Sheffield firm launches hi-tech hand sanitiser that locks the door to dirty hands

Infect Protect’s device sprays sanitiser on all four sides of the hands and can be linked to a door that only opens when it has been used.

The SteriSecure provides a one-second spray. A standalone version, SteriCrowd, can handle 30 people in a minute, bosses say, making it good for busy environments like sports grounds.

The firm claims its patent pending system is proven to decrease staff sickness by 80 per cent.

It was developed by three entrepreneurs: Giles Moore, Michael Howe and Laurence Nair-Price, backed by a private investors, and one unit costs about £3,000. But the firm, established in Sheffield in May, says it is talking to large companies including Tesco and Centrica and offering a discount for volume.

Giles Moore said: “In these uncertain times, people are desperate for the Great British economy to return to its former glory. We as a country need to go back to work, without the additional worry of spreading Covid-19.

“Infect Protect allows businesses to reopen and employees can be assured they are doing their absolute best to minimise the spread of infection and most importantly, helping everyone stay safe.”

You can see a video of the SteriSecure in action here.

Mr Moore added: “The timing is good I know, albeit not what we expected when we were developing this. It was actually developed a few years ago for the horticultural and food industries where they need to sterilise their hands before entering certain areas to prevent cross contamination.

“We realised we could adapt and apply this technology to a wider use when this all kicked off and it could work in any setting, just with customisation and modifications to make it look better and more customer facing.

“We are currently working out of Hallam ILabs, part of Sheffield Hallam University co-working space. All of it is manufactured in a factory in Goole, so fully UK made. We create the custom designs and front panels in Sheffield which are added on to the machines before they leave the factory.”

The firm also offers testing consultancy using in-house scientists and infection control planning.

Earlier this month The Star reported on a Dronfield company’s new scanner that could pick out feverish people at airports, supermarkets and factories.

The ‘Viralert 2’ measures human body temperature to within half a degree - and informs operators if it is elevated.

Manufacturers Ametek Land say it could play a role in containing the spread of coronavirus and they are in discussions with two supermarket chains, the NHS and private healthcare providers.

A ‘flagship’ UK drug company is trialling the system with a view to installing it in warehouses and Dubai Airport has previously bought several systems.

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