Safety and protection

Technical-fabric manufacturer Nonwovenn is investing £1.5 million in its ProTech division, which manufactures fabrics for use in personal protective equipment (PPE).

Adlington, UK-based manufacturer of textiles for workwear and protective fabrics, RTS Textiles, is bringing together all off its operations and joint-venture partners to form a unified entity known

A trio of reliable methods for testing the comfort and mobility of the soft ballistic inserts used in body armour have been developed by Hohenstein, of Bönnigheim, Germany, and DuPont, of Wilmingto

The roll-out to armed forces in the Nordics of the new Nordic Combat Uniform (NCU), which features several technologies from W.L.

Coatings, finishes and fibres with a long-lasting and effective antimicrobial effect are being developed by researchers at the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) using novel met

Honeywell of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, has agreed to sell its personal protective equipment (PPE) business to Protective Industrial Products (PIP) of Latham, New York, USA, for US$1.325 billi

A per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-free, non-halogenated, flame-resistant moisture-barrier fabric (Assure) has been launched for firefighter turnout gear by Milliken of Spartanburg, South

1888 Mills is to supply textile products, such as bedding and towels, treated with a gold-based antibacterial and antifungal treatment from Fuze Biotech to the hospitality industry.

Elastic, flexible rain-suits that keep soldiers protected and comfortable in wet conditions have been manufactured by DNS Alpha using a fabric from W.L.

A heat-resistant and flame-retardant (FR) fabric that is made in part from Merino wool has been shown in testing to be significantly more breathable than meta-aramid fabrics, according to its devel

A lightweight, durable and thermally stable outer shell for fire-service apparel has been developed by TenCate Protective Fabrics, of Nijverdal, The Netherlands, and Charlotte, North Carolina, USA-

Kimberly-Clark is to sell its personal protective equipment (PPE) business (KCPPE) to Ansell for US$640 million through a deal that is expected to conclude in September 2024.

Protective clothing (turnout gear) for firefighters that is not treated with finishes based on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is not oil-repellent, reducing the protection it offers, ac

The US National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has expressed concern over the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s lack of compliance to date with legislation mandating the purchase of

A modular laundry system that enables re-usable personal protective equipment (PPE) to be washed locally is being used for the first time by a hospital in the UK.

Technologies for improving the comfort, safety and functionality of suits that provide protection against direct contact with, and contamination by radioactive, biological and chemical substances (

When astronauts return to the Moon, they will take with them a new generation of spacesuits, currently being developed in Europe to protect their occupants from the harsh conditions of the lunar su

A flexible and lightweight aramid fibre has been launched for the production of soft armour by DuPont of Wilmington, Delaware, USA.

An antibacterial treatment based on citric acid and developed for application to textiles by Noble Biomaterials of Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA, has been registered with the US Environmental Protect

Manufacturer of bedding products, Standard Fiber, is to use a silver-based antibacterial (Ionic+) from Noble Biomaterials in its home textiles, following the formation of an exclusive partnership b

Cotton textiles in which an antimicrobial agent is incorporated at a molecular level are being developed by a research team led by the University of Maryland (UMD) in College Park, USA.  

A method for precisely depositing a durable coating that can detect and neutralise toxic compounds onto fabrics is being developed by researchers at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA

A chemical process that enables used polyester (PES)-based face masks to be converted into single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is being developed by researchers at Swansea University in

A sensor that measures physical contact between a face mask and its wearer’s face, and can be applied to any kind of mask, is being developed by researchers in the USA, who say that it could be use

Two fabrics – one softshell and one hardshell – that are made from recycled materials and are readily recyclable themselves have been launched for the production of protective functional clothing b

Recycled items of personal protective equipment (PPE) – including face masks and gowns – are being used to improve the mechanical properties of concrete by researchers at RMIT University in Melbour

A method for producing self-sanitising face masks is being developed by researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, USA. 

Lyocell fibres from Lenzing are to be used by Westex to produce fabrics for workwear that protect from arc-flash and flash fires.  

Disinfection methods based on the use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation have little impact on the form or function of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 face masks⁽¹⁾, accordin

Researchers in the USA are developing a nanofibre mat that they say provides better protection from high-speed projectile impacts than steel plates and conventional aramid fabrics. 

A cost-effective and convenient way to apply a silver-based, clear antimicrobial coating to new and existing textiles is being developed by researchers at the University of Tokyo in Japan. 

A dry process for imparting antimicrobial properties to nonwovens has been developed by Paravir of Cambridge, UK.   

An inexpensive, non-toxic antimicrobial coating that can be applied easily to almost any fabric is being developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada.  

Technology for the recycling of waste plastic generated during the manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face masks, is to be developed in the UK. 

A coating that can be used to impart antibacterial and antiviral functionality to various types of surfaces, including textiles, has been developed by Nippon Shokubai of Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, and

Body armour featuring a perpetual cooling technology for textile- and foam-based products from Alexium International is to be commercialised by Premier Body Armor. 

Airbags for powered two-wheel vehicles, such as motorcycles and scooters, are to be developed by Autoliv Inc and the Piaggio Group, following the signing of a joint development agreement by the two

A range of antiviral technologies that can be applied to textiles and incorporated into fibres has been launched by Microban International of Huntersville, North Carolina, USA. 

Through extensive experiments and analysis, researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA, have shown that disposable face masks can be decontaminated by heating them at approximately 70°C

The passage of an infrastructure bill that will provide billions of dollars in spending to revitalise roads, bridges and railways in the USA, and help reconstitute a domestic supply chain for face

Standards that enable manufacturers of general-purpose face coverings to provide consistent products and inspire confidence in their customers have been launched by the American Association of Text

The developer of a cuprous antimicrobial film that can be applied to screen covers for mobile devices, doorhandles and push panels, and fabrics used for personal protective equipment (PPE) has rece

A range of industrial personal protective equipment (PPE) – including coveralls, gowns, caps, full hoods, shoe covers and boots – is to be unveiled at A+A by RadiciGroup of Gandino, Italy.

A treatment for textiles developed by Livinguard AG of Zug, Switzerland⁽¹⁾, has been shown to be effective a

The market for clothing that protects from chemicals is set to grow faster than many other performance-apparel segments, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%, during 2021–2026 according

An artificial leather treated with a long-lasting antibacterial agent has been launched by Teijin Cordley Ltd, a business unit of Teijin Frontier. 

Dutch PPE Solutions of Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is producing meltblown filter media using a polypropylene (PP) manufactured from renewable feedstocks by Borealis of Vienna, Austria.  

Well-ventilated buildings and tight-fitting face masks will be essential to control the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic as variants of the SARS Cov-2 virus evolve to spread more effi