By Lancelot Joseph. Executive Editor, Business India

With Covid-19 attacking all kinds of industrial, as also human bodies, air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration major Blue Star Limited (BSL) has announced the launch of a wide range of new products and solutions with virus deactivation technology (VDT). The Rs5,400 crore entity has a footprint in 18 countries across the Middle East, Africa, SAARC and ASEAN regions.

“Considering the new world order, it is imperative for BSL to roll out technologically advanced offerings, which are specifically designed to tackle viruses, while ensuring safety precautions mandated by the government,” explains B. Thiagarajan, MD, BSL. “This VDT provides additional protection against viruses including Covid-19, in air-conditioned spaces. Apart from being completely safe for humans, the technology deploys components that are non-hazardous, eco-friendly, proven and accepted across the world. The new range of products and solutions, when used while adhering to the safety protocols mandated by the government, will provide additional protection to human beings inside air-conditioned spaces”.

What does VDT do? BSL’s new range of products and solutions with VDT has the capability to deactivate viruses including Covid-19, with up to 99.9 per cent efficacy, when air passes through these systems. “VDT will be a part of the company’s new range of solutions, specially designed for the new reality,” adds Thiagarajan. “Most of the VDT components have also been designed to be easily retrofitted into existing AC systems, both central and unitary, in the field. These VDT solutions will be useful for all air-conditioning applications, be it at homes, ATMs, showrooms, restaurants, offices, or large commercial spaces like malls, cinema theatres and airports. He further points out: “It is pertinent to note that the product is not a substitute to the mandatory precautions prescribed by the government such as wearing masks, social distancing, usage of hand sanitisers and surface hygiene practices”.

One of the components that forms the critical part of VDT is livinguard filter, which BSL, through its positive charge, attracts the negatively charged viruses including Covid-19 and other microbes, like a powerful magnet, and completely deactivates them when air passes through this filter. BSL has also integrated ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) technology into its VDT range of solutions.