique rigours of long, high tensile strength hemp stalks, thus keeping the hemp intact and undamaged to be further processed by a HempTrain™ into high-value product streams. All future turn-key HempTrain™ installations will include the 2021 Hemp Bale Processor, strengthening the position of HempTrain™ as the leading technology for growing the hemp industry, especially the hemp fiber industry. To facilitate the market demand for HempTrain™ installations, CGT recently announced the HempTrain™ licensing allowing license holders to manufacture and distribute HempTrain™ in their defined territory.
About the Hemp Fiber Industry
It is well known that the majority of hemp-producing countries grow hemp partially or fully with the intent for bast fiber production. High-value bast fiber production is absolutely essential for success in contemporary industrial hemp business models.
Hemp bast fiber has the greatest value in premium applications, such as high-end consumer fabrics, special purpose textiles (uniforms for military, firefighting, etc.), high-performance fiber for engineered applications (concrete fiber, synthetic composites, etc.) for all of which the hemp fiber must be clean, long, strong and structurally intact. Currently, the market is oversaturated with low value, low margin commodity hemp fiber products such as low-end textiles, mats and insulation. These products have been commonly produced for decades overseas using the same 100+ year old techniques (hammermills, scutchers, rollers, and other hand-fed decorticators). Hemp processing starts with all harvested hemp being densely baled for transportation and handling into 5’-6’ round or 4’ x 4' x 8’ square bales with weights of roughly 1200-1500 lbs. Subsequently, the bales are delivered for processing, and must be “opened”, that is the baled hemp stalk must be made loose again for processing. In order to produce high value, long and strong fiber, the “opened” stalks must remain intact for processing - without using destructive techniques (guillotine chopping, etc). Read our information bulletin on hemp bale processing to learn more.
About the HempTrain™ Advanced Processing Plant
The HempTrain™ Advanced Processing Plant is the only hemp processing technology capable of separating whole-plant hemp feedstock into all high-value components. A HempTrain™ can separate dry hemp feedstock into long, strong bast fiber, clean, size-specified hurd, and a nutrient-rich green microfiber. Furthermore, it can process fresh/green hemp feedstock, separating and concentrating an Extraction-Ready Fraction for use as an CBD extraction feedstock. Learn More>>
About Canadian Greenfield Technologies Corp.
CGT is an award-winning Calgary-based engineering & manufacturing company specializing in hemp products and processing technologies. An off-shoot of an international-award-winning industry group in business since 1987, CGT is an industry leader with unparalleled expertise in hemp processing and the only supplier of complete whole-plant hemp processing facilities in North America, having developed, designed, engineered, and manufactured the state-of-the-art HempTrain™ Advanced Processing Plant.
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