Technology
July 17, 2020
Airless Bike Tire
Covestro: Non-stop cycling fun with airless tyre inserts
According to Covestro, the warmer weather and more relaxed corona restrictions are drawing people outside – and more and more of them onto their bikes. There are plenty of reasons for this: exercise and fitness, fresh air and the opportunity to get out of the house or to avoid having to wear masks on public transport. Going shopping by bike or exploring one’s surroundings could be a joy if it weren’t for the many stones, shards of glass, nails and other sharp objects that will turn a perfectly good tyre into a flat mess, said the company.
Air Fom offers a solution for deflated tyres that are instead inflated with expanded TPU from Covestro. (Source: Air Fom)
The Taiwanese company Air Fom is now offering a patented solution for airless tyres that overcomes the drawbacks of previous airless products. It is based on an expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU) from Covestro. Solid rubber tyres have been on the market for quite a while now, but just like earlier puncture-proof products, they have their shortcomings: they do not produce the typically light driving feel of their air-filled counterparts, are often real heavyweights and, moreover, are very expensive. Today’s bicycles often have highly complex superstructures, such as sports bikes with multi-speed transmissions or e-bikes. Their assembly therefore requires time and some skill – a true nightmare for bicycle rental companies. Moreover, the plastics that have been used up to now are often not recyclable and therefore do not represent a permanent solution, said Covestro.
The TPU tyre inserts are as light and elastic as an air-filled tyre, can be mounted quickly and firmly on standard rims, are maintenance-free and recyclable. (Source: Air Fom)
Air Fom is now using a special technology combined with an innovative material. With the help of particle foam casting, expanded TPU is moulded into the specified shape and exhibits precisely the desired properties on the rim. The tyre insert is said to be just as lightweight and elastic as an air-filled tyre, can be fitted quickly and firmly on standard rims, is maintenance-free and, most importantly, recyclable – unlike the butyl rubber tubes that are used in conventional tyres. The material solution can also benefit bicycle rental companies for whom a constant operational readiness of their vehicles is important. The independent ACT Lab LLC confirmed that the product meets the latest safety requirements for use in bicycles. For its innovative development, Air Fom was recently awarded the Gold Medal of the prestigious Edison Award in the Transportation/Personal Mobility category.
July 17, 2020
Airless Bike Tire
Covestro: Non-stop cycling fun with airless tyre inserts
According to Covestro, the warmer weather and more relaxed corona restrictions are drawing people outside – and more and more of them onto their bikes. There are plenty of reasons for this: exercise and fitness, fresh air and the opportunity to get out of the house or to avoid having to wear masks on public transport. Going shopping by bike or exploring one’s surroundings could be a joy if it weren’t for the many stones, shards of glass, nails and other sharp objects that will turn a perfectly good tyre into a flat mess, said the company.
Air Fom offers a solution for deflated tyres that are instead inflated with expanded TPU from Covestro. (Source: Air Fom)
The Taiwanese company Air Fom is now offering a patented solution for airless tyres that overcomes the drawbacks of previous airless products. It is based on an expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU) from Covestro. Solid rubber tyres have been on the market for quite a while now, but just like earlier puncture-proof products, they have their shortcomings: they do not produce the typically light driving feel of their air-filled counterparts, are often real heavyweights and, moreover, are very expensive. Today’s bicycles often have highly complex superstructures, such as sports bikes with multi-speed transmissions or e-bikes. Their assembly therefore requires time and some skill – a true nightmare for bicycle rental companies. Moreover, the plastics that have been used up to now are often not recyclable and therefore do not represent a permanent solution, said Covestro.
The TPU tyre inserts are as light and elastic as an air-filled tyre, can be mounted quickly and firmly on standard rims, are maintenance-free and recyclable. (Source: Air Fom)
Air Fom is now using a special technology combined with an innovative material. With the help of particle foam casting, expanded TPU is moulded into the specified shape and exhibits precisely the desired properties on the rim. The tyre insert is said to be just as lightweight and elastic as an air-filled tyre, can be fitted quickly and firmly on standard rims, is maintenance-free and, most importantly, recyclable – unlike the butyl rubber tubes that are used in conventional tyres. The material solution can also benefit bicycle rental companies for whom a constant operational readiness of their vehicles is important. The independent ACT Lab LLC confirmed that the product meets the latest safety requirements for use in bicycles. For its innovative development, Air Fom was recently awarded the Gold Medal of the prestigious Edison Award in the Transportation/Personal Mobility category.
