Like all good technology companies, Noble Biomaterials was born out of a need, out of a void in the market. While silver had been used for preservation and healthcare for thousands of years, its powerful antimicrobial effects were not being used for consumer apparel. Two like-minded entrepreneurs decided to change that. Joel Furey and Bill McNally founded Noble in 1997 as an intelligent materials company focused on selling silver fiber technology for its antimicrobial properties. After spending two years developing the technology and conducting clinical testing for use in medical devices, the first commercial success came in the form of a product application they themselves needed: a no-stink antimicrobial sock liner for hiking and skiing. It ended up winning a Backpacker Magazine Editor’s Choice Award and the Noble’s technology—and the company—took off.

In less than 25 years, Noble has grown from a company with one humble product to a multinational life-sustaining business, exempt from shutdown during the pandemic because of its status as an essential sole-source technology supplier of medical components and antimicrobial products to the US Military and healthcare industry.

Noble is registered as a medical device manufacturing facility by the US FDA, has numerous 510(k) medical device clearances, and is a manufacturer of several EPA-approved antimicrobial products. Noble’s products are used in hospitals, burn care centers, military installations, and US embassies throughout our country and around the world. Companies such as 3M, Ansell, Northrop Grumman, Athleta, and the US Army and Special Forces, among others, rely on the mission-critical products manufactured by Noble Biomaterials. Noble is proud to support safety and care for hospitals and healthcare workers during the current crisis and companies are responding; sales in infection prevention textiles are up 356% year over year.

The anti-odor business that the company was originally founded on is thriving as well. Between brands like lululemon, Athleta, Anta, Mack Weldon and others, consumers have bought tens of millions of products with Noble’s antimicrobial technology. Recent events have educated people everywhere on fabric hygiene and now consumers are demanding products that offer another layer of protection.

From a sock liner to mission-critical antimicrobial and conductive components for the healthcare and military sectors, Noble Biomaterials has really become the Intelligent Materials Company it set out to be.

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