HeiQ launches Advanced Filtration Media and franchisee program

HeiQ’s newly established Advanced Filtration Media business unit launches its first innovation – HeiQ Viroblock Advanced Filtration Media – an innovative filter material that features an enhanced, antiviral and antibacterial surface with Swiss Technology Award-winning HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03. Tested to meet surgical mask UNE-EN 14683:2019 Type IIR parameters, the material will be offered in rolls that fit surgical mask manufacturing machines, in wider rolls ready to be cut into any shape and dimension and as pre-cut pieces in standard or customized sizes. Interested mask manufacturers can be on-boarded in HeiQ’s franchisee program and receive support on technical manufacturing know-how, authorization to market medical devices under the HeiQ Viroblock trademark as well as marketing support. At the R&D center of HeiQ Medica in Spain, where all of HeiQ’s Advanced Filtration Media are validated prior to being marketed, the production parameters and protocol for surgical masks with this material have been carefully documented and ready to be shared with any franchisees.

The base material is composed by three bonded layers of non-woven Spunbond Meltdown Spunbond (SMS). While most non-woven filtration media used in surgical masks achieve filtration based on electrostatic charge filtration, HeiQ’s innovative technology, based on a novel mechanical filtration, allows a constant and durable protection efficiency against pathogens in both directions of the air flow and delivers higher than 98% bacterial filtration efficiency, even after repeated washes. In other words, the same medical filtration material can be used for the filter layer in a fully washable mask or as replaceable filter of a community mask designed with a filter pocket to enhance the protection and meet new required filtration standards.

100% made in Europe filtration materials for made in Europe masks

HeiQ’s medical filtration material is manufactured in Europe with Swiss-made HeiQ Viroblock finishing.With this material, it is possible to manufacture UNE-EN 14683:2019 compliant masks and claim 100% “made in Europe”.

Enhanced with HeiQ Viroblock

Swiss textile technology HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 is among the first textile technologies in the world to be proven effective against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) and has been applied by more than 150 brands worldwide to over 1 billion face masks. HeiQ Viroblock combines two mechanisms of attack resulting in an over 99.99% destruction of various kinds of viruses and bacteria, according to tests performed according to ISO 18184 and ISO 20743 standards. HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 is made with 100% cosmetic-grade materials.

“Since the start of the pandemic, the mask market has quickly commoditized. We may not need more masks, but we definitely need better masks, upgraded with better performance,” said HeiQ’s co-founder and CEO Carlo Centonze. “We want to help EU-based mask manufacturers innovate and create masks that are resistant to microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, so that healthcare workers can have safer, more comfortable and more durable masks. Additionally, HeiQ will bring to market several innovations for masks and will work with manufacturers of masks as franchisees of HeiQ’s validated and regionally promoted innovations.”

HeiQ has newly-established an advanced filtration media business unit and appointed Mr. Urs Toedtli to be the business lead. Mr. Toedtli is the former Division President of Sefar, a world leading Swiss filtration and membrane solutions manufacturer.

“One can look at how the SARS epidemic in 2003 changed people’s mask-wearing habits. In most part of Southeast Asia, doctors and healthcare workers wear a mask all the time. The current pandemic will have the same impact on us. The demand for protection will never recede back to a pre-pandemic level,” said Urs Toedtli, EVP Filtration Media at HeiQ.