Hygiene: soap allows bacteria to slide off

F O C U S Hygiene: soap allows bacteria to slide off A new soap developed by a team in the US uses a chemical trick that ensures that bacteria are not able adhere to human skin. The soap leaves a thin film on the skin, which results in the microorganisms sliding off. Clinical data shows that fewer bacteria adhere to the skin after it has been washed with the soap. The socalled microbial anti-adhesion technology (MAT) was developed by a team at the Colgate-Palmolive Technology Center.

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market analyst projects the global market for I&I floor care products will climb 3.2%/y to $1.4 bn in 2006, partly attributed to slowing growth in nonresidential building space. Restaurants and other food service establishments represent nearly 25% of the market for such products in 2001. Euromonitor, however, forecasts a decrease in sales from $709.4 M in 2002 to $650.1 M in 2006. The analyst also projects the US market for I&I floor care products will decrease from $98.7 M in 2002 to $90.5 M in 2006. Soap and Cosmetics, Jul-Aug 2002, 78 (5), 58-60

Handelsblatt Wirtschafts-und Finanzzeitung, 12 Aug 2002, 33 (153), 17(in German)

Cholayil defers launch of soap varieties The maker of Medimix soap, the Cholayil group, has postponed the introduction of new soaps due to the sluggish market conditions. The company has a handmade glycerine type of soap meant for winter months in the pipeline. Cholayil introduced a sandal soap under the brand name Viha in Andhra Pradesh recently and Cuticura Lavender Mist talc in Kerala during the recent Onam festival season and plans to introduce it across India in a phased manner. Products that are in the pipeline are a cold cream and moisturiser containing ayurvedic ingredients, which is undergoing trials. Cholayil has strengthened its presence in toiletries segment with the introduction of its shaving cream Ziva in May 2002. Business Line, 28 Aug 2002, 9 (239), 6

Fluorosurfactants Down to the shine safely The market for floor care products is increasingly shifting towards hightraction floor finishes intended to prevent slip and fall accidents, one of the major causes of workplace accidents which cost more than $4.6 bn/y. The Freedonia Group believes the trend will focus on higher solid floor polishes, polymer systems that are more durable and resistant to abrasion, fluorinated polymers as a substitute for fluorosurfactants, and growing use of engineered wood and laminate flooring products. The 4

Cleaning systems New products – liquid organic cleaner Amway India Enterprises has launched liquid organic cleaner and dish drops in 8 ml sachets priced at Rup 5. The dish drop containing a concentrated dishwashing solution has a powerful triadic detergency system. The liquid cleaner packets of 500 ml and 1 lt are also available in the market.

meant for household cleaning tasks, Liquid Organic Cleaner and another product, Dish Drops in the home care category. These two products are presented in 8 ml sachets and priced at Rup 5 each. The concentrated liquid cleaner is also available in 500 ml and 1 lt packs. The products are sold only through Amway distributors. Business Line, 22 Aug 2002, 9 (233 (supplement)), 4

Druchema offers special cleaning agents free of charge Druchema (Prague, Czech Republic), chemical company, is offering special cleaning agents of its Golem series free of charge to flood and emergency centres. It is providing a 30% discount to all others affected by the mid-Aug 2002 floods. In connection with the floods, Druchema has increased its production. Besides, it has sufficient supplies because there are numerous competitors in this sector of the Czech market, including Procter & Gamble. Hospodarske Noviny, 23 Aug 2002, 46 (164), 15(in Czech)

The Hindu, 5 Aug 2002, 125 (185), 17

Cleaning fluid dissolves sludge in hot oil units Paratherm is featuring its Paratherm SC cleaning liquid system, which is available in 55-gal drums or 5-gal pails. The multicomponent synergistic fluid cleans off carbon lumps and sludge, which are formed in hot oil systems for a period of time. It can bring back prime equipment condition in less than a day. Paratherm SC is compatible with any mineral-oil-based thermal fluid and synthetic fluids. The product can be utilised in combination with other common componentwashing liquids and disposed of by traditional processes. The product is efficient at ambient temperatures and heating it to 150 deg F can hasten the cleaning process. Chemical Engineering Progress, Jul 2002, 98 (7), 36

Clean vessels: Amway India introduces Liquid Organic Cleaner and Dish Drops Amway India Enterprises has launched a multi-purpose cleaner

Severochema increases disinfectants and cleaning chemicals production Severochema (Liberec, Czech Republic), chemical company, has increased its disinfectants and cleaning chemicals production in connection with floods in Aug 2002. The firm has introduced a three-shift system, including weekends. It is now producing 20,000 lt/d of disinfectants. Within humanitarian aid, the company has provided 10,000 lt of disinfectants, mainly by means of the Red Cross, for Ceske Budejovice, Prague and other regions. Hospodarske Noviny, 21 Aug 2002, 46 (162), 16(in Czech)

Cleaning house [2 tables] The household cleaning market is increasingly focusing on value-added products that offer improved benefits, such as UV protection, improved disinfecting capabilities, and lower costs. The Freedonia Group estimates that shipments of consumer cleaners will rise 3.4%/y to over $19 bn in 2005. The surge is attributed to OCTOBER 2002