By Ernest Dela Aglanu, Benzinga
Applied UV Inc. (NASDAQ: AUVI) is leading a new wave of innovation in the ultraviolet (UV) disinfection equipment industry. This is good, considering the critical role UV plays in keeping indoor spaces and medical facilities free of pathogens.
UV disinfection has been a proven technology for the disinfection of pathogens on surfaces and in air and water for several decades. A particular spectrum of UV radiation between 200 and 280 nm – the UVC spectrum – has been employed extensively as the germicidal range of UV radiation.
Global health crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the scientific and engineering potential of applying UV disinfection technologies for biocontaminated air and surfaces as the major media for disease transmission.
More businesses and institutions, such as healthcare facilities, shopping malls and airports, are increasingly adopting UV devices for disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and circulating air streams.
The increasing adoption of UV disinfection is translating into a positive growth outlook for the market, something investors are always looking out for. Grand View Research projects the global disinfection equipment market will reach $6.17 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% from 2022 to 2030.
So, for a player like Applied UV, which develops and acquires proprietary infection prevention and control technology in the healthcare, commercial and public venue, food processing and storage, cannabis, and education markets, the advancing growth of the market presents opportunities.
The company has two wholly owned subsidiaries — SteriLumen Inc. and Munn Works LLC. SteriLumen owns and markets a portfolio of products with advanced pathogen elimination technology, branded Airocide® by SteriLumen, Scientific Air™ by SteriLumen, Airoclean™ 420 by SteriLumen, and Lumicide™ by SteriLumen.
Research Collaboration To Study The Efficacy And Safety Of Far-UVC Disinfection Technology
In a quest to advance and enhance its technology, Applied UV recently announced that its subsidiary, PURO Lighting LLC, a proven innovative UV technology solutions leader, Johnson Controls International PLC. (NYSE: JCI), a leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, and Ushio America Inc., have announced a research collaboration to study the efficacy and safety of far-UVC disinfection technology.
Far-UVC is a narrow band of UVC light centered at 222nm, which is proven to inactivate pathogens at levels that are safe for human exposure and can be used in spaces where people are present.
While the efficacy of filtered far UV-C light disinfection is widely known, there is limited research on the ancillary effects that occur from the inactivation of pathogens using far UV-C light. Therefore, the planned study being embarked upon by PURO and Ushio will allow for a better understanding of the possible positive and negative impact the elimination of pathogens has on the surrounding air.
“The further validation of the safety and efficacy of filtered far UV-C technology presents tremendous opportunity for PURO to accelerate market adoption by sponsoring this critical research,” Brian Stern, president of PURO, said in a press release.
He further noted that the research will help demonstrate the benefits and potential cost savings that continuous disinfection of air and surfaces can bring to workplace settings, including hospitals, schools, government buildings, commercial offices and other shared indoor spaces.
Tyler Smith, vice president of Healthy Buildings, Johnson Controls, on his part explained that “Better indoor air quality (IAQ) is increasingly important to our customers and our employees, and it’s critical we evaluate all of the factors that go into the IAQ equation.”
“We are intrigued and excited by the early promise of far UV-C as a supplement to our leading IAQ solution portfolio. By testing PURO and Ushio’s market-leading far UV-C technologies, we will be able to provide customers with additional, proven, safe and effective solutions to ensure that the air and surfaces in indoor spaces are healthier and more sustainable,” he added.
For Ushio, the research collaboration presents an opportunity for the company to build on its existing research and findings to further prove the efficacy and safety of Care222 filtered far UV-C technology.
“The capability to provide continuous UV disinfection of air and surfaces in occupied spaces has become the industry standard. This research will help provide the confidence to customers that the technology is not only effective but safe,” Shinji Kameda, COO of Ushio, said.
The research agreement, which includes technologies and products from PURO and Ushio, will focus on testing regulatory-approved filtered far UV-C lighting technologies. The research will be conducted by leading U.S.-based universities and certified laboratories over the next six to eight months. The findings from the results will be provided as they become available.
A recently released white paper from Johnson Controls highlights that better indoor air quality can conservatively lead to a $750 to $800 return per employee per year by reducing absenteeism from health issues and the reduction in productivity due to poor air quality.
This article was originally published on Benzinga here.
Applied UV is focused on the development and acquisition of technology that addresses infection control in the healthcare, hospitality, commercial and municipal markets. The Company has two wholly owned subsidiaries - SteriLumen, Inc. (“SteriLumen”) and Munn Works, LLC (“Munn Works”). SteriLumen’s Airocide® air purification devices are research-backed, clinically proven, and developed for NASA with assistance from the University of Wisconsin. Airocide® is listed as an FDA Class II Medical device, utilizes a proprietary photo-catalytic (PCO) bioconversion technology that draws air into a reaction chamber that converts damaging molds, microorganisms, dangerous airborne pathogens, destructive VOCs, allergens, odors, and biological gasses into harmless water vapor and green carbon dioxide without producing ozone or other harmful byproducts. Airocide® applications include healthcare, hospitality, grocery chains, wine-making facilities, commercial real estate, schools, dental offices, post-harvest, grocery, cannabis facilities, and homes. SteriLumen’s connected platform for Data-Driven Disinfection™ applies the power of ultraviolet light (UVC) to destroy pathogens safely, thoroughly, and automatically, addressing the challenge of healthcare-acquired infections ("HAIs"). Targeted for use in facilities that have high customer turnover such as hospitals, hotels, commercial facilities, and other public spaces, the Company’s Lumicide™ platform uses UVC LEDs in several patented designs for infection control in and around high-traffic areas, including sinks and restrooms, killing bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens residing on hard surfaces within devices’ proximity. The Company’s patented in-drain disinfection device, Lumicide Drain, is the only product on the market that addresses this critical pathogen-intensive location.
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