NEWS Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
G.J. "Chip" Eschenfelder Carrier Corporation (315) 432-7051
[email protected]
CARRIER TEAMS UP WITH AK COATINGS TO PRODUCE ANTIMICROBIAL-COATED AIR HANDLERS CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2003 – Steel with coatings containing AgION™1 – a silver ionbased compound that suppresses the growth of bacteria, molds, mildew, fungi and other microbes – will be used in the production of Carrier Corporation’s top air handling unit line, the company said today. The result of a new relationship with AK Coatings, Inc., the announcement was made during an event hosted for Carrier customers attending the 2003 International Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration (AHR) Expo, here. Carrier’s 39M Aero™ air handling units and Racan-Carrier custom air handling systems will be available with AK Coating’s AgION antimicrobial-coated steel as an integral material for its pre-painted steel inner liner. Production of the new antimicrobial-coated Racan-Carrier units will begin immediately. The first antimicrobial-coated 39M Aero units will be produced in March 2003. “Recently, public awareness about mold, mildew and other microbes, has increased, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors, as the general public has learned that heat and humidity allow these elements to infiltrate their buildings,” Carrier’s North America Commercial President Todd Bluedorn said. “We’re proud to offer the AgION antimicrobial compound on our air handling units to our customers.” According to AK Coatings, AgION antimicrobial compound will suppress the growth of microbes. Simplified, silver ions – silver atoms with an electrical charge – are attracted - more 1
AgION is a trademark of AgION Technologies, Inc., Wakefield, MA, USA and is used under license.
CARRIER TO PRODUCE ANTI-MICROBIAL AIR HANDLING UNITS – Page 2 to oppositely charged hydrogen ions – commonly found in most bacteria and microbes – like a magnet. Once the two ions connect, the hydrogen ions are no longer available for other chemical bonds, abruptly halting the bacteria and microbes’ respiration and growth. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered the AgION compound for use in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. AgION is also U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recognized as an acceptable food contact substance.
Carrier Demonstrates Its Leadership by Incorporating Antimicrobial Technology Carrier recently announced it would provide an air handling system with a coating containing AgION antimicrobial compound to the AK Steel Concept Home (www.akconcepthome.com), in Simi Valley, Ca., near Los Angeles. The home was designed to showcase and demonstrate the attributes of steel construction and steel products with coatings containing the antimicrobial compound. Coupled with antimicrobial-coated steel ductwork, the house’s complete heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will feature a comprehensive approach to inhibiting the growth of mold, mildew and other microbes. “Many indoor mold, mildew and fungi problems stem from humidity control issues,” says Mark Rabbia, Carrier product manager for central station air handling products. “To address this, Carrier developed a wide range of products that provide better temperature and humidity control. Bringing together better temperature and humidity control with a steel air handler and ductwork coated with an antimicrobial compound may suppress the growth of these microbes in a home heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.” Antimicrobial-coated steel can be used in many HVAC system components to suppress the growth of microbes and help keep the components cleaner. However, it will not eliminate dust, or the need for periodic cleaning. - more -
CARRIER TO PRODUCE ANTI-MICROBIAL AIR HANDLING UNITS – Page 3 About AK Coatings AK Coatings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel Corporation, specializes in supplying antimicrobial coatings and antimicrobial-coated steel to customers in the HVAC, construction, food equipment, food processing, appliance and medical equipment industries. For more information, visit their website at: www.akcoatings.com.
About AK Steel AK Steel, headquartered in Middletown, Ohio, produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products for automotive, appliance, construction and manufacturing markets, as well as tubular steel products. Additional information about AK Steel is available at: www.aksteel.com.
About Carrier Corporation Celebrating 100 years of innovation and the invention of modern air conditioning by its founder, Willis Haviland Carrier, Carrier Corporation is the world’s largest manufacturer of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems and equipment. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX), provider of a broad range of high- technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries. For more information on Carrier, visit the company’s web site: www.carrier.com; e-mail
[email protected]; or call 1-800-CARRIER. ###
AgION™ antimicrobial is not intended as a substitute for good hygiene. Coated products must still be cleaned to insure the surfaces will be free of destructive microbes. The AgION antimicrobial is a registered trademark of AgION Technologies, Inc.
