by Dr. John Ryan, CEO, Airmid Healthgroup
Date: 30th April 2025
At Airmid Healthgroup, we’ve always believed that real progress happens at the intersection of science, innovation, and collaboration. That belief was fully embodied this week when we welcomed key members of the team from Swissatest Testmaterialien AG to our laboratories in Dublin for a site tour and strategic discussion.
Swissatest, renowned globally for their development of standardized test materials and precision microbiological assessments, visited Airmid to explore deeper collaboration around shared goals, particularly in the area of appliance hygiene performance and indoor air quality.
As two organizations committed to robust, science-based testing that directly supports public health, it was inspiring to explore synergies in the fields of:
- Allergen removal standards in laundry appliances (with both teams contributing to the potential development of a new IEC standard),
- Validation of real-world health claims using a combination of standardized test soils and controlled environmental chambers,
- And the creation of potential dual-certification pathways that integrate Swissatest’s hygiene expertise with Airmid’s allergen and virology validation protocols.
L-R Günter Burtscher, Rita Marques, Dr Angela Southey, Caroline Amberg, Dr. John Ryan, Dr. John McKeon
A Meeting of Minds and Missions
The visit included a full tour of Airmid’s biomedical testing infrastructure, including our climate-controlled GLP enabled environmental test chambers, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited microbiology and virology labs, and our airborne exposure systems designed for realistic simulation of household environments.
Our guests from Swissatest, whose work in artificial soiling and standardized materials has helped shape the appliance testing landscape for decades, shared insights into their most recent innovations, including their hygiene testing label and advanced performance evaluation tools for laundry and cleaning technologies.
The conversation naturally extended to joint research, grant collaboration, standards leadership, and global consumer trust frameworks, all anchored by a shared belief in scientific integrity and rigorous quality systems.
Collaboration That Moves the Industry Forward
Both organizations are playing key roles in the evolving potential IEC standard for allergen removal in washing machines, and this visit marks a significant milestone in our mutual commitment to harmonized, high-impact methodologies.
By combining Swissatest’s decades of expertise in developing reproducible test materials with Airmid’s leadership in simulating real-world exposure environments, we see a unique opportunity to co-create testing solutions that not only meet international compliance requirements, but exceed them.
A Future of Shared Standards and Shared Vision
As global demand grows for healthier homes, scientifically credible product claims, and sustainable appliance innovation, partnerships like this one are critical. We’re excited about what lies ahead, and we’re proud to be working alongside Swissatest to help shape the next chapter of indoor health and hygiene science.
Special thanks to the Swissatest delegation for making the journey to Dublin and for engaging in such thoughtful, open dialogue. We look forward to continuing our collaboration, both in the lab and in the field.
Because when science leads, health follows.
Related Articles
- Celebrating World Standards Day: Airmid Healthgroup’s Role in Promoting a Healthier World through Standardization
- THREE critical factors you must know about textiles and allergies
Related Services
- Laundry & Cleaning Products Allergen removal Hygiene Testing
- Textiles – Test Methods for Determining Efficiency of Products against Dust Mites | ISO21326: 2019
- Services for the validation of health related claims on textiles
Related External Links
- Swissatest Test Materials AG | World-leading test materials at reference level
- IEC Technical Specification 63429; IEC TS 63429:2023; Washing machines for household use – Method for measuring the microbiological performance
- IEC 60456 |IEC 60456:2024 | Washing machines for household use – Methods for measuring the performance
- 060 | Laundry appliances | Including washing-machines, dry-cleaners, driers, ironing and pressing appliances, etc.
Related Case Studies
- Protect-A-Bed®: Leading the Way in Mattress Protection with AAFA-Certified Allerzip Encasements
- Airmid Validates the HygieneShield™ Range by Beko for Eliminating 99.9% of Bacteria and Viruses
Keywords
Swissatest Testmaterialien AG visit, Airmid Healthgroup collaboration, appliance hygiene standards, allergen removal testing, IEC standard development, laundry hygiene, indoor air quality testing, microbiological performance validation
