#Textile chemistry

2020-07-02

HeiQ Viroblock certified as cosmetic grade & bio-based renewable

HeiQ’s antiviral textile technology, HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 has been certified as safe and sustainable as all its ingredients are cosmetic grade, bio-based and recycled.

Leading the international textile industry to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, HeiQ recently launched HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antiviral and antibacterial textile treatment proven to reduce 99.99% of human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, along with other enveloped viruses and bacteria.

Viruses and bacteria can remain infective on textile surfaces for days. Human Coronavirus SARS-CoV persist for up to 2 days on surgical gowns* at room temperature. Antiviral treatments for textiles contribute to more hygienic and safer textile products and can help mitigate the risk of contamination and transmission. While the global textile industry is rapidly adopting antiviral textile treatments to bring antiviral masks, clothes and home fabrics to the market, it is important to consider the profile of different technologies including questions of toxicity, safety, antimicrobial resistance, and wastewater treatment.

The HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 is a formulation that contains a minute amount of recycled silver active ingredient and fatty liposome vesicle components. It is EU REACH and US FIFRA compliant, OEKOTEX® certified, ZDHC and bluesign® homologized. Treated textile articles are compliant with EU BPR and US EPA. HeiQ Viroblock respirator masks with antibacterial and antiviral surface have been registered as medical device by Swissmedic and approved by US FDA.

“Since HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 was designed for use on face masks to impart enhanced protection against viruses and bacteria, we selected only the most effective, safest and most sustainable ingredients. Furthermore, we are proud that HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 qualifies as a bio-based renewable product and is 100% made from INCI approved cosmetic ingredients,” says Carlo Centonze, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of HeiQ Group.

Beta Analytics Testing Laboratory has certified that HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 contains 72% bio-based carbon. Test results are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Testing Accreditation PJLA #59423 standards. HeiQ Viroblock NPJO3 is currently undergoing homologation for the USDA bio-preferred certification. Specialities S.R.L (Italy), a surface chemistry research and development company, has also confirmed that all ingredients of HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 are selected from the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI).

“HeiQ is grounded in the pursuit of innovation that helps to bring a positive benefit to the World. Designing products with safe and sustainable components, such as the HeiQ Viroblock technology, is central to that mission,” says Dr. Murray Height, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of HeiQ Group.

*Kampf G, Todt D, Pfaender S, Steinmann E. Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents. Journal of Hospital Infection. 2020 Feb 6.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

“ We have multiple companies and divisions operating in textiles, and we decided to integrate them into one platform. ”

At Techtextil 2026, the Aditya Birla Group presented its textile activities as a unified platform for the first time. In this interview, Kapil Agrawal, Business Head Textiles, Acrylic Fibres & Overseas Spinning, explains how the group is expanding from traditional textile products towards integrated technical textile solutions, circularity and higher-value applications – and outlines the role India could play in scaling fibre-to-fibre recycling in the years ahead.

SOKO presents low-impact denim finishing innovations at Denim PV Milan

SOKO will present a range of sustainable denim finishing technologies and collaborative projects at the upcoming Denim Première Vision Milan on 20–21 May in Milan. At booth G27 in Superstudio Più, the company will showcase new chemical solutions designed to combine fashionable denim effects with reduced environmental impact.

YKK invests USD 150 million in new manufacturing facility in India

YKK Corporation has announced plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in India, reinforcing its long-term commitment to one of the world's fastest-growing textile and apparel production hubs. The new factory will be built at Origins by Mahindra in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and will become the third manufacturing site of YKK India Private Limited. The facility is expected to be completed by February 2028 and represents an investment of approximately USD 150 million, covering land, buildings, machinery and equipment.

Trelleborg celebrates grand opening of advanced manufacturing facility in North Carolina

Trelleborg Engineered Coated Fabrics proudly celebrated the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art extrusion coating manufacturing facility in Forest City, North Carolina, US on May 6, 2026. The event brought together community leaders, customers, partners and Trelleborg leadership to mark a significant milestone in the company’s continued investment in innovation, capacity and sustainable operations. The new facility represents a significant investment and reinforces Trelleborg’s long-term commitment to advancing high-performance engineered coated fabric solutions for critical applications across aerospace, healthcare & medical, safety & protection and industrial markets.