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Explaining the value of the agreement, managing director Paul Morris says in a statement: "We already have good penetration into the medical device market in Europe, however our products until now have only been suitable for non invasive end applications. By having access to this additional data we can now open up the large growth market area of invasive antimicrobial medical devices."

The agreement follows EPA approval for Add-master's liquid range of its silver-based Biomaster anti microbial technology which the company believes will enable it to supply the polymer coatings and manmade textiles sectors and subsequent EPA go ahead for its Biomaster TD100 for non food contact use in mouldings, fibre, film and sheet.

"Receiving EPA approval for Biomaster TD100 means Addmaster now has the largest range of anti microbial additives in the world with BPD and EPA approvals," says Morris.

Biomaster, made like other Addmaster products on a third party toll basis, accounts for around four fifths of the overall turnover, estimates sales and marketing manager Adrian Dimberline. The product, based on a polymer specific carrier provides bacterial protection from healthcare infections, food related bacteria and odour control.

The company is anticipating excellent growth prospects in the US market once it receives FDA approval; the particular target, says Dimberline, lies in the textile field.

A recent specifier of Addmaster's silver anti microbial technology is Bytec Medical, a company specialising in design and manufacture of medical devices, based near Redhill, in Surrey, whose Medi-Key wireless USB keyboard and SmartCart mobile computing platforms use it for long term infection control.

The keyboard features latex-free rubber keys which collapse free for "effortless cleaning" offering no grooves where spills, dust or germs can collect. Consoles, keyboards, and other common computer interfaces are used around the clock by different clinicians, so the risk for infection to pass from one person to many is great, says Bytec.

Meanwhile Addmaster has high hopes of the prospects in the African market, following its appointment of Masterbatch South Africa as its partner for sales of Biomaster in the continent.

MBSA, set up in 1998, is a leading supplier of colour masterbatch in Africa, and recently took delivery of its 22nd extruder. The privately owned business will have access to all of the UK firm's product knowledge, technical data and formulations.

"Africa offers great potential for hygienic products, particularly a tried and tested range of masterbatch and compounds such as Biomaster. We've been very impressed with the facilities and sales potential of MBSA and look forward to working together to make Biomaster the brand leader in this market," says Morris.

At MBSA, operations director Alan Cunningham-Scott added: "Silver-based products have been around for quite some time, but the new innovative approach by Addmaster to their patented antimicrobial additives and other products has brought about the future joint relationship between the two companies.

"This will grow from strength to strength as the ever growing problem of bacteria and health in Africa needs a 'silver saviour'".

MBSA began the relationship on a positive note with a volume order to supply South Africa's strong packaging industry.

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