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ClimaTherm regulates temperature of textile seat covers
02 Sep '08
6 min read
“The cushions also go – in custom editions – to wheelchair sportsmen as they love its effects which make them perform better.” To the seat cushion also come the backrest cushions Vital Base Smart and Vital Base Stabile, both equipped with ClimaTherm. Recently, ClimaTherm has also been made available to all wheelchair cushions supplied from Vital Base AS.
Also the companies Medema AS and Mini-Crosser A/S – the first sitting in Norway and the latter in Denmark - have chosen the seating concept created by Vital Base AS as their future cushions solution. The Jazzy electrical wheelchair and the MiniCrosser electrical wheelchair both have the new cushions. All cushions are delivered with ClimaTherm. “The customers enjoy comfortable riding for a longer time, and feel fresh even after several hours on the track”, confirm Medema and Mini-Crosser.
“The typical user has walking problems, and is not necessarily injured or handicapped in other ways, and the possibility of freedom to move around by oneself is important. With ClimaTherm as the cover on the cushions, he or she may ride longer getting richer days.”
The PCM technology
But what is PCM? The principle is simply demonstrated. Looking at phase change materials (PCM) two well-known technologies are successfully combined: On the one hand is the microencapsulation, as known from the chewing-gum inside which microcapsules are embedded. While chewing the shell is destroyed, and the taste is released. Another example: perfume probes in magazines. The microcapsules being destroyed while rubbing on the paper, as the smell is released.
The difference in Outlast materials: Microcapsules are also used, but the shell is stable and doesn't get ruined. The capsules are very tiny: Around 1,000 fit on the head of a pin (ca. 3 million per cm²). Inside the patented microcapsules, called Outlast Thermocules, substances similar to paraffin are stored, which are capable of phase change. This simple physical principle is well-known to everyone, example H2O: Water becomes ice or vapour when energy is added or taken away. PCM technology takes advantage of exactly this same law of physics.
The advantages of Outlast Adaptive Comfort products on a glance:
• Adaptation to body temperature
• Less overheating
• Less sweating
• Less chill
• Active temperature regulation
Everybody's sensitivity to temperature changes is different, which means everyone sweats or becomes chilled at different rates; quickly or slowly. But the temperature corridor in which we feel comfortable is relatively narrow: when the body core temperature of 37°C fluctuates only 2°C upwards or downwards we are subject to fever or hypothermia. Here Outlast products help. They reduce temperature swings and influence the comfort zone efficiently. The microclimate is well balanced, one sweats less and is less chilled. You feel not to hot, not too cold, but just right.
Innovative company:
“Our experience shows that if we serve our clients well, our own success will follow”, says John Rune Furnes, Managing Director of Vital Base. The founder had his background from designing textiles and creating garments. His education prompted him to go into business for himself and he managed at an early stage to create and produce cushions with focus on high quality. Since his early-established mission of high quality, the company has made it their motto to always think, explore and create quality.
Investments to the facility throughout the years have proven positive for the company and its employees. “With constant upgrades being added to machinery and facility, we are able to stay high tech and keep up if not rise above competition. In addition, our own production research and expansion allow us to produce products at a high standard. We have our own patented products and raw materials as well as patented methods of production”, says Furnes.
Also the companies Medema AS and Mini-Crosser A/S – the first sitting in Norway and the latter in Denmark - have chosen the seating concept created by Vital Base AS as their future cushions solution. The Jazzy electrical wheelchair and the MiniCrosser electrical wheelchair both have the new cushions. All cushions are delivered with ClimaTherm. “The customers enjoy comfortable riding for a longer time, and feel fresh even after several hours on the track”, confirm Medema and Mini-Crosser.
“The typical user has walking problems, and is not necessarily injured or handicapped in other ways, and the possibility of freedom to move around by oneself is important. With ClimaTherm as the cover on the cushions, he or she may ride longer getting richer days.”
The PCM technology
But what is PCM? The principle is simply demonstrated. Looking at phase change materials (PCM) two well-known technologies are successfully combined: On the one hand is the microencapsulation, as known from the chewing-gum inside which microcapsules are embedded. While chewing the shell is destroyed, and the taste is released. Another example: perfume probes in magazines. The microcapsules being destroyed while rubbing on the paper, as the smell is released.
The difference in Outlast materials: Microcapsules are also used, but the shell is stable and doesn't get ruined. The capsules are very tiny: Around 1,000 fit on the head of a pin (ca. 3 million per cm²). Inside the patented microcapsules, called Outlast Thermocules, substances similar to paraffin are stored, which are capable of phase change. This simple physical principle is well-known to everyone, example H2O: Water becomes ice or vapour when energy is added or taken away. PCM technology takes advantage of exactly this same law of physics.
The advantages of Outlast Adaptive Comfort products on a glance:
• Adaptation to body temperature
• Less overheating
• Less sweating
• Less chill
• Active temperature regulation
Everybody's sensitivity to temperature changes is different, which means everyone sweats or becomes chilled at different rates; quickly or slowly. But the temperature corridor in which we feel comfortable is relatively narrow: when the body core temperature of 37°C fluctuates only 2°C upwards or downwards we are subject to fever or hypothermia. Here Outlast products help. They reduce temperature swings and influence the comfort zone efficiently. The microclimate is well balanced, one sweats less and is less chilled. You feel not to hot, not too cold, but just right.
Innovative company:
“Our experience shows that if we serve our clients well, our own success will follow”, says John Rune Furnes, Managing Director of Vital Base. The founder had his background from designing textiles and creating garments. His education prompted him to go into business for himself and he managed at an early stage to create and produce cushions with focus on high quality. Since his early-established mission of high quality, the company has made it their motto to always think, explore and create quality.
Investments to the facility throughout the years have proven positive for the company and its employees. “With constant upgrades being added to machinery and facility, we are able to stay high tech and keep up if not rise above competition. In addition, our own production research and expansion allow us to produce products at a high standard. We have our own patented products and raw materials as well as patented methods of production”, says Furnes.
Outlast Technologies Inc
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