International Collaboration Develops Innovative Face Mask for COVID-19
May 14, 2020 As industries in India and other economics slowly resume their manufacturing activities, social distancing and strict hygiene practices have become a new normal. This has enhanced the need for hand sanitizers, gloves and face masks. Industries are looking for innovative ways to survive by repurposing their capacities that can cater to meeting the COVID-19 situation.
The new H.F. Journey mask.
Interestingly, collaborations are evolving between different industries such as shoe manufacturing, textiles and cotton.
Arrow Brogues, Pvt. Ltd., a shoe manufacturer in Ranipet, India, is collaborating with the Nonwovens and Advanced Laboratory at Texas Tech University and Chennai-based WellGro United to develop filtering and fashionable face masks.
Arrow Brogues has been manufacturing shoes for 20 years, catering to Indian and foreign markets such as Italy, Germany and United Kingdom. The new masks, which use nonwoven cotton as the core filter substrate, are released under brand name H.F. Journey. The design expertise of Arrow Brogues has been valuable in the development of H.F. Journey masks, and WellGro United supplies the core filter substrate for the masks.
“We understand the need for protection technologies and hence sought the collaboration with Texas Tech University in developing masks that have functionality and fashion sense,” stated Velayutham Pandy, managing director of Arrow Brogues.
The project showcases timely innovation, as it has repurposed the cotton nonwoven technology to develop filter substrate. “This is a milestone for WellGro United, as it has created a new vertical in our line of products which find timely use,” stated Nambi Srinivasan, vice president marketing of WellGro United.
It is pleasing to report cotton is finding new applications in the current COVID-19 scenario, enabling a few timely innovations.
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