Wallboards can combat spread of bacteria

Peter Greening’s company, AgTech, will manufacture the product, designed primarily for internal use in hospitals, kitchens, public toilets and sports centres. He says the wallboards are the only ones of their kind to be able both to stop germs from spreading, and kill them on contact. The silver-based anti-microbial agent has “excelled in independent tests”, being proven to kill “99+% of bacteria in six hours”, and typically the majority in the first 30 minutes.

AgTech says published reports show the silver technology is also effective against viruses including Avian Flu and SARS, while the silver reduces the powder coat finish’s surface tension, facilitating cleaning.

The AgTech product, independently tested by Reading Scientific Services, is reportedly particularly effective against E. coli.

Peter Greening was inspired to develop the wallboards when, during a hospital stay, he noticed that, although surfaces were cleaned regularly, the wall panels were potentially rife superbug breeding grounds. After researching existing anti-microbial products he found “there were flaws with all of them”.