HeiQ acquires Life expanding into bio-based antimicrobial market

HeiQ acquires Life, a bio-based antibacterial company, increasing its reach into the bio-based antimicrobial market. HeiQ’s goal is to become a global leader in materials innovation by expanding its position in the bio-based antibacterial and healthcare surface hygiene markets, as well as diversifying and innovating its product range and capabilities.

LIFE is a materials technology company with a diverse portfolio of smart chemicals and formulations that may be used in a variety of sectors. This involves the creation and distribution of bio-based antimicrobial additives and treatments used by plastics, coatings, textiles, ceramics, and papermakers to suppress or control bacteria, fungus, algae, and other microbes that come into contact with treated materials.

LIFE boasts the industry’s most comprehensive technological platform, which includes inorganic, organic, and bio-based botanical active substances.

HeiQ’s core technological platforms, including masterbatches, plastics, and coatings, will be able to expand into new areas thanks to LIFE’s 40+ products. LIFE’s antimicrobial compounds are used by leading manufacturers and companies such as American Standard, Columbia Sportswear DuPont, Igloo Products, John Lewis, and Marks & Spencer.

HeiQ will get access to hygiene technologies, such as odor absorbent additives, through LIFE, in addition to its core antimicrobial technology. HeiQ will now have offices and laboratories in Thailand and Brazil as a result of the acquisition.

Carlo Centonze, HeiQ co-founder and CEO, said their ambition to become a global leader in materials innovation and to develop their healthcare surface hygiene solution is fast gaining traction, thanks to this exciting acquisition. They’re excited to learn more about LIFE’s antimicrobial technology platform, which includes complimentary, bio-based, and highly effective antimicrobial technologies.

Carlo added that their recent collaborations have shown that their antimicrobials, particularly HeiQ Viroblock, are in high demand in areas other than textiles. Antimicrobial technology is becoming mainstream for all materials that they touch in everyday lives, based on the degree of continuous interest they’ve seen from B2B, B2C, and B2B2C companies. As a result, this purchase, headed by a brilliant and enterprising founder, adds to the achievements they’ve previously made in the antimicrobial space.

Founder and CEO of LIFE, Tom E. S. Ellefsen, said they’re excited to join the HeiQ Group and contribute its experience in antimicrobial solutions for polymers, coatings, and textiles. HeiQ has created a market-leading position for antimicrobial textiles with the HeiQ Viroblock technology, and they at LIFE will assist HeiQ to extend this market leadership position into polymers, coatings, and other materials. Both HeiQ and LIFE are focused on innovation and technology, which explains why the two firms are such a good match. To drive future revenue development, they’ve already identified a number of possibilities to merge and use technology from both organizations.