We are proud to announce that Milliken & Company has been recognized for excellence in leadership, technology, and innovation on a regional and global scale with the receipt of two prestigious industry awards: an R&D 100 Award and InnoVision Award for Technology Integration. The accolades highlight two of our proudest product achievements for their revolutionary protective and environmental qualities impacting a multitude of industries.

R&D Magazine presented Westex® by Milliken with an R&D 100 Award for its breakthrough technology displayed in Westex® ShieldCXP™, a protective fabric that defends the wearer from both flame and inadvertent chemical splash hazards.

Shown: Steve Lucas, Warren Gerhardt, Jeff Morris

Through the pursuit and application of Unique Insights, Deep Science, and Meaningful Design, our community of innovators has developed a groundbreaking product that is shaping the next generation in flame-resistant (FR) protective laboratory wear.

• Discovering Unique Insights: Interactions with hazardous chemicals and flames are frequent in laboratories, so an effective protective coat must be properly worn to serve as a solution to multiple risks. Prior to Westex ShieldCXP™, the end user was forced to choose between garments that offered either flame-resistant (FR) properties or protection from toxic and corrosive liquids found in common laboratory solvents. Unless individuals elected to layer the garments, a solution with comfort and breathability issues, many workers often wore apparel that only provided part of the protection needed to defend against dangerous, yet routine, laboratory hazards.

• Applying Deep Science & Meaningful Design: The innovation combines Milliken’s textile expertise, state-of-the-art FR protection, and patented softening technology to form a breakthrough design. Unlike other protective fabrics, Westex® ShieldCXP™ provides the suitable level of protection for each of these laboratory risks in one fabric – without compromising comfort. The first of its kind, the single fabric solution simplifies purchasing decisions for laboratory managers and helps ensure proper wear.

Additionally, Milliguard™ UVX200 HF – an innovative UV absorber used in polyurethanes – received the 2016 InnoVision Award for excellence in Technology Integration. The product offers widespread application for polyurethane systems used in the automotive industry and apparel foam, serving as a first line of defense to protect polyurethane substrates from harmful UV radiation.

• Discovering Unique Insights: UV absorbers are habitually added into the polyurethane value chain to protect the articles from both UV and thermal degradation during the lifetime of the polyurethane article. However, traditional absorbers are nonreactive and can migrate out of the substrate, leaving the threat of degradation, discoloration, and failure of physical properties.

• Applying Deep Science & Meaningful Design: In the automotive industry, Milliguard™ UVX200 HF prevents interior parts, including instruments, door panels and the middle console, from degradation when exposed to UV light penetrating through automobile windows. Milliguard™ UVX200 HF boasts a zero-emission profile, improving interior air quality to help manufacturers meet strict industry standards, decreasing fogging and improving the overall chemical safety profile of vehicles.

“Our community of innovators is not afraid to ask questions, push boundaries, and challenge the status-quo,” said Chris Desoiza, Milliken vice president of research. “Our passion to ‘do good’ motivates all areas of business at Milliken – from idea generation to end-user products. We are all driven by the belief that we can make a real difference in the world. It is humbling and inspiring for two renowned organizations to recognize and applaud this pursuit.”