June 10, 2008 — NanoHorizons Inc., a maker of nanoscale performance additives for the textile and medical industries that just last week announced new leadership appointments and a funding round, has now entered into a partnership with Indo Poly Ltd., which has core interests in polyester manufacturing. The partners plan to produce distinctive polyester yarns with permanent nano-based antimicrobial properties using NanoHorizons’ nanoscale silver antimicrobial additives. The yarns will be marketed to the textile industry under Indo Poly’s Ambs Pro and Ambs Active brands. Indo Poly is part of multinational corporation Indorama Ventures Ltd.
Indo Poly will incorporate the nanoscale silver antimicrobial additives into textured and fully drawn polyester yarns. Unlike topical antimicrobial fabric treatments, NanoHorizons’ advanced antimicrobial additives will be integrated into the Ambs polyester fiber, bonding at the molecular level and resulting in yarns and fabrics that provide permanent antimicrobial protection and anti-odor performance.
Indo Poly’s Ambs Pro yarns will be endorsed with SmartSilver, NanoHorizons’ brand that is awarded to products that meet specific, stringent antimicrobial performance criteria. The Ambs Pro/SmartSilver yarns will be marketed to premium athletic wear, outdoor apparel, and uniform manufacturers. The yarns will also be sold to manufacturers of textile products for the health care industry. The SmartSilver enhanced yarns are expected to provide superior, permanent antimicrobial and antifungal benefits that do not wash out or degrade in sunlight or perspiration.
“We are excited to have Indo Poly join our growing list of partners certified to use the SmartSilver brand,” says Dr. Dan Hayes, president of NanoHorizons. “Indo Poly is a high quality manufacturer whose products provide premium value to the textile market. Its global distribution network ensures that textile manufacturers around the world have full access to these exceptional antimicrobial yarns.”
Prabeer Mukherjee, Business Head of Indo Poly, Ltd., says, “NanoHorizons not only provides us with an unmatched performance brand for antimicrobial products, but backs it with a full complement of in-house customer support capabilities for product testing, expert technical assistance, and responsive account management. Our partnership with NanoHorizons will allow us to offer unique, high performance yarns that exceed our customers’ performance expectations.”