LOOMIA, a developer of electronic textiles, and AFFOA (Advanced Functional Fabrics of America) have introduced the Gentoo Heater, a flexible heating solution for ultra-cold environments.
The Gentoo Flexible Heater, engineered to perform in temperatures as low as -60°C, is a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based resistive heater designed for integration into textiles. When laminated to a textile, the heating element creates a durable heating fabric that combines comfort, breathability, and stretchability with reliability in extreme conditions. Its selective TPU placement allows for breathability when laminated onto knit or woven textiles, and its 4-way stretch capability ensures easy integration into garments. The heater can also be laminated into trims or fabrics of choice, making it suitable for diverse applications. It has demonstrated consistent performance after 20 wash cycles, with only a ~10% resistance change under delicate settings and hang drying.
AFFOA’s CEO, Sasha Stolyarov, stated that the Gentoo Heater and similar heating technologies will play a major role in the future of high-performance textiles, protecting both military personnel and civilians in extremely cold temperatures.
LOOMIA and AFFOA previously collaborated on a heated handwear solution for commercial, recreational, and military use. For the project, LOOMIA provided its e-textile technology for a heated glove insert, while AFFOA led customer discovery, produced prototypes, delivered system architecture designs, and created an interface control unit.
LOOMIA and AFFOA will host a webinar this February 19 to introduce the Gentoo Heater. LOOMIA’s CEO, Madison Maxey, will speak about the technology, and the webinar will cover thermal chamber testing data and real-world applications in ultra-cold settings.