HeiQ entered a new market successfully

The Interzum Award highlights innovations, functional perfection and revolutionary materials. Bekaert has been bestowed with the “High Product Quality” award for outstanding design achievements in form and function.

ADAPTIVE by HeiQ is an intelligent textile technology changing passive textiles into textiles capable to respond dynamically to environmental changes like temperature and moisture level. ADAPTIVE by HeiQ uses the energy of the body to accelerate moisture wicking, evaporation and cooling: The more heat – the more drying and cooling. This breakthrough innovation is based on a unique hydro-functional polymer whose properties change in response to temperature, releasing and transporting moisture.

Applied to bedding textiles, ADAPTIVE keeps the consumer comfortably cool and dry throughout the night and improves sleep quality. A good night’s sleep is crucial for physical and mental wellbeing, whereas a cool and dry micro-climate is essential for recuperative sleep. ADAPTIVE does not only bring cool nights to consumers but the efficient moisture transport mechanism also raises the hygiene and durability of mattress and pillows.

“We really enjoyed every step of this Swiss-Belgian innovation project. After we exchanged ideas on how to address temperature regulation in a manner that is relevant to the consumer, our R&D and marketing teams took off with full focus on the objective; the launch, at Interzum Cologne, of stunning new Bekaert fabrics incorporated with a technology that actively regulates temperature during the night. Both companies share the same no-nonsense attitude and commercial spirit and we are looking forward to making this a success together”, commented Dirk Vandeplancke, CEO of Bekaert Textiles Group.

HeiQ’s CEO Carlo Centonze adds, “When two companies with the same innovative DNA and dedicated professionals meet, the result can only be astonishing. Our 360° partnership with the market leader Bekaert has resulted in a unique product that will offer tangible benefits to consumers.”

Bekaert Textiles, founded in 1892 and since 2011 part of Gilde-Parcom, is a multi-national company with 9 production units in 8 countries worldwide and headquarters (including the global R&D centre) in Belgium. 1400 people are employed and the consolidated turnover amounts to +180 MIO €.

HeiQ is a Swiss specialty chemicals company that develops and manufactures high-performance textile effects. The company was founded in 2005 as a spin-off company of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.