Occurrences of MRSA and other hospital infections are mentioned everyday in the media. Clearly, cleaning plays in big role in reducing the chance of infection, along with good personal hygiene, however material technology is also playing its part.
A huge amount of development has taken place in materials with antibacterial properties. The additive is added in the masterbatch, so it is inherent in the material and is not just a coating on the surface. The material is formulated to match the exact customer needs. It can be added to a range of resins from EVA to high-performance metal replacement grades such as PEEK.
In-house laboratory testing is carried out by the manufacturers within seven working days and if proved successful, it allows customers to claim anti-microbial properties for their product from that point onwards.
The anti-microbial additives reduces bacteria such as MRSA, C.Diff, E.Coli, Listeria and Salmonella on surfaces. It is now even being introduced into non-medical products such as mobile phones, that often carry high levels of bugs.
Gm Design & Development is using anti-microbial additives in many of their project, so if you would like advice on how to add anti-microbial protection to your products, please contact us and we would be happy to help.