When the Melaphone Speech Unit was designed 50 years ago for the booking offices at British Rail stations, nobody could have predicted that half a century later it would suddenly be in such high demand.
The current Coronavirus Pandemic had created an urgent need for all protective equipment – both for personal use and in the working environment. This is the reason the Melaphone has come into its own again. Its unique design, with its resonating membrane and air-sealed constructions, make it the ideal device to install in any situation where face-to-face communication occurs.
It not only offers protection from airborne viruses and pathogens, it also enhances and clarifies the frequently muffled sound when people speak through a screen. Its protective credentials have been certified to ISO 16444-1 Class 5 – indeed, it has often been specified by architects and designers for use in hospitals, laboratories and cleanrooms or anywhere hygiene is of paramount importance. It is a simple but really ingenious invention which requires no servicing, wiring or electrical supply. And it is very easy to keep clean and safe with an antiseptic wipe.
The Melaphone has now been built into the new Defender Virus Screens produced by the company and numerous doctors’ surgeries, medical centres, clinics and pharmacies in the UK have had these screens installed with considerable success and approval. The screens are individually made and every component is of the highest quality, giving a clean, sleek and professional appearance in any healthcare environment.
The Melaphone is still available as a standalone unit for installation into walls, glass or plastic screens, windows or doors. It can easily be retrofitted into existing structures and requires no special skill to install. The range has been expanded to meet the growing demand for the units. In addition to the original brushed aluminium model, there is a stainless steel model, a white powder-coated aluminium model and the newest and highly successful Himacs acrylic-resin model, which is at a very popular price.
All of these models are available from stock and can be purchased from Melaphone VisAudio.
Even after 50 years, we’re proud to still be able to say ‘MADE IN THE UK’ at our London production facility.