Customer Experience
Looking for sanitation products for hard surfaces? Options abound
Providers of self-service equipment oftentimes find themselves under greater scrutiny when it comes to sanitation than in the pre-pandemic era.
September 2, 2021 by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times
(Editor's note: This is the second in a two-part series on sanitizing hard surfaces in the pandemic era.)
The clean era has arrived. For those of us tasked with maintaining a physical space where people congregate, sanitation has always been top of mind, but in the pandemic era, consumers are more sensitized than ever to coming into contact with potentially dangerous pathogens.
Businesses and organizations are going the extra mile to assure employees, visitors and customers their environments are safe, as noted in part one of this two-part series.
And while the pandemic has caused many consumers to favor self-service options over face-to-face interactions with employees, providers of self-service equipment oftentimes find themselves under greater scrutiny when it comes to sanitation than in the pre-pandemic era. This is because employees are oftentimes less visible in self-service environments.
In response to this heightened public awareness, solution providers have introduced a wealth of products to sanitize hard surfaces. Options range from simple wipes to protective coating films to ultraviolet light.
Following is an overview of sanitation products designed to ensure the safety of hard surfaces. Companies, listed in alphabetical order, provided images.
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Belfor Restoration Services
The Belfor 3-Step Clean System features a botanical disinfectant combined with an antimicrobial surface protectant that can provide continuous protection for up to 90 days.
After surfaces are cleaned with a disinfectant that kills 99.9% of all bacteria, fungus, mold and viruses, Belfor's patented Bioprotect antimicrobial surface protectant can provide protection between regular cleanings.
Bioprotect is especially useful for protecting touch points where microbial contaminants can grow within hours of disinfection.
Bioprotect is an EPA-registered, water-based formula that forms an antimicrobial shield to provide protection against a broad range of microbes.
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Connected Technology Solutions
Connected Technology Solutions' UV-C germicidal light deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, destroying their ability to multiply and cause disease, without the use of chemicals.
Sensors on the kiosk detect when it is in use and when the person has walked away, prompting it to begin a 30-second disinfection cycle. If a person wants to use the kiosk during the cycle, it senses the human presence and suspends the disinfection process, resuming the process when the person walks away.
The technology is effective against COVID-19, said Sandy Nix, company owner, and it has also been disinfecting SARS and MERS, which are other types of coronaviruses.
The UV-C embedding processed is part of manufacturing process for the company's own kiosks.
The process is also available as an upgrade for other kiosks. The upgrade kits include ballasts for light bulbs and/or LED lights depending on the particular kiosk, in addition to the software that runs the system.
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Embed
Embed Hygiene Defence products are stronger than industrial cleaners without the toxic health risks; the products can kill 99.9% of a broad spectrum of pathogens on hard surfaces, including COVID-19 on contact, bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores and mold.
The products are formulated with a mix of 100% natural, biodegradable, steam-distilled essential oils that do not irritate the skin. The ingredients are transparent and include San-Air V3R Essential oils, sage, cedar wood, de-mineralized water and natural suspending agents like seaweed and plant gum which are used in food.
The products have been shown to kill 99% of both fungus and spores with visible results within 30 minutes and permanent elimination in three weeks. They have also been shown to kill 99% of bacteria in indoor environments within three to five hours.
The products are independently tested by laboratories Eurofins and the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia.
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Green Life Development Inc.
Naturama from Green Life Development Inc., a water-based, botanical degreaser, breaks apart the molecular bonds of oils and fats that can collect on hard surfaces.
The degreaser lowers the surface tension of water so that the fluid penetrates the most inaccessible gaps. It breaks apart molecular bonds until the entire molecular chain is able to be carried away by rinsing with water or wiping.
Since Naturama has no harsh chemicals, no personal protective equipment is required when handling it. It does not release any toxic vapors, cause any skin burns or corrode materials such as steel, rubber, silicone or Plexiglas. Since it is biodegradable, it does not cause pollution and does not bind organic matter to its surface.
Naturama adheres to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Safer-Choice guidelines for ingredients of concern and has antibacterial and antiviral properties according to the European standard BS EN 14476 and BS EN 1276.
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Healthe
The Cleanse Downlight from Healthe delivers 222 nanometer light which inactivates microbes to sanitize air and surfaces, making them safe for human exposure. The reduction level depends on the type of contaminant, distance from the source and duration of exposure.
