T H E R M A L I N S U L A T I O N
HOT SINCE 1972
The company now known as
Thermore S.p.A. was founded
in 1972 by Lucio Siniscalchi, a
young and forward-looking
self-financed entrepreneur who
decided to quit his job as an
agent for a large textile and
non-woven company in Milan
to pioneer the use of synthetic
fibers as garment insulations.
The original name of his
company was simply Fi.Si. Fibre
Sintetiche (Synthetic Fibers): a
very clear indication of the goal
and mission Siniscalchi had set
for himself.
Fi.Si. first hit the market with
Plastovat, an extremely soft
garment insulation with one
great feature: unlike products
still sold today, Plastovat solved
the fiber migration problem
without resorting to a scrim - in
1973!
Strategically located near
Milano, the fashion capital of
Italy, Fi.Si. was always in an
unique position to follow and
sometimes anticipate evolving
trends in styling and design; in
1978 Lucio and his assistants
developed Ocaesse, a high-loft
insulation with unique resistance
to washing (traditional high
volume battings fall apart
when washed).
Finally in 1980 Fi.Si. introduced
Thermore®: as the leader and
chief source of inspiration of
what was by then a full-blown
research team, Lucio Siniscalchi
developed the novel “three-
layer-structure” and the loft
adjustment process peculiar to
all Thermore® products. Of
course Fi.Si.’s established
washing resistance and anti-
migration technologies were
also incorporated in
Thermore®.
The introduction of Thermore®
was a turning point in the
history of Fi.Si.: indeed,
Thermore® insulations were so
successful that the company’s
name itself was changed to
Thermore S.p.A. in order of
benefit from the higher
recognition on the brand.
Meanwhile, the company
started to develop an
international dimension.
In 1984 the U.S.A. patent
application for the thickness
reduction process, one of
Thermore®’s key features, was
accepted with no exceptions -
a unique event, given the strict
evaluation standards of the U.S.
Patent Office. This brought
Thermore® overseas. In 1987
the first yard of U.S.-made
Thermore® came out of the
Waco, Texas plant; and as all
T H E R M A L I N S U L AT I O N major garment manufacturers
IMBOTTITURA TERMICA
went to the Far East,
Thermore® was made
available in Hong Kong in
order to ensure a worldwide
service.
In a few years Thermore®
“covered” the major production
locations in the Far East and
Eastern Europe with almost ten
production lines. With all its
worldwide perspective and
expertise, Thermore S.p.A. has
retained a truly European style:
in Lucio Siniscalchi’s words, “our
most important asset is the love
for the only product we sell: our
comfortable hi-tech Thermore®
thermal insulation”.
 1,2
THERMORE®
1,1

1,0 Other ultra-thin products

0,9 Products with special processing

0,8
Traditional products
0,7

0,6
THERMAL RESISTANCE (m2 °C)
W

0,5

0,4

0,3

0,2

0,1

0,0
Weight (g/m2) 100 200 300

Red and purple = – heat loss + heat • Yellow and white = + heat loss – heat

Thermal
waddings
THERMAL INSULATION

A “HUMAN INSULATION”
At Thermore® we believe research must be driven by end user
satisfaction. Each and every feature of our Thermore® insulations
is the answer to a specific requirement, solving a real-life problem.
We also believe ski slopes and city streets are the ultimate lab: the
one where products really show their potential. As a result, sheer
comfort is our research team’s only goal. That’s why we like to say
Thermore® means natural warmth.
 The US
Commissioner of
Patents and
Trademarks
acknowledged the
uniqueness of our
Thermore® SR
process with no
exceptions. The
Thermore®
process has
actually originated
a substantial
number of patents
– a clear sign of
our dedication to
excellence.
 Body temperature Outside temperature
37°C – 10°C

THERMAL INSULATION

THE WORKING PRINCIPLES

The very first feature of Thermore® is the
ability to trap the body’s own heat and thus
prevent heat dissipation. The keyword here
is air pocket.

