Deciding to invest in antimicrobial technology for your product can be highly rewarding, both in terms of the business opportunity that it presents and the benefits that it brings to consumers. Antimicrobial technology enhances the quality of a product by extending its lifetime by keeping it cleaner and fresher for longer. Additionally, including antimicrobial technology and protection in your product offers a unique selling point.
With more consumers looking for products with antimicrobial technology, more companies are looking to fulfill consumer demand by partnering with antimicrobial companies.
There are a number of companies that claim to be able to implement antimicrobial technology into your product line. To ensure that you partner with the right antimicrobial company for your business, we've collated a number of key questions that you should ask before making the decision, as well as offering our advice on what you should be considering.
1) Is the company capable of equipping my product with antimicrobial technology?
Antimicrobial technology isn't "one size fits all". The company should assess your product and your manufacturing process before they determine what type of antimicrobial technology is suitable.
For instance, Microban will consider efficacy requirements, durability requirements and any government restrictions before moving forward. We work together with our partners to design a unique antimicrobial solution compound to suit your individual product. Our engineers test and experiment with numerous suitable compounds until they have identified a long-lasting solution that will keep your product protected. Understanding whether or not your product can be equipped with antimicrobial technology should be your first point of research.
2) How efficient is the antimicrobial technology in inhibiting microbes?
Before you invest, it’s a good idea to understand exactly how the technology works and how efficient it is at protecting your product from microbes.
Microban technology inhibits the growth of microorganisms, such as stain and odor causing bacteria, molds and fungi, by disrupting cellular functions and making them unable to grow or reproduce. The antimicrobial technology gets to work as soon as a microorganism touches the surfaces of the product, limiting the appearance of stain and odor-causing microbes, which can quicken the deterioration of a product. One key thing to consider is if the antimicrobial technology will last the useful lifetime of the product. Microban's agents are built-in at the point of manufacture, so they cannot be washed off and do not wear away.
3) How will the antimicrobial company assist you in the manufacturing process?
Antimicrobial technology must be incorporated into a product at the point of manufacture which is why it’s important to know how the partner is going to assist you throughout the process.
At Microban, we work with our partners to infuse the antimicrobial technology with a product during its normal manufacturing process, therefore guaranteeing efficient and streamlined production. Microban also encourages partners to include themselves throughout the product development cycle so that they are fully aware of the process and that they have a better understanding of the antimicrobial technology.
4) What precautions does the antimicrobial company take to ensure my products will be safe for consumers to use?
Ensuring that the technology you invest in is safe to use is an essential part of your research. It's vital that the antimicrobial company that you choose takes the correct precautions and abides by the right regulations to safeguard your business and the consumers who purchase your products.
Microban’s antimicrobial technologies have undergone extensive laboratory testing to ensure that the protection we provide has a history of safe use. The active ingredients have been incorporated into a range of different products and surfaces from consumer, building, commercial and textile applications, to over 1,000 partner products worldwide with a long history of safe use.
5) Will the antimicrobial company provide marketing support?
Installing the protection into your product is the first step, but you also have to take into consideration what happens next. Knowing how to market your protected product to your target audience is also a key part of the process.
Microban provides extensive marketing support to all our partners. We work together with you to provide recommended product claims, sales training materials and packaging concepts to help communicate the benefits of the antimicrobial technology to your consumers. Furthermore, we conduct custom research for our partners in order to gain specific knowledge to help throughout the selling process of your product.
6) Does the antimicrobial company have a proven track record and reputation?
The best way of knowing whether you would like to work with an antimicrobial company is by researching its reputation. Take the time to understand its existing clients, including the range of companies that it has worked with in the past, success stories and any reviews or testimonials available.
Microban is a globally recognized leader in built-in antimicrobial technology, and supplies microbial solutions to over 250 clients worldwide. As you begin research which antimicrobial company is best for your product, connect with us for case studies, testimonials, learnings and best practices from Microban partners who have already experienced the Microban brand, as well as what our company has to offer in terms of services and technologies.
