Scotkem hopes to clean up this Christmas
By Kevin Clark

SUNDERLAND company Scotkem hopes to clean up this Christmas - by helping other businesses clean up this Christmas. Its new product VAMP will cope with potentially dangerous spills,. protecting staff from the risks of infection and even fighting bad smells left behind.

VAMP (it stands for Vomit Absorbent Microbiological Powder) comes in a kit which contains the powder itself, an anti-bacterial spray, and protective items such as gloves, aprons and masks.

The spray can be used to treat any contaminated areas, killing bugs to eliminate any risk of contamination and destroy lingering smells. The sterilising powder can absorb up to 400 times its own volume in liquid and cystallizes into a gel which can easily be scooped up using the equipment provided in the kit.

Human waste spills pose a serious risk of contamination from serious human diseases such as HIV, hepatitis and MRSA.

Safe containment and rapid removal minimises the risks and returns contaminated areas to normal use with minimum disruption. VAMP can be used against urine, diarrhoea and blood spills, as well as milk and other dairy products, but Scotkem, based in Woodbine Street, hopes it will prove particularly attractive to businesses facing the festive fall-out.

In the run-up to Christmas, we think this product will be of interest to restaurants, pubs and hotels," said marketing manager Lisa Grice.

Each £55 kit comes in a special bag and includes two 50g VAMP powder containers, one 250ml spray, a scoop and spatula and 10 consumable packs comprising mask, apron, gloves, yellow waste bag and three wipes which can be used to swab down the affected area and then sterilise the scoop and spatula.

The idea is that businesses can keep their bag in a set position, as they would do with a fire extinguisher," explained Lisa. Then they can buy extra supplies as and when they need them to top their kit up.

Chemical Weapons in Festive Armoury
By Daniel Cochlin

FROM mothers to barmen, the sticky issue of vomit is one that, like a bad smell, refuses to go away. But help is now at hand. Sunderland chemical company Scotkem has come up with a revolutionary way to deal with the after-effects of over-eating and, even more often, over drinking.

With the bingeing season now upon us, scientists at the company have come up with a way to clean up sick without getting your hands dirty, and to get rid of the smell at the same time.

The Vomit Absorbent Microbiological Product kit, or the digestilble Vamp, "freezes" sick so it can be scooped up and away in a handy bag. The product claims to remove more bacteria than any other method - leaving carpets, taxi seats or just about any other surface clean and sweetsmelling.

Chief executive John Hodgson admitted that the subject was not one that people were keen to discuss, but said local firms had found their product a lifesaver. "People tend to use a mop and bucket to clean up sick, but then they are faced with what to do with the mop.
This system uses a scoop, which keeps the product far away from you as you clean because, let's face it, no-one wants to get close to vomit.

If you work in a pub or club and someone is sick, it's obvious that people will move away from the place and even leave.

Many places even leave it overnight - which is horrible - but our system gets rid of it straight away and gets rid of the smell. The kit - which contains powder, spray, a scoop as well as aprons and gloves - is not cheap at £55, but John claimed it was real value for money. He said: "If a taxi driver has someone throwing up at 9 o'clock on a Saturday night, no-one is going to get into his cab because of the smell - losing him £50-£100.

It's the same in a bar, they will lose custom. For £55, you can get a product to use over and over again - it works out at about £2 a go. Clients who have already bought the system include the Marriott Hotel in Seaburn, the Stadium of light and a number of schools, bars and restaurants across the area. John and his team hope to extend the operation to cleaning firms, transport companies and homes. He said: "This time of year is the worst - it's not the festive season, it's the puling season."

A Job Saver, on the road

FIRMS across the region said last night Vamp had made their lives easier. Many have already bought it, others are waiting for it to arrive before Christmas.

Sunderland-based Doxford Um booking clerk Peter Collins said: "If someone is sick in the taxi, the driver basically has to pack it in for the night because of the smell. Hopefully this will allow us to carry on driving."

Phil Grice, headteacher of Ashley Primary School, South Shields, said: "There are occasions when children get sick, so we needed something that was as easy to use as this."

Morgan Stanton, manager of Frankie & Benny's restaurant in Boldon, said: "Even if we only use it four times a year, it is well worth it."