Courtesy / Saco Industrial Innovation Center
Seen here is a close-up of the UVeyor, with Roche’s son Sean, who is helping with the project.
January 11, 2021
Saco innovation center is ready for market test of virus-fighting UV sanitation machine
Courtesy / Saco Industrial Innovation Center
Six “Uveyors,” seen here, have been built. Four are ready for test markets, one is held back for Underwriters Laboratory approval and one will be held for further development
The developers of an ultraviolet light sanitizing machine, designed to kill surface contaminants like the coronavirus, have built six of the machines and are seeking test markets.
The sanitizer uses a conveyor belt to move objects through a housing equipped with ultraviolet light to combat viral surface contaminants.
The development and testing of the equipment is being conducted at the Saco Industrial Innovation Center at 10 Mill Brook Road in Saco.
The center was founded by Kevin Roche, who is part of the machine’s development team. Roche is also a principal of BBK Investments, which is investing in the project.
The team’s lead engineer is Erik Goodwin, an employee of Eagle Industries in Hollis who has expertise in fabrication and product design.
In September, the team set up an initial prototype of the machine at a vocational school called the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology for testing.
Since then, the machine received a 99.99% validation rating that it would kill the virus, during lab testing at the University of New Hampshire, Roche told Mainebiz.
The validation tests were conducted with objects that ranged from simple, flat products to complex contoured tools.
“With that news, we are moving forward to get units out to the market for further development,” Roche said.
The machine has the working name “UVeyor” sanitizer.
Roche said he expects the technology could be useful for medical facilities, large employers, hospitality businesses and schools.
“In a world where there’s a lot more sanitization of products going on, this will be another tool in the tool box,” he said.
The Biddeford Regional Center of Technology is the machine’s lead tester and will receive the machine’s next iteration, possibly this week, said Roche.
“They’ll be our showcase to sell into the school market,” he said.
Roche said he’s reached out to other facilities in the four potential markets, in Maine and elsewhere.
At the same time, he said, he’s in the processing of applying for various permits needed to enter the markets. That includes an Underwriters Laboratory seal, needed for most electrical products.
“We’re in discussions now and moving forward,” he said.
Additional permits will be needed for use in medical facilities, he said.
In the fall, the Saco Industrial Innovation Center received a $25,000 matching grant from the Maine Technology Institute for the project. The match was funded by BBK Investments, said Roche. The money funded six units. Eagle Industries fabricated the components and Roche and Goodwin assembled them.
Four of the units are ready to go, one will be held back until it receives Underwriters Laboratory approval and one will remain at the center for further development.
Advancing the product to market is expected to require another $300,000 to $500,000. Roche said he’ll go back to Maine Technology Institute or other funding agencies to apply for half that amount. The other half will come from BBK and equity partners already onboard.
The goal is to have funds and approvals in hand by the end of March, with five of the machines in test markets by that time, too, he said. The five machines will be subject to input from users, with further refinement expected down the line, he added.
He invited folks interested in the project to contact him at kroche@bbkinvestments.
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