GRMC Fitness Center - A new standard of clean and safe community fitness with CuVerro®

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. and GRINNELL, Iowa, Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 21^st the Grinnell Regional Medical Center celebrated the new Paul W. Ahrens Fitness Center with an open house celebration. Nearly 400 people attended the day-long event with a range of activities showcasing the new facility and its state of the art equipment and programs.

Products made from CuVerro® bactericidal copper alloy touch surfaces were featured throughout the Ahrens Fitness Center.  From free weights, to switch plates, door and faucet handles, CuVerro surfaces kill 99% of bacteria* within two hours of contact when cleaned regularly. An EPA-registered copper alloy surface, the properties of CuVerro have been proven effective 24/7, never washing out or wearing away to continuously kill infectious bacteria*.

Todd Linden, GRMC President and CEO, was instrumental in outfitting the new facility with CuVerro. "I see CuVerro surfaces as a significant factor in creating cleaner healthcare and community environments" Linden says. "With a desire to be health conscious, the notion that creating an environment that's as free as possible from bacteria and the spread of infectious bacteria is what appealed to us. We believe it is important for the mission of the fitness center. CuVerro will be good for clients, the staff of the facility, and the community to live in as well."

A range of manufacturer affiliates, each expert in their field, worked closely in the development and installation of products manufactured from CuVerro® bactericidal touch surfaces throughout the Ahrens Fitness Center. Products made from CuVerro surface include free weights by Black Iron Strength, switch and outlet plates by Eaton, cabinet hardware by Colonial Bronze, and grab bars and faucet handles by Rocky Mountain Hardware.

Kon John, Director CuVerro Business and Market Development attended the open house, stating "We are honored to be part of this landmark event.  Todd Linden and his team at the GRMC have done a remarkable job developing the Paul W. Ahrens Fitness Center, focused around heightened community wellness.  We are very excited that CuVerro is integral to impacting the cleanliness of the facility by continuously killing bacteria, and ultimately helping to create a healthier environment". Kon John added "We'd also like to thank all of our affiliates, in particular Tom Grace of Black Iron Strength for his efforts in launching CuVerro fitness equipment made from bactericidal copper".

Shannon Hinsa-Leasure, associate professor and chair of biology at Grinnell College, is leading the research to study the bactericidal efficacy of CuVerro bactericidal touch surfaces throughout the fitness center. Students working with Hinsa-Leasure are collecting bio load samples from the free weights at the Ahrens Fitness Center and will compare them to samples from the free weights at the Grinnell College fitness center.

"This will identify bacteria load differences to help pave the way for cleaner antibacterial outfitted facilities in the future" Linden says. 

The Ahrens Fitness Center has more than 400 members. In addition to fitness services, the facility also offers acupuncture, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and therapeutic massage. The new fitness center touts wellness care and programs featuring:

• Fitness classes including spinning, boot camp, and yoga, all in dedicated rooms
• Office space for retail physical therapy services
• Café style kitchen to enjoy coffee, smoothies and cooking demonstrations
• Handicapped accessibility
• A walking path
• Bathrooms with showers
• 24-hour access for members

All of the interior and equipment needs at the fitness center have been entirely funded with charitable donations, thanks to more than 300 gifts from the GRMC Moving at the Speed of Life campaign. Support has included donations from many fitness center members and lead gifts from the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, the Claude W. Ahrens Charitable Trust, and the Michael and Susan Witt Foundation.

For more information about the GRMC Paul W. Ahrens Fitness Center, please contact Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development, at 641-236-2589 or [email protected].

CuVerro® is manufactured by GBC Metals, LLC, doing business as Olin Brass, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Brass and Copper, Inc. which is a subsidiary of Global Brass and Copper Holdings, Inc., the leading manufacturer and distributor of copper, copper-alloy and bactericidal copper sheet, strip, plate, foil, rod, ingot and fabricated components in North America and one of the largest in the world. GBC Metals engages in the melting, casting, rolling, drawing, extruding and stamping of specialized copper and copper alloys finished products from scrap, cathode and other refined metals.  For more information about CuVerro, email Kon John, Director CuVerro Market and Business Development, at [email protected], visit www.cuverro.com or call 1-877-311-2883. (OB-0022-1410)

*Laboratory testing shows that, when cleaned regularly, CuVerro surfaces kill greater than 99.9% of the following bacteria within 2 hours of exposure: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli O157:H7, and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE).The use of CuVerro® antimicrobial copper products is a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices, including those practices related to cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. This surface has been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but it does not necessarily prevent cross contamination.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141027/154646
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141027/154645

SOURCE CuVerro

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