Metsä Tissue - Hand Hygiene Products, Paper Towels and Drying Systems

Metsä Tissue is a leading European manufacturer of high quality tissue paper products. Under our well-known Katrin brand name, we are particularly strong in the healthcare sector, developing tissue paper products which provide both optimal hygiene and user comfort.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAND HYGIENE

Maintaining the highest standards of hand hygiene in healthcare environments is essential for effective infection control. Without effective hand hygiene systems, bacteria and Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAI) like MRSA can be easily spread through hand-to-hand contact.

With current estimates suggesting a death rate from HAIs of 5,000 people every year in the UK alone, European healthcare managers are now realising that infections can be prevented and money saved by investing in products and training to optimise hand hygiene.

PROPER HAND WASHING AND DRYING

While the importance of washing hands is widely understood as crucial for removing bacterial contamination, the role that hand drying plays is often overlooked. Yet it has a critical role to play because bacteria can quickly thrive again in damp conditions. Typically, washing hands with water and soap will leave around 13% of bacteria behind. However, combining water and soap washing with use of a paper towel can reduce bacterial contamination by 98%.

HAND TOWEL INNOVATION - SOFTNESS AND ABSORBENCY

Metsä Tissue manufactures highly absorbent hand towel products that can easily remove moisture and the bacteria that can lead to infection. Its hand towel products are also gentler to the hands. This aspect is particularly important in a medical environment, where it is often necessary to wash hands between 40 and 60 times in a single shift.

Quality absorbency and softness is essential, as without it dampness left on the hands due to incomplete drying can cause chapped, sore and dry skin, which is further exacerbated with harsh hand towel products. Damaged skin also causes discomfort and further encourages the growth of bacteria.

NEW KATRIN HIGH PERFORMANCE EMBOSSED HAND TOWELS

The latest in Metsä Tissue’s long line of successful hand towel products for the healthcare sector, the new range of Katrin interleaved hand towels feature a revolutionary new embossing pattern that helps to make them even softer, stronger and more absorbent.

The chequered embossing pattern that is visible on the hand towel’s surface, maintains high strength both lengthways and widthways, while further robustness is achieved as a result of lamination between the tissue layers. This leaves the towels with a bulkier, more comfortable, and quality feel.

Perceptions are matched by enhanced performance: as well as absorbing 20% more than conventional products, the new towels soak up water 100% faster, for rapid and effective hand drying. In fact, a single towel is able to absorb up to three times more water than is normally be found on wet hands. The new hand towels have been independently dermatalogically-tested for Metsä Tissue, to avoid irritating even the most sensitive skin.

NO-TOUCH DISPENSING

Dispenser design can be as important as the type of hand towels used for effective infection control. Metsä Tissue’s no-touch paper towel dispensers have been specifically designed to reduce the risk of cross contamination.

Metsä Tissue’s no-touch paper towel dispenser units are self-presenting, and enable the user to withdraw a towel without touching (and contaminating) the next towel. This is essential because even if the user has washed their hands, they could still harbour germs responsible for cross-contamination.

QUALITY MANUFACTURING STANDARDS

All of Metsä Tissue’s mills across Northern Europe conform to the highest standards, with careful control of the production process the key to ensuring the high microbiological quality and hygiene standard of the end products. Every mill has ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification.

Metsä Tissue deliveres only to companies and addresses within Europe region.