Life Materials, which has operations in Thailand and North Carolina, has developed a portfolio of smart ingredients and formulations and uses inorganic, organic and bio-based botanical active substances.

Columbia Sportswear and The North Face have adopted Life’s peppermint-based antibacterial finish. “We saw a need for an alternative to silver,” company director Christian Eidem said last autumn. 

As part of the acquisition, HeiQ will have access to hygiene technologies, such as odour absorbent additives, that complement its core antimicrobial technology. It will also have additional offices and laboratories in Thailand and Brazil.