Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital-acquired infections were a serious concern because of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Numerous companies have developed disinfection robots to address the demand, and a few have partnered to offer systems to healthcare customers. UVD Robots today said it is working with Ecolab Inc. to distribute its UV-C systems worldwide.
“We are thrilled that this collaboration now expands to benefit healthcare facilities on a global scale,” stated Per Juul Nielsen, CEO of UVD Robots.
Founded in 2016, UVD Robots is a subsidiary of Odense, Denmark-based “venture factory” Blue Ocean Robotics ApS. It was based on research conducted by Blue Ocean at the Odense University Hospital and other hospitals with the intention of fighting hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The company launched Model C of its UV-C disinfection robot in 2020.
HAI and COVID-19 drive disinfection robotics
“Each year, about 1 in 25 U.S. hospital patients is diagnosed with at least one infection related to hospital care alone; additional infections occur in other healthcare settings,” reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
The global market for systems using ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-C LED) will reach grow from $208.3 million in 2020 to $18.94 billion by 2030, experiencing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 59.7%, according to Allied Market Research.
Because UV light can be harmful to people, mobile robots have emerged as a way to supplement standard cleaning and disinfection practices for heightened hygiene practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, noted UVD Robots. The company said its UVD Robot is a fully autonomous robot using UV-C light to kill viruses and bacteria for infection prevention and control.
UVD Robots’ UV-C technology can treat an operating theater in about eight to 15 minutes, said Nielsen.
“The UVD Robot solves the challenges of repositioning and minimizes shadowing, which have previously hindered the comprehensive application of UV-C disinfection,” said Claus Risager, chairman of the board of UVD Robots and CEO of Blue Ocean Robotics. ”[It also provides] 24/7 access to real-time compliance and efficacy reports of the disinfection procedures.”
UVD Robots and Blue Ocean have also worked with facilities management company ISS World Services A/S and Gallup McKinley County Schools in New Mexico.
Ecolab adds UVD Robots to offerings
St. Paul, Minn.-based Ecolab claimed that it is “the global leader in water, hygiene, and infection-prevention solutions and services that protect people and vital resources.”
The company said it takes a programmatic approach to ensuring staff and facility cleanliness, helping healthcare providers improve patient outcomes and realize clinical and financial value.
Ecolab said it has expanded its global portfolio to include UVD Robots in its offerings for customers, including care hospitals, inpatient and outpatient clinics, ambulatory surgical facilities, and rehabilitation clinics.
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