{EDC Client} Soyawax Plans New Product as it Rebuilds
By Dave DeWitte, The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS, Jan 22, 2009--Soyawax International, a pioneer in the soy candle industry, is working on a new generation of soy-based wax as it rebuilds from last June's flood.
The introduction of a formulation dubbed "G2" by Soyawax International will come this year despite extensive damage to the company's building in the flooding of Cedar Rapids.
Soyawax President Michael Richards said the new wax will be more cohesive than other formulations. That will make it suitable for more products, and specifically for making larger-diameter candles.
"In the past, soybean waxes tended to crack when you molded a larger candle," Richards said. He said that generally ruled out making candles of larger thickness, such as the popular 6-inch-by-6-inch candle with three wicks.
Richards began working three years ago with Iowa State University's Center for Crops Utilization Research to develop a formulation that would overcome some of the limitations of first-generation soy wax.
That work led to a patent application that is held by ISU and a license to Soyawax International to commercialize the technology.
Soyawax International received a $150,000 award from the Iowa Department of Economic Development's Demonstration Fund in August to commercialize the technol ogy and a contract to use the award was executed Dec. 23.
The initial small-batch pilot production will be performed at a laboratory at ISU by early March. Larger pilot-scale batches will be produced this year at the company's Third Street location.
Richards is in discussions with a soybean oil refiner in southwestern Iowa to handle large-scale production.
Floodwaters reached a depth of 12 feet in the historic Matyk building where Soyawax International is located at 1029 Third St. SE. Richard said restoration work is under way, with new front windows to be installed this week.
When the restoration is complete, the building will be used to handle fulfillment of small orders. Large orders will be handled through a Cargill Corp. facility in Charlotte, N.C.
Soyawax International began selling wax to other candlemakers in 1995, Richards said. The company has had a manufacturing arrangement with Cargill since 1999.
-- Contact the writer: (319) 398-8317 or david.dewitte@gazcomm.com
Copyright (C) 2009, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
