HeiQ’s New Antiviral Textile Technology Tested Effective Against Human Coronavirus

· Pioneering innovative textiles to combat coronavirus, HeiQ has crossed all expectations on how to contain the accelerated rate at which the disease is spreading. 

· HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 has been proven effective against human coronavirus (229E) in face mask testing

· Chinese company Suzhou Bolisi is the lead adopter of HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 for protective face masks, which will be available on the market as early as April

Amidst the global “Coronavirus” pandemic sweeping entire continents, Swiss based HeiQ, a hi-technology textile company, has just launched HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antiviral and antimicrobial textile treatment that provides improved reduction of virus infectivity against viruses. It has proven effective against human coronavirus (229E) in face mask testing, significantly enhancing the antiviral log reduction from 2.90 of untreated face masks to 4.48 (99.997% reduction of virus infectivity) for the treated masks. This log reduction of 2 is equivalent to 100 times the effectiveness in antiviral effect.

229E and the virus concerned in the latest pandemic, Covid-19, are some of eight types of human coronaviruses that scientists have confirmed to be able to affect human health. The latest Covid-19 was unfamiliar to the world before its outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Then, it kept on spreading on a larger scale to the point where it has become a worldwide pandemic. Coronavirus can be transmitted from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth from the infected person. Other people can also be infected by touching objects or surfaces contaminated by these droplets, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. According to WHO, there are now more than 160,000 cases in 114 countries, and 6,600 people have lost their lives. Most government’s main efforts go towards stopping the spread of Covid-19. Textiles can be a hosting surface for viruses and contribute to rapid transmission and contamination from human to human. An Antiviral textile treatment like HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 would then be a possible solution to help slow down the rate of transmission.

Chinese protective mask manufacturer Suzhou Bolisi is the lead adopter of HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 for protective face masks, which will be available on the market as early as April. American legwear manufacturer Kayser-Roth is planning to add the treatment to their new product, Ghluv hands protector. A range of international textile producers such as Lufeng are assessing the HeiQ technology on other types of textiles such as cotton and polyester fabric used for garments. It can also be administered to an array of other textile surfaces including face masks, air filters, medical gowns, curtains, drapes, and so.

“The appointment of virologist Dr. Thierry Pelet to HeiQ’s Scientific Advisory Board brings a profound depth of knowledge to HeiQ which accelerates our efforts to address the urgent problem of a global pandemic”, says Carlo Centonze, HeiQ Group CEO. “Our goal is to prevent textiles from becoming a host surface for propagating harmful viruses and bacteria, and contribute to reduce the risk and speed of contamination and transmission.”

HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03’s unique combination of vesicle and silver technologies is devised to deactivate lipid-enveloped viruses (such as coronavirus) and suppress the replication of both bacteria and viruses. These features can provide improved control and further assist this dilemma that affects the entirety of the Earth’s population, especially during cases of mass hysteria and panic. New cases of Covid-19 are constantly being uncovered, thus it is imperative that immediate action is taken to bring about an end to its wide spread.

HeiQ’s antiviral textile test

“I’m impressed by HeiQ’s ability to fast track such a complex innovation and bring this breakthrough to globally critical products in a short time,” said Dr. Pelet.

Likewise, CEO Carlo Centonze added: “HeiQ strives to help improve the lives of people through bringing breakthrough innovations to textiles. We have pushed hard to bring the HeiQ Viroblock technology to reality to assist at this time of urgent need for society around the world.”

Besides testing on human coronavirus (229E), HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 also demonstrated dramatically improved reduction of virus transmission against Influenza types H1N1, H5N1, H7N9, and also Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Covid-19 is still creating havoc all over the globe but initiatives taken by companies like HeiQ provide a ray of hope in a seemingly desperate situation.

In 2019, HeiQ was awarded the 2019 Swiss Environmental Award for HeiQ Clean Tech, because of their solution to reduce the environmental footprint of polyester dyeing by 30-40% in terms of saving 30-50% water, energy and CO2 emissions. But most importantly, reducing the cost to the manufacturers, creating an AFFORDABLE green technology.

Established in 2005, HeiQ is a leader in textile innovation creating some of the most effective, durable and high-performance textile technologies on the market today. Their aim is to improve the lives of billions of people by perfecting an everyday product: Textiles.

With a very strong ethos around sustainability, HeiQ, under the leadership of Carlo and Dr. Height, has become a global leader in textile innovation creating some of the most effective, durable and high-performance textile technologies in the market today.