Melón Hormigones, together with Chilean nanotechnology leader Aintech, developed an additive based on copper nanoparticles to create a new antimicrobial concrete called COPPERMIX. This product, when mixed with traditional concrete components, is incorporated into the three-dimensional structure of the concrete and provides biocidal properties inside and on the surface with proven action, eliminating up to 99.9% of contaminating bacteria from surfaces. COPPERMIX will be presented on Tuesday, September 6 as part of Melón and Aintech’s participation in Expo Salud, an event to be held at CasaPiedra from September 6 to 8, which will bring together medical technology companies, clinical-hospital equipment and solutions for the health sector. Aintech is the largest private laboratory in Latin America focused on research for the development of new nanotechnology-based products aimed at finding solutions for health, disinfection, electronics, nutrition, nanocosmetics and pharmacology. Its laboratory has 4,000 m2, of which 1,200 meters correspond to the bench laboratory, where all the research, concept testing, characterization, quality control and development processes are carried out. It also has a large space for piloting semi-industrial scale-up processes and a production area. It has 10 specialty laboratories, including molecular biology, plant biology, extraction of natural active ingredients, nano-encapsulations and nanomaterials. All of them converge in the technological agenda proposed by Aintech for the next 5 to 8 years of R&D. Tomás Houdely, general manager of Aintech, commented that “this alliance is the result of two years of joint work, in which we were able to develop a new technology. This is an extremely important solution for strategic enclosures because it deals with the control of microorganisms in an efficient, definitive and constant manner. This translates into the mitigation of health risks for the entire population thanks to the automatic disinfection of surfaces with the highest quality”. This type of technology, which self-removes bacteria, represents an ideal solution for places such as educational centers, hospitals and food processing centers, as it contributes to reducing disinfection process times and the quantities of toxic cleaning chemicals required to clean surfaces. It is also applicable to surfaces linked to poultry farms, pharmacies, water purification plants, ponds and general furniture. Marjorie Córdova, Melón’s Construction Solutions assistant manager, added that “this initiative is directly related to Melón’s value of innovation and to solving our customers’ needs in terms of surface disinfection. The link with Aintech gives us leadership in the market with cutting-edge Chilean technology”. Melón is a company with more than 100 years of history and 40 branches from Arica to Coyhaique. Its constant innovation in products and services has led them to participate in numerous emblematic works in the country, such as the National Stadium, Rapel Hydroelectric Power Plant, Viña del Mar Casino and Costanera Norte Highway, as well as mining projects such as Doña Inés de Collahuasi, Minera Los Pelambres and Codelco’s El Teniente Division. Expo Salud will cover 5 thousand square meters and is expected to receive more than 5 thousand visitors, including professionals and executives from the sector, in a commercial and strategic space for the private, academic and public sectors, where the latest trends in the health industry will be analyzed. More than 500 brands from Chile and abroad will be presented at the event.