Paul Ford, CEO for Agion Technologies, discusses the current medical market for antimicrobials.  Agion is a leader in providing safe, natural antimicrobial solutions based on silver, "nature's antimicrobial."

Q What are the growth areas for the Medical Market?

A The medical Market is built on innovation. Creating better products is a constant theme in this market as it is any industry where cleanliness is of the utmost concern. Today, healthcare fabrics are exposed to an ever increasing number of microbes on a daily basis. These microbes have the potential to latch onto fabric and cause odor and staining problems over time. Currently we see medical fabrics growing in many specific areas including medical clothing, footwear, face masks, furniture upholstery, architectural materials like wall covering and carpeting, and patient room divider curtains. At the same time we're seeing antimicrobials being adopted throughout the healthcare environment from flooring and door hardware to HVAC systems and plumbing products. It is clear that the healthcare industry sees the need for antimicrobial protection.

Q The growth in the medical market is occurring globally.  In which countries is the growth in medical fabrics the greatest?

Q From your perspective, where are the opportunties for antimicrobial in the Medical Market on the textile side?

A Textiles play an important role in all healthcare facilities. Any textile application found in a healthcare setting is susceptible to microbial growth. Often, it is the textiles in a hospital that are rarely laundered that should be addressed first. When a doctor’s tie is the source of a news story about bacteria it is clear that any and all textiles in a healthcare environment should be looked at as an opportunity for antimicrobial protection. An extra layer of product protection is an invaluable addition to any medical textile application. Specific areas within a medical setting that would benefit greatly from antimicrobial protection include patient and hospital worker garments and scrubs, footwear and architectural products like furniture upholstery, carpeting, wall coverings and patient curtains.

Q What are the challenges to manufacturers in the Medical Market?

A Several challenges come to mind including restrictions on claims (in the US, the EPA restricts claims language) and the diverse range of bacteria and viruses that could be found in a healthcare environment.  Medical manufacturers need to constantly be innovative in their product offerings. Agion’s naturally occurring antimicrobial technology provides textile manufacturers with the ability to differentiate and separate themselves from the competition. Incorporating antimicrobial product protection provides a functional solution to the cleanliness issue which is on the top of the medical market’s priority list.

Q Provide a brief description of your Agion® antimicrobial technology.

A The cornerstone of Agion technology is silver, a naturally occurring and highly effective antimicrobial agent, which is proven to be safe with no toxic effects on people, plants or animals. The silver ions are encased in a ceramic carrier that allows delivery of the silver only when its’ needed. The technology is available at the fiber level or as a finish to give the manufacturer of the textile flexibility. Agion’s patented antimicrobial technology operates at the surface of products including textiles, upholstery and fabrics to provides built-in protection by naturally and continuously resisting the growth of microbes.

Q How does it differ from other antimicrobial in the market?

A Traditional antimicrobial-treated fabrics and textiles can lose their antimicrobial effectiveness quickly due to regular cleaning and wear. Conversely, textiles that have Agion antimicrobial technology built in can be engineered to remain effective for a high number of industrial washes. Agion is not a synthetic chemical and durability is achieved in both fiber and finish applications. Agion has a long history of using silver on materials and has broadest global registration package in the industry.

Q What specifically are you doing in the area of Agion® product development for the Medical Market?

A Agion has developed a brand new odor elimination technology called Agion Active which is a culmination of two powerful technologies. In addition to our antimicrobial, Agion Active incorporates industrial strength odor elimination technology that continuously removes ambient odors from the fabric. Agion Active is a first for the textile market and is available in a fabric finish delivering high value, cost effectively. We are also seeing enormous growth in medical devices, with the latest being a face mask application nearing FDA approvals.

Q What does the future look like for antimicrobial products in Medical (i.e. new innovations/applications for the future)?

A Antimicrobial protected products will continue to grow and play a key role into the future. Agion has established itself as the preferred antimicrobial for the healthcare industry. We will continue to work with leading manufacturers of medical devices and textiles to create smarter products that inhibit microbial growth. Our new Agion Active odor elimination technology is currently being evaluated by leading textile manufacturers for clothing and apparel.