Intelligent textiles for masks

SARS-CoV-2 increased the demand for antimicrobial impregnation products developed by the company HeiQ Materials AG. This is a textile technology company spun off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH). HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 is an antiviral and antibacterial textile treatment based on a unique combination of silver and vesicle technologies designed to reduce viral and bacterial infectivity. Thanks to the collaboration with the Process Technology Center of FHNW, HeiQ was able to ramp up production to satisfy global demand within just one month. HeiQ Viroblock material technology has been adopted by more than 100 mask producers world-wide. The company is now providing safe protection to millions of people around the globe and in December 2020, HeiQ commenced trading on the London Stock Exchange.