Novatec: Novatec's New Sanitizing System 'Scrubs' Pathogens from Factory Air

As America gradually reopens and people return to work, a fair bit of anxiety continues to linger in the air. Workplaces by and large are following health expert guidelines in terms of ensuring that employees practice social distancing and wear face masks, providing ample amounts of hand sanitizer, and implementing deep-cleaning practices. For companies that want or, in some cases, need to go the extra mile, Novatec has developed the patent-pending ScrubX sanitizing system, which is designed to remove and sanitize dust and plastic particulate that may have been exposed to harmful airborne pathogens. Individual units provide 200 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of airflow and can provide dust and particulate control for up to 3,000 square feet of interior space.The ScrubX features a multi-stage air circulator, scrubber, and sanitizer that traps airborne particulate and kills viral matter automatically with a multi-staged ultraviolet system. The machine was invented to help mitigate the level of the novel coronavirus, which could be present in factory air, by removing dust and particulate from work areas along with any pathogens that might be present, said Novatec."It has been proven that viruses can easily attach to dust and particulates, which provide a media for the airborne pathogens to stay suspended and to circulate in factory air longer than typical aerosol transmission," said Mark Haynie, Dryer Product Manager. "While most airborne viruses can circulate for up to five hours, with dust and particulate hanging in the air, the virus could stay present for 48 hours or more."Novatec's ScrubX features a multi-stage air circulator, scrubber, and sanitizer that traps airborne particulate and kills viral matter automatically with a multi-staged ultraviolet system. Airflow is moved and directed by a regenerative blower to enter through an intake that can be oriented to provide maximum air circulation. The air enters a cyclone designed to remove most of the dust and then directs it to a collection container that has ultraviolet C (UVC) germicidal lamps with 2 to 4 mJ/cm² intensity. Any dust that is too fine to be removed by the cyclone enters a second-stage filter, which has more UVC lamps and includes a 0.1-micron ultra-HEPA filter that removes dust and small pathogens, including coronavirus.A built-in control, designed by sister company MachineSense LLC, automatically measures air quality index, filter status, particulate levels, and more for complete remote monitoring. The control system receives feedback from particulate monitoring sensors located in dust prone areas. "This ensures that the cleaning of the dust is adequate, and the factory dust/particulate level is reduced," said Haynie.Both mobile and stationary units are available. Mobile units can be easily moved throughout the factory; stationary units can be installed in a fixed location, inside or outside of the building."Novatec is hoping its technology will get more people back to work safer and faster than thought possible," said Novatec CEO and Managing Partner Conrad Bessemer. Bessemer also co-founded MachineSense, which has introduced FeverWarn, a low-cost, advanced, infrared temperature scanning system that can be used to help detect and screen for COVID-19.Novatec manufactures, integrates, and installs resin drying and conveying equipment, complete resin-handling systems, and predictive maintenance and analytics technology. Downstream extrusion equipment solutions include tanks, pullers, cutters, and saws used in the manufacture of pipe, tubing and profiles. The company's association with Maguire Products broadens its portfolio to include industry-leading plastics blending equipment, said Novatec.