Interview Convenience and carbon emissions


Matt Anderson, founder and director of Velair, shares his insights on plug-and-play electronics in 2022.


We tend to think about hand dryers as a relatively static technology – what’s changed? To be honest, until some quite recent innovations came along, that’s a relatively accurate impression of the hand dryer world. It’s not known for constantly changing and evolving – the first ever hand dryers were invented around 100 years ago, but it wasn’t until the mid-2000s that developments like fast, unheated air techniques became widely used. Now, though, we’re seeing some


really exciting innovations. Our own Plug & Play range, for example, makes use of a new docking station, called TERRA4, which essentially allows users to maintain, clean and swap compatible dryers in and out, without the need for installation. It’s also great to see further advances


being made in terms of hygiene, with ever-more advanced HEPA filtration and antimicrobial technologies really coming to the fore at the moment.


What’s the thought process that goes into plug and play electronics as you’ve described them? Well, it’s all about convenience – for every party involved. It goes without saying that, for those replacing,


upgrading, or swapping out their dryer, it’s so much more convenient to do so themselves and without needing to call on skilled labour, given the time and expense that would entail.


At the same time, it’s no secret that a lot of


electricians are time poor. I recently came across a Vanarama survey which found that electricians are some of the most put-upon tradespeople in the UK, so adopting this kind of technology – installations that anyone can make – is one way to prevent vital skilled workers from getting too swamped. Of course, it’s not just about convenience – it’s also a question of hygiene. If a dryer breaks, it’s important that a replacement can be installed with a minimum of fuss – otherwise bathroom users without access to a dryer will risk spreading bacteria.


There’s always been a bit of a


question mark around hand dryers and hygiene – has the pandemic


heightened those concerns? Inevitably, yes – and rightly so. It’s never a bad idea to have a good understanding of hygiene habits, especially in the midst of a pandemic, as we have been. In fact, this is another area in which hand


dryers have risen to the occasion, with new innovations greatly improving the cleanliness of dryers and ensuring we can keep our hands washed and dried safely. For example, you’ll find hand dryers with HEPA


filters that can remove at least 99.7 per cent of airborne particulates, including not only the


Matt Anderson


usual suspects (dust, pollen, mould, bacteria, and so on) but even the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. It’s around 0.125 microns, which is absolutely within the particle-size range of the kind of filters we use. There have also been some exciting


developments in the world of antimicrobial tech, especially when it comes to the use of metal ions in the form of a solution that can be used as a finish on hand dryer surfaces.


Cleanliness technology aside, what else is going on ‘under the hood’ of today’s hand dryers? There have been some great efficiency advances in recent times. We’re big fans of the brushless motor, for


example. It’s a great way to reduce the need for maintenance and repair, since – obviously – there are no worn-out brushes that need replacing at regular intervals. More importantly, this kind of change


significantly limits the energy consumption of hand dryers. They’ve always been more cost- effective than the likes of paper towels, but the difference between the two options is now more pronounced than ever – not only in terms of energy costs, but environmental impact too.


Is there a greater awareness of the need for efficiency in devices like hand dryers today? Certainly, and especially when it comes to limiting carbon emissions. When you look at the high


profile of the recent COP26, there’s really no question that environmental disasters and so on are weighing heavily on the public mind, so it’s great to see that the hand dryer industry is playing its part in keeping emissions low and efficiency high.


22 | electrical wholesalerFebruary 2022


ewnews.co.uk


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