Put in very simple terms, heat is a form of

energy. If ball B is not moving and you
throw ball A at it, then ball B will move
and ball A will slow down and eventually
stop. Heat is transmitted from one
You can think of ball "A" as a "warm" molecule.
When ball A hits ball B, a "cold" molecule, it looses
its "heat".
Ball B is now "warm" (it has inherited ball A's
"warmth"). Heat dissipation has thus occurred.

molecule to another in a similar fashion.

Thanks to its air pocket structure, Thermore®

can prevent heat transmission in two distinct Body temperature Outside temperature
ways: 37°C – 10°C

1. Its outside layers are very compact: you

can think of them as “heavy” spheres
that absorb the impact of ball A without
transmitting it to ball B.

2. Its central layer is very open: it can trap a

large amount of air, which is the best
theoretic insulation; you can think of a
region where few spheres are present, so
that ball A has few chances to transmit its
energy to another ball.
Ball A is still the "warm" molecule; let's assume we
The result is a very natural and ingenuous are inside our Thermore® garment.
heat retention scheme; the very first secret Thanks to Thermore®’s air pocket structure, ball A
cannot reach ball B. Ball A is still "warm", meaning
behind Thermore®’s success. no heat dissipation has occurred.
 THERMAL INSULATION

THERMORE® SR: OUR TECHNOLOGY

WILL FIT YOUR LINES
“Bulky = Warm”: designers of cold-weather outerwear
have been faced with this constraint for too long.
Slimmer lines and a softer hand feel meant a lighter
weight insulation and, therefore, a proportionally less
warm and comfortable garment.
Thermore® breaks this aging rule in its own
unconventional way: thanks to our patented SR
(Special Reduction) process, we can actually change
the volume of virtually any Thermore® insulation
without proportionally affecting the warmth factor and
hand feel of the original product.
The keyword now
is adjustable
volumes: but you
might be
wondering how
this incredible
result is achieved.
Once again, the
secret lies in the
air pocket
structure of Thermore®. Thanks to our SR process, we
actually alter the thickness of the outer layers only,
leaving the central layer and the amount of air it
traps virtually unchanged. Since air is, at least
theoretically, the perfect insulator, the warmth factor
does not change in proportion to the actual volume
reduction. In more accurate terms, a 50% volume
reduction only results in a mere 10% (max) warmth
reduction. The results of tests performed by a number of independent labs agree with the
Moreover, keeping the amount of air trapped in the theory. The following is a part of the report we got from the Stazione Sperimentale
central layer unchanged we preserve the original of Milano, an authoritative research institute within the Milano Polytechnic.
“Thermore® hand feel”: and we know that this feature Type Thickness cm. Weight gr./m2 Thermal Resistance UCT
is at least as important as insulation comfort, for it
would be no good to replace the old rule “Bulky = THERMORE TMK 170 HL 2.5 ~ 170 ~ 46.7
warm” with a newer one, “Stiff = warm”.
The bottom line is, you can have virtually any THERMORE TMK 170 C 1.2 ~ 170 ~ 42.3
combination of warmth factor and volume: you Source: Stazione Sperimentale Politecnico di Milano.
design your lines, we’ll make them warm! Note: to obtain theoretic "CLO" values multiply the UCT values by 0.055.
 Ball A is "warm". We can Body temperature Outside temperature
assume we are inside a 37°C -10°C
Thermore® garment. The
outside temperature is low.

