Yulex

Yulex Corporation applies crop science, bioprocessing and materials science for the production of agricultural-based biomaterials made from Guayule (Parthenium argentatum). The company’s materials are designed to replace traditional tropical- or petroleum-based rubber in consumer, industrial, and medical products, with the residual agricultural materials utilized as a feedstock for bioenergy.[1]

Yulex Corporation
TypePrivate Corporation
IndustryRubber
Founded2000 (2000)
FounderDaniel R. Swiger, Jeffery A. Martin
Headquarters
Chandler, Arizona
,
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Jeffrey A. Martin
(Director, President and CEO)

Stephen James Mitchell

(Chief Technology & Operations Officer)
ProductsBiorubber Emulsions, Biorubber Solids, Biomass
Websitewww.yulex.com

History

Guayule first emerged as a commercial crop in Mexico the early 1900s through the Continental Mexican Rubber Company, though it ceased operation in 1912. In the 1920s the Intercontinental Rubber Company (IRC) was formed in San Diego, California by the Rockefeller family, though this venture also failed as a result of the Great Depression and increased imports of tropical rubber from Southeast Asia.

In the 1930s the United States accelerated its research efforts into polybutadiene and styrene-butadiene rubber after significant technological advances were made in Germany with synthetic polymers. America's supply of natural rubber from Southeast Asia was cut off by the Japanese during World War II. Congress passed legislation to finance the Emergency Rubber Project to develop guayule as a commercial alternative to tropical rubber.

Seeking alternative sources of natural rubber, the U.S. Government purchased the Intercontinental Rubber Company's holdings in California, and also began the commercial scale up of polybutadiene and styrene butadiene rubber. Over 32,000 acres of guayule were commercially farmed in California and Arizona. While the yields from those stands of plants were not sufficient to be commercially viable, the demands of war supported the concept of rubber production at any cost and demonstrated guayule's excellent performance characteristics in a broad variety of applications. The U.S. Government abandoned guayule production efforts following the war.[2]

Founding

Yulex Corporation was founded in 2000[3] and began a dedicated Guayule acreage expansion program, planting acreage in Arizona in the Maricopa Agriculture Center (an enterprise associated with the University of Arizona). This program was subsequently expanded to the commercial farming community to provide enough high-yielding seed to grow commercial quantities of guayule plant.

Commercial success

In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Yulex biorubber gloves for medical uses. Yulex is the first company to produce biobased, medical-grade latex that is safe for people with latex allergy.[4]

In 2012, Yulex received a $6.9 million USDA-DoE grant as part of a research consortium. Partnering with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Cooper Tire, Yulex will research enhanced manufacturing processes, testing and utilization of guayule natural rubber as a strategic source of raw material in tires, and evaluate the remaining biomass of the guayule plant as a source of bio-fuel for the transportation industry, as well work on improving agronomic practices, developing genetic information and undertaking a lifecycle analysis.[5]

Also in 2012, Yulex released the first alternative to the traditional neoprene wetsuit in partnership with Patagonia,[6] the first guayule-based mattresses and pillows in partnership with Pure LatexBliss,[7] and the first plant-based, latex allergy-friendly dental dam in partnership with 4D Rubber.[8]

In 2013, Yulex formed a partnership with ENI's Versalis to expand the reach of guayule into European markets.[9]

See also

References
  1. Laird, Karen (February 11, 2013). "Green Matter: Another rubber revolution in the making?". Plastics Today. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  2. "History". Guayule and Yulex Timeline. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  3. "Company Overview of Yulex Corporation". Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  4. Palmer, Craig (2008). "'FDA Approves Glove Made from New Form of Natural Latex". The Journal of the American Dental Association. 139 (6).
  5. "Cooper, partners review progress in guayule program". Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  6. Shadley, Steve (March 25, 2013). "Surfwear company markets organic wetsuits made of rubber from Arizona shrub". KJZZ. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  7. James, Gary (January 2013). "Power of pillows". BedTimes. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  8. "Dental dam to use Yulex guayule". RubberNews.com. December 14, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  9. Moore, Miles (February 25, 2013). "Yulex, Versalis join forces to expand reach of guayule". RubberNews.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.

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