NanoHorizons has extended the worldwide distribution of its SmartSilver antimicrobial products to India in a move that enhances the country's ability to offer outdoor and sports brands fabrics used for performance and technical apparel.
SmartSilver sales in India will be supported by a partnership with Indorama Polyester Industries Ltd. (IPI), which already uses SmartSilver into its Ambs polyester fiber line. Headquartered in Thailand with annual sales of US$3.5 billion, IPI is a global leader in polyester production and the second largest producer of PET bottle polymers in the world.
SmartSilver is presently available in other Asian markets such as Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan and is used extenisvely in performance apparel and footwear. The partnership comes as many in the textile industry are looking to diversify awar from China where rapid shifts in the labor market and rapid growth are pushing up costs.
“We are targeting India’s textile market with IPI, a key strategic partner, as part of our global growth strategy,” says Timothy J. Skedzuhn, Vice President Textile Business Unit, NanoHorizons. “Consumers in India are gaining buying power and are constantly looking for new and innovative products. At the same time, India’s textile industry produces high quality materials and seeks out value-add technologies as the consumer market expands. We believe SmartSilver technology with its high durability, safety, efficacy, and ease of integration will generate significant interest in this market.”
The venture is aimed in part at India’s growing medical tourism industry and medical textile market, but also gives the country's fabric and apparel makers the opportunity to provide performance products that may be more relevant to outdoor and othe sporting goods brands.
SmartSilver antimicrobial additives are registered with the US EPA for fiber, coating, and polymer applications, and are approved as free from harmful levels of substances dangerous to humans by the International Oeko-Tex Association, a recognized international textile standard organization.
