LOUISVILLE, Ky. & LINCOLN, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a move with far-reaching implications for the future of antimicrobial copper, A.T. Cross Company in collaboration with Olin Brass has announced the introduction of the world’s first pen made with a U.S. EPA-registered CuVerro® bactericidal copper.
Known as the Century® Copper Pen, the product represents a truly unique and innovative addition to the Cross signature collection of stylish, quality writing instruments. With its Olin Brass supplied CuVerro® bactericidal touch surface, the pen kills 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours of contact – including MRSA – and delivers continuous and ongoing antibacterial action 24 hours a day. With heightened public awareness for hygiene, the Century Copper Pen with CuVerro® surfaces fits perfectly into everyday life, continuously killing bacteria* on-the-go, at home or in the workplace.
The Century Copper pen also boasts a sleek iconic design, stunning finish, and quality craftsmanship that have established Cross as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of premium writing instruments, timepieces, and personal accessories.
Like all Cross writing instrument products, the Century Copper Pen was designed and engineered in the U.S. and is backed by a lifetime mechanical guarantee. Available in ballpoint, this distinctive pen is priced at $50 SRP and is available to consumers through select retailers in the United States, on-line at www.cross.com, and to business and corporate clients through the U.S. Corporate Gift division of A.T. Cross.
“The Century Copper Pen represents a huge step forward in our efforts to bring CuVerro® bactericidal touch surfaces into the product mainstream and everyday life,” said Jeff Byrd, Olin Brass Vice President of Marketing & Sales. “It illustrates how simple and sensible an autonomous bacteria control measure can be. And it’s our hope that other manufacturers of everyday personal products will take notice.”
Many already have!
*Laboratory testing shows that, when cleaned regularly, CuVerro surfaces kill greater than 99.9% of the following bacteria within 2 hours of exposure: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Entrerobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli O157:H7, and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE).The use of CuVerro® antimicrobial copper products is a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices, including those practices related to cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. This surface has been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but it does not necessarily prevent cross contamination.
About Olin Brass
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, GBC Metals, LLC, (d\b\a Olin Brass), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Brass and Copper, Inc., the leading manufacturer and distributor of copper, copper-alloy and bactericidal copper sheet, strip, plate, foil, rod, ingot and fabricated components in North America and one of the largest in the world. GBC Metals engages in the melting, casting, rolling, drawing, extruding and stamping of specialized copper and copper alloys finished products from scrap, cathode and other refined metals. GBC employs over 2,000 employees, and serves the automotive, electronics, building hardware, munitions, coinage and select other industries through manufacturing facilities in East Alton, Illinois; Montpelier and Bryan, Ohio; Waterbury, Connecticut; and Cuba, Missouri; along with joint ventures in Japan and China. GBC also operates A.J. Oster, the leading service center and distributor of copper, copper alloys and bactericidal copper products in North America. GBC and its subsidiaries sell products under the Olin Metals, Olin Brass, and Chase Brass brand names. For further information about Olin Brass visit www.olinbrass.com, www.cuverro.com or call 1-877-311-2883. (OB-020-1403)
About A.T. Cross Company
A.T. CROSS COMPANY, the world renowned manufacturer and marketer of fine writing instruments, has achieved worldwide recognition as a brand since the firm’s inception in 1846. The CROSS name has been synonymous with quality writing instruments, and recently its collection has expanded to include other fine accessories for where and how you work including timepieces, leather, eyewear, and journals. CROSS is headquartered in Lincoln, Rhode Island, and its products are sold in more than 100 markets worldwide through select retailers and distribution partners. All CROSS writing instruments are backed by a lifetime mechanical guarantee. CROSS selections bring the collective skills of 165 years of innovation and craftsmanship to a whole new generation of products. For further information about CROSS, please visit www.cross.com.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” of Global Brass and Copper, Inc. that involve risks and uncertainties. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “believes,” “expects,” “projects,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or similar expressions that relate to our strategy, plans or intentions. All statements the Company makes relating to its estimated and projected earnings, margins, costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results or to its expectations regarding future industry trends are forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company, through its senior management, from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning its expected future operations and performance and other developments. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may change at any time, and, therefore, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those that it expected. The Company derives many of its forward-looking statements from its operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While the Company believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect the Company’s actual results. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to various risks and uncertainties, including: the failure to maintain the Company’s balanced book approach which could cause increased volatility in the Company’s profitability and operating results and may result in significant losses; the loss in order volumes from any of the Company’s largest customers, which may reduce the Company’s sales volumes, revenues and cash flows; the disruption to the Company’s business if its customers shift their manufacturing offshore; the occurrence of any prolonged disruptions at or failures of the Company’s manufacturing facilities and equipment which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; and the failure to implement the Company’s business strategy, including its growth initiatives, could adversely affect its business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. More detailed information about these and other risks and uncertainties are contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Prospectus Supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 2014, in Item 1A “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking information in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by these cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release.
In addition, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release may not in fact occur. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on those statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.