In the present Coronavirus dominated social landscape, contact infection is the pre-eminent daily concern; with frequent handwashing recommended to break the onward transmission from touching handles and other equipment, therefore reducing new infections, and potentially saving lives.
Therefore, it is of global importance to focus on the hygiene of hand operated equipment in medical/bio-chemical and laboratory environments, including disability aids, food processing and pharmaceutical, catering and public fittings. In these situations, Elesa offers an effective aid to hygiene, with a recently expanded high performing SAN (sanitary) range of handles, knobs, levers, clamping handles and similar, produced with exactly this situation in mind.
Its range expansion includes new cylindrical handles eg for operating handwheels, knurled grip knobs, adjustable clamping handles, wing nuts and solid hand knobs – all suitable for equipment operation or adjustment.
SAN products are proven to prevent the proliferation of microbes, bacteria and fungi on the product surface by controlled release of silver ions, thus providing a long-term anti-microbial action in critical environments. Silver has long been recognised for its efficiency in this role by damaging microbial cell walls - and even now - recent research has revealed a mechanism whereby the silver ions have been shown to inhibit operation of microbial flagella.
The Elesa manufacturing team has managed to develop a sophisticated injection moulding material with this silver inclusion, and with stainless steel inserts, suitable for use even in sterilisation cycles up to 130°C. SAN line components are available in white or black with SAN logo laser engraved to clearly identify them.
Tests on material samples to ISO 22196:2011 show considerable effectiveness for four different types of bacteria and the more difficult to eliminate fungus: Escherichia coli – 99.9%, staphylococcus aureus - 99.9%, klebseilla pneumoniae – 99.8%, pseudomonas aeruginosa – 99.9% and candida albicans – 98.9%.
Will joined Fastener + Fixing Magazine in 2007 and over the last 12 years has experienced every facet of the fastener sector – interviewing key figures within the industry and visiting leading companies and exhibitions around the globe. Will manages the content strategy across all platforms and is the guardian for the high editorial standards that the brand is renowned.
