Today let’s take a quick look at UV lights and state of the art products which are playing vital role during pandemic. Many companies are trying to leverage their expertise both leveraging their patents or collaborating/licensing patents from third party, and trying to reach faster to market with various Virucidal lights. If successful, it may be boon to Mankind!
UV lights known since 1800s, mainly using the high energy (UVC) part of UV to quickly disinfect water/surfaces/medical equipment etc. Use of Harmful UV component is not safe for humans, hence research/product offerings teamed up towards harnessing low energy component of UV (405nm). To differentiate from High energy disinfection products, the low energy disinfecting are termed as “continuous disinfection”
Some of the notable product offerings today based on Violet/Indigo light:
GE Current: Pioneer in lighting technology GE Current launched continuous disinfection lighting brand 365DisInFx, this product offerings are available in various ceiling light.
Legrand: They acquired Kennall back in 2018 and they have portfolio of Indigo-Clean ambient product family. Kennall licensed its technology from Strathclyde, mainly to use the products in health care market. IP from Strathclyde not only focuses on spectrum but also characteristics of dosage time and magnitude of output needed to kill various pathogens. Kennall also licensed its IP to Pinnacle, an architectural firm. Further read on Kennal: Here
Hubbell: They also have taken IP License from Strathclyde; however, market segment is commercial segment which includes areas of congregation and Food/Beverage industry. They call their tech as “High Intensity Narrow Spectrum (HINS)
Acuity Brands: They licensed back in 2017 from Vital Vio, mainly technology involves Violet light mixed with white light to disinfect hospital as well as athletic rooms. Last year triggered by Pandemic they also entered strategic agreement with Violet Defense (Germicidal UV Light tech provider) and Puro Lighting (Lighting firm that uses Violet defense tech). These enabled Acuity to strengthen its portfolio of UV disinfection products. PURO and Acuity working together on next GEN UV Lighting products. Another notable strategic move is to collaboration with Ushio on coming up with Human Safe disinfection light.
Molex: Latest addition to disinfection lighting, in collaboration with Italian company and UK software developer to launch smart connected disinfecting light. Microbial Sanitizing lighting system combined with LED technology from Nextsense in Rome and the Molex Power over ethernet building platform with Smart software from amBX, a spin off from Philips R&D. Link
These are just few examples of some of the well known companies, however there are plethora of product offerings in the market. It is very essential to understand and choose only quality and trusted brand. This is very important to keep safety and health factors in mind.
Patent licensing plays vital role, Especially in today’s time when timing is everything. Understanding key patent owned by third party as well as identifying gap to reach product is wining recipe for sustained growth and to enter the market before anyone else does!
Do comment below if you got any opinion or thoughts, lets discuss!