YKK, the global fastening solutions provider, has designed a new zipper to assist military personnel by providing durable closures for uniforms and bags that are used in all environments.

Originated in Europe and manufactured at YKK’s factory in Germany, this technology is a must for those who need garments to meet the highest requirements.

After visiting customers and listening to their requirements for an “infra-red zipper”, the YKK Europe R&D teams worked tirelessly to design a zipper that meets these requirements and have designed and developed a zipper with NIR signature management technology.

By using the new YKK^® VISLON^® with NIR signature management technology, military personnel are less likely to be discovered, or discovered quickly, when illuminated with a NIR camera. The complete zipper lies within the spectrum between 750 and 1100 nanometres for all the materials and components used which includes the tape, the elements, the pin, the box, the top parts, and the slider.
Zippers are an important part of clothing and bags used in the military. These items are often made of textiles that have a colour and/or pattern that makes the clothing less visible in daylight and during the night. They employ techniques and technology that make it difficult for the operator of a NIR camera to detect military personnel. Should a standard zipper be used and seen through a NIR camera, it could be easily detected. The YKK^® #5 VISLON^® zipper with IR technology blends in with the fabric and the reflection of this new zipper is 40-60% in the range of 750 – 1100 nanometres.

Infrared is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light and shorter than radio waves. It is therefore invisible to the human eye.