GERMANY
With effect from 1 May 2017, the Hohenstein Institute has set up a new centre for textile public health as part of its group of companies in Boennigheim. The Hohenstein Health Centre will concentrate specifically on medical textiles – clothing, textile products or processes – which affect human health.
Prof. Dirk Höfer leads the new centre as medical director and managing director of Hohenstein Laboratories.
The use of textile products in disease prevention and in maintaining and restoring human health in everyday life has increased greatly in scope and diversity. Many users and other people involved in healthcare do not have the necessary clear, up-to-date and scientifically-based information about the benefits, risks, applications and areas of use of these textiles.
Medical textiles in the healthcare sector have been a growth market worldwide for decades, also benefiting small and medium-sized companies producing interesting products, but the framework conditions are going to become much more difficult in future: The changes that will be introduced by the EU Directive on Medical Devices (MDR), which enters into power in 2017 will present new challenges for all textile companies operating in the medical textiles sector.
The Hohenstein Health Centre will be developing and supporting medical expertise on textile products affecting human health, both those that are either already on the market and those due to be launched. It will also be establishing links with the various players in the healthcare sector who deal with this kind of textile, and sharing expertise and new findings within the textile industry and among doctors and consumers.
In addition, the centre will offer specialist medical expertise to support efficient product development, from the initial research concept through to product launch on the market.
