50
July/August 2011
brand equity. Midlab focuses on select distribution, which allows those distributors selling Midlab products not to worry about a direct competitor down the street selling the same items. “We want our distributors to have the ability to build relationships and sell on value rather than price. This is key to building our distributor relationships,” Schenk said. “We also want to make sure all requests from distributors are taken care of in a timely manner.” Contact: Midlab, Inc., 3000 George R. Price Blvd.; Athens, TN 37303. Phone: 800-467-6294. Website: www.midlab.com.
S
ince the 1990s, Earth Friendly Chemicals (EFC) has been at the forefront of developing ecofriendly products while maintaining a strong customer service focus, according to the company. This continued growth has led to the supply of quality disinfectants and sanitizers from EFC. From 1996 through 1998, EFC was granted patents on seven American anti-
Jamie Welch and Melanie Joe-Daniels, Earth Friendly Chemicals
icing/deicing products. Later in 1998, it was awarded the “Charles Pankow Award for Innovation” from the American Society of Civil Engineers for one of its patented products, Ice Ban®. As the company entered mid-2000, it turned its attention to the portable sanitation industry, offering a complete line of “green” chemicals. In June 2009, EFC obtained a GSA
dards. This emphasizes our dedication toward the most efficient and effective use of our planet’s precious resources,” EFC President Jamie Welch said. EFC products include Clini-Tech, an EPA-registered hospital grade (QUAT) disinfectant; Chloro-Sol, the company’s EPA-registered hospital grade (bleach) disinfectant; and Sani-Sense, an EPAregistered foodservice sanitizer. These solutions are offered in the form of liquids housed in packets, spray bottles and gallon containers. Meanwhile, the company’s pre-saturated wipes come in a variety of towel sizes and are available in individual packets, re-sealable soft packs and pop-up canisters. When giving advice to distributors on how they can help end-users with infectious disease control, Welch said benefits of an active program include: n Greatly reducing the cost of employee sickness and lost productivity; n Enhancing the safety of employees, clients and the environment; n Dramatically reducing down time in almost any indoor facility requiring decontamination; n Minimizing the risk stemming from lawsuits and a tarnished company image; n Gaining a competitive edge and enhanced image in the industry and marketplace; and n Neutralizing odors. Earth Friendly Chemicals’ disinfectant and sanitizer products are manufactured by Medtrol, Inc. Bob Bartee, Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Medtrol, added to Welch’s comments. He noted that end-use facilities looking for EPA-registered products are usually complying with protocol mandated by their infection control compliance department or state laws requiring certain solutions and/or disinfectants to clean patient contact areas or equipment.
“Our mission is to utilize green chemistry and manufacture not only the ‘greenest’ earth friendly products, but those that out-perform industry standards. This emphasizes our dedication toward the most efficient and effective use of our planet’s precious resources.” — Jamie Welch, Earth Friendly Chemicals
contract, and launched its line of Eco/Bio cleaning and floor care products in January 2010. It earned honors from the USDA BioPreferred Program, being named the “2010 Manufacturing Champion” for the company’s biobased products. “Our mission is to utilize green chemistry and manufacture not only the ‘greenest’ earth friendly products, but those that out-perform industry stan-
Secondly, Bartee said distributors should inquire about the application needs of a facility. For example, in health care this could include disinfecting blood glucose meters, medical equipment, surgical areas, hospital rooms, respiratory machines, etc. For the food industry it could be dining room tables, food processing areas, cafeterias, mobile units, thermometers and/or utensils that need to be disinfected.
According to Welch, a wide variety of businesses continue to experience the impact of infectious diseases and how they influence the health of employees, productivity and profitability. Bartee agreed, adding that demand for disinfectants and sanitizers have increased significantly over the past 10 years. This is due to worldwide outbreaks of new influenza strains, in-hospital acquired pathogens such as MRSA and C.diff spore, and the increase in diabetes, Hepatitis B, and HIV. Another impact is the migration of baby boomers to nursing or long-term care facilities which need to have strict infection control procedures in place, similar to a hospital setting. “Many retail grocery chains now have a separate aisle just for disinfectant wipes and sprays for the home as families are becoming more conscious about disinfection to prevent cross-contamination,” Bartee said. “Schools are also increasing the use of disinfectants, such as in classrooms, lunch rooms and locker rooms. Meanwhile, foreign markets, such as India and the Middle East, are now buying more EPA-registered products, which they know have passed inspection in the United States. “Worldwide epidemic and pandemic issues, such as the H1N1 Influenza strain of 2009, have made disinfectants a ‘people’ product, crossing into many industries where infection control procedures and protocols were previously not a major focus.” Officials at both Earth Friendly Chemicals and Medtrol can help distributors find the right solutions to solve various disinfecting and sanitizing needs. “We will advise on the correct product for use, proper usage techniques, answer any questions regarding our products and/or comparisons to other disinfectants, and help companies in any other way possible,” EFC Vice President Melanie Joe-Daniels said. “Our promotion of ‘green’ hand sanitizers has been most welcomed in school systems, as alcohol-free sanitizers are safer for children. Also, the HMIS (Hazardous Material Information System) safety rating on our products is a No. 1, thus federal prison systems have also been very receptive of our products for the safety of staff and inmates.” Joe-Daniels added that the key to Earth Friendly Chemicals’ success is a combination of impeccable manufacturing practices, quality products, quick compliance and delivery along with excellent customer service. “We have also been extremely successful in the health care and foodservice industries due to demands for EPA-registered products,” Joe-Daniels said.
Bartee added that Medtrol’s main strengths center around its bleach products and “food surface” cleaners. “Bleach as a disinfectant is returning to prominence because of its killing power against a wide variety of fungicidal, bactericidal, tuberculocidal and virucidal pathogens,” Bartee said. “Many agencies, such as OSHA, CDC, CMS and others, have recommend bleach to disinfect equipment and surfaces between patient use, especially when blood-borne pathogens are present.” With the food industry, Bartee explained that cleaning and sanitizing requirements are becoming more stringent due to ever present threats of E.coli and salmonella. Welch added that officials at Earth Friendly Chemicals welcome feedback from customers, whether positive or negative. “We work continuously to enhance our product line to meet their needs, and are committed to the highest quality products. If any of our products do not meet total satisfaction, we offer a money back guarantee,” Welch said. “Our customer service department not only accepts orders, it follows up with customers, gaining and maintaining a rapport that keeps them happy and knowledgeable. ‘Thank you’ notes are also part of this follow-up — a personal note written and mailed.” Products from Earth Friendly Chemicals can be found within federal government agencies; prisons and jails; the portable sanitation industry; city, state and county governments; janitorial service companies and homeowners. “We expect sales to increase for the year ahead as the economy recovers. We also plan to increase our product offering,” Welch said. “Earth Friendly Chemicals exhibits at various tradeshows throughout the year. At the GSA Expo, which was held in San Diego in May, we were informed that our company was the first to meet compliance and labeling requirements by the USDA BioPreferred Program. This is a feat which we are extremely proud of, considering we go up against many big box manufacturers and distributors. We are a veteran-owned small business, led by a service disabled Navy veteran.” Contact: Earth Friendly Chemicals, 2585 Horse Pasture Road, Suite 201, Virginia Beach, VA 23453. Phone: 800-753-1548. Website: www.efchem.com.
P
roviding fast kill claims on a variety of viruses and bacteria is an important virtue for any disinfectant. Stressing this importance are officials at Spray Nine/ITW Permatex, which manufactures Spray Nine Multi-Purpose Cleaner & Disinfectant