AB&I Foundry, in partnership with the California Metals Coalition (CMC), Assemblyman Rob Bonta (Alameda County), and MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute (TCI), teamed up for a “retooling” project aimed at supporting local first responders during the COVID‐19 health crisis.
The shortage of PPE equipment (e.g., N95 masks) can leave healthcare workers, firefighters, and EMTs at risk. In order to help solve this problem, TCI retooled a portion of their Carlsbad, California location to manufacture portable decontamination kits. In support of their efforts, AB&I Foundry will be donating these kits valued at $900 each to four recipients: Highland Hospital, Alameda Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, and Roots Community Health Center in Oakland.
The kit includes a germicidal ultraviolet (UV‐C) system, which is an environmentally friendly, non-chemical disinfection process. This state-of-the art system is easy to use and portable, it does not use any harmful chemicals, sprays or solvents, and it is safe on all surfaces including fabric, metal, and even mobile phones. The germicidal UV-C light destroys bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, etc.
“UV-C light has been proven to kill germs, viruses, and bacteria. At AB&I Foundry, we have hired a service that comes in periodically to fully disinfect the foundry as part of our routine maintenance to combat the coronavirus,” said Michael Lowe, General Manager of AB&I Foundry in Oakland. “Making this technology available to healthcare workers is our way of helping as we all navigate these difficult times,” Lowe said.
Here’s how it works: The UV-C light is a short-wavelength, ultraviolet light that breaks apart germ DNA, leaving it unable to function or reproduce. In other words, UV-C light is a germicidal that kills or neutralizes “superbugs” like the coronavirus, germs, or any other pathogens on surfaces. The system plugs in to any standard outlet, and within a two- to four-minute disinfecting process it can sterilize PPE equipment, thus extending the service life of PPE gear. This compact disinfecting kit is 16 x 20 x 8 inches, and it’s easy and safe to use—just place an item inside the box, close the lid, and the system starts the process of disinfecting—and as an added safety feature, if the lid opens, the system automatically turns off.
Source: McWane Inc.
