HeiQ : Girbau and HeiQ join forces to “viroblock” clothes and textiles by a new laundering process

Functional materials innovation leader HeiQ partners withGirbau touseHeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 in the laundry process to add antiviral and antimicrobial effects to clothes and textiles.

Girbau, a world leader in comprehensive professional laundry solutions for the industrial, commercial and vended sectors, announcesto offer HeiQ ViroblockNPJ03, an antiviral and antimicrobialtextile technology, as apost-treatment for Girbau'sindustrial laundry servicesfor its clientsacross the healthcare, hospitality and food manufacturing sectors,where hygiene and safety are paramount.ConsorciHospitalaride Vic (Barcelona)has been on boarded and already started treating their laundry using HeiQ ViroblockNPJ03. HeiQ and Gibraualso plan to offer solutions to public launderettes, bringing branded HeiQ Viroblockdispensers to consumers.

Swiss textile technology HeiQ ViroblockNPJ03 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. Made with 100% cosmetic grade ingredients, HeiQ Viroblockcombines two mechanisms of attack resulting in an over 99.99% destruction of various kinds of viruses and bacteria, according to tests performed perISO 18184 and ISO 20743 standards. Until today, HeiQ ViroblockNPJ03 is added to textiles through one of two methods. Onemethod is to add it to the textile and fix it on the fibers permanently during the manufacturing process of the textile at the textile mill before a fabricis cut and sewn into finished goods, such as clothes, sheetsand towels. For products that did not come inherently with the treatment from the factory, one canspray onthe diluted formulation onto finished goods and air dry. Both processes convert the textiles into an antiviral and antimicrobial surface. This is the first time theapplication of an industrial antiviral treatment has been achievedduring the laundry process, adding extra protection to the garments when they are already in the market, offering a protection during their whole life span. This also showsthat HeiQ Viroblockhas the potential tobecome a household product as a post-treatment for laundered goods.

Under this collaboration, Girbauwill initially focus on a B2B offering, with a particular focus on bringing enhanced antimicrobial and antiviral protection to garments and textiles used in the healthcare and hospitality sector.

'I am thrilled with the partnership between HeiQ andGirbau, as it represents an important milestone in our journey to create textile treatment solutions that have a positive impact on people. Especially given the current circumstances, which have people to be anxious, businesses have a responsibility to offer solutions which protect their communities. This partnership is another positive leap in terms of differentiatingGirbau'soffering in thelaundry sector. The partnership demonstrates once again how two innovative companies can contribute to a better world by joining forces,'said Mr. Serge Joris, president of Girbau,'the following phrase says it all: If one wants to go FAST, one goes alone. If one wants to go FAR, one collaborates!'

'This collaboration with Girbau opens upanew method to add HeiQViroblockantiviral propertiesthrough a post-treatmentto textile products. Thismakes our Swiss Technology Award-winning antimicrobial technologyavailablefor protecting more textiles and benefiting more people,' said HeiQ co-founder and group CEO, Mr. Carlo Centonze.

About Girbau

Founded in 1960, Girbau, a family owned company,is a world leader in comprehensive professional laundry solutions for the industrial, commercial and vended sectors, recognisedfor its high degree of innovation,qualityand sustainability.

Headquartered in Vic (Barcelona), Girbau has 6 production sitesin Spain, Franceand China, 1,000 peopleand a sales networkwith direct implementations in 16countries and distributors that coversover 100 markets.The company's firm commitment to innovation beyond the laundry sector makes Girbau a benchmark in its sector, with initiatives like Girbau Lab and cutting-edge solutions like Mobile Laundry and Girbau Sapphire, for remote laundry management.

Proximity, care for the environment and a focus on innovation make Girbau, its customers and itstheir employees the perfect team, committed to providing the best solutions now and in the future for the textile treatment.