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For much of the last century, the Savannah-based Herty Advanced Materials Development Center has worked to help the pulp and paper industry create commercial applications for the state’s massive timber reserves.
On Wednesday, Gov. Nathan Deal — calling Herty an institution that has contributed much to the industrial and economic development of Georgia — joined Georgia Southern University President Brooks Keel and Herty president and CEO Alex Koukoulas in a celebration of the center’s 75 years of innovation.
“Today marks a major milestone in Herty’s rich history as well as a new era of innovation that should spur further economic growth, workforce opportunities and highly skilled jobs for the region,” Deal told the business people and dignitaries gathered at the center on Brampton Road.
Herty, which became part of GSU last year, was established in 1938 to continue the work of the late University of Georgia professor Charles Herty, a research chemist whose findings on turning pine trees into newsprint spawned a massive industry.
Herty discovered an innovative way to make quality paper and rayon fiber from the southern pine, a tree that grows abundantly in Georgia. His work catalyzed the pulp and paper industry in the South and helped revive the region’s economy during the Great Depression.
Cultivation of the southern pine conserved the slow-growing northern hardwood forests while creating a robust forest-products industry in the southern U.S.
Over the years, Herty has expanded its focus, leveraging strengths in fibers and pilot-scale production into new industrial markets and products, including development of synthetic non-woven materials, innovative “green” technologies, biomass processing and alternative energy solutions for clients worldwide.
Although their official affiliation is relatively new, Georgia Southern has a long history with Herty.
Mature pine trees, located on what is now the University’s campus, were used by Herty and his associate, Frank Klarpp, to test their newly developed “cup and gutter” technique of resin collection — a procedure that would forever change the forestry industry.
“We are pleased to be affiliated with Herty, an institution founded on strong science, research and innovation,” Keel said. “Our strong alignment, synergies and complementary assets, strengthen our individual offerings and provide greater opportunities for both of our organizations. We expect the next 75 years to continue delivering on the successes and traditions for which Herty is renowned.”
Koukoulas thanked the center’s staff, clients and industrial partners for their contributions to Herty’s success and promised its future will be as bright as its past.
“Herty has always been about innovation,” he said. “We intend to work relentlessly, alongside our clients and partners, to build on this legacy by developing new technologies and products that will address the needs of tomorrow.”
ABOUT HERTY
The Herty Advanced Materials Development Center is a world-class research and development facility supporting the pulp and paper and bio-products industries. Located in a 120,000-square-foot facility on a 10-acre campus in Savannah, the center is a new product and process accelerator, offering a range of contract manufacturing, research and cooperative development services. For more information, visit www.herty.com.
ABOUT GSU
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie doctoral/research university founded in 1906, offers 125 degree programs — including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral — serving more than 20,500 students through its eight colleges. For more information, visit www.georgiasouthern.edu.