#ITMA 2015

2014-12-01

Sympatex wins Future Materials Award 2014

The Future Materials Award 2014 Best Innovation – Sportswear and Outdoor Apparel goes to Sympatex. (f.l.t.r.) Nadine Dereza, Isabel von Lösecke, Sonja Zajontz (both Sympatex) and Charles Beauduin, Cematex President; (c) 2014 WTiN / Sympatex

Now it has become official: Sympatex Technologies has won the “Future Materials Award 2014”. The ecological alternative among functional textile specialists has successfully prevailed over six other finalists in the category “Best Innovation – Sportswear and Outdoor Apparel” with the Sympatex Phaseable® technology. The 2.5-layer laminate offers an intelligent climate regulation by using a dynamic thermal insulation.

The award, which has been initiated by “World Textile Information Network” (WTiN), was presented last night, on Wednesday, during a glamorous gala at “The Westin Bellevue Dresden” by the prizewinning journalist Nadine Dereza (Financial Times, CNN and BBC amongst others) and Charles Beauduin, CEO Van de Wiele Group and President of CEMATEX.

The winning product Sympatex Phaseable® is especially suitable for high levels of physical effort during sports and outdoor activities, for example. The 20 experts of the “Future Materials Award” jury – among them leading specialised journalists as well as renowned representatives in the fields of industry and research – have been enthusiastic about the technical solution: “Very interesting innovative construction, and outstanding environmental considerations. Wonderful new innovation.”

The 2.5-layer laminate works like this: The three-dimensional half-layer on the inside of the laminate only touches the skin punctually in the form of foam points.

During the recovery phase of the athlete, an insulating air layer is created between the skin and the laminate. When the physical activity is increased, moisture is produced, which lets the compact hydrophilic Sympatex membrane swell up. Thus, the foam points disappear, the distance to the skin is reduced, and the laminate gets closer to the skin. This offers a better moisture transport and breathability. In addition, the breathability increases during higher levels of physical activity due to the dynamic climate regulation.

There are also environmental benefits: As an ecological alternative among functional textile specialists, Sympatex doesn't use any solvents for its technology. The footprint is also kept as low as possible, because the laminate is entirely produced within the EU. Another advantage: The top performance and maximum ecology of Phaseable® is enhanced by a fantastic fashionable component thanks to the individual design of the foam points.

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