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Vestagen obtains rights from Schoeller for Vestex fabrics

11 Feb '14

4 min read

Vestagen Technical Textiles, Inc., announced that it has obtained worldwide rights from Schoeller Technologies AG to certain technologies that are integral to the unique properties of Vestex, the first of its families of active barrier protective fabrics that are clinically proven to prevent or reduce the acquisition and retention of microbes and other contaminants.

Vestex fabrics are engineered to have robust liquid repellency and embedded antimicrobial properties, along with enhanced breathability and comfort. The company’s initial focus is on medical scrubs and other protective apparel for healthcare workers, who are at daily risk of exposure to dangerous contaminants that can then be spread by their uniforms to patients, other workers and family members.

“This expanded agreement establishes Vestagen as the premier healthcare partner of Schoeller, a global leader in textile technology, and caps four years of productive collaboration between our two companies,” said Uncas “Ben” B. Favret III, president and CEO of Vestagen.

“Our shared goal of applying Schoeller’s innovative technologies and expertise to address a serious gap in worker and patient safety has produced Vestex, the first fabrics that are clinically proven to protect against dangerous contaminants such as MRSA while also providing a high level of wearer comfort for everyday use.”

Schoeller’s innovative fluid barrier binds to individual fibers and is incorporated into the structure of Vestex, resulting in fabrics that are both durable and highly repellent over their entire surface to bodily fluids, water, oil and dirt. The high repellency works synergistically with Vestagen’s embedded antimicrobial technology, which is effective against a broad spectrum of organisms.

Vestagen has incorporated a second Schoeller technology into Vestex that wicks away moisture from inside the fabric and promotes evaporation, enhancing wearer comfort. Vestagen’s proprietary manufacturing process seamlessly integrates the three technologies to produce Vestex fabrics.

“The collaborative efforts of Vestagen and Schoeller to co-develop Vestex establishes a new standard for protective healthcare fabrics,” noted Siegfried Winkelbeiner, CEO of Schoeller Technologies. “As an early mover and emerging leader in the new field of technology-based protective healthcare apparel, Vestagen is the perfect partner for our company with its proud history of textile innovation.”

Mr. Winkelbeiner added, “Combining our high performance fluid repellent technology with Vestagen’s antimicrobial has produced fabrics that offer exceptional protection against dangerous contaminants—a level of protection that far exceeds what could be achieved by each technology on its own.