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#Research & Development

Hohenstein Institute holds naming competition for new testing device

“Charlie” has been used to examine the wear comfort of different textile products since the late 1960s. Now the competition at www.hohenstein.de/namenswettbewerb is looking for a name for his “brother”, a new thermal manikin. (c) 2013 Hohenstein
He is one of the most senior and most well-known employees of the Hohenstein Institute: The thermal manikin “Charlie” has been devoting its services to the quest for more wear comfort of textile products at the internationally renowned research and test institute in Bönnigheim/ Germany since the late 1960s.

Since 2008, he has been supported by a children's manikin which the researchers christened “Charlene”.

And now there is a new addition to the family – another adult manikin. A competition is being held to find a name. Prizes include gift vouchers for sports and outdoor clothing.

One of three names for Charlie's and Charlene's “brother” can be chosen at http://www.hohenstein.de/en/news/namenswettbewerb/ until 31 December 2013. The web page also explains why these three names were selected for the final list from the many suggestions.

The “family gallery” also provides a detailed explanation of the functions and the fields of application of the different testing devices. The still unnamed thermal manikin, for example, can determine the thermal insulation of textile products as well as their water vapour resistance as a measure of breathability in just one measuring cycle. Previously, the measurements using Charlie and Charlene had to be supplemented with results from the “Hohenstein skin model”.

The new family member now allows the Hohenstein scientists to evaluate the wear comfort of ready-made clothing, bedding items and sleeping bags faster and more efficiently for research purposes or customer projects.

Pic: The children's manikin “Charlene” joined the “test family” at the Hohenstein Institute in 2008

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#Research & Development

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#Research & Development

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