Haydale, an advanced materials group, has been jointly awarded a contract by the English Institute for Sport (EIS) for the development of advanced wearable technology for elite athletes in training for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in collaboration with the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating (WCPC), Swansea University.

Initial work is already in progress to incorporate Haydale’s materials into flexible, printable coatings, which will be embedded into a range of apparel for elite athletes. Initial deliverables include prototype wearable technology garments, which demonstrate the form, technical functionality and wearability aspects required by elite athletes.

Production is then expected for garments for use by athletes during their training and in competitions up to 2020. “The EIS performance innovation team is continually looking for external expertise that can help us optimise athlete performance – we believe the partnership with Haydale and WCPC will allow us at the EIS to make significant advances in our use of wearable technologies and we are delighted to be working with them,” said Dr Matt Parker, Director of Performance Innovation for EIS.

The contract with EIS will help drive Haydale’s wearable technology know-how in developing progressively smaller hardware components, quicker and cheaper printing techniques and methods of introducing these technologies into clothing manufacturing processes.

“The close relationship with our colleagues at WCPC is now bearing fruit with a range of robust, stable, high performing inks and coatings emerging from extensive development work and finding commercial applications in wearable technology, printed sensors and thermal management. We are also looking forward to exploring other opportunities with EIS in their quest for improved performance,” commented Keith Broadbent, COO at Haydale.

In collaboration with WCPC, Haydale has developed and refined a range of proprietary printing inks, which fulfil a range of functions in sensing and conditioning, combined with ease of printing for use in the wearable technology market which is growing rapidly.

“We are pleased to be working with EIS to apply our advanced materials technology to support elite athletes who are hoping to compete at the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics,” said Roger Smith, Director at Haydale.

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