Clean air in demand

Start-ups are agile and adaptable by definition, responding rapidly when changes in the business environment bring fresh challenges and opportunities.

A Hong Kong start-up that originally produced energy-saving air purifiers underlines the point – the firm began to develop a device that could eliminate airborne viruses and bacteria when it recognised the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Developing an air purifier that not only filters but also eliminates airborne COVID-19 particles with an antiviral air-filtration technology, Aurabeat CEO Phil Yuen, and Chief Technical Officer, Roger Sze To, are offering an extra level of protection from the virus.

The result of the firm’s switch is the Aurabeat AG+ Silver Ion Plasma Sterilisation Air Purifier, an air purifier certified by US research institute MRI Global and cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration, certified to eliminate more than 99.9% of airborne COVID-19. Trapping and eliminating COVID-19 on contact, along with other bacteria and viruses found in the air to reduce the risk of secondary infection and airborne transmission, the purifier uses five stages of filtration and disinfection to eliminate bacteria and viruses – pre-filter, silver ion air filter, nano-crystalline filter, ultraviolet disinfection and plasma sterilisation.

Aurabeat’s technology is already deployed in Hong Kong after the firm won a government open tender for air-filtration solutions, Mr Yuen said. The air purifiers have been installed in infection-prone environments such as COVID-19 sample collection points and quarantine facilities, and are also in place at the Legislative Council complex and other government buildings. First-responders such as the Hong Kong Fire Department, St John Ambulance and more than half of Hong Kong’s public hospitals also rely on Aurabeat’s antiviral air filtration technology to protect against COVID-19 air transmission. The air purifier can cover areas as large as 538 square feet (50 square metres), while a portable device can be used within vehicle interiors and small workspaces.

Mr Yuen said they were motivated to develop such a device to give everyone an added level of protection from the virus, particularly as there is mounting evidence to suggest that aerosols – tiny droplets in the air less than five micrometres in diameter – can carry the virus. “When we first started, we really wanted to see one of these devices protecting people everywhere – my daughter’s school, whenever we go to a restaurant or shopping mall … it’s about helping businesses to reopen, instilling customer confidence and protecting the environment too. I think all these things together will help us get back to normal as fast and easy as possible.”

Aurabeat is seeing “skyrocketing demand” for its product globally and it is currently in talks with several health ministries outside Hong Kong. The biggest demand comes from the United States, which accounts for about 90% of its orders at present, with universities, banks and other businesses all investing in the technology. Demand has been generated by positive press and word of mouth rather than marketing, the CEO said. He has ambitions for its technology to become truly global. “We would love to talk to more people. We see the European Union as being a strong market for us, along with the Middle East and South America. We’re actively recruiting people in those areas,” he confirmed.

Mr Yuen said that Hong Kong retailers have shown a lot of interest in the product, with some chains buying devices for each outlet. Educators are also interested with one US university using the air purifier in a dormitory it set up as a quarantine facility for students. The firm has also seen individuals buying the devices then giving them to schools and churches, he added.

To meet global demand for its products, the start-up has asked its manufacturer in Mainland China to switch to maximum capacity and is looking into expanding production. “We’ve gone way past the initial maximum already, but it’s a good problem to have, [to be] thinking, ‘how do we expand from here?’” he said.