Antibacterial rubber matting
processing machinery operators. Rubber matting has been one
solution but with that comes bacteria problems. A US company
believes it has the solution.
Historically, the attempted solution has been to equip food processing work places with rubber matting to reduce strain on the legs, lower back, and other parts of the body that are vulnerable to fatigue and pain.
However, rubber mats are prone to attack by bacteria and fungi because their chemical constituents often provide an ideal source of nutrients that support microbial growth. Further, these mats are often used in warm, moist environments rich in micro-organisms - conditions that are ideal for proliferation of these life forms.
Microbial build-up is not only unsanitary and odorous, but can create unsafe conditions resulting from slipping, tripping, or falling. It can also result in premature deterioration of the matting, which can result in expensive, ongoing replacement costs.
Milliken-Kex, a business unit of Milliken & Company, is successfully addressing these issues with a new line of rubber mats that feature antimicrobial and anti-fatigue properties. Called UltraSan, the new mats are made from Elastoguard rubber, introduced by US-based Milliken Chemical Speciality Elastomers in May of 2003. The new rubber compounds use a proprietary silver-based biocide called Antimicrobial AlphaSan to control, if not halt, the growth of bacteria and fungi on the mats, while avoiding challenges that organic biocides have posed in the past.
Combined with Elastoguard's superior anti-fatigue properties, the company says that the material has made the UltraSan mats popular among commercial kitchens, food processing plants, grocery stores, industrial shops, and other areas prone to microbial contamination where people need to be on their feet for prolonged periods of time.
The UltraSan mats were developed jointly by Milliken-Kex and MCSE to address both anti-fatigue and antimicrobial concerns. These include through-holes and moulded-in texture on both the mat front and back to provide cross channels to minimise water or solids build-up, while also protecting footwear from prolonged contact with moisture.
Suction disks on the back secure and elevate the mat above the surface of the ground making it less likely to slip if the floor is flooded, where conventional mat designs would be at a much higher risk of slippage. Beveled mat edges help to further reduce the risk of slipping and falling. The beveled edges also allow side-by-side placement of multiple mats without adding flat surfaces that could result in potentially dangerous water or substance build-up areas, the company says.
Further to demonstrating strong resistance to microbial buildup, the mats do not incorporate substances toxic to humans or unsuitable for food contact, all of which is critical in food-related industries.
Scott McDowell, business development manager for Milliken Chemical's Coated Products and Elastomers Business, said: "We studied this market for a long time and responded with a material that meets several needs at once."
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