Is your remote control making you sick?

You may not want to think about all of the people that have handled it before you did, but before long, that device is crawling with microbes capable of giving you infections. When you travel, the hand units in hotels are likely to be even more germ-ridden. In independent tests of hotel room remotes, microbiologists found about a third were contaminated with faecal bacteria; about a fifth had traces of semen.*

Unfortunately, cleaning remote controls is not always effective and cleaning materials can have an adverse effect on the performance of the gadget.

TW Electronics from Newbury in Berkshire has worked with Biomaster to develop a custom solution to the risks posed by dirty control units – an ultra-hygienic hand-set with antimicrobial technology, offering an additional level of product protection to complement regular cleaning routines.

All of the surface components of the remote control are produced using a mixture of normal material and Biomaster antimicrobial technology. The protection lasts for the useful lifetime of the device, working 24/7 to inhibit the build-up and growth of bacteria.

TW Electronics will be showcasing an example of the new product at the International Broadcast Conference in Amsterdam later this month.

Sales Director Andy Hopkins explains: “For many years, the issue of cleaning remote controls has proved challenging, even in normal household environments. Most cleaning agents are just too abrasive on printed surfaces and the various crevices of a remote control just cannot be cleaned easily.

We were approached by a leading Set Top Box manufacturer on behalf of a major US Telco to come up with a solution for the US hospitality market. Working with Addmaster, we are able to protect the remote control – at source, to help prevent any bacterial growth build-up in the first place.

In addition to the material additive, a full flat rubber sheet surface, has less opportunities for bacteria to gather. Almost any key layout can be adopted to benefit from both technologies.”

TW Electronics can be found in Hall 5 Stand C at the IBC, Amsterdam from 14 – 18th September.

To find out more visit the company website.

* Charles P. Gerba, PhD, professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona.

*Please note that Addmaster was acquired by the Polygiene Group AB in January 2021, so all news articles prior to that date will still be branded as Addmaster.