Martin Bentz: We don’t just claim performance – we prove it

Outlast Technologies is the leading specialist in temperature regulation within the textile sector. With unmatched experience and the most comprehensive product portfolio on the market, Outlast deliver comfort, performance, and efficiency across a wide range of applications. The company is making it easier and easier for its customers to integrate their technologies. For example, with their product fresh2SKIN®, a simple dip bath is all it takes to apply the technology.

Recently, Outlast has expanded into the field of insulation, developing innovative solutions that incorporate fabrics and fibers with an exceptionally high aerogel content – achieving a new level of efficiency in lightweight thermal insulation.

Their mission is clear: To create meaningful value through intelligent, science-based materials that are thoroughly tested and trusted by partners and end users alike. Outlast stands for proven innovation in both temperature management and advanced textile insulation. Martin Bentz, CEO, Outlast Technologies GmbH, in this interview with Divya Shetty, discusses the various solutions offered by the company and its contributions to the technical textiles industry.

Outlast is well-known for its temperature-regulating technology. Could you elaborate on the range of products and fibre technologies the company currently offers across different industries?

Outlast offers a remarkably broad range of products, reflecting the versatility of our temperature-regulating solutions. Our core business lies in the bedding, apparel, and footwear industries, where comfort and thermal balance are essential.

Beyond these segments, we also serve more specialised applications. For instance, our technology is used in base layers for professional motorsport drivers, where thermal management plays a critical role in performance. We also support orthopedic applications – such as prosthetics – where temperature control can greatly enhance wearer comfort and skin health.

Even in protective gear, like bulletproof vests, Outlast technologies help improve comfort by reducing perspiration. This not only makes the gear more wearable over long periods but also contributes to maintaining the wearer’s focus and endurance in high-stress environments.

In short, our temperature-regulating solutions are as diverse as the challenges they help solve – spanning from everyday comfort to mission-critical performance.

What is your assessment of the current state of the global technical textiles industry, especially in sectors like performance wear, home textiles, and automotive?

While many observers speak of a weakening textile industry, we at Outlast see a different picture – especially in the technical textiles segment. In fact, with global temperatures on the rise, the demand for temperature-regulating materials and solutions has significantly increased, and we’re benefiting from that trend.

People are actively looking for ways to better manage temperature fluctuations in their daily lives – for example, moving from an air-conditioned office into a sun-heated car without breaking into a sweat. That’s exactly where our technologies come in. Outlast provides effective solutions to these real-world comfort challenges, and both our customers and end consumers truly value that.

Is Outlast currently offering its solutions or technologies to the Indian market? If yes, which sectors or product categories are showing the strongest demand?

Yes, we are active in the Indian market – primarily in the bedding industry, which makes perfect sense given the country’s consistently high temperatures. Climate has a direct impact on sleep quality, and that’s where our technology brings real value.

When the environment is too warm, people tend to sleep restlessly, tossing and turning throughout the night, with shorter deep-sleep phases. Our temperature-regulating materials help counteract this by absorbing excess body heat and releasing it when needed, creating a more stable microclimate around the sleeper.

Leading bedding brands in India have recognised this and are successfully integrating our technology into their products. The demand is strong, and we see great potential for continued growth in this sector.

With the rising focus on sustainability and performance, which fibre technologies or innovations are trending in the technical textiles space globally? How is Outlast aligning with these trends?

The technical textiles industry is clearly moving toward solutions that combine high performance with verified sustainability. From our perspective, the era of vague marketing claims is over – brands today want real solutions backed by real evidence.

At Outlast, scientific validation has always been a core part of our identity, ever since our origins with NASA technology. We don’t just claim performance – we prove it. To ensure consistency and reliability, every Outlast product is tested according to EN and ASTM standards before it reaches the market. This guarantees that our solutions meet strict performance and quality benchmarks – not just in theory, but in real-world use.

Apart from temperature control, our technology also offers valuable side benefits. Even a simple dip-coating process can significantly enhance a fabric’s effusivity value, meaning it feels noticeably cooler to the touch.

We’ve also taken concrete steps to reduce our environmental footprint. We’ve transitioned the core of our technology from paraffin-based materials to natural waxes, and we’re actively developing high-performance insulation fibers made from renewable raw materials like wood and sand.

Can you share some insight into this research and innovation efforts at Outlast?

Yes, sure. One of our most groundbreaking developments is Aersulate^® – a fibretechnology that integrates 50% aerogel by volume directly into the fibrestructure.

Originally developed for NASA, aerogel is an ultra-light, highly effective insulating material with an air content of up to 99%, making it one of the best thermal insulators available. By embedding it within fibers, we’ve created insulation that is up to 35% lighter than conventional materials – without sacrificing warmth. Unlike traditional insulation, Aersulate^® maintains its performance even under pressure, making it especially well-suited for high-stress areas such as the knees or elbows in apparel and workwear, and equally valuable for use in the bedding industry.

Sustainability is also a core focus: our fibers are made from wood-based viscose, and the aerogel is derived from quartz sand, offering a renewable and animal-friendly alternative to down.

In addition, we have developed fabrics with an exceptionally high and previously unseen aerogel content, unlocking new possibilities for insulation in space-constrained applications – enabling thermal protection in areas where it was previously not feasible.

What are Outlast’s future plans for global expansion, and are there specific geographies or industries you’re targeting for growth?

With our Aersulate^® fibers and fabrics, we’re opening the door to entirely new markets and application areas – that’s where our current focus lies. These innovations allow us to bring high-performance insulation to sectors and use cases where it simply wasn’t possible before, due to space, weight, or compression constraints.

Looking ahead, our global expansion efforts will center around industries where lightweight, sustainable insulation is in high demand – including performance apparel, workwear, automotive, and bedding. Geographically, we see strong potential not only in Europe and North America, but also in emerging markets like India and Southeast Asia, where climate and comfort needs are driving demand for smart textile solutions.

India is emerging as a key hub for technical textiles. Are there any plans to strengthen Outlast’s footprint in the Indian market through partnerships, manufacturing, or localisation of solutions?

Indeed, the Indian market is vast and holds significant untapped potential for us. We’re well aware of the growing importance of India as a hub for technical textiles, and we see strong momentum – particularly in sectors like bedding, performance wear, and functional fabrics.