The Intellifit System, as seen in a Levi’s retail store. In 10 seconds, Intellifit uses a totally safe radio wave to collect numerous, accurate measurements of your body — while you remain fully clothed.

“In a sense we take a digital hologram of the person to achieve precise body measurements,” says Albert Charpentier, CEO of Horsham-based Intellifit.

Previous white-light or laser scanners required customers to undress and put on cycling shorts for their scans. But Intellifit technology uses low-power radio waves, allowing consumers to keep their street clothes on.

It’s That Simple

Step in. Get scanned. Get your size printout. Beats the fitting room any day.

“We use a very low power radar technology that is about one-one-thousandth of the power of a cell phone,” he says. “Similar to how the Doppler radar searches for water droplets in the air to create data points, we look for water on the surface of skin and create a three-dimensional map of your different body measurements — chest, waist, inseam and more.”

Originally the company’s concept was to make it easier for consumers to purchase clothing over the Internet. “Ben Franklin Technology Partners, which invested $150,000 in us in both 2000 and 2001, allowed us to explore the industry, consumer demands and the technology that would be needed to make that vision happen,” says Charpentier. The funding and business advice from BFTP helped Intellifit cross the bridge to the bricks-and-mortar retail environment.

Vanity-Driven Chaos

Charpentier notes that there is a definite “sizing chaos” in the clothing industry, where one company’s size 8 is another’s size 6. In fact, companies often deliberately “size down” because studies have shown that, given the choice between a size 6 and size 8 with the same fit and style, people will say they like the size 6 much better.

Even within companies, sizes can vary. “We went to Levi Strauss and put the product through the ultimate test,” Charpentier says. “They lined up seven different styles of their own jeans and got 150 employees to take the 10 second scan. Some of the employees were a size 4 in one style and size 6 in another. They were so shocked. It was a real eye opener.”

Now, Levi Strauss is one of Intellifit’s marquee customers. The company installed the system in select stores, supports the system in a number of malls and has even taken the system on a multi-city tour to turn a traditional struggle — finding just the right pair of jeans — into a quick 10-second shopping experience.

Other high-profile clients include American Eagle, Gap, Dockers, Alfant and INC.

Ahead of the Curve

“This is a radically new technology that we couldn’t have pulled off 10 years ago,” Charpentier says. “The capability of today’s PCs to do math processing has really made this possible.”

Intellifit’s biggest obstacle isn’t consumer acceptance. “When people try it, they can’t believe how quick, easy and accurate it is,” Charpentier notes. “Our biggest challenge is that the retail apparel industry is slow to adopt new technology. The industry brands are a little skeptical, but as Internet shopping continues to grow, consumers getting better sizing information becomes a greater need.”

It’s in the Numbers

Intellifit, which started in 2000 and employs 17 people, uses advanced DSP in its calculations — and basic math (improved sales) in its sales pitch to stores.

In the retail world, for example, profit per square foot of floor space is everything. “In the case of Levi’s stores, they average around $10,000 per year from 50 square feet of floor space,” Charpentier says. “With our system in place, they have proven that they generate a lot more than $10,000 in incremental revenue. When the shopping experience is easier and quicker, people will buy more.”

X-static is a fiber made with a layer of 99.9% pure silver, which is permanently bonded to the surface of a textile fiber.

Today, thanks to Scranton-based Noble Fiber Technologies, American troops are also going into battle carrying silver—using it to keep the microbes that cause offensive body odors at bay.

The company’s X-static offers all the benefits known to be inherent to pure silver, only in a new format: textile technology. Originally developed for medical and industrial use, X-static is finding its way into products being used all over the world.

Ideal for Troops in the Field

“T-shirts and socks with X-static are standard issue for the Marines Corp, the Army, and other branches of the military,” says Jim Walsh, CFO of Noble. “I’ve read comments from people in the field who say they’ve worn a T-shirt for 12 straight days and, despite the heat and condition, it had no smell, no odor.

“Ironically, odor is the least of the protections which we are providing to our soldiers,” says Walsh. “Since the silver technology in our military products is the same which is used in our medical bandages, our young men in arms are in reality wearing bandages which is no small consideration in a hostile environment. Our real business is saving lives.”

While this may be small consolation for our troops sweating it out in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world, it does bring the troops a level of hygiene and comfort – not to mention keeping the bugs at bay.

In addition to its anti-microbial properties, which eliminate odor-causing bacteria, X-static is all natural, nontoxic and contains no chemicals or pesticides. An added bonus for troops in the desert is the heat transfer property – it is cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter.

Humble Beginnings and a Helping Hand

BFTP invested $130,000 in Noble and linked them with university-based research and development capabilities to help develop X-static. But according to Bill McNally, a founder of Noble, the money was not the most important thing.

“BFTP had tremendous faith in X-static and all its possibilities,” he says. “When I first went to them, the staff told us they would help us if we made some changes. Our business plan needed a lot of work. They asked us very direct questions, making us think about how to best use our resources. When you work with BFTP, you get the overwhelming and overriding feeling that you are not alone.”

The company currently employs close to 100 people. McNally predicts Noble will be the largest employer in the Scranton area within 10 years.

Growing Demand and a Global Audience

X-static has been thrust into consumer-product markets as a result of the need for a safe and effective anti-microbial solution. X-static is the best anti-microbial solution on the market, yet it is a fiber-technology system uniquely suited to meet several additional market demands.

“We are now in almost every segment of the outdoor world – running, hiking, you name it,” Walsh says. In fact, X-static was used in the running uniform of 61 countries at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Noble’s products are also being used by NASA, the European Space Agency, and for wound care in partnership with Johnson & Johnson.