Caparol Arabia, the UAE’s leading German-quality paint manufacturer, has launched an innovative and sustainable solution that provides better protection against harmful micro-organisms. Called ‘CapaCare Protect’, the new solution is an anti-microbial product that secures walls and surfaces from bio-harm. The product, which contains advanced ‘SILVERbac®’ technology, uses silver ions to bind and destroy the cell membrane of biological contaminants, including bacteria and viruses.
“We’ve all seen the Superman films or read the comic books where he comes up against kryptonite and is severely weakened. Well, to harmful microbes like bacteria and viruses, silver is their kryptonite. It damages them, it destroys them, it helps to defeat them. That’s why we are so keen to introduce this new paint for schools, hospitals, hotels and renovation and facility management sectors, to protect their homes and defend the walls,” said Martin Rosocha, Managing Director, Caparol Arabia.
‘SILVERbac®’ has been extensively tested through an International Antimicrobial Council accredited laboratory to ensure the highest quality in antimicrobial testing. Caparol reported a kill rate of over 99% in the first 24 hours.
“We have been testing CapaCare Protect paint specifically for its antimicrobial effect, which helps to keep the walls free of microbes and harmful germs. This technology is already used in many hospitals , demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing one of the many factors contributing to the spread of contagious diseases,” said Mowaffaq Balish, Commercial Director, Caparol Arabia.
Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus (Covid-19), Caparol Arabia has launched further testing to check its antimicrobial paint effectiveness at reducing the spread. However, the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties of silver ions and silver compounds have been extensively studied for years.
A silver nanoparticle is less than 100 nanometres wide – it’s so small you’d need over 600 of them to coat the very tip of a single human hair. These tiny silver ions prevent DNA replication of bacteria and viruses and attack the structure and permeability of the cell membrane. Hence, killing these harmful microbes.
Silver ions are already being used in the fight against coronavirus too. In Dubai, a range of techniques have been employed including steam cleaning and disinfectant fogging, while treatment with silver ions has been deployed on the streets in Italy.
Some of the first studies into how long Sars-CoV-2 (otherwise known as Covid-19 or novel coronavirus) by the US National Institute of Health (NIH) which have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlight that the virus does not survive for long (four hours) on metallic surfaces, with hospitals already replacing plastic handles with copper and brass alternatives, in a bid to reduce infection.
CapaCare Protect has been specifically manufactured to create an all-round healthier environment. The product is also zero-smell and zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds), which ensures the air quality is healthy and non-toxic.
The manufacturer, Caparol, has over 125 years of global experience, and has been family-owned for five generations. The brand was founded in Germany when they invented emulsion paint technology, which transformed the way people painted buildings and homes. Caparol Arabia was established in 1998 in Dubai, and is part of global company DAW which has 6000 employees and is present in over 40 countries.
