New Generation Industries LLC is a privately owned company that works collaboratively with Kenaf Board and Butanol, LLC, in the development and distribution of Kenaf Plank Mats and other composite board products. 
Kenaf Board and Butanol, LLC, specializes in Kenaf composite technology in the development and manufacturing of composite boards and Butanol bio-fuel technology.

Joe Lauer, a native Texan and President and CEO of NGI, has worked 27 years in the hydrocarbon exploration industry, serving as Operations Manager of  privately owned oil companies from 1997 to present.  Mr. Lauer envisioned the use of Kenaf fiber technology in the development of plank mats for the oil industry instead of the traditional wood mats.  Wood mats are generally made of hardwoods like oak; however, the supply is becoming less readily available and is subject to environmental concerns. The oil industry utilizes plank mats in refineries and on drilling and production locations.

Chuck Taylor, PhD., President and CEO of Kenaf Board and Butanol, a Kenaf technology and manufacturing company, engaged Mr. Lauer’s idea and began cooperative development of durable composite boards extruded from Kenaf suitable for plank mats. 

After several years of refinement and a series of lab and field testing, the Kenaf plank mat is now significantly stronger than existing wood mat decking and can withstand extreme occupational and environmental stress.  Because of its durability, the Kenaf plank mat can be used 3-4 times longer than a wood mat. The genesis of NGI evolved with the creation of the composite plank mat. 

NGI and Kenaf Board and Butanol recognize Kenaf as a renewable source of industrial fiber which has many applications in the market place. Because Kenaf products are reusable, wood-free and recyclable, they are advantageous environmentally and economically and represent each company’s foundation of “green living”.