Coats debuts anti-bed bug sewing thread & zips

Coats have developed an anti-bed bug chemical treatment for threads and zips based on naturally occurring, durable plant extracts and oils.  The innovative treatment, developed in Coats laboratories in Turkey for threads and Germany for zips, is harmless to humans and pets, but fatal to bed bugs.

Any size or colour thread can be treated with Coats Insectiban without affecting either sewing performance or the chemical properties of the treatment.  

Coats have a long history of pioneering landmark innovation. Many of its product developments in threads, zips and colour technology, as well as manufacturing processes, have become global industry standards.

As bed bugs use the seams and tape edges of mattresses and other furniture locations to hide and lay their eggs, a treated sewing thread and/or zip will help to control infestations, even if the fabric and other elements of the bedding have not been treated.

Bed bugs are reddish brown insects that can grow up to seven millimetres in length and feed on human blood.  While their bite is painless, their anticoagulant saliva causes irritation and inflammation.  Bed bugs don’t carry disease but secondary infections from scratching the bites can occur.  Adult bed bugs can live up to 18 months and can go for several months without feeding.

Seams and tape edges in beds, sofas, luggage and other furniture can harbour bed bugs and their eggs.  Bed bugs are flightless and can be transported by humans, particularly in high transit locations such as hotels, hostels and care homes.

Frazer Smith, Chief Commercial Officer, Coats plc, said: ‘Bed bugs were largely eradicated in the developed world until 1995 when they made resurgence and they have become more of a problem in recent years.  

'As a result, we developed our Insectiban anti-bed bug treatment in consultation with our customers, particularly those in the hospitality and travel industries, who have a strong interest in helping to control these parasitic insects.  Coats Insectiban further demonstrates our commitment to meeting customer’s needs and is another example of our market leading research and development programme.’

Coats Insectiban is appropriate for use in all European and Asian territories and will be rolled out across the US during 2013.

About Coats

With a rich heritage dating back to the 1750s, Coats is the world's leading industrial thread and consumer textile crafts business, at home in more than 70 countries, employing 20,000 people across six continents. Revenues in 2011 were US$1.7bn.

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