Similar to other industries, businesses involved in food processing and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products are susceptible to the growth and transmission of viruses and bacteria. When there’s a possibility of a contamination, the facility is immediately required to shut down temporarily for complete sanitization. In some cases, it also resulted in product recalls, which can be very costly for the company, both financially and in terms of reputation. In the food processing industry, the spread of infection often occurs among the employees. Case in point, at the height of COVID-19 pandemic last year, about 25% of meat packing plants across USA have to be shuttered in April 2020 due high number of positive cases among the workers in these plants . As COVID-19 is a respiratory virus that spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through saliva or discharge from the nose, the fast spread of infection in these plants is said to have been due to close contact with an infected person and/or by touching infected surfaces. These facilities generally operate in a refrigerated environment, thus further attributes to spike of infection rate, in addition to harbouring other cold-tolerant bacteria. In the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, contamination prevention is a critical component for state and federal regulations as well as protecting the safety of the public. These products are commonly manufactured in a sterile environment, yet some manufacturers still struggle with keeping microorganisms away from their facilities. Source of microbial contamination in pharmaceutical products include during manufacture, raw materials used, environmental sources, cleaning equipment, packaging, containers that are frequently re-used, repackaging of products, processing, storage and transportation. Food processing and pharmaceutical product manufacturers in Malaysia must comply with strict regulatory compliance guidelines set by regulators such as the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division (NPRA) or by the Food Safety and Quality Division (FSQD) of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, World Health Organization, and others. These guidelines include Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), an internationally recognized systematic preventive approach in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product. As a global leader in coating technologies with a database of more than 10,000 paint formulations, Nippon Paint prides itself in being a Total Coating Solutions provider with a multi-segment Mar-Apr 2021 | www.b-i.biz 45 portfolio of offerings including flooring solutions. Nippon Paint understands that the food processing and pharmaceutical industries require additional protection to mitigate the risks of contamination. These manufacturers need the right flooring solution that delivers a clean, safe and sanitary environment. NIPPON PAINT FLOORING SOLUTIONS For over 50 years, Nippon Paint has been driving innovation in the coatings industry, backed by the latest coatings and protective technologies. Flooring innovations by Nippon Paint are widely used throughout various industrial, commercial and residential properties in Malaysia, which now include Nippon Floorshield Ucreed. The first of its kind by Nippon Paint, this flooring solution comes in two offerings – Nippon Floorshield Ucreed HD and Nippon Floorshield Ucreed MD. Nippon Floorshield Ucreed HD is a single layer, seamless, trowel-applied and water-based polyurethane modified concrete flooring system. It is designed in the thickness range 6mm – 12mm for heavy-duty industrial application and resurfacing flooring application at matt and anti-skid texture finish. Meanwhile, Nippon Floorshield Ucreed MD is a 3-component, seamless, flow-applied self-smoothing, water-based polyurethane modified concrete flooring topping. This flooring system is designed in the thickness range from 3mm – 6mm for medium duty industrial application and resurfacing flooring application at matt and smooth finish. Nippon Floorshield Ucreed HD and Nippon Floorshield Ucreed MD are suitable for application conditions requiring maximum protection in terms of hygienic, chemical resistance, health and safety, in areas that are frequently exposed to a sudden and rapid change in room temperature (thermal shock), or hot stream cleaning such as: • Kitchen and wet processing area • Meat, fish, poultry processing • Food and beverage processing and packaging plant • Diaries, cheese and milk processing plant • Sugar processing plant • Pharmaceutical production • Chemical process, containment areas and wash down rooms • Cool rooms, freezers, chillers and oven rooms • Loading and unloading area or warehouses • Oily and slippery services area Advantages: • Excellent chemical resistance • High impact resistance • Excellent wear resistance and durable • Excellent thermal shock resistance • Anti-skid finish for safety requirement • Seamless and hygienic • Resists microorganism (bacterial, fungi, mould, mildew) growth • User friendly and low VOC • Good adhesion • Fast application and rapid return to service access Food processing and pharmaceutical facilities operate in an environment that is subjected to greater wear and tear than other commercial premises. Despite adhering to strict standard of operations based on the guidelines imposed by authoritative regulators, the risk of being exposed to viruses and bacteria is inevitable, which at times go unnoticed until it’s too late. Call Nippon Paint for Your Flooring Solution Needs. Customer Careline: 1-800-88-2663 E-mail: customercare@nipponpaint.com.my