A manufacturing company will open an 11,230-square-foot facility in Murray, Ky., to produce flooring and other products made from hemp, Gov. Matt Bevin announced this week.
HempWood, developed by Fibonacci LLC, will be produced from hemp fibers and soy-based adhesives. It is the first hemp manufacturing facility in the U.S., according to the press release.
“This hardwood alternative opens up new possibilities within the construction and woodworking industries and emphasizes the capabilities hemp has across numerous sectors,” Blevins said in a statement.
The United States legalized hemp December 2018 in its Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the Farm Bill.
Fibonacci stated its hemp manufacturing process is based on technology used in the strand-woven bamboo industry in China. The company owner, Greg Wilson, has a background in the bamboo flooring industry.
Branding the material as an alternative to oak, the company stated hemp stalks grow considerably faster (in about six months) and can reach a 20 percent higher density.
Aside from flooring, the plant will also manufacture furniture from hemp. The company committed to invest more than $5.8 million in the manufacturing plant and plans to create 25 full-time jobs.
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