LINDSAY, Ontario – Holsag Products will begin shipping wood chairs next month to customers finished with a catalyzed lacquer that includes an antimicrobial coating that prevents the growth of bacteria and some viruses.

The company said the new finish was launched in response to the coronavirus outbreak. It will be standard for most of Holsag’s chair products and no up-charge will be applied.

“At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we began talking to our customers about how we could help in the struggle to keep surfaces clean and safe,” said Wayne Cockburn, sales director for Holsag. “As a result, our finish will now include a long-lasting antimicrobial coating. This coating adds a barrier of protection that helps keep surfaces cleaner by inhibiting the growth of a broad spectrum of bacteria, viruses, mold and mildew on the surfaces you touch.”

The 60-year-old company primarily manufactures chairs from European beech at its 270,000-square-foot facility. Customers include restaurants, senior living centers, educational institutions and hospitality businesses throughout Canada and the United States.

Holsag’s website includes a blog explaining what an antimicrobial finish is and how it works to thwart germs.