MMQB Reports on Bretford’s Multi-Surface Antimicrobial Finishes

1. Feature Products / Video
Bretford’s
Multi-Surface
Antimicrobial
Finishes
A new surface and furniture paint from Bretford
Manufacturing that’s bad news for germs is great news
for students and office workers who want to avoid
getting sick.
BY ROB KIRKBRIDE
A
new surface and furniture paint from Bretford Manu- “bed of nails” that pierces the cell membrane. The cell pops
facturing that’s bad news for germs is great news for and dies.
students and office workers who want to avoid getting Bretford does not make the cell-splitting surfaces, but the
sick. company does recognize the value for its customers. Accord-
Using what it calls Microbe Barrier Technologies, the com- ing to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more
pany claims it is the first to offer multi-surface antimicrobial than 82 million students and staff are returning to K-12 and
finishes on many of its products for learning and training envi- higher education environments in the United States this fall.
ronments. The new antimicrobial surface protection reduces “There is heightened concern about the spread of germs,
the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew and fungi by 99.99 per- especially this year with all the flu precautions,” said Mike
cent for the life of the product. Available for order now, the Briggs, president of Bretford Manufacturing, Inc. “The time
Bretford tables and carts with these finishes are intended to was right for us to do our part by providing an added line of
help prevent the spread of germs and contribute to the health defense against sickness-related germs in schools and offices.”
and well-being of children and adults. Research at the University of Arizona has found that class-
rooms are some of the most germ-filled public places. Teach-
ers’ workspaces are more bacteria-laden than workspaces
of other professions because of the constant contact with
children. This research also showed that every 60 seconds,
a working adult touches as many as 30 objects, and that sur-
faces play a role in the transmission of viruses and bacteria
that cause illness. If these surfaces are not effectively cleaned,
and then are touched by individuals, the transfer of disease-
causing microbes can begin, resulting in cross-contamination.
Bretford offers the finishes on its most popular products. As
more and more orders come in, the company plans on adding
it to other products and on customs as well.
Bretford is careful not to oversell the benefits of the new
Director of Sales Chris Petrick said the company has been surfaces. The surfaces will not kill a virus. But it will add an-
working on getting the antimicrobial finishes and tops on its other level of protection on top of washing hands and the sur-
products for the past six months. There are two different prod- faces. While it won’t stop the spread of the swine flu, it will kill
ucts at work killing the microbes. The first is an anti-microbial the dreaded streptococcus bacteria that causes strep throat, a
powder coat paint that has been in use in the medical industry sickness that leads to millions of lost school days. It will also
for some time. The top surfaces are all new technology. kill staphylococcus a bacteria.
For microbes, the surfaces are a real killer. The squeamish “There are more kids out of school because of strep and
might want to stop reading here. Here’s how it works: Bretford staph problems in hospitals,” Petrick said. “This is going to put
applies a coating to the surface that attracts the microbes to a another line of defense in place for schools and business to
12 The Monday Morning Quarterback September 7, 2009 the September 7, 2009 issue of the Monday Morning Quarterback © 2009
Reprinted from www.mmqb.com

2. prevent students and workers from getting sick.” or germ – from multiplying. Through extensive studies, these
About 80 percent of germs are spread through the environ- colorless, odorless finishes have been found to be safe for peo-
ment we live in, said Cindy Weinschreider, senior market- ple and effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, mold,
ing manager. “Teachers’ and students’ desks and classrooms mildew and fungi. According to the standard methods AATCC
in general are about the germiest places out there,” she said. Test Method 100 and JIS Z 2801, microbe population reduc-
“What this does is reduces the growth of bacteria, mold and tions of 99.99 percent can be achieved.
fungi by 99 percent for the life of the product. Currently, more than 50 different tables and carts are avail-
“You touch one thing (that’s dirty) and you touch another able with Microbe Barrier Technologies finishes. Models from
thing and pretty soon the microbes are everywhere,” Weinsch- Bretford’s Connections Series work centers, Quattro Series
reider said. “If you are sick, you’re not working. If you’re sick, classroom and activity tables and RHOMBII Series training
you’re not in school. It can help with productivity because you tables will have these coatings as well as brand new edges for
are at work and in school more.” a modern look. In addition, models from the company’s laptop
The new surfaces do come at a premium. Smaller pieces of and technology cart lines will also have the new antimicrobial
furniture are about $30 more while larger pieces can be about surface protection.
$100 more. Discounting reduces the actual cost. Aesthetically, Bretford test marketed the products in a few school dis-
the products are virtually the same. Bretford’s Microbe Bar- tricts. Petrick said administrators were impressed. Anything
rier Technologies are a blend of polymers and other substanc- that can help reduced the spread of sickness is welcome news
es that are coated onto the tables and carts. These finishes do for schools.
not change the physical or mechanical characteristics of the Bretford is accepting orders on the new products now and
wood and metal products. The coatings use either a physical will begin shipping on Oct. 1. 6
or chemical reaction to prevent a disease-causing microbe –
www.mmqb.com Reprinted from the September 7, 2009 issue of the Monday Morning Quarterback © 2009 The Monday Morning Quarterback 13
September 7, 2009