Gore Gives New Inflatable Insulation a Public Airing

Feldkirchen, Germany--W.L. Gore & Associates unveiled its Airvantage Adjustable Insulation technolgoy to the European and U.S. press as part of a global launch. Journalists toured Gore's Feldkirchen plant last week before getting a up-close look at technology that Bruce Troutman, a Gore business leader, says represents a "re-defined" mission for the company. "Gore now plans to be the leader in protective fabrics. Airvantage Adjustable Insulation is the first product introduction," Troutman said. Airvantage consists of a membrane with durable airtight, breathable chambers. Users adjust the amount of insulation in a garment by using a bite-valve to inflate and deflate the membrane. If cold, the wearer blows air into the membrane to increase warmth. If too warm, the user deflates the membrane to minimize sweating. Gore says a wearer may no longer need to add or remove layers by using the Airvantage system. "Most of the previous technologies that attempt to address the micro-climate variation problem fall short in that they are too cumbersome, they require a power source, they work for a finite amount of time, or they only have two settings--on and off," Troutman said. "Airvantage Adjustable Insulation requires no power source, is lightweight and can be continually adjusted to suit each individual's specific comfort preferences." The Airvantage Adjustable Insulation insert is available with different outer shell materials in different constructions: vests, removable inserts and fixed inserts in jackets. Marmot, Oakley and Burton are the only U.S. companies introducing Airvantage Adjustable Insulation for fall 2002. Several European companies will utilize the technology in their snowsports lines, including Fila, Rossignol, Schoffel, Mammut and Tsunami.