The thermal gates are

THERMAL INSULATION closed: ball A cannot reach
ball B, and no heat
dissipation occurs.
THERMORE T37©:
A DYNAMIC PERFORMER
Warmth is a relative concept. You may go skiing on a
cloudy day, thinking it’s freezing cold, and after a few Body temperature Outside temperature
minutes down the slopes you are perspiring and wish 37°C 10°C
Ball A is "warm". This time,
you had a lighter parka. Or, the sun may finally appear, however, the outside
and you may even think you should have left that parka temperature is higher, and
in a real-life situation we
at home anyway. At Thermore® we know comfort is by would start perspiring.
no means a static concept. In the winter we want all our
But the thermal gates are
windows closed; in the summer we keep them wide now open: ball A can
open… or turn the air conditioning on. In order to live reach ball B and excess
heat is dissipated.
comfortably, we do different things at different times.
So why should an insulation be an exception to this rule?
Thermore® introduced the concept of dynamic insulation
in 1986. As featured in our Thermore® and, to a much
greater extent, Thermore T37® lines, dynamic insulation Thermore T37®’s thermicity increases rapidly at temperatures of
means that the thermal resistance (call it “clo value”, 0°C (32°F), -5°C (23°F), -10°C (14 F), -15°C (5°F) and below
“tog rating”, or whatever…) actually changes according (RED zone).
to the varying weather conditions and body heat. The When the outside temperature rises the body needs less
keyword here is thermal gates, chemical “microspaces” insulation in order to avoid perspiring due to the retention of
located on the outside layers of Thermore®’s air pocket excess heat. Thus, at higher temperatures, the thermal gates
structure that “expand” when the outside temperature is open and excess heat is gradually released (BLUE area).
too high, and “contract” when the temperature is lower. This smart self-adjustment process keeps the body temperature
This ongoing dynamic adjustment tends to stabilize the at 37°C (98.6°F) even in extreme conditions.
body temperature around 37°C (98.6°F), the natural
body temperature (hence the name T37, to stress the
increased dynamic properties). A huge number of Diagram based on laboratory tests
At very low temperatures, Thermore T37® closes its
simulation tests, dynamic thermal tests and, of course, “thermal gates” and keeps you warmer.
real-life tests were performed on Thermore® and 
Thermore T37®: the “theoretical” dynamic effect was in At higher temperatures,
Thermore T37® opens its
fact verified and analysed. As a result, the superiority of “thermal gates” and
THERMICITY

dynamic insulation is confirmed. dissipates excess heat.

This diagram is based on a simulation test performed by 
a major independent lab on our Thermore T37®
insulation. Similar tests were performed on our Thermore®
insulation, and the results are available on request. -20°C -15°C -10°C -5°C 0°C 5°C 10°C
At low temperatures the body requires a high degree of
thermal insulation; and the graph clearly shows that
-4°F 5°F 14°F 23°F 32°F 41°F 50°F
 THERMAL INSULATION

THERMORE NRG®: ECODOWN®

THERMAL INSULATION
We know from
physics that air is the
best thermal insulator.
Thermore NRG®
consists of millions of
fibers with extremely
high elastic memory
acting as “springs”
and effectively
creating a
permanent air layer around the body. Thermore
NRG® traps air in up to 98% of its volume!
Clothing items and sleeping bags insulated with
Thermore NRG® are therefore warm and
comfortable. Tests conducted by Milan-based
Textile Fibers Research Station show that the
“typical” Thermore NRG®-insulated item is 36%
warmer than a 700 g/sq.mt wool blanket - and,
of course, it is much lighter.
Tests performed by SGS Laboratories show that
Thermore NRG® has outstanding loft recovery
properties (up to 4.5 times better than standard
polyester fiberfill), even after heavy and
prolonged compression.
Sleeping bags and jackets insulated with Thermore
NRG® can be conveniently stored so as to take up
very little space, and yet quickly regain their
original loft. Moreover, Thermore NRG® is light and
soft, and allows for maximum freedom of
movement. Thermore NRG® is manufactured using
quality components only.
This, together with an innovative, highly efficient
production process,
enables us to use
approximately 40%
less raw materials (oil
derivates) than with
conventional
products. Thermore
NRG® is the
environmentally
COMPARABLE
INSULATIONS
friendly high-tech
insulation.
 THERMAL INSULATION

DESIGN VERSATILITY AND

MANUFACTURING ADVANTAGES

We feel that design versatility is the key to

success of any garment: designers should be
given products that never influence or limit
their design abilities.
Thermore® was created with designers in
mind: it’s born to be the bridge between hi-
tech and creativity.
Here’s why:
- Thermore® was conceived to prevent
fiber migration. This means virtually any
fabric can be used with it and no “scrim”
is needed. Moreover, for special
applications we have set up a technical
hotline to support our customers.
- There’s no limit to the size of the panels
you may cut or quilt: Thermore® will
always fit you pattern!
- Thanks to its revolutionary production
process, Thermore® can be supplied in
virtually any style you wish, from very
thick to extra-thin. Moreover, Thermore®
naturally tends to fit in the space you
leave between the inner and the outer
fabric.
The above advantages (but there’s still much
more to discover!) make Thermore® the
designer’s and the manufacturer’s dream. Try
working with it: you’ll find out what we
mean when we say Thermore® is the
ultimate insulation!
 THERMAL INSULATION

