Macdermid helps control infections in hospitals

Autotex AM has been incorporated into membrane panels and product labelling on the Sluicemaster, helping to prevent the growth and spread of potentially harmful bacteria, such as MRSA, in hospitals

Autotex AM, the recently launched polyester film from MacDermid Autotype that incorporates built-in inorganic antimicrobial protection from specialist company Microban is being used on the new Sluicemaster bedpan disposer range from Haigh Engineering.

In particular, Autotex AM has been incorporated into the membrane panels and product labelling on the Sluicemaster, helping to prevent the growth and spread of potentially harmful bacteria, such as MRSA, in hospitals.

Haigh Engineering is a leading specialist in controlling waste streams produced in the waste water, hospital, care home and catering industries.

The company's Sluicemaster range is designed for the disposal of single use bedpans, and offers a range of benefits both to patients, in terms of comfort, and nurses, by being easy to use and hygienic.

"Our Sluicemaster range offers a hygienic approach to the disposal of bed pans, and helps to reduce cross infection as each patient receives a new bedpan each time".

As Nick Shepherd, deputy managing director of Haigh Engineering explains: "The addition of Autotex AM to the product labelling and membrane surfaces adds a further dimension to the infection control ability of the Sluicemaster as the inorganic antimicrobial protection provided by the film substrate reduces bacteria by 99% in the first 24 hours".

Autotex AM has been extensively tested and is proven to inhibit the growth of a wide range of bacteria, fungi and moulds including MRSA, salmonella enteritidis, escherichia coli and listeria monocytogenes.

The antimicrobial protection works by penetrating the cell wall of micro-organisms that come into contact with the substrate surface and disrupting their cell functions, making them unable to grow or reproduce.

Antimicrobial technology is incorporated into the Autotex textured hard coat during manufacturing, ensuring an even distribution of the antimicrobial agent throughout the texture and film surface.

The Autotex AM antimicrobial film substrate is being printed for Haigh Engineering by Sussex Screen Printing, which has been working for Haigh Engineering for over a decade, while the keyboard itself is manufactured by Hampshire based IGT Industries.

Adam Bardin, partner at Sussex Screen Printing, explains: "We have only been using the Autotex AM film for a short period and already we are extremely impressed with the quality and printability of this new material.

"We are also using other non-antimicrobial film substrates from MacDermid Autotype and have found them all to be superior by comparison to competing polyester materials.

"The Autotex substrates are easy to handle on press, with excellent printing characteristics and have an extremely tough hardcoat which makes them ideal for a wide range of demanding applications.

"We have been in the industrial printing business for eleven years and I would highly recommend the use of the Autotex film substrates to any of my customers.".

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