Manifattura del Seveso S.p.A. is an Italian company founded in 1917 and now led by the fourth generation of the founding family. Its historic activity is the production of non-woven textiles for high-end applications, including publishing-grade bookbinding and luxury packaging: sectors that demand high-quality materials, consistent performance and attention to detail. Since 1993, production has been concentrated at the Osio Sotto plant, in the province of Bergamo, where the company designs and manufactures its materials entirely in Italy. Originally unrelated to the construction industry, the company has developed a dedicated building line only over the past fifteen years, transferring into this field the expertise gained in the processing of non-woven textiles. From this path comes ISOBELL, the division dedicated to hygrothermal renovation systems and wall comfort, distributed on the Italian market and across numerous international markets.
Thermo-hygrometric membrane ISOBELL
At the heart of the division is ISOBELL, a patented single-layer thermo-hygrometric membrane made of recycled polyester non-woven fabric and coated with a water-based acrylic compound that is flame-retardant and free of volatile organic compounds. Within a single layer, the membrane combines the functions of air barrier, vapour retarder, thermal regulator and low-emissivity surface. Its operating principle is based on the balance between resistance to water and breathability: the membrane prevents the penetration of liquid water while allowing vapour to migrate, regulating the hygrothermal balance of the masonry. In this way the surface dew point is removed and mould, condensation and salt crystallisation are prevented, while the evening-out of thermal bridges and the rise in wall surface temperature improve living comfort and reduce energy loss. The system is structured into complete application cycles, conceived for both internal and external walls: treatment of mould and condensation, cold walls and thermal bridges, rising damp and salt efflorescence, and the recovery of deteriorated façades and damaged external insulation systems. The membrane is complemented by a range of mineral and functional products — potassium silicate adhesives and finishes, preparation primers, consolidants, anti-salt treatments, sanitising biocides and anti-condensation mineral paints — formulated to integrate within the various cycles. Installation is fast and non-invasive: the membrane is supplied in rolls and applied by bonding, without demolition or mechanical fixings, even over existing external insulation systems, characteristics that make it particularly suited to the energy retrofitting of existing buildings, to projects subject to volumetric constraints and to conservative renovation.
Quality and certifications
In terms of quality and conformity, the system holds a European Technical Assessment (ETA 25/1101), issued in accordance with the European Assessment Document EAD 040288-00-1201, and is CE marked as a vapour control layer under EN 13984, with reaction-to-fire classification according to EN 13501-1. Conformity is certified by a Declaration of Performance, supported by a factory production control system and by type testing carried out by a notified body and at external laboratories authorised and accredited for the testing of construction materials and components. The product also complies with the Italian Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM Edilizia) and is compatible with the LEED and BREEAM sustainability protocols, thanks to its recycled content and the absence of harmful emissions. "Live your comfort" sums up the brand's mission: healthier, drier and more comfortable indoor spaces, achieved through an approach that prevents decay rather than merely treating it.
