Contact infections with viruses, fungi and bacteria were already a problem even before the pandemic – and JW Winco is expanding its Sanline range of antibacterial products.

Bacteria with high resistance to common antibiotic therapies have been on the rise for years, especially in healthcare facilities, schools and food production facilities, JW Winco explained in a news release.

“One part of the solution involves surfaces that people come into contact with – in other words, handles, buttons, switches, plugs, tables, keyboards and even touch screens,” the new release explained. “Bacteria, fungi and viruses can collect in these locations, form a biofilm that facilitates growth and eventually be transferred to the next user. Reliably interrupting this very simple transmission route is therefore a worthwhile objective. The fewer microorganisms present on such surfaces, the lower the infection risk.”

Frequent cleaning and disinfection is one solution, “but it is prone to errors and can exhibit problematic gaps,”  JW Winco cautioned. “It is far more effective and reliable for the surfaces themselves to have an antimicrobial effect. Any microorganisms coming into contact with such surfaces are then automatically deactivated, and this prevents their transmission. Moreover, such effects can be very long-lasting.”

Winco began addressing the problem years ago by adding antibacterial protection to a whole series of standard parts. The various handling elements – wing nuts, buttons, hand levers and U-handles – make use of two different principles. In the case of plastics, special additives with silver ions are mixed in, while metal parts are given powder coatings based on zinc molybdate.

“Both principles destroy the cell walls of the microorganisms, causing them to die. For humans, contact with such activated surfaces poses no risk whatsoever,” according to the JW Winco news release. “Zinc molybdate additives are of particular interest. With the help of moisture in the air, an acidic film with a pH of about 4.5 forms on the surfaces – similar to the one on human skin. The acid protons penetrate the cell membrane of the bacteria, quickly destroying them.”

The news release pointed out that the “antibacterial properties are no replacement for cleaning or disinfection.”

Founded in 1978, JW Winco is a Ganter Company, manufactures and distributes standard machine components and metal stamping and supplying handles, nobs, levers, clamps, pins and related products.  JW Winco has facilities in Canada and Mexico and is headquartered at 2815 S. Calhoun Rd., New Berlin, WI 53151-0035 Web: JWWinco.com