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ItalianoThe regular cleaning of surfaces is essential, especially in supermarkets, where shopping trolleys are constantly used by many customers. Disinfection with UV-C light sets a new standard here. Surfaces are made germ- and virus-free in the shortest possible time without chemical agents, thus ensuring adequate hygiene. This type of cleaning is carried out with the unique "seCUBE" from CARE BY LIGHT, a joint venture between MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® and PLANLICHT. An innovative, user-friendly solution that goes far beyond coronavirus times.
The first system in the food retail sector is now being used by market leader SPAR, where several shopping trolleys are disinfected simultaneously and without leaving any residue. "Our expertise in lighting technology gave us the idea of developing marketable disinfection solutions with UV-C LED technology right at the start of the coronavirus pandemic," says Felicitas Kohler, CEO of PLANLICHT.
In collaboration between MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®, PLANLICHT, the Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology at the Medical University of Innsbruck and BERGERecotrail, CARE BY LIGHT developed the first "seCUBE" prototype in just seven weeks. It was successfully tested for a week at a SPAR supermarket in Wattens (Tyrol). "The feedback from our customers was very good. Hygiene is an important concern, especially in these times, and for many customers it is a decisive factor when choosing where to shop. That's why we are always open to such innovations," says Dr Christof Rissbacher, Managing Director of the SPAR headquarters in Wörgl. Following further improvements, the second system in Zirl has now been opened as a second test run in the middle of live operation.
Disinfection with light
In the project, which was funded by the state of Tyrol, the effectiveness of the disinfection process was analysed together with the Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology at the Medical University of Innsbruck. The director of the institute, Prof. Dr Cornelia Lass-Flörl, confirms from evidence-based medicine that: "Around ten per cent of general infection routes can take place via surfaces (exogenous). Disinfection with UV-C light was already known to be a relevant solution before the pandemic. After all, this technology can be used to deactivate everyday germs, noroviruses and mould spores on surfaces." The seCUBE is a cuboid device in which the surfaces of mobile objects are disinfected with light. It is possible to adjust the size, lighting intensity and duration of the device to the respective area of application. By omitting mercury or ozone, surface cleaning with UV-C light completely dispenses with the use of chemicals and is 100% residue-free. In addition, it is insensitive to a high number of switching cycles, which greatly extends the application-related service life of these systems.
Simple operation
The seCUBE disinfection system in Zirl works semi-automatically and is equipped with a multi-stage safety system. Customers collect and return the shopping trolleys from the disinfection tunnel, which uses indicator lights to show when the already disinfected trolleys can be removed. When a trolley lane is full of used shopping trolleys, a roller shutter closes automatically and the disinfection process begins. This provides customers with a sanitised shopping trolley, which quickly eliminates any transmission of infection from surfaces during the shopping experience without leaving any residue.
"In times like these, fast and professional innovation is required so that familiar situations in our everyday lives can continue to be safely facilitated. These innovation processes are essential for our project partners and require a scientifically sound and rapid solution to the problem," explains FH-Prof. DI Dr Michael Kraxner, who heads up R&D at the MCI.