Qore set to begin production in Iowa
Qore, a joint venture of US group Cargill and Germany-based HELM, is officially starting production of Qira, a large-scale 1,4-butanediol (BDO) – a building block for materials including elastane - made from locally grown dent corn.
The $300-million, 66,000 annual metric ton facility, located in Eddyville, Iowa, will celebrate the start of production with a grand opening event on July 22 with state officials, customers, farmer partners and customers.
The new facility is set to produce 66,000 metric tons of Qira, using corn grown primarily within 100 miles of the site.
The Lycra Company is adopting Qira. Replacing its fossil-based BDO for this bio version could reduce its elastane's carbon footprint by up to 44%, said the company.
Chemicals group BASF has also secured a long-term supply agreement.