TROUBLE-FREE WASHING
(AND DRY CLEANING)
WITH THERMORE®

Thermore®-insulated garments can easily be

machine washed at home, or dry cleaned.
A well-constructed garment does not need
any special care: just treat it like a wool
item. Thermore® will not move or shift
inside the garment. Here are a few
suggestions:
1. Cold water wash with Woolite R or other
similar cold-water detergents. Single
wash cycle, with two spin dry cycles (or
line dry) recommended.
2. Do not twist garment. Do not dry near
heat source. Lay garment on flat surface
(if multi-colored) to prevent color
transfer.
3. If fabric is 100% cotton, use warm iron
only; water repellency may be renewed
by spraying with any commercially
available repellent after garment is
completely dry.
4. For particularly stubborn stains, oil spots
etc., use any recommended stain
remover.
5. Dry cleaning is no problem at all. Use
mild detergents and low temperatures.
Thermore® garments last longer!
 THERMAL INSULATION

THERMORE OPERA®: OPEN

PERFORMANCE ARCHITECTURE
Thermore OPERA® Open PERformance
Architecture is the complete, fully integrated
apparel protection system that combines
Thermore®’s proven high insulation with a new
ultra light waterproof, breathable membrane.
The specially engineered cross-sectional
TECHNICAL FEATURES OF THE MEMBRANE*
densities of Thermore Opera® make virtually Raw material Hydrophilic polyester
any garment waterproof, breathable and Structure Homogeneous, non-porous
extremely warm, therefore achieving Density 1.27 g/cm3 (79.2 lb/ft3)
Thickness 10 µm (0.4 mil)
incredible comfort with only one easy-to-use
Strength > 45 Mpa
component.
Breathability 2500 g/m2 24h [ASTM E 96-66 B, modified:
Also, Thermore Opera® can be used with any Twater=30°C (86°F) Tair=21°C (70°F);
rel. humidity - 60%; air flow - 2 m/s]
fabric, still preserving the fabric’s own softness Water tightness No water permeation at 1 bar
and drapability. (= 10 m water column) [DIN 53 886]
Windproofness No air passage [DIN 53 887]
Thermore Opera® features a high thermal
*based on information supplied by the manufacturer of the membrane;
resistance: by optimising the sectional tests carried out by Central Research Laboratories of AKZO NOBEL.
densities, the insulation properties of
Thermore®’s internal air pocket are greatly
enhanced.
Thanks to its flexibility, Thermore Opera® is
available in all weights and densities, from
“micro” (2 mm) to “macro” (40 mm), thus
allowing designers and product managers to
upgrade any kind of cold-weather protection
apparel, from casual streetwear to technical
outdoor.
Thermore Opera® is already available at all
Thermore® plants worldwide.
Thermore® is manufactured
in Italy, USA, Hong Kong,
Thailand and Romania.
sales.italy@thermore.com
sales.northamerica@thermore.com
sales.hongkong@thermore.com
sales.thailand@thermore.com
sales.southpacific@thermore.com
sales.srilanka@thermore.com
sales.romania@thermore.com

Europe & U.S. Head Office

Thermore S.p.a.
Via Milano, 53
23899 Robbiate (Lecco) - Italy
Tel. +39.039.9515100
Fax +39.039.9515133
From USA and Canada
call toll free 1-800-871-6563
e-mail: sales@thermore.com

Far East Head Office

Thermore (Far East) Ltd.
Room 508, New East Ocean Centre,
9 Science Museum Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui East,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel. +852.27217968
+852.27218365
Fax +852.27225074
e-mail: sales@thermore.com