AK Steel Constructs Antimicrobial House

AK Steel unveils plans for an antimicrobial home, using steel structuring, some steel exterior, and steel coated in an antimicrobial compound for high-touch zones inside.

AK Steel, Middletown, Ohio, sets out to prove it's a brave new world as the company unveils plans for an antimicrobial home. The concept home, under construction outside Los Angeles, Calif., features a steel structure and parts of the exterior will be made from steel, making it easy to maintain and resistant to fire and earthquakes. The company also plans to use steel products in high-touch zones, including handrails, doorknobs, faucets, and food preparations areas. The steel in these areas will be coated with an antimicrobial compound from AgIon Technologies, Wakefield, Mass. The AgIon compound is a long-lasting, inorganic material that contains silver, which has proven successful in controlling the growth and spread of a broad range of microorganisms, according to the company.

After the home is complete, Dr. Chuck Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, will study the impact of the AgIon-coated steel on several elements in the home. To learn more about the AK Steel concept home visit www.akconcepthome.com.

Web posted: March 8, 2001
Category: Food Safety,Supplier & Association News
walloch@wattmm.com

This article reprinted with permission from Meat Marketing & Technology.

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