HEMP BUILDING DIRECTORY 2022 LEADER PROFILE
Kristaps Eglitas: Better quality shivs, cleaner fibers FROM HEMP TODAY ndustrial Hemp Latvia (IHL) is finding success with its HurdMaster 1000 Micro Decorticator, recording sales in North America and Europe over the past year as demand for hemp hurd and fiber picks up. A small-scale processing unit designed by IHL founder and entrepreneur Kristaps Eglitas, the MD1000 is designed to process stems from conventional fiber hemp stalks. It is intended for farms of about 6-10 acres, smallscale processors, hempcrete self-builders, hempcrete building teachers, research programs and innovative entrepreneurs.
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RESEARCH TOOL The machine separates the hemp stalk’s woody inner core (hurd, shivs, shives) from the exterior bast fibers. The resulting hurd can be used for hempcrete, as animal bedding and animal litter, or as plant bedding. With additional technology, the separated bast fibers can be further processed for a wide, wide variety of applications, from insulation to textiles. Eglitis, by trade a designer of metal staircases and other structures, has already sold a number of machines in the USA, most recently shipping a unit to Cornell University, home to one of the most prestigious hemp research programs in the world. Cornell researchers will use the MD1000 in their study of fiber processing and applications. Eglitis designed the HurdMaster with help from a student
“The MD1000 is designed to process stems from conventional fiber hemp stalks. It is intended for farms of about 6-10 acres, small-scale processors, hempcrete self-builders, hempcrete building teachers, research programs and innovative entrepreneurs.” Kristaps Eglitas, Hurdmaster 1000 Micro Decorticator
Hurdmaster founder Kristaps Eglitas at Latvian Technical University after intense research on decortiation technology. He eventually bought an old decorticating machine and studied its components as a part of the design process. IHL is collaborating with Peruza, a leading maker of technology for fish processing, developing engineering enhancements that will reduce the HurdMaster’s weight while boosting efficiency. SEPARATOR IN WORKS The partners are also working on a separator that will sort the hurd from the fiber, which is
expected to be ready soon. The current (third) iteration of the HurdMaster MD1000 features several upgrades that result in better quality shivs, cleaner fibers and increased capacity: n An upgraded, rugged grinding process to make the machine capable of processing green stalks. n Boosted engine power, thereby increasing throughput volume. n Anti-“twining” technology that prevents fibers getting caught in the roller mechanism. The HurdMaster MD 1000 is the smallest possible machine that can process 50 kg of hemp stalks into: 10 kg hurd/hr; 10 kg fiber/hr; 10 kg waste/hr; and hurd 5-30mm. “We’re getting excellent hurds for hempcrete,” Eglitis said of the sleek, boxy unit, which is small enough to fit in a car. “We processed some fiber for hempcrete to insulate my own house.” 2022 | Hemp Building Direcctory 77