July 16, 2020
Serta Simmons’ Antiviral Mattress
Serta Simmons Bedding Developing U.S.′ First Antiviral Mattress
today
ATLANTA, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB) announced today that it is partnering with Switzerland-based HeiQ Group, a leader in textile innovation, to create the U.S. market’s first antiviral mattress.
The agreement gives SSB exclusive access within the U.S. bedding category to HeiQ Viroblock™ technology, which has previously been approved by the European Medical Device Directive for antiviral use in medical personal protective equipment such as N95 equivalent masks, and registered as an antiviral active by the German EPA. HeiQ Viroblock™ was recently independently tested as 99.99% effective in 30 minutes against SARS-CoV-2 by a leading Australian infection and immunity research institute. SSB plans to pursue any necessary approvals for its line of Serta and Beautyrest HeiQ Viroblock mattresses with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.
If approved, SSB plans to utilize HeiQ Viroblock across much of its industry-leading portfolio of brands, which includes Serta, Beautyrest and Tuft & Needle.
“We know that our partners in the hospitality and healthcare industries are doing everything they can to help provide the cleanest environment and reassure their guests,” said David Swift, chairman and CEO of Serta Simmons Bedding. “Antiviral and antibacterial mattresses will be an enormous asset in that effort.”
SSB, the largest provider of mattresses to the hospitality industry, has already received early interest to acquire HeiQ Viroblock-treated mattresses from several of the world’s largest hotel brands to bolster cleanliness and safety initiatives. Elie Khoury, EVP operations resources at Aimbridge Hospitality, the global leader in hotel management services said, “As the largest third-party manager we are proactively searching for the best opportunities to add value for our owners and enhance the experience for our guests. We are currently testing the new antiviral bedding and accessories from Serta Simmons and eager to understand the impact in helping our properties deliver the highest level of safety and cleanliness for guests.”
Here’s why HeiQ Viroblock represents such a breakthrough for the mattress industry: Virus particles and bacteria are invisible to the human eye (SARS-CoV-2 is only 90 nanometers large) and they easily pass through sheets. They can persist and stay infectious for days on textiles, such as traditional mattresses. HeiQ’s Viroblock technology solves that problem by using microsilver technology that attracts virus particles, combined with vesicle technology that breaks down the viral membrane within seconds. Tests conducted at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity showed that COVID-19-causing virus samples concentrated on fabric treated with HeiQ Viroblock were 99.99% reduced.
In accelerated aging tests, textiles infused with HeiQ Viroblock demonstrated the ability to retain their antiviral qualities for three years, and antibacterial qualities for 20 years.
Serta Simmons Bedding has been active in the fight against COVID-19 in other ways as well. In March, it announced it was donating 10,000 mattresses to hospitals in areas hard hit by the pandemic. A few weeks later it launched a platform in conjunction with Relief Bed International to facilitate further donations.
About Serta Simmons Bedding LLC
Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC is one of the largest manufacturers, marketers and suppliers of mattresses in North America. Based in Atlanta, SSB owns and manages two of the best-selling bedding brands in the mattress industry: Serta®, which has five other independent licensees, and Beautyrest®. The brands are distributed through national, hospitality, and regional and independent retail channels throughout North America. SSB also owns Simmons® and Tuft & Needle® direct-to-consumer mattress brands. SSB operates 27 plants in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit www.sertasimmons.com.
About HeiQ
Founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), HeiQ is a leader in textile innovation creating some of the most effective, durable and high-performance textile technologies on the market today. HeiQ’s purpose is to improve the lives of billions of people by perfecting an everyday product: Textiles. Combining three areas of expertise – scientific research, specialty materials manufacturing and consumer ingredient branding – HeiQ is the ideal innovation partner to create differentiating and sustainable textile products and capture the added value at the point of sale. With a total capacity of 35,000 tons per year HeiQ manufactures in the USA, Switzerland and Australia serving its chemical specialties in over 60 countries worldwide. www.heiq.com
HeiQ & HeiQ Viroblock are trademark(s) or registered trademark(s) of HeiQ Materials AG.
View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/serta-simmons-bedding-developing-us-first-antiviral-mattress-301094461.html
SOURCE Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC
https://apnews.com/PR%20Newswire/7429fe85bf53e1fa936b550ad42e113c
July 16, 2020
Serta Simmons’ Antiviral Mattress
Serta Simmons Bedding Developing U.S.′ First Antiviral Mattress
today
ATLANTA, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB) announced today that it is partnering with Switzerland-based HeiQ Group, a leader in textile innovation, to create the U.S. market’s first antiviral mattress.
