Used by thousands of people on a daily basis, the bins used in airport security checkpoint lines offer an opportunity for extending cleanliness. In a first among the world’s 9,000 airports, the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) has launched a nanotechnology solution that uses light to clean checkpoint bins 24/7.
Sponsored by Western Reserve Hospital and developed by NanoTouch Materials, new specially designed NanoSeptic mats and skins for the checkpoint bins contain mineral nano-crystals. They create a self-cleaning oxidation reaction that’s stronger than bleach, continuously breaking down organic contaminants.
“Travelers’ health and happiness is a priority of ours,” said Rick McQueen, President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Airport. “Our employees pride themselves on holding high standards for the cleanliness of the airport, and there is a lot of hard work that goes into meeting those standards. We’re proud to be the first airport to implement this product because it’s one more way CAK continues to be a better way to go.”
Western Reserve Hospital, an independent, physician-owned hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, is providing the self-cleaning skins and mats as part of its commitment to community health and safety. The skins are applied like stickers to the checkpoint bins’ handles, and the 1/16-inch-thick, self-cleaning mats cover the bottoms of the bins.
NanoTouch Materials, based in Forest, VA has supplied self-cleaning skins, mats, and other surface covers to the healthcare, commercial cleaning, education, and other industries for three years. Today’s launch at CAK is the first use of the technology in an airport.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to support the health of our community far beyond our hospital walls,” said Dr. Robert Kent, President and CEO at Western Reserve Hospital. “It also exemplifies the type of community health innovation our independent physician owners seek to execute. As many of our patients travel through CAK, we are pleased to be a partner in this effort.”
Dennis Hackemeyer, co-founder of NanoTouch Materials, added, “Delivering self-cleaning surfaces in high-traffic areas like TSA security improves traveler experience and public perception of cleanliness while traveling. Additionally, we’re empowering the consumer by offering portable mats that can be used throughout their travels. These mats are also a tremendous opportunity for hotels, cruise lines, airlines, and travel agencies to provide a new high-value amenity in rooms, while concurrently extending their brands.”
Keeping things clean that a lot of different people handle in businesses or facilities is almost impossible between users so something like this is ideal to avoid the spread of germs and bacteria. Hopefully other airports will follow this clean initiative.