Auburn Hills, MI – Indratech, developers of a completely new technology for processing synthetic fiber materials, recently announced a new alliance with Japan-based Teijin—a global leader in the chemical-industrial sector—to produce and market the first nontoxic, environmentally safe alternative to polyurethane foam in the United States.
It's a story with David and Goliath parallels. Indratech, the upstart technology-based company, is poised to take on the cushioning industry giants and their ubiquitous, though controversial, polyurethane foam. At stake? A market estimated to be more than $5 billion. More importantly, foam impacts virtually everyone's health.
Indratech has engineered a new process using Teijin's patented Elasty™ polyester fiber to create Indura Performance Fiber (IPF), a product without the health and fire hazards inherent in the foam used in nearly every chair, cushion and mattress today. Until now fiber products could not match the performance standards of foam. But Indratech has developed a proprietary manufacturing process that in specific applications equals or betters the all-important loft and resiliency of foam as measured by independent testing agencies.
"There are numerous, well-documented hazards associated with foam," says Dr. Surendra Khambete, Indratech president. "It's highly flammable in its native state and, when treated with flame-retarding chemicals, poses a terrible health risk. Foam has no practical recyclable qualities either, except to grind it into smaller units, so it winds up in landfills where it will leach these same dangerous chemicals into the earth." The new collaboration with Teijin grants license to patents and technology that Indratech uses in a proprietary process to create IPF.
Japan-based Teijin Fibers Ltd is regarded as a world leader in developing synthetic fibers and its derivatives for use in a broad spectrum of industries. Mr. N. Yabutani, manager of Teijin’s Tetoron® Staple Fibers Department, describes the partnership with Indratech this way: "Our resources and market leadership combined with Indratech’s entrepreneurial spirit and focus is a great fit. Together we bring innovation and solutions to a huge market with real problems."
Indratech is a technology-based company headquartered in Auburn Hills, MI. Its manufacturing facilities in Michigan and Indiana produce fiber-based alternatives to polyurethane foam for cushioning and acoustical applications in the furniture, bedding, recreational vehicle, marine, automotive and other industries.
Visit www.indratech-us.com for more information.
