MIDDLEBURY, IN, Sept. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) ARBOC
Specialty Vehicles, LLC ("ARBOC"), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc.
("NFI"), one of the world's leading independent global bus
manufacturers, announced today that it will be the first to include
antimicrobial sidewall paneling from Polser USA for the interiors of its buses. With
downtime for sanitation as a significant concern for transit bus
organizations, this safety upgrade brings a new highly effective,
no-maintenance feature to customers. Cleaning and sanitizing will
continue to be an ongoing chore for transit buses and fleets well
into the future, and Polser's antimicrobial interior solution is
intended to bring significant advantages.
Polser's AMB fiber-reinforced panels feature a permanent
coating, like a microscopic bed of nails, that Polser claims
actively and instantaneously kills 99.9% of microorganisms on
contact. Polser states that the coating works by disrupting the
cell membrane, eliminating any possibility of mutation or
adaptation and is non-toxic and does not need any chemical
solutions to function.
ARBOC's specialty is low-floor accessible buses tailored to
improve the transit experience of all passengers. The step-free
design of the ARBOC lineup of cutaway and medium duty buses speaks
to the company's passion to provide the safest bus on the market.
"In these uncertain times, sanitation is a particularly major
concern for most of the population that our bus customers serve. We
are pleased to provide an effective feature intended to
efficiently increase safety and sanitation," said Doug Minix, general manager of ARBOC.
The antimicrobial walls also have a positive effect on the
hygiene of other items inside the bus. Polser claims that AMB works
by using a positive molecular charge to both attract in and pull
pathogens down the nano-swords structures. How does it work to help
non-treated surfaces? Greg Glanders, president of Polser
USA, explains, "Because AMB is so
effective at killing pathogens on contact, there are fewer active
pathogens nearby in both the air and on the floor. Pathogens move
between surfaces and also through the air, where they can settle on
another surface." Polser's AMB walls remove this sizable surface
from the equation, disrupting the cycle of pathogen growth. "In
short, pathogens move around and multiply. Our walls actually pull
in and destroy both surface and nearby airborne pathogens, killing
them before they can multiply and contaminate other surfaces,"
added Glanders.
About NFI
With 9,000 team members operating from more than 50 facilities
across ten countries, NFI is a leading independent global bus
manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation
solutions under brands: New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit
buses), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses),
Plaxton (motor coaches), MCI® (motor coaches),
ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), and
NFI Parts™. NFI buses and motor coaches incorporate the widest
range of drive systems available including: clean diesel, natural
gas, diesel-electric hybrid, and zero-emission electric (trolley,
battery, and fuel cell). In total, NFI now supports over 105,000
buses and coaches currently in service around the world. NFI common
shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
NFI. News and information are available at www.nfigroup.com,
www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.arbocsv.com,
www.alexander-dennis.com, and www.nfi.parts.
About ARBOC
ARBOC is North America's
low-floor, body-on-chassis ("cutaway") bus leader serving transit,
paratransit, and shuttle applications. With more than 4,000 buses
produced, ARBOC leads the low-floor cutaway bus market providing
unsurpassed passenger accessibility and comfort. ARBOC also offers
the Equess, a medium-duty bus used for transit and shuttle
applications. Further information is available at
www.arbocsv.com.
About Polser USA
Polser USA is an innovative
manufacturer/supplier of FRP products to the RV, bus,
transportation, specialty vehicles, and building trade industries
in North America with a warehouse
distribution facility in Elkhart,
IN. They are the North American division/distributor for
Polser Composite Materials Corporation, a second-generation
family-owned Turkish company with customers in 70 countries around
the world. Founded in 1980 as a manufacturer of bathtubs, they have
gone on to become a world leader in FRP and lightweight composites
development. Polser has revolutionized the FRP industry by
introducing a clear coat layer of antimicrobial (AMB Technology)
gel coat, which kills 99.9% of all germs, bacteria, and viruses.
This technology is being used now to create a hygienically clean
air space environment where necessary throughout a multitude of
markets and applications.
For more information about Polser USA, visit www.polserusa.com or contact at
(574) 596-3363, by email at greg.glanders@polser.com or at their
facility at 21099 Protecta Drive in Elkhart, Indiana.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking
statements", which reflect the expectations of management regarding
NFI's or ARBOC's future growth, opportunities and business
prospects, including certain claims made by Polser relating to the
health attributes of its product, or management's expectations
regarding the future demand for the product to be installed in
ARBOC's buses. The words "believes", "anticipates", "plans",
"expects", "intends", "projects", "forecasts", "estimates", "may",
"will" and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements
contained in this press release are based upon what management
believes to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured
that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking
statements, and the differences may be material. Actual results may
differ materially from management expectations as projected in such
forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including
whether Polser's product kills microorganisms on contact to the
extent claimed by Polser or at all; whether customers will purchase
buses with the product installed; market and general economic
conditions and economic conditions of and funding availability for
customers to purchase buses and to purchase parts or services;
customers may not exercise options to purchase additional buses;
the ability of customers to suspend or terminate contracts for
convenience and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the
materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities
and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Due to the potential
impact of these factors, the NFI disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
unless required by applicable law.
SOURCE ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC