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HeiQ shares Viroblock technology with textile sector peers

29 Apr '20
3 min read
Pic: HeiQ
Pic: HeiQ

Swiss textile innovator HeiQ has announced that it is offering the proprietary formulation technology, HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antimicrobial textile treatment tested effective against coronavirus, to its peers, calling for a united effort to help fight the global pandemic. The treatment is used in face mask testing, made for prevention against COVID-19.

The treatment is enhancing the antiviral log reduction from 2.90 of untreated face masks to 4.5, a 30 times improvement with over 99.99 per cent reduction of virus infectivity in minutes. It is tested to last at least 30 washes. Since its launch, the company has been utilising its full capacity of 145 tons per day in its four manufacturing sites on three continents.

HeiQ co-founder and group CEO Carlo Centonze has expressed the urgent need to maximise the impact of the international textile industry in fighting the global pandemic, even if that meant sharing HeiQ’s proprietary technology. HeiQ has since offered to share its HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 technology to textile industry peers via a free licence, according to a media statement by the company.

Sharing the formula, manufacturing protocol and technical guidance will permit the manufacture and commercialisation of HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 to meet the regulatory compliance and performance requirement. Licensees will be required to test their treated fabrics with licensed third-party testing institutes to establish efficacy and quality as per HeiQ’s standards. Use of the HeiQ Viroblock trademark in relation to treated articles will require trademark authorisation directly by HeiQ to ensure truthful and compliant claims.

“There is not a moment to lose. We must act now and act fast to produce textiles for hospitals and every frontline healthcare worker that are more resistant to pathogenic viruses and bacteria. The international textile industry must do our part and work together in a united effort to protect textiles and help in the struggle to reduce the risk and speed of contamination and transmission around the world,” Centonze said.

“We believe by using CHT’s textile expertise and production capacities globally that we can play a key role in mitigating the impact for the healthcare workers and our industry partners by maximising our reach swiftly,” Ralf Kattanek, group vice president textiles of CHT said.

“HeiQ has enlisted the Piedmont Chemical group to help support its North American production and distribution, in order to assure maximum product availability during the crisis. We are here to join the fight and support HeiQ and our textile industry with all we have,” Rick Wilson, CEO of US based Piedmont Chemical Industries said.

HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 is a combination of vesicle and silver technologies using HeiQ’s registered silver technologies for antiviral and antibacterial (together antimicrobial) effect. This is accomplished through binding permanently to viral sulfur groups and using HeiQ’s fatty vesicle technology (Liposomes) as a booster that helps deplete swiftly the virus membrane (pericapsis) of its protective cholesterol layer, thereby destroying the enveloped virus. HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 can be applied to many textile surfaces including face masks, air filters, medical gowns, curtains, mattresses, bed linens, drapes, and more.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)

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