Noble Biomaterials
Tell us a brief history/background of your organization?
Noble Biomaterials is a global leader in antimicrobial and conductivity solutions for soft surface applications. The company produces advanced material technologies designed for mission-critical applications in the performance apparel, healthcare, industrial, and emerging wearable technology markets. Its flagship brands, X-STATIC®, IONIC+™, and CIRCUITEX®, are used by world-class licensees to provide odor elimination, infection prevention/management, biometric monitoring, and conductive protection benefits. Our headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and we have a network of offices across Europe, Asia, and South America.
Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about your business. e.g., your company mascot or pet, a fun outing your company held, the unorthodox way your leadership team brainstorms, the unusual ways your team communicates, etc.
In 1997, when Joel Furey and Bill McNally founded Noble as an intelligent materials company, they focused on selling silver fiber technology for its antimicrobial properties. After spending two years developing the technology and conducting clinical testing for use in medical devices, the first commercial success arrived in the form of a no-stink antimicrobial sock liner designed for hikers and skiers. It won the Backpacker Magazine Editor’s Choice Award, setting Noble’s technology and the company on a path of innovation and success that continues to this day.
How is your organization a leader in your industry?
Noble’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been swift and focused. We immediately ramped up independent testing on our Ionic+ Permanent Antimicrobial technology, proving that our extruded filament works on contact against SARS CoV-2 (the coronavirus), as well as the H1N1 influenza strain, drug-resistant bacteria, and other pathogens. Within 10 minutes, there’s an 83% reduction in virus viability; within 30 minutes, 92.57% of the virus is no longer viable; and within an hour, the number rises to 99.15%. This means that when Ionic+ is integrated into the manufacturing of cloth masks, personal protection garments, wound care products, and other soft surfaces, it actively eliminates pathogens in real time. As you can imagine, this has been a real game-changer.
How is your organization a leader in the community?
On a global scale, our products are used by consumers, corporations, and governments around the world to protect, save, heal, and improve lives. Here at home, we contribute to the wellbeing of our local community by taking care of our employees. Our people are integral to our success. In a word, they’re our ambassadors. Although many companies talk about work-life balance, we actually offer family-friendly work schedules that enable our team members to spend quality time with their loved ones. Our policies and attitudes empower our employees, resulting in higher productivity, lower absentee rates, and reduced turnover.