10 Jun 2008 07:00
Date: 10 June 2008
On behalf of: Advanced Power Components plc ("APC" or the "Group")
Embargoed until: 0700hrs
Advanced Power Components
First shipment of infection-resistant keyboards
Advanced Power Components plc (AIM: APC), a specialist distributor and manufacturers' representative of electronic components, is pleased to announce the shipment of the first batch from an order of 7,500 Medigenic® infection-resistant keyboards, which have been purchased by NHS Connecting for Health in a contract worth over £1million. The keyboards will be used in hospitals across England to tackle the spread of hospital-acquired infections, such as MRSA and clostridium difficile.
The keyboards are the first major shipment to be made by APC following the acquisition of Contech Electronics Limited on 3 June 2008. This new division of Advanced Power Components is dedicated to the distribution of specialist input devices to medical, industrial and broadcast sectors.
Traditional keyboards are high-risk areas in hospitals due to their many crevices and holes which can harbour bacteria. Keyboard covers, which are currently used in hospitals, are rarely cleaned and, as a result, hospital workers who regularly move between keyboards risk spreading potentially lethal bacteria. In a recent study, MRSA was found in 21% of samples from keyboards.
The new Advanced Input Systems Medigenic® keyboards, manufactured by Esterline, are completely flat and covered with a hypoallergenic material resistant to bacterial growth. They incorporate a timed warning light that can be configured for different environments, which flashes when the keyboard needs cleaning. Sensors ensure that the light only stops flashing once the keyboard has been adequately cleaned with alcohol wipes.
The keyboards were originally developed for a pilot project at University College London Hospital, where research showed that bacteria levels on the keyboards are reduced by 70% if they are cleaned every 12 hours. The light also serves as a constant reminder to staff to wash hands and during the pilot it was shown that hand washing increased by up to 60%.
These keyboards are expected to have a material impact on the £1.6 billion that is spent by the NHS on combating MRSA each year.
Dr Peter Wilson, UCLH Consultant Microbiologist and one of the inventors of the keyboard, said:
"Doctors and nurses were going from patient to keyboard without washing their hands. That's quite understandable because you would wash your hands between patients but not between a patient and a keyboard. Compliance with twice daily cleaning went up from 10-20% with the keyboard covers to 87% with the new model."
Mark Robinson, CEO of Advanced Power Components, said:
"Our recent acquisition of Contech Electronics has broadened our product range from components into specialist devices, such as these keyboards. We are very pleased that APC's first significant product shipment following the acquisition of Contech involves the deployment of these revolutionary keyboards to the NHS and we are happy to be involved with a product that will, over the coming years, make a tangible difference to people's lives. We look forward to reporting on further developments in this division of our business as the deployment increases."
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Enquiries:
| Advanced Power Components plc Mark Robinson, Chief Executive Officer
| 01634 290588 www.apc-plc.co.uk |
| Seymour Pierce David Newton / Matt Thomas
| 020 7107 8000 |
| Redleaf Communications Samantha Robbins / Anna Dunkin / Henry Columbine
| 020 7822 0200 apc@redleafpr.com |
Notes to Editors
About Advanced Power Components
APC plc is a leading specialist distributor of electronic components, comprising five areas of activity:
APC Hi-Rel distributes a variety of specialist electronic components into applications where component reliability is of paramount importance. Hi-Rel's franchised product lines include power semiconductors, power supplies, memory, wound and high voltage components.
APC SBM represents manufacturers of relatively specialist electronic components addressing a commercial and industrial customer base. Products represented include power semiconductors, communications magnetic, and connector products, interconnectivity solutions - USB, storage and Firewire audio controllers.
APC Hero has a specialist team of Product Managers ready to assist with your next design, our key areas include LEDS/LAMPS, drivers, wireless devices and modules, Zigbee, specialist sensors and crystals (plus fast turn around on programming).
APC Go! provides a kitting and materials management service to companies wanting to outsource non core activities, offering services ranging from material procurement to full production management.
APC Displays+ provides dedicated technical and commercial support for a wide range of LCD`s, standard, custom, TFT, e-signage, character, graphics, driver boards, IC`s, single board computers and all related connectivity.
APC Novacom is a distributor and manufacturers' representative for RF and microwave frequency electronic components. The business is managed by a team of technical specialists with many years experience in the RF and Microwave industry.
APC Contech is a distributor of specialist data input devices for industrial, broadcasting and medical sectors providing technically advanced solutions for specific application areas.