Altro Aquarius is a solution to an issue that has been increasing in importance in recent years. We have been asked by many customers to provide a product that performs in wet and dry areas for shoes and bare feet, not only soft soled shoes but also hard soled. This way specifiers of such floors won't have to compromise between patient or carer protection. One solution to two problems.
There were several drivers behind the development but three key ones were shoe and barefoot safety, comfort underfoot and ease of cleaning.
By not using a studded profile, normally associated with products designed for bare feet, it solved the underfoot comfort requirement – those with sensitive feet or, in some cases, the elderly can find the pronounced surface profile uncomfortable to walk or stand on. The removal of the surface profile, which can act as a barrier to good cleaning, along with the addition of the Altro Easyclean Maxis PUR technology also meant the cleanability was assured.
It was then a case of ensuring that the underfoot safety was up to standard. This proved to be the difficult bit, some textures and technologies performed excellently for wet and dry bare feet but not so well for shoes and some were great for shoes but performed below par with bare feet. It was only at the end of 2010 when the technological breakthrough was made and we started to get some very exciting and positive results, and finally, after extensive lab and manufacturing testing, as well as a significant amount of customer trials, we have arrived at the very exciting result of Altro Aquarius.
This product will remove any doubt in specifiers' minds as to the product of choice for wet and dry areas that experience shoe and barefoot traffic. Altro Aquarius performs exceptionally well in both conditions and provides peace of mind to everyone involved; specifiers, patients and carers alike. I'm very proud of what we have achieved here and this really will make a difference to a lot of people's lives.