I-Tex has a hit on its hands with nanotech polo shirts
Innotech Textile (I-Tex), a leading local pioneer in bacteria-free polo shirts produced using nanotechnology, is in talks with major US sportswear-makers for deals to supply fabrics.
Yongnum Sittipongporn, nanotechnology project-director, said the company was negotiating with two major sportswear-manufacturers in the US, including Nike, for the supply of fabrics for their cotton apparel. The company last year received permission to use the royal ceremonial emblem to commemorate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne, and almost 200,000 yellow polo shirts using its first-generation nanotechnology were sold. Part of the revenues were presented to His Majesty the King's Dabos Foundation. Innotech recently introduced shirts with "I-Tex Silver Nano Plus UV Protection". Beyond the special absorbent quality of the material, which prevents body odours escaping and protects against bacteria and fungi, the new shirts also reflect UV rays. The fabric stops sunlight irritating the skin and helps prevent the shirts' colour from fading. These properties are especially desirable in Thailand's weather conditions. "We have already produced 100,000 shirts with I-Tex Silver Nano Plus UV Protection, Yongnum said. "The shirts have been launched to mark His Majesty the King's 80th birthday on December 5th this year." Yongnum said that almost 80,000 of the new shirts had been distributed through retail outlets including Central Department Store, Se-Ed Book Centre and Thailand Post. The company plans to increase the production of the shirts by another 50,000 later this year to meet skyrocketing demand. Yongnum said the company's use of nanotechnology was a success story involving close research cooperation between Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Metallurgy and Material Science and Innotech's production affiliate, United Textile Mills Co. The project is supported by the Science and Technology Ministry's National Innovation Agency. The original silver nanotechnology was recognised as being among the best innovations of the year 2005. The technology mixes silver particles in the production process to protect against bacteria and fungi. The I-Tex Silver Nano Plus UV Protection process is the next step in the development of the technology.
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation
|
