Ozone wash

Laboratory trials undertaken during the last six months by Ozone Industries at its Farnborough, UK facility, have proven that the use of ozone in commercial laundering has the potential to dramatically reduce operating costs by up to 50% by enabling washes to be made at lower temperatures.

Now, a new set of laundry trials are set to analyse the parameters that impact the industrial washing cycle and seek to confirm the results of the laboratory trials.

The use of ozone has also been proven to reduce bacterial and viruses by up to 99% and extend the life of linen by as much a quarter.

Ozone Industries estimates that there are more than 200,000 laundries in the UK that could benefit from reduced operational costs through the use of ozone as part of the washing cycle.

Ozone has been used in water purification systems since the beginning of the 20th century, but it is only in recent years that advances in electronic design have made it viable to develop systems for laundry applications.

Ozone is a powerful oxidant that can be generated artificially using electronic equipment.

"The initial laboratory results from the use of ozone in industrial laundry applications are extremely promising. We can see no reason why these should not be repeated in field applications with the result that the operational cost of industrial washing will be dramatically reduced," said David Kent, Chief Executive Officer, Ozone Industries.

The oxidising ability of ozone means that the water temperature can be significantly reduced. Conventional washing methods typically require a wash temperature of 55ºC to 65ºC (140ºF to 160ºF). With the use of ozone this can be reduced to 25ºC (80ºF).

The Ozone Industries laundry system could be implemented at minimal cost. It requires no external modifications to laundry equipment and is fitted externally to the water inlet on washing machines.

Ozone Industries has developed a series of products that reduce bacteria and viruses in applications such as washrooms, healthcare, horticulture, hotels, food manufacture and industrial processes.

Ozone Industries is already established in the hygiene market where its products are distributed by leading service companies, supplying over two thirds of all ozone generators in the UK where it is used in washrooms, nursing homes, garbage rooms, hotels and hospital sluice rooms.