The Coronavirus Pandemic sent shockwaves through the world in 2020, both in terms of its human toll and economic impact. While we are still nowhere near the end of the stay-at-home era, newly approved vaccines give us a timetable for when we can expect to get back to work in the way we used to, or otherwise resume some of the activities we took for granted. However, when the public is finally able to safely dine indoors, go to the movies, or resume normal work operations, concern around contagious diseases will linger in the back of our minds.
As the focus of cleanliness and safety expands beyond things that can be seen – such as grease, grime, or dust – to include what is invisible – viruses and other microscopic contagions – the impact of technology operating on a microscopic level expands in kind. Businesses taking an innovative approach to cleanliness and hygiene have been rewarded with enthusiasm from consumers in search of reliable, detailed and informed cleanliness. As our economy and consumer confidence begins to recover, one such company’s approach – eliminating the possibility of surface transmission of contagions – has seen international success and growth during the pandemic.
Co-Founded in 2018 by Amy Hedrick and David Georgeson, Cleanbox Technology has a head start in the world of decontamination. With short, precision-targeted exposure of UVC light from a grid of LEDs, their products eliminate 99.999% of viruses (such as SARS-COV-2, which causes COVID-19), as well as other contagions that might be found on electronics, masks, hand-held equipment, cellphones, Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs), and other devices. The UVC light eliminates contagions by disrupting their DNA or RNA, preventing them from replicating. Engineered for a range of contagions from norovirus to MRSA, Cleanbox’s UVC decontamination technology has subsequently been validated against COVID-19 through independent lab studies at a biohazard level 3 laboratory associated with the University of New Mexico, as well as ResInnova Laboratories in Maryland, USA. What makes Cleanbox products stand out from devices using similar technology (such as UV wands or lamps) is their proprietary engineering: each product is uniquely engineered to target specific devices, so that all surfaces of each item are exposed to the appropriate amount of virus killing UVC light. In 2020, the prescience of their business model came into focus.
“Cleanbox got its start in the immersive technology space as a first to market company offering a unique and effective solution to a real-world hygiene problem of shared equipment,” remarked Co-founder and CEO Amy Hedrick, adding “Our brand is known world-wide for proprietary engineering in the use of UVC light, and stands out as a ‘Made in the USA’ brand. When COVID emerged, we saw the need for our product to expand beyond our initial target industry, which was the Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality sector. We had already validated our engineering, so we knew what would work – all that was left was to figure out how to build products that meet the needs presented by the pandemic.” Soon, they had developed the CleanDefense, which was designed with the operational needs of businesses experiencing PPE shortages, such as hospitals, airports, and grocery stores in mind. With it, businesses can ensure that when their employees reuse their N95 or KN95 Masks, they are doing so safely after having them pass through the CleanDefense UVC decontamination cycle.
Because they began with a focus on the Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR and AR) industry, Cleanbox has always had their eye on the future. Though nobody could predict the global pandemic, Cleanbox has been able to rise to the challenge. In 2020, they grew from one product line with clients in 10 countries to 3 product lines in over 36 countries and 41 states in the US. Additionally, it expanded its domestic and international sales team in 6 countries to offer its products to any size business across healthcare, education, government, entertainment, and enterprise.
Cleanbox’s latest innovation includes the addition of RFID object hygiene tracking and the networking of their family of products around the world, allowing businesses to perpetually track the hygiene history of any object they choose to tag. By centralising hygiene information, operations large and small can closely monitor the status of their devices, no matter the scale or setting.
Innovative approaches to cleanliness will be necessary this year, as the world continues to fight against contagious diseases. When it comes to creating a business environment free of surface contaminants, Cleanbox is clearly leading the way.
In volatile times, it’s no surprise that businesses and consumers are looking to ways to upgrade their security against contagions. Protecting lives and livelihoods are top priorities at Cleanbox, and their team continues to make this possible by introducing products designed to give businesses peace of mind. Whether you work in a lab, an office, a warehouse or a grocery store, ensuring the equipment you use is contagion-free keeps you one step ahead.
To learn more about Cleanbox and their family of contagion-killing products, visit: www.cleanboxtech.com