Frost & Sullivan Award recognises Nanopool’s innovative Liquid Glass
Nanopool’s antibacterial nano-coating combines safety with high disinfectant properties.
London, 18 May 2011
The Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation in Europe in the field of antibacterial nano-coatings was awarded to Nanopool GmbH, in recognition of their innovative Liquid Glass product, in London. The product offers an effective solution to the industrial demand for a safe antibacterial layer that can be conveniently applied to any surface.
“Additional benefits such as heat resistance, hydrophobia, and flexibility enhance the incentive,” notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Ankit Ashokkumar Shukla. “Easy application and the ability to customise the coating to specific applications and industries highlight the potential to replace existing antibacterial finishing products.
The innovative application of silicon dioxide as an antibacterial coating on a nanometric scale has ensured that Liquid Glass can achieve high germ-reducing properties previously only achievable with silver nano-coatings. While the toxicity of silver was a concern, Liquid Glass, a silicon dioxide-based product, has undergone several clinical tests and has been confirmed to comply with DIN EN ISO 10993-(1-12), according to which the product is completely biocompatible.
“In addition to the antibacterial and safe properties of the nano-coating, the product offers many benefits: it is water and dirt repellent, thus helping to keep the treated surfaces clean and maintained,” Shukla notes, “and the transparency of the coating is such that it is almost invisible, thus restoring the aesthetics of the original surface.”
The coating is heat and cold resistant as it demonstrates great temperature resistance (-150 to +450 degrees Celsius). This allows the coating also to be used in areas such as ovens and air conditioners. The coating is very durable: it can protect the surface for up to more than 10 years, thereby even reducing or eliminating maintenance costs.
Liquid Glass from Nanopool can be easily applied with a cloth or by spray application. This reduces the need for technical support during the coating process. The possibility to coat small items by dipping them into the liquid enhances the convenience of the coating process.
Liquid Glass from Nanopool can be used for various applications; from plant protection in agriculture to problem-solving in high-tech areas such as aviation or biomedicine. The product is also used in areas such as construction and building, automotive, manufacturing industries, packaging and transportation, retail, and the hospitality industry.
“Nanopool has formed successful partnerships with supermarkets and restaurant chains to protect surfaces from microbes, which in turn protects food from contamination,” comments Shukla. “In addition to industrial applications, the company works with social facilities such as kindergartens, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals to effectively reduce germs.”
The award for new product innovation is presented to the company based on the following exceeded criteria: innovative element of the product, cutting-edge technology, value-added features, profitability for customers, and customer or market acquisition potential.
The Frost & Sullivan Best Practice Award is a recognition of outstanding work and superior performance in the diversity of regional and global markets: leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify the “Best Practice” in an industry sector.
