The NT Department of Trade, Business and Innovation has become the first organisation to deploy antimicrobial ACTIVAT3D copper throughout their building to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
Darwin company SPEE3D, the company that developed ‘ACTIVAT3D copper’, recently secured a $1.5 million investment into a two-year pilot of its 3D metal printing technology that will see printers deployed on RAN's patrol boats.
The Australian NATA accredited clinical trial speciality laboratory, 360Biolabs, tested the effect of ACTIVAT3D copper on live SARS-CoV-2 and results showed that 96 per cent of the virus is killed in two hours and 99.2 per cent of the virus is killed in 5 hours. Stainless steel showed no reduction in the same time frame.
The SPEE3D team then developed a process to coat stainless-steel door touch plates and handles in under 5 minutes.
SPEE3D was contracted to replace existing door handles within the NT Department of Trade, Business and Innovation with ACTIVAT3D copper products.
“The Department of Trade, Business and Innovation is thrilled to be the first to have this innovative technology installed in our workplace, ensuring an even safer place for our staff and community to do business here," Department of Trade, Business and Innovation CEO, Shaun Drabsch said. "We thank our landlord for agreeing to the installation of copper handles. It is great to see a local Territory company taking advantage of this very challenging time and drive a new innovative product that can further protect Territorians from COVID-19.”
The lab results have reportedly sparked global interest as governments and private companies look for proactive ways to protect their communities. SPEE3D says it is now looking to partner the door handle manufacturing industry to deliver ACTIVAT3D copper at scale.