UVD Robots to Disinfect German Supermarkets for Safer Shopping
Danish leader in autonomous UV disinfection robots UVD Robots is partnering with OCC Commercial Consulting to offer hospital-grade disinfection solutions for supermarkets. This ensures safe shopping for staff and customers.
The average consumer spends about 60 hours a year grocery shopping. Time spent in an environment that may harbor various microbe groups, including shopping carts, refrigerator doors and food, can be hazardous to health. A study found that supermarket shopping carts carry 361 times more bacteria than bathroom door handles, and 75% of the microbes found on carts are considered harmful to humans.
Refrigerator doors can carry 1235 times more bacteria than a mobile phone, and one of the most common types of bacteria found on these doors is resistant to antibiotics.
Following a second order of 100 robots from the European Commission in September 2021, and an initial order of 200 robots in 2020, UVD Robots has entered a global partnership agreement with OCC Commercial Consulting to fight coronavirus and high-risk pathogens commonly found in grocery stores, food service establishments and retail spaces.
The partnership allows OCC to deploy UVD robots for autonomous disinfection of storage areas, including shelves, aisles and checkout zones, providing comprehensive infection prevention using UV-C germicidal lighting. The robot protects against viruses and bacteria on surfaces and in the air, killing more than 99.9% of microorganisms, including SARS-CoV-2 and E. coli, ensuring the safety of staff and customers.
"Disinfecting retail spaces is an ideal job for UVD robots, as they can easily move through aisles during off-hours," said Klaus Risager, CEO of Blue Ocean Robotics, the manufacturer of UVD robots. OCC Commercial Consulting will initially focus on deploying UVD robots in German markets, but plans to expand its activities across the rest of Europe.
“We are pleased to provide ultraviolet disinfection robots with autonomous mobility to a market that badly needs them. Supermarkets must give their staff and shoppers confidence that everything possible is being done for their safety and health”
OCC Commercial Consulting is a market agency with more than 30 years of extensive experience and expertise, specializing in providing technology-driven solutions to the food and beverage sector.
Based on pre-scheduled timetables and mapped routes, UVD robots can disinfect about 700 m² in roughly one hour, providing fast disinfection of typical retail locations without requiring on-site staff to manage them. UV-C lamp disinfection of supermarkets is not a new concept, however existing solutions, including fixed disinfection systems, ceiling UV lamps and air purifiers, do not provide complete disinfection covering shaded or remote areas.
The UVD robot addresses the shadowing and repositioning challenges that previously prevented comprehensive use of UV disinfection, while providing round-the-clock access to compliance reports and disinfection performance in real time.
UVD robots, sold in more than 60 countries, are the most popular autonomous disinfection devices in the world. They were originally developed to fight hospital-acquired infections and are now used in educational campuses and institutions, the healthcare sector, airports, hotels, sports complexes, railways, shopping centers, food companies, cruise ships, pharmaceutical companies and offices.
The global partnership agreement with OCC Commercial Consulting focuses in particular on the food and beverage retail sector. UVD robots are designed for disinfection and look after everyone's safety.
“We hope for a partnership with OCC to help the retail sector quickly address coronavirus contamination challenges, supporting long-term strategies for more effective infection prevention”
Blue Ocean Robotics develops, manufactures and sells mobile robots for professional service use. The company's portfolio includes the brands UVD Robots, GoBe Robots (a telepresence robot that reduces travel time, costs and CO2 emissions), and PTR Robots (a safe robot for patient transport and rehabilitation). The company recently ranked in the top 10 of the most innovative robotics companies of 2021 according to Fast Company.
OCC Commercial Consulting specializes in food and beverages, manufacturing and trade. With more than 30 years of extensive experience and expertise in the market, the agency is ideally equipped to actively support companies in their business development in a timely and realistic way.
OCC Commercial supports individual optimization covering conceptual considerations, relevant concept adjustments and strategic restructuring, benefiting from deep, comprehensive market experience in importing, exporting and retailing non-food consumer goods and premium products from the food and beverage sector.
