LWB Introduces Long-lasting Smart Coating Technology to Kill Coronavirus

 In response to the recurrent community outbreak of the coronavirus, The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd (“KMB”) and Long Win Bus Company Limited (“LWB”) have adopted a series of enhanced infection control measures. They have now cooperated with a local university and technology company to develop the “Long-lasting Smart Anti-Microbial Coating” for effective disinfectant use on their entire bus fleets of around 4,300 buses. The colourless coating effectively kills up to 99.99 per cent of bacteria and viruses, such as that causing the COVID-19 epidemic, with an effective period of up to 90 days. KMB and LWB aim to provide clean compartments and put staff members and passengers at ease.

Fight against Coronavirus in Bus Compartments
Together with Local University and Technology Company

GERMAGIC THYME was developed by a team at the HKUST-CIL Joint Laboratory of Innovative Environmental Health Technologies. After spraying the Anti-Microbial Coating in bus compartments, once bacteria comes in contact with the coating, the microbial envelope of the coating will release a natural thyme essential oil disinfectant which effectively kills up to 99.99 per cent of bacteria and viruses including H1N1 influenza and Feline Calicivirus (“FCV”). FCV is a standard for disinfection efficiency and is more antimicrobial resistant than all the coronaviruses. According to the guidelines of 2016 from the Environmental Protection Agency, United States, being effective against FCV, a non-enveloped virus, is equivalent to being able to inactivate a coronavirus such as the one responsible for the COVID-19 epidemic.

The coating has been tested both locally and overseas and has been proven to be non-toxic and safe for the skin and the environment.

Other infection control measures adopted by KMB to protect the health of staff members and passengers include:

1. Increasing the number of hand sanitizer dispensers in bus compartments from 500 to the entire bus fleet; 
2. Installing disinfection carpets at the boarding point on the entire bus fleet; 
3. Retrofitting over 200 double-deck bus window vents, which will become a standard feature on newly purchased double-deck buses;

The following measures will be continued:

4. Increasing the number of selling locations and vending machines of self-produced face mask;
5. Setting up alcohol-based hand-rub dispensers at interchanges and other bus termini;
6. Enhancing the cleaning of compartments;
7. Enhancing the frequency of cleaning the air-conditioner filters; 
8. Posting notices on buses to remind passengers about the regulation requiring masks to be worn on public transport and strengthening the compartment broadcast to remind passengers to wear masks.

Photo Captions:

Sale Locations of KMB Self-produced Face Masks

KMB shop

Face Mask Vending Machines

80M Bus Model Shop*

*For the operating hours, please refer to 80M Bus Model Shop.