The system offers three sanitization modes that work with an integral motion sensor, turning UV-C on for 30 minutes every hour, or only on in unoccupied spaces.
The illumination features a boost at 435nm to help activate the antimicrobial properties of surface coatings and cleaners.
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Howard Technology Solutions
Howard Technology Solutions, a self-service kiosk solutions provider, has introduced what it describes as a total antimicrobial "baked-in" kiosk solution.
The company utilizes patented antimicrobial coating technology in its own branded touch displays that are permanently sintered into the glass during manufacturing to create touchscreens with germ-free protection for life.
The antimicrobial additives are directly baked into the glass display at the time of curing.
The metal kiosk enclosures, using powder-paint additives, are designed to kill or prevent growth of microorganisms over 24 hours of contact.
The antimicrobial additives have been proven effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant MRSA, E.coli and VRE, and work to inhibit the growth of mold and mildew.
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Kastus
A patented surface-coating technology developed by Kastus has been shown to be effective against human coronavirus on treated surfaces, an independent global testing laboratory has confirmed, according to the company
The patented coating is built into the screen protector surface and offers "always on" double protection for touchscreens.
Kastus has previously been proven to block up to 99.99% of surface bacteria and fungi including antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" such as MRSA and E. coli.
The coating is applied and baked in to the top layer of the glass or ceramic surface during the manufacturing process. Once it's locked in, the coating protects the underlying touchscreen device, glass or ceramic surface, while its antimicrobial power remains active through the lifetime of the product.
The company's screen protectors can be retrofitted on existing touchscreens and can be made to order in sizes from 4 to 34 inches diameter. Made from anti-shatter, durable, tempered glass, the protectors are designed with the patented Kastus antimicrobial surface-coating technology permanently built in. Each screen protector comes with an accessory application kit, including microfiber cloth and squeegee to allow anyone to apply it within just a few minutes.
While the coating is primarily designed for use on new products, companies can retrospectively add screen protectors with the coating applied to help provide enhanced protection.
The system offers three sanitization modes that work with an integral motion sensor, turning UV-C on for 30 minutes every hour, or only on in unoccupied spaces.
The illumination features a boost at 435nm to help activate the antimicrobial properties of surface coatings and cleaners.
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Optical Phusion
Optical Phusion Inc.'s Clean Solution consists of low-level UV-C lights that can be integrated for use with high-touch devices.
A small UV-C light can be mounted on a touchscreen with a motion sensor, and UV-C light sanitizing stations can be installed in locations to sanitize handheld devices.
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Phylagen
The Phylagen Surface SARS-CoV-2 test kit from Phylagen, a biotech company specializing in decoding the environmental microbiome for indoor safety, can be used on any surface to provide early detection of outbreaks in shared spaces.
By digitizing the genetic data contained in every surface sample, Phylagen uses artificial intelligence to build predictive technology that can anticipate a virus outbreak before it even occurs.
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PURO Disinfection Lighting
The Helo F1 from PURO Disinfection Lighting brings clinic-level cleaning to smaller spaces with the power of full spectrum UV.
Mounting options include 2- by 2-foot drop ceiling, hard lid ceilings or wall mounted.
The lighting offers the flexibility to run a disinfection cycle to fit the unique facility demands. Scheduled cycles ensure effective killing of bacteria, fungi and viruses overnight when the space is unoccupied. A motion sensor can provide automatic shut-off to prevent unnecessary UV exposure.
The Helo F2 uses high intensity full spectrum UV, including germicidal UV-C, anti-bacterial UV-B and UV-A to effectively kill bacteria, fungi and viruses, and limits the growth of fungi on surfaces and in the air in a matter of minutes.
Features for the Helo F2 are the same as the Helo F1, except the mounting options also include a 2- by 4-foot drop ceiling.
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Raydiant and Coastal Health USA
Coastal Health USA, a provider of healthcare infection control solutions, and Raydiant, a digital signage and in-location experience solutions provider, have partnered to offer antimicrobial protection on Raydiant's touchscreen, kiosk and virtual room solutions.
To protect high-touch areas such as interactive screens from bacteria, Coastal Health USA's technology helps mitigate 99.99% of the microbial bacteria traditionally found on these surface areas, according to the companies.
