“Innovation Is In Our DNA” HEIQ

Taking the global pandemic in its stride, HeiQ has been extra proactive in developing masks that have not only been labelled user-friendly but are also highly protective. For instance, fabrics treated by the HeiQ MetalliX technology deactivate most of the infectious viruses that cause corona virus in as little as five minutes. In this exclusive interview, Carlo Centonze, Co-Founder and CEO, elaborates about the company’s product portfolio, discharging its social responsibility to make the world a safer and healthier place and its future growth strategies

HeiQ has recently launched HeiQ MetalliQMask. What makes it the most innovative antiviral protective solution?

If there is one thing that makes it innovative, it is the ground-breaking technology behind it. The HeiQ MetalliQMask doesn’t only look metallic; its patented design actually leverages the natural antiviral and antimicrobial properties of copper, which are applied via a high-technology vapour deposition process called HeiQ MetalliX to evenly surround each fibre of the mask. HeiQ MetalliX is ideally suited to provide medical-grade protection for Type IIR masks. It’s a proven ‘killer’, as studies conducted by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia (Doherty Institute) showed that fabrics treated by the HeiQ MetalliX technology deactivated most of the infectious virus that causes coronavirus in as little as five minutes. No less important is that it is actually a visible textile technology. We know that most textile functionalities are done via textile finishing. Their advantage is that they don’t affect the look and hand feel of the textiles, but it takes the brand and seller extra effort to convince the customer. We human are visual animals and therefore seeing is believing.

It’s been almost a year and a half since the coronavirus pandemic affected the world at large. Can you look back on HeiQ’s pandemic related journey?