Jacky’s introduces solution to disinfect escalator handrails

UAE-based Jacky’s Business Solutions has launched an escalator handrail disinfection and sterilisation solution for its customers in the Middle East, as a measure to contain the spread of COVID-19. This easy to deploy solution can disinfect and sterilise the escalator handrails by up to 99.99%.

As shopping malls, retail stores, entertainment centres, restaurants and hotels are reopening in phases, monitoring, disinfecting and sterilising the facilities are pivotal to contain the spread of the virus.

“The future of cleaning is about increasing the frequency at which surfaces are being disinfected. With humans, we know this isn’t always possible and an automated