ECOLAB

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

ECOLAB® Company

This morning, we had breakfast with our luggage beside us. Indeed, this day’s activities marked the end of the PhD trip. Two feelings could be read on faces: feeling of joy because we were to find again our home abandoned for 11 days and feeling of discontent because of the end of a PhD trip so rich in scientific exchange and useful information. After the breakfast, we visited Zurich ECOLAB premises where we were welcomed at 9:00 am by Mr. Andrew Sedgwick, the Segment Marketing Director. After a short presentation of agenda, Mr. Andrew Sedgwick gave an introduction about ECOLAB focusing on the Renewable Antimicrobial Coating (RAC). The markets served by ECOLAB are:
  • Foodservice
  • Food and Beverage Processing
  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality
  • Government and Education
  • Retail
  • Commercial Facilities
  • Textile care
  • Vehicle care
In 2009, ECOLAB made more than $ 6 billion in global sale. Cleaning and sanitizing is one of the core competencies of ECOLAB. The company developed a new disinfectant called Renewable Antimicrobial Coating (RAC). This product is a water-based liquid formulation with film-forming characteristics and residual antimicrobial properties that can be completely removed with a water rinse. Unlike conventional disinfectants, RAC provides long-lasting antimicrobial treatment for coated surfaces and equipment.

After a short coffee break, Prof. Zwietering gave us a presentation about Wageningen University and Research centre (WUR) and the PhD trip. This presentation was followed by Castelijn and Kadam’s presentations on Salmonella biofilms and mixed species biofilms of Listeria monocytogenes respectively. The meeting ended at 11: 56 am.

(Sylvain Dabade)