Vestagen Technical Textiles has obtained worldwide rights from Schoeller Technologies to certain technologies that are integral to the unique properties of Vestex, the first of its families of active barrier protective fabrics that are clinically proven to prevent or reduce the acquisition and retention of microbes and other contaminants.

Productive collaboration

Vestex fabrics are engineered to have robust liquid repellency and embedded antimicrobial properties, along with enhanced breathability and comfort. The company’s initial focus is on medical scrubs and other protective apparel for healthcare workers, who are at daily risk of exposure to dangerous contaminants that can then be spread by their uniforms to patients, other workers and family members.

“This expanded agreement establishes Vestagen as the premier healthcare partner of Schoeller, a global leader in textile technology, and caps four years of productive collaboration between our two companies,” said Uncas ‘Ben’ B. Favret III, President and CEO of Vestagen.

High repellency

Schoeller’s innovative fluid barrier binds to individual fibres and is incorporated into the structure of Vestex, resulting in fabrics that are said to be both durable and highly repellent over their entire surface to bodily fluids, water, oil and dirt.

The high repellency works synergistically with Vestagen’s embedded antimicrobial technology, which is effective against a broad spectrum of organisms, the company reports. Vestagen has incorporated a second Schoeller technology into Vestex that wicks away moisture from inside the fabric and promotes evaporation, enhancing wearer comfort.

“The collaborative efforts of Vestagen and Schoeller to co-develop Vestex establishes a new standard for protective healthcare fabrics,” commented Siegfried Winkelbeiner, CEO of Schoeller Technologies. “As an early mover and emerging leader in the new field of technology-based protective healthcare apparel, Vestagen is the perfect partner for our company with its proud history of textile innovation.”

Reduction in MRSA

Contaminated clothing is a known carrier of bacteria, and studies in the US show that healthcare workers have the highest rate of illness of any occupation. Contamination with difficult-to-treat organisms such as MRSA puts workers at risk and is responsible for many of the most serious hospital acquired infections, the company reports.

 A recent peer-reviewed published study confirmed that Vestex scrubs achieved a statistically significant reduction in MRSA of more than 99.99% compared to standard uniforms. Initial acceptance of Vestex uniforms and scrubs by healthcare workers and institutions is said to have been excellent.

www.vestagen.com