Fight against COVID-19: A3 Surfaces stands confident of its antimicrobial anodized Aluminium

In the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the developer of antimicrobial anodized aluminium, A3 Surfaces conducted research to test its product.  However, these tests were conducted by the CL3 laboratory at the University of Toronto and were carried out through the collaboration of Dr Gary Kobinger and Guard RX's team of research and clinical development experts.

Dr Gary Kobinger, founder and CEO of Guard RX, is a regular researcher with the Research Center of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval and Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and Immunology. He is also the head of the CRI at Laval University. Dr Kobinger is particularly known for his work on a treatment for the Ebola virus between 2013 and 2016.

Jean-Sébastien Lemieux, General Manager of A3 Surfaces, said: “A3 Surfaces has achieved important milestones in the last few months. We look forward to 2021 with confidence. We are optimistic that we will achieve our goal of becoming the world leader in biocidal antimicrobial protection through the treatment of specialized metal surfaces.”

In reviewing the state of its research, A3 Surfaces is confident that its product will position Canada as a leader in technology to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

As this product is currently in the process of pre-submission for registration under the Pest control products (pesticides) acts and regulation, the Saguenay-based company cannot disclose the final results nor distribute or use the products in Canada at this time. However, company officials are excited about this promising breakthrough.

A3 Surfaces will provide an update on its research progress as soon as possible. In the meantime, the company continues to develop.

In terms of marketing antimicrobial anodized aluminium, A3 Surfaces is getting ready to enter the European market, with the upcoming distribution of its products to all 27 member countries of the European Union. The Saguenay-based company will take these steps in the coming months.

A3 Surfaces is also currently working on completing its installation in its new plant, in the industrial park of Haut-Saguenay, in Chicoutimi borough. The plant should be fully operational by the end of May 2021. In the meantime, it remains in pilot mode.

 A3 Surfaces was recently granted a refundable loan of $1.5 million by the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. This financial assistance is in addition to the $3.2 million allocated by Investissement Québec last November. This capital will be used to develop the new plant and for the certification and marketing process. It will also help consolidate the 10 existing jobs and create about 15 new positions between now and 2022.

The company, which is specialized in applied technologies, also benefits from the support of major financial and scientific partners including Desjardins, the Société de la Vallée de l'aluminium (SVA), Promotion Saguenay, RioTinto, the Université de Sherbrooke, the CQRDA, the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), the CEE-UQAC, the CIUSSS du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Ecogène 21.

Over the past few months, A3 Surfaces has received loans of $1.7 million from Desjardins, $50k from the Fonds local d'investissement (FLI) de Promotion Saguenay and $50k from the Fonds régional de transformation de l'aluminium (FRTA 02). These amounts will contribute to increasing the production of the company.

The contribution of ECOGENE-21, which developed over several years and patented the principle of antimicrobial anodized aluminium has also been highlighted, as its technology that A3 Surfaces has subsequently commercialized under license.

A3 Surfaces has just renewed its memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto providing an additional financial contribution of $250,000 over 3 years.

Rio Tinto has been an early partner of A3 Surfaces. In addition to its significant financial support, Rio Tinto notably supports the company in its research and development (R&D) work, while sharing contacts, best practices and advice of all kinds. Over the past 5 years, Rio Tinto has invested nearly $280,000 to support the development of A3 Surfaces.

Sébastien Ross, Executive Director, Rio Tinto’s Québec Operations, said: "As an early partner of A3 Surfaces, Rio Tinto is proud to support its technological and business development by offering guidance and significant financial support. It is thanks to its Regional Economic Development team that Rio Tinto can contribute to the company's success and the value creation in the region.”