Devan shows high activity of BI-OME against SARS-COV-2 and other viruses after intense washing

RONSE, BELGIUM – Devan announces new test results confirming the high performance virus-reducing capabilities of its BI-OME fabric coating technology on both unwashed and intensely washed fabrics. According to independent testing, BI-OME is proven to achieve 99% and higher virus reduction, including of SARSCOV-2, on samples before washing and retains 98.5% even after 25 wash cycles.

“In view of the COVID-19 pandemic and fast-approaching autumn/winter flu season, we were keen to provide textile manufacturers with concrete assurance regarding virus reduction performance on washed samples according to ISO 18184. This exceeds the limitations of the post-wash antimicrobial results most commonly shared for other technologies, giving the textile industry a clear, more precise overview of performance and wash durability,” comments Sven Ghyselinck, CEO of Devan. Over recent months, Devan has worked closely with a series of international third party laboratories to test different fabric substrates against a wide of enveloped viruses. Before washing, samples treated with Devan BI-OME score very good to excellent (99% and higher according to ISO 18184) results on virus reduction. Different substrates, like polyester, cotton and polycottons, were exposed to enveloped viruses like SARS-COV-2 (known to cause COVID-19), Feline Corona, Vaccinia (the EU standard for enveloped viruses) and Porcine Respiratory viruses. After 30minutes, BI-OME already reduced 99.96% of the activity of SARSCOV-2.

After washing, a decrease in virus reduction performance of coating technologies is normal and expected. However, BI-OME is confirmed to deliver only a minimal reduction, retaining up to 98.5% virus reduction even when the fabric is washed 25 times. Devan is further improving its formulas to improve wash resistance even more and at the same time keep the economical add-on cost as low as possible. Devan’s BI-OME is already endorsed by a wide range of companies. Their collections span diverse applications including bedding, clothing, travel accessories, and transport. BI-OME is a non-metal non-leaching quat silane-based chemistry. The product is BPR (EU, TR) and EPA registered and Ökotex class 1 registered. Through its nature it is inherently biodegradable.

Turkey hits all-time high September export figure this year, says trade minister

Turkey this year hit an all-time high in September export figures -- $16.01 billion -- Turkey’s trade minister announced on Friday.

The country’s exports rose 4.8% on a yearly basis and 28.5% on a monthly basis in September, Ruhsar Pekcan said. Turkey’s exports also climbed 34.5% in the third quarter of this year from the previous quarter, she added. These export figures confirm that Turkey’s recovery and normalization from the pandemic period are continuing successfully, Pekcan stressed. Meanwhile, the country’s imports in September totaled $20.89 billion, with an overwhelming 89.3% made up of raw material and capital goods, she said. In the first nine months of this year, Turkey’s exports totaled $118.35 billion and imports $156.24 billion, the trade minister added.

The country’s exports to France rose by 12.8%, while Germany (10.6%), the UK (3.2%), and Spain (2.3%) followed it in September, the minister stressed. Italy and the Netherlands posted drops by 7.2% and 5.9%, respectively, she added. Exports to the EU increased by 5.6%, to America by 22%, to Asia 6.8% and to Africa by 1.7% in September, she said.

Stressing that the pandemic narrowed the world economy at an unprecedented level and reduced demand in important markets such as the EU, Pekcan said Turkey has posted a significant performance in the export side. Touching on Turkey’s supports for exporters, she said the country’s Eximbank in the first nine months raised its supports by 7% to $30.4 billion. She also said the country organized 24 trade delegations, covering 40 countries this year and made 4,200 business meetings.

Pekcan highlighted that the number of Turkish exporters increased by 6.8% year-on-year in September.