The Coronavirus pandemic has had the most definite impact on the world as well as on individual markets. And companies whose products were previously not in high demand now have a chance to get ahead and make a significant profit thanks to large orders.
NanoTouch Materials LLC of Forest, Virginia, founded in 2012, is one of the companies that manufactures NanoSeptic self-cleaning surfaces. According to a statement on the manufacturer’s website, the technology allows for adequate protection against microorganisms without additional costs.
The self-adhesive surface is applied to a mineral nanocrystal, which under the action of visible light, creates a continuous powerful oxidation reaction that breaks down organic material. The company produces various “continuous self-cleaning” stickers and pads for door handles, buttons, etc. According to the manufacturer, NanoSeptic should be replaced every 90 days.
Naturally, such products today draw the closest attention. Various companies began to use it as another means of protection, complementing the measures already taken.
Recently, at Broadway Commons shopping center in Hicksville, NY, such stickers were applied to elevator buttons, door handles, stair railing, and other surfaces. The mall management rightly expects this innovation to make visitors feel more comfortable and safer.
And Janitronics Facility Services, which has already sold NanoSeptic, said that orders for self-cleaning surfaces in the period from April to May alone exceeded 180 thousand dollars. They are bought for offices, shopping malls, gymnasiums, etc. These are just some of the examples.
The only problem is that the effectiveness of such self-cleaning surfaces has not yet been proven. The manufacturer claims that six independent laboratory studies have shown the ability of NanoSeptic to help reduce the number of bacteria and viruses without the use of additional antiseptics. But the problem is that experts from various organizations claim that they have never seen any official scientific reports. In response to letters asking to indicate who did the research and where NanoTouch Materials simply ignored it.
So far, the manufacturer has simply been advised to remove the term from advertising and that its products are capable of turning places that people often touch into “clean surfaces.” But it is quite possible that in the future we will have a story about how NanoTouch films proved to be ineffective, and their manufacturer was simply misleading consumers.
In virtually every sector of world trade and manufacturing, the pandemic has caused significant changes. We are witnessing a mass closure of retailers and a shock in the world of luxury fashion, as well as a surge in popularity in the most unexpected areas, such as products for tourism.
Most experts agree that the world will never be the same again, and we need to adapt to the changes. As in all transition times, there will be a lot of products and technologies that promise to solve problems quickly. Some will only enrich their creators and eventually disappear, but we can expect many truly revolutionary solutions that will benefit humanity as a whole.
