The pandemic has been going on for two years now and has accelerated many developments, but on the other hand it has also revealed weaknesses in areas of the healthcare sector and in digitalization. Many people are still encouraged to work in a home office. Yet many wish to return to the office at least several days a week. The longing for personal discussions with customers or colleagues, company trips and parties is strong.
Even after a long period of scientific exchange, research and the ever-increasing call for looser regulations, it has hardly been possible to establish future-proof technologies that offer long-term protection.
A startup from Bückeburg, near Hanover, Germany, took on this challenge even before the pandemic began. One might think that co-founder Wilfried Krömker had dared to look into a crystal ball more than 7 years ago. At that time, he had already decided to start a revolution in disinfection with the help of cold plasma technology. Before that, he had spent more than 50 years developing medical technology products for companies such as Dräger, Siemens, Hamilton and B. Braun. Now 72 years old, he then sold his own medical technology company. However, an inventor and tinkerer like him quickly gets bored, and he had long been fascinated by the physical method of cold plasma, so he devoted himself to it.
Cold plasma is a gaseous mixture of ionized molecules and electrons, the so-called fourth state of matter besides solid, liquid and gaseous. It eliminates bacteria, viruses and odor molecules. Only electricity and ambient air are needed to produce it. There is no waste material.
Together with the well-known Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology in Greifswald, Wilfried Krömker initially spent years researching an innovative method for hand disinfection. This was because he had noticed that almost everyone was disinfecting their hands incorrectly. After several prototypes and redesigns, the fully automatic Hand Sanitizer was finally completed and patented in 2020. For the finish and a wind of fresh air, he brought 25-year-old Timon Schorling on board. Previously, Timon worked in the finance industry and was involved in the development and evaluation methods of startups during his master’s degree – a perfect match, then, to bring the Hand Sanitizer into the world. The result was the company WK-MedTec.
The Hand Sanitizer uses distilled water in addition to air and electricity to create aerosols. The aerosols consist of tiny particles that cover the entire hand. This is so effective that it even reaches the areas between the fingers, under the fingernails, and the space between the jewelry and the skin. Objects such as cell phones, keys, credit cards, etc. can also be effectively disinfected. Alcohol or chemicals are not required – a very safe as well as environmentally and skin-friendly process.
Since cold plasma technology is also used in other medical areas, such as wound healing or respiration, the idea of an air sanitizer came up. The Air Sanitizer BlueTaction comes in two different room sizes and a stylish design, paving the way for a return to normal life. The Air Sanitzer removes 99.99% of bacteria, viruses and odors from indoor air in real time. To do this, the plasma is simply distributed throughout the room – like a swimming pool that is flooded with water. This means that coworking spaces, conference rooms, canteens, etc. can once again be used without hesitation. The devices work almost silently and without filters that need to be changed.
WK-MedTec has already exhibited its products at various international trade fairs, including Dubai, Mexico City and Amsterdam. The Hand Sanitizer as a world first was also awarded the Innovation Award of the District of Schaumburg and the Award for “Best Hand Hygiene 2021” at the Healthtech Innovation Summit in Dubai.
