AntiFingerPrint

For many years, industry, designers and customers have been looking for a special surface finish that gives the substrate properties similar to the effect of a lotus leaf.

Coated in such way, every application and every product gains functional, aesthetic, economic and sustainable bonus points.

What does AntiFingerPrint stands for?

We are all familiar with the sometimes unhygienic, but in any case, annoying fingerprints that we leave behind on all kinds of surfaces. 

Especially in sensitive areas such as sanitary facilities or kitchens, in lifts, on bell and intercom systems and many others, we find them bothering to say the least.

There are also additional costs for cleaning, maintenance and, in the most extreme case, for replacing the surfaces and parts.

Anti-fingerprint is the function of a surface that causes a fingerprint to only partially adhere to the surface structure or to be only very faintly or not at all visible to the naked eye.

Thus, although the fingerprint is physically on the surface, it becomes almost invisible. In any case, the surface can be cleaned easily and quickly.

What does the so-called lotus effect stand for?

The lotus leaf effect (also: "lotus effect") refers to the function of a surface that behaves similarly to the leaves of the lotus plant.

The leaves of this plant have a water-repellent and thus dirt-repellent structure on the surface.

This structure reduces the adhesive forces of the leaf surface and the water droplets and dirt-particles on it to such an extent that a lotus effect of self-cleaning occurs, water and other substances roll off and do not adhere.

This is why surfaces with this type of finish do not become so polluted from the outset (Anti-FingerPrint = AFP) and if they do, the dirt can be removed with an easier cleaning process or the surface can be cleaned without leaving any residue (Easy-To-Clean = ETC).

Stainless steel without fingerprints is the most desirable kind of stainless steel

A classic example from the modern kitchen, which is known to many people, are extractor hoods made of stainless steel.

How often has one been annoyed by stains, grease splashes or fingerprints on the stainless steel surface, which are very difficult, time-consuming and often impossible to remove completely, even with the help of stainless steel care products, warm water, but above all a lot of cleaning time and effort.

Since pollution of this kind can of course never be completely avoided, it is advisable to create a preventive means of protection for the surfaces in the form of a coating. 

Here, the anti-fingerprint coating nanoINOX® AFP/ETC from mirrorINOX is the perfect solution, which provides a permanent and lasting remedy.

This especially applies to architectural applications in public and upmarket locations, but also in sensitive areas such as in lifts and escalators, yacht- and ship-building, shop fitting, gastronomy and catering, the sanitary and medical industry and many more, where visual aesthetics paired with a high level of cleanliness and hygiene through particularly dirt-repellent and easy-to-clean surfaces play an increasingly important role.

nanoINOX®: The nano coating with anti-fingerprint by mirrorINOX

Since in the past there were no or only insufficient solutions for surfaces made of metal and in particular stainless steel and these were either functionally and/or visually unsatisfactory, mirrorINOX has developed a special coating which fulfils all requirements to the highest degree and standard.

The aim of mirrorINOX was to develop and formulate the so-called nanoINOX® coating in such a way that the properties described above, such as AntiFingerPrint and Easy-To-Clean, are combined with a highly attractive appearance.

With the nanoINOX® AFP/ETC process, which is based on SolGel technology and in which the AntiFingerPrint and Easy-To-Clean coating is applied to the substrate in a very thin layer (2-5 microns), mirrorINOX not only succeeds in convincing with its functional performance, but the coated surfaces also impress and captivate with their visual attractiveness.

The transparent layer called CLEAR nanoINOX® AFP/ETC lies very unobtrusive and naturally on the substrate and is virtually invisible to the bare eye.

An almost unlimited number of colours and finishes leave nothing to be desired by architects and designers.

Further advantages and special features of nanoINOX® AFP/ETC coating:

• Environmentally friendly, sustainable manufacturing process based on SolGel technology
• Durable and protecting the substrate against various influences and impacts
• Heat-treated/cured in a continuous process at up to 250°C
• UV-resistant, especially for outdoor applications
• Does not produce toxic or environmentally harmful substances
• Greatest variety of colours and finishes (e.g. "blackest" shade compared to INCO or PVD)
• Highest colour uniformity on every single sheet
• Highest colour uniformity from sheet to sheet
• Each individual sheet is individually measured (reflectiveness, gloss, roughness and LAB colour values), controlled, monitored and documented within tightest tolerances. Meaning each individual sheet has its own identity and can be traced back at any time
• Colour uniformity of less than one point on the LAB scale possible
• Excellent reproducibility
• AFP/ETC features: AntiFingerPrint and Easy-To-Clean, Anti-Graffiti
• Cost-efficient, as less cleaning is required
• Environmentally friendly, as less cleaning is required = less water consumption, less chemicals!
• Cleaner surfaces + better cleaning results = greater hygiene
• Best price-performance ratio
• Shortest delivery times

As a leading manufacturer of stainless steel surfaces and other metals, which are produced with surfaces in a wide range of matt, glossy, reflective, ground, brushed, blasted, pattern-rolled, structured or fluid-formed finishes and additionally provided with transparent or coloured nanoINOX® AFP/ETC coatings, we are the ideal partner and expert at your side for solutions of AntiFingerPrint and Easy-To-Clean and many others.