The agreement gives SSB exclusive access within the U.S. bedding category to HeiQ Viroblock™ technology, which has previously been approved by the European Medical Device Directive for antiviral use in medical personal protective equipment such as N95 equivalent masks, and registered as an antiviral active by the German EPA. HeiQ Viroblock™ was recently independently tested as 99.99% effective in 30 minutes against SARS-CoV-2 by a leading Australian infection and immunity research institute. SSB plans to pursue any necessary approvals for its line of Serta and Beautyrest HeiQ Viroblock mattresses with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.
If approved, SSB plans to utilize HeiQ Viroblock across much of its industry-leading portfolio of brands, which includes Serta, Beautyrest and Tuft & Needle.
“We know that our partners in the hospitality and healthcare industries are doing everything they can to help provide the cleanest environment and reassure their guests,” said David Swift, chairman and CEO of Serta Simmons Bedding. “Antiviral and antibacterial mattresses will be an enormous asset in that effort.”
SSB, the largest provider of mattresses to the hospitality industry, has already received early interest to acquire HeiQ Viroblock-treated mattresses from several of the world’s largest hotel brands to bolster cleanliness and safety initiatives. Elie Khoury, EVP operations resources at Aimbridge Hospitality, the global leader in hotel management services said, “As the largest third-party manager we are proactively searching for the best opportunities to add value for our owners and enhance the experience for our guests. We are currently testing the new antiviral bedding and accessories from Serta Simmons and eager to understand the impact in helping our properties deliver the highest level of safety and cleanliness for guests.”
Here’s why HeiQ Viroblock represents such a breakthrough for the mattress industry: Virus particles and bacteria are invisible to the human eye (SARS-CoV-2 is only 90 nanometers large) and they easily pass through sheets. They can persist and stay infectious for days on textiles, such as traditional mattresses. HeiQ’s Viroblock technology solves that problem by using microsilver technology that attracts virus particles, combined with vesicle technology that breaks down the viral membrane within seconds. Tests conducted at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity showed that COVID-19-causing virus samples concentrated on fabric treated with HeiQ Viroblock were 99.99% reduced.
In accelerated aging tests, textiles infused with HeiQ Viroblock demonstrated the ability to retain their antiviral qualities for three years, and antibacterial qualities for 20 years.
Serta Simmons Bedding has been active in the fight against COVID-19 in other ways as well. In March, it announced it was donating 10,000 mattresses to hospitals in areas hard hit by the pandemic. A few weeks later it launched a platform in conjunction with Relief Bed International to facilitate further donations.
About Serta Simmons Bedding LLC
Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC is one of the largest manufacturers, marketers and suppliers of mattresses in North America. Based in Atlanta, SSB owns and manages two of the best-selling bedding brands in the mattress industry: Serta®, which has five other independent licensees, and Beautyrest®. The brands are distributed through national, hospitality, and regional and independent retail channels throughout North America. SSB also owns Simmons® and Tuft & Needle® direct-to-consumer mattress brands. SSB operates 27 plants in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit www.sertasimmons.com.
About HeiQ
Founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), HeiQ is a leader in textile innovation creating some of the most effective, durable and high-performance textile technologies on the market today. HeiQ’s purpose is to improve the lives of billions of people by perfecting an everyday product: Textiles. Combining three areas of expertise – scientific research, specialty materials manufacturing and consumer ingredient branding – HeiQ is the ideal innovation partner to create differentiating and sustainable textile products and capture the added value at the point of sale. With a total capacity of 35,000 tons per year HeiQ manufactures in the USA, Switzerland and Australia serving its chemical specialties in over 60 countries worldwide. www.heiq.com
HeiQ & HeiQ Viroblock are trademark(s) or registered trademark(s) of HeiQ Materials AG.
View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/serta-simmons-bedding-developing-us-first-antiviral-mattress-301094461.html
SOURCE Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC
https://apnews.com/PR%20Newswire/7429fe85bf53e1fa936b550ad42e113c
July 7, 2020
BASF Recycling Project
BASF advances chemical polyurethane recycling
by Craig Bettenhausen
July 4, 2020 | APPEARED IN VOLUME 98, ISSUE 26
Credit: BASF BASF plans to convert polyurethane foam mattresses back into the polyol (brown bottle, left) from which they’re made.
In a lab in Brandenburg, Germany, BASF researchers are turning polyurethane mattress foam back into its polyol starting materials. It’s easy to sort mattresses out of waste streams but not to recycle them. That combination makes mattresses an attractive target for BASF’s drive toward circular supply chains, says technical project manager Arno Volkmann. The firm expects to have pilot quantities of recycled polyol later this year. BASF says it is also working to recover diisocyanate, the other major foam component.
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