Under the partnership, the antimicrobial film will be placed over the Microsoft surface tablet's exterior to reduce the transfer of harmful bacteria and viruses which can otherwise live on the surfaces and spread to others.
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Silver Defender
Silver Defender provides stretchable films with built-in antimicrobial protection for keeping surfaces clean.
Activated by light, air pressure and touch, the propriety designs contain an antimicrobial agent that protects the film from bacteria, mold, mildew and fungi. Silver ions react with and affect multiple sites in bacterial cells on the exterior of the film, keeping it clean.
The company has also launched protective films for touchscreens, providing a layer of cleanliness to frequently touched surfaces.
Silver Defender can be found in public, nonprofit and private entities across the nation including airports, public transportation, retail locations, cruise lines, schools, hotels, government buildings and more. Clients include HSM Host, Long Island MacArthur Airport, Silverstein Properties and SL Green Realty.
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Safeology
The Safeology Tower eliminates up to 99.9% of surface pathogens through the effective use of UV-C disinfection. Designed for both function and safety, the tower offers a total-disinfection solution with the following features:
- Laser mapping technology to determine required UV-C dosage to deactivate the virus.
- Passive infrared motion sensors and AI movement detection to ensure safe operation in unoccupied spaces.
- An interactive 6.3-inch tablet with integrated wireless charger; Wi-Fi cloud-based control and monitoring; multiple languages; and cycle-completion notification.
- 74-inch height; 360-degree disinfection coverage; six high-output shatter resistant amalgam 253.7 nm UV-C lamp emitters with 12,000-hour lamp life; easy-roll wheels for fast deployment, with self-locking casters for secure placement.
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Sani Professional
Sani Professional no-rinse multi-surface wipes remove 99.999% of the most common foodborne pathogens within 60 seconds. The wipes have also been shown to be effective against Listeria and monocytogenes, and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
The wipes use a fast drying formula for individual wipes that consistently release a uniform level of Quat.
Before using the wipes, clean the area to be treated, then wipe the surface and allow the area to remain wet for 60 seconds. No rinsing is required as the surface air dries.
No mixing or measuring is required. The wipes are also disposable.
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Vital Vio
Vital Vio's patented antimicrobial light technology delivers a precise spectrum of visible light (400nm — 420nm) that initiates a photo-activation of porphyrin molecules found exclusively inside microbes, not humans, pets or plants, according to the company.
This photo-activation leads to the production of Reactive Oxygen Species, which in high doses cause irreparable damage to the cellular structure, which leads to bacterial cell death.
The light technology can continuously inhibit microbial growth and significantly decrease microbe presence.
A light positioned inside of a ceiling can expose the environment to anti-microbial light.
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Xtreme Bio
Xtreme Bio antimicrobial broad spectrum cleaner and detergent inactivates certain viruses in the presence of organic matter, kills bacteria and neutralizes odors, according to the company. Unlike other detergents and disinfectants, Xtreme Bio contains no glutaraldehydes or quaternary amines, and is safe for humans and animals.
Xtreme Bio is made entirely with FDA-approved Generally Recognized As Safe ingredients. It has been shown to neutralize viruses and bacteria in the presence of minimal amounts of organic matter.
The multi-surface cleaner cuts through grease, dirt and stains, and is non-corrosive, non-staining and does not irritate the skin.
Non-abrasive, non-flammable and phosphate-free, Xtreme Bio prevents mold and mildew from surfaces.
Once the product is applied, no further rinsing or wiping is required. The company does recommend rinsing aluminum after cleaning.
For an update on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting convenience services, click here.
About Elliot Maras
Elliot Maras is the editor of Kiosk Marketplace and Vending Times. He brings three decades covering unattended retail and commercial foodservice.
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Connected Technology Solutions
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CTS has been developing and deploying custom designed and semi-custom kiosks since 2002. Our kiosks are engineered to be rugged and appropriate for the environments in which they are used.
Howard Technology Solutions
Howard’s innovative kiosk technology is provided to you and your customers by our own host server allowing us to keep your interface up to date. With Howard’s kiosk user interface, your customers can make quick and easy payment transactions while keeping sensitive data safe. For all of your kiosk needs, choose Howard.
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