Login | April 19, 2024
New technology expected to improve bin cleanliness at CAK
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: September 19, 2017
Each day, airline passengers place laptops, phones, clothing, shoes and other items into screening bins as they make their way through security.
While the process is now a routine part of traveling, one local airport is taking an extra step to help ensure that the bins are clean.
On Aug. 29, the Akron-Canton Airport became the first airport in the world to line TSA (Transportation Security Administration) security checkpoint bins with specially designed NanoSeptic skins and mats that function as continuously self-cleaning surfaces.
Rick McQueen, president and chief executive officer at the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK), said the devices are the latest effort to improve customer service at the airport.
“We pride ourselves on the fact that we have an exceptionally clean facility,” said McQueen. “The NanoSeptic material has been placed on the handles and bottoms of security bins as an extension of our efforts to provide a clean and healthy environment for our customers.”
The skins and mats were provided by physician-owned Western Reserve Hospital as part of its ongoing effort to improve community health and safety.
“We know that the easiest way to help prevent the transmission of germs is to wash our hands,” said Dr. Robert Kent, president and chief executive officer at Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls. “The skins and mats expand on that concept by helping to keep the bins in which we place so many different items clean on a 24-hour basis.
“The skins and mats work to create a self-cleaning oxidation reaction that is actually stronger than bleach and they never stop working.
“The devices are a good way to raise awareness concerning the improved attention to cleanliness in airports that people travel through,” said Kent.
The technology used in the skins and mats was developed by Forest, Virginia-based NanoTouch Materials several years ago.
“The basic science that the company used to develop the skins and mats has been around for 40 years, but the company applied new material science to harness the technology into usable products,” said Mark Sisson, co-founder of NanoTouch Materials.
“The specific airport application is something we came up with in the last 18 months or so,” said Sisson. “We already had a whole line of products that involve peel and stick self-cleaning skins that are applied to touch points like door handles as well as portable mats for travel and snack trays.”
The NanoSeptic skins and mats contain mineral nano-crystals. Each one is approximately 1/10,000th the size of a human hair.
“The crystals are molecularly bonded to the surface,” said Sisson. “They are energized by natural and artificial light, which creates an oxidation reaction that works to break down organic contaminants into base components.
“The photocatalytic process, which breaks down organic contaminants, is the opposite of photosynthesis, which is used by plants to create organic matter.
“It cleans the contaminants that are not visible to the human eye, but large particles such as dirt will still have to be wiped away,” said Sisson.
The skins and mats are peeled off and placed on touch points. Their self-cleaning effects last for about 90 days.
The average cost of the devices is between $50 and $60, but NanoTouch offered the hospital a significantly discounted rate on the products, which are patent pending.
Sisson said the company is working with airport officials to gage the effectiveness of the skins and mats and address any issues that might need to be corrected.
“There are approximately 9,000 airports around the world,” said Sisson. “Once we gather the data from Akron-Canton Airport, we will determine how best to roll out this technology to other airports.”
“The airport has received positive feedback from customers who are thankful for this initiative,” McQueen said.
McQueen said he and the airport staff plan to look into more ways to utilize the self-cleaning materials in other areas of the airport and “continue the effort to improve the travel experience at CAK.”
While Western Reserve Hospital is not currently using the product in its facility, Kent said administrators might do so in the future.
“We think it’s a great technology and could be very useful at the many different entry points in the hospital,” said Kent.