Polartec was among the winners at the 2019 edition of the R&D 100 Awards, in December. Its winning product – in the Mechanical/Materials category – was Power Air, a fabric designed to reduce fiber shedding by encasing air in a continuous yarn. According to the company, the resulting fabric sheds at least five times less fiber than other mid-layer weight fabrics of premium quality. The R&D 100 Awards began rewarding innovation in 1963 and over the past 25 years have become some of the most prestigious of prizes in the industry. Every year, there are a total of 100 winners in six categories. According to Paul J. Heney, vice president and editorial director of R&D World, the winners are “the disruptors that will change industries and make the world a better place in the coming years.” Power Air has received other awards as well and has been incorporated into products by Adidas, Burton, Houdini and NoBull.

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