Plans to locate its pilot production
TiFiber Inc., a Fayetteville-based producer of antimicrobial polymers used in sanitizers, has announced plans to locate its pilot production facility and future company headquarters in Fort Smith.
The move could create up to 100 jobs in Fort Smith by 2019, a news release states. Pilot-scale production will begin next year to establish Food and Drug Administration certification, with “significant production” expected in 2017.
TiFiber makes a sanitizer that kills bacteria like E. coli without the use of triclosan or triclocarban, which has been shown to alter hormone regulation and may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, the release adds. Dr. Mike Rutherford is the chief scientist for TiFiber.
“This project is a collaborative effort of the Fort Smith Chamber, local Fort Smith business owners, and TiFiber,” Tim Allen, president of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, stated in the release.” A group of local business owners are making a financial commitment to this company for the betterment of our community.”
Allen said, “high-tech and innovative projects like TiFiber are exactly what Fort Smith needs more of today.”
Fort Smith was chosen because of its “historic, strong support for manufacturing” and because of “regional leaders’ efforts to attract leading edge, technology-based companies such as TiFiber,” the release states.