Crown Trade launches Steracryl paint containing SteriTouch antimicrobial additives

June 15, 2010 - PRLog -- The Crown Trade Steracryl range of antibacterial coatings, launched this week, will prevent the growth of bacteria and mould.  This follows a hugely successful few years for SteriTouch, the only company in Wales currently offering a co-branding opportunity to global retailers, and has seen lucrative partnerships formed with the likes of Mothercare, World Dryer and Universal Electronics.  
SteriTouch is a range of antimicrobial additives which can be incorporated into almost any material including moulded plastics, fabrics, powder coated metal and liquids.  The innovative technology is based on the natural sterilising properties of silver, used for thousands of years to preserve and protect. It inhibits harmful bacteria such as E.Coli and MRSA, and also prevents mould.

Crown has developed its Steracryl range in response to increased concern over illness-causing bacteria, and envisages its use in public areas such as hospitals, where it will have the dual benefit of preventing the growth of harmful substances and also extending maintenance cycles, thus reducing redecoration costs. Furthermore, field trials in an NHS trust have demonstrated excellent results under a scrupulous cleaning regime.  It is vital that products being used in public areas such as hospitals are thoroughly tested for efficacy and durability.

Debbie Orr, Brand Manager for Crown Trade, explains, “As experts in the field of coatings manufacturing, it is important for us to stay at the forefront of technology and respond to the growing requirement for antibacterial products in healthcare environments. We needed to be sure that the partner we worked with was established and would be an endorsement to our Steracryl range. It was also important for us that our products were independently tested and based on a proven technology.

“When choosing our partner for the development of the range, we found SteriTouch to be very proactive and incredibly knowledgeable.  SteriTouch also helped us with the launch of Steracryl, providing training for our Sales team and ongoing marketing support.”

SteriTouch was founded in 2003 by Directors Huw Durban and Nick Corlett, to fill a gap in the market for a household antimicrobial name.  It began producing keyboard covers for NHS trusts, protecting unhygienic keyboards from bacteria and mould. The potential of the additives soon attracted bigger contracts, with PHS washrooms using it in their hand dryers, Cardiff-based Amadeus in their popular infant beakers, and global US leader Universal Electronics in their television remotes. It is the versatility of the additives that makes it so attractive to such different industries.

A significant proportion of the company’s growth has been through export. This is mainly due to contracts with Western brand owners with manufacturing sites in the Far East, such as World Dryer Corporation and Mothercare, but also with overseas companies looking to adopt an established Western co-brand.

Nick Corlett, Director of SteriTouch explains, “While we have a comprehensive and robust range of antimicrobial additives, we are increasingly finding that clients are choosing SteriTouch on the strength of our brand rather than purely on the performance of our products. Since SteriTouch is already being used as a co-brand by Mothercare, Universal Electronics, World Dryer and now Crown Paints, new clients are instantly comfortable with the technology and by using the SteriTouch trademark they are aligning themselves with some of the most recognised brands.

The SteriTouch team continues to expand with the appointment of Marketing Manager, Joanna Wilson, and are preparing to move to a much larger unit on the same Business Park.  
“The new building gives us roughly four times the floor space. It will easily accommodate our continued growth, both in terms of employees and warehousing, but more importantly we will be able to bring in-house some of the core activities that are currently sub-contracted. Our objective is not just to provide excellent products and a meaningful co-brand, but also to deliver genuine value. Establishing our own research and development capability will enable us to bring products to market more swiftly and allow us to relieve our clients of a significant portion of the qualification process. The new facility will also give us the opportunity to install an environmental testing lab, providing further support and reassurance across a broad range of applications.”

# # #

About SteriTouch: SteriTouch® is a range of antimicrobial additives designed to reduce the growth
of harmful organisms such as bacteria, mould and fungi, while remaining
entirely safe for even the most sensitive applications.

Based on an innovative silver technology
SteriTouch® is particularly effective
against illness causing bacteria such
as MRSA, E. Coli and Salmonella.

SteriTouch® require no licensing fees
and the SteriTouch® trademark and logo
are freely available for use by any of its
partners and customers.