MERRILLVILLE, IN – FiberX is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Schmitt as Strategic Advisor, where he will provide guidance on the company’s lignin biorefinery development. Schmitt brings decades of hands-on experience from Borregaard LignoTech, a global leader in lignin-based biochemicals and one of the world’s most advanced biorefineries.
Deep Expertise in Lignin Commercialization
Throughout his career at Borregaard LignoTech, Schmitt served in key roles including Business Manager and Global Application Manager for Specialty Industries. In these positions, he worked directly with customers across multiple sectors—from textile dyes to construction additives—helping them integrate lignin-based solutions into their manufacturing processes. This experience gives him a rare perspective on both the technical possibilities and commercial realities of bringing lignin products to market.
“Greg’s background is exactly what we need as we advance our biorefinery technology,” said Dave Skibinski, CEO of FiberX. “He’s worked with a market leader in the world that successfully commercialized lignin at industrial scale. That kind of real-world knowledge is invaluable as we develop our own lignin extraction and depolymerization processes.”
Bridging R&D and Market Reality
Borregaard operates what many consider the world’s most sophisticated biorefinery, producing lignin-based products, specialty cellulose, bioethanol, and vanillin from sustainably harvested Norwegian spruce. The company has refined its lignin processing over nine decades, building a global business with production facilities across multiple continents and customers in more than 100 countries.
Schmitt’s experience spans the full value chain—from understanding how lignin behaves during extraction to knowing what performance specifications matter most to end users. He’s seen firsthand how lignin’s unique properties make it valuable as a dispersing agent in concrete, a binding agent in animal feed, and a sustainable alternative in dozens of other applications.
Supporting FiberX’s Biorefinery Vision
FiberX is developing proprietary technology, invented at Purdue University, to extract and depolymerize lignin from corn stover through a process called Reductive Catalytic Fractionation (RCF). This approach creates “tunable” lignin—meaning FiberX can adjust the chemical composition to meet specific customer requirements for resins, adhesives, coatings, and specialty chemicals.
The company already has a successful commercial platform processing corn stover into high-performance fiber for biocomposite plastics. The lignin biorefinery represents the next phase of growth, opening access to an $850+ billion market for renewable chemical feedstocks.
“What FiberX is doing with corn stover lignin is genuinely innovative,” Schmitt noted. “They’re not just extracting lignin—they’re breaking it down in ways that create much higher value than traditional technical lignins. Having worked in this space for years, I can see the potential for what they’re building.”
The Right Partner at the Right Time
Schmitt joins FiberX at a crucial stage. The company is in active discussions with major chemical manufacturers about potential applications for its depolymerized lignin. These conversations require someone who can speak the language of both the laboratory and the production floor—someone who understands what it takes to move from promising chemistry to reliable commercial supply.
His addition to the advisory team complements FiberX’s existing strengths. Professor Jim Caruthers from Purdue University provides deep technical expertise in lignin chemistry. FiberX’s Tom Santelli provides broad and deep knowledge of fibers and polymer chemistry. Schmitt’s knowledge and experience brings a unique perspective on lignin commercialization and market development.
A Practical Approach to Innovation
Those who’ve worked with Schmitt describe him as someone who cuts through complexity to focus on what matters. He’s spent his career helping companies determine if and how lignin-based products can actually work for them—not in theory, but in their existing production lines, with their current quality requirements, at market viable prices.
That practical mindset fits well with FiberX’s approach. FiberX is developing lignin feedstocks that can integrate into existing chemical manufacturing, offering better sustainability profiles without sacrificing performance or requiring major capital investments.
Looking Ahead
As FiberX continues to validate its lignin technology and build its pipeline of potential customers, Schmitt will provide counsel on everything from refining the product specifications to structuring commercial partnerships. His insights will help the company avoid common pitfalls and focus development efforts on the applications with the strongest market potential.
“We’re building something that hasn’t been done before—taking agricultural residue and turning it into industrial-grade chemical feedstocks that compete on physical performance, price, and scale,” said Wade Lange, FiberX’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Having Greg’s guidance as we navigate this path gives us a significant advantage. He’s been there, done that, and can help us move faster and smarter.”
