Protecting the product against unseen microbes

Most Facility Managers face a myriad of concerns that require a host of products designed to maximize security. But there’s a growing awareness that just protecting against the common physical threats to security is no longer enough to ensure a safe environment.

Independent studies have confirmed that maintaining a secure environment against the unseen world of bacteria and other microbes is of prominent concern. As a premier security solutions provider, Stanley Security Solutions now offers a comprehensive measure to provide continuous, 24/7 protection against the growth of microbes on a wide range of its security products.

Stanley’s portfolio incorporates an optional finish coating called UltraShield™. This enhanced finish is a result of Stanley’s partnership with Agion Technologies, a leader in antimicrobial technology. Agion’s antimicrobial agent carries a Cradle To Cradle thirdparty certification as an environmentally-friendly product.

The Stanley Security Solutions UltraShield finish inhibits the growth of bacteria and other microbes on the surface of the hardware.

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How UltraShield™ Antimicrobial Protected Coating Works

The UltraShield protected coating incorporates a naturally-occurring silver ion exchange that creates a sanitary surface. In doing so, the microbe food and oxygen supplies are eliminated, effectively producing a long-lasting product protection. The silver ion exchange occurs only on demand when destructive microbes are present as shown in figure1. The UltraShield protection is durable and is on guard 24/7.

Figure 2 shows the ion exchange process. Zeolite crystals containing silver ions are randomly oriented and distributed through the surface of the coating. In conditions that support bacterial growth, positive ions, in ambient moisture, exchange with silver ions at reversible bonding sites on the zeolite. The exchanged silver ions are now available to control microbial growth.

Fighting microbes in three ways
Silver ions attack multiple targets in the microbe to prevent it from growing to a destructive population. This action fights cell growth in three ways:
1. Prevents respiration by inhibiting transport functions in the cell wall
2. Inhibits cell division (reproduction)
3. Disrupts cell metabolism

Depending on the microorganism, Agion’s antimicrobial technology has been shown to initially reduce microbial populate ions within minutes to hours while maintaining optimal performance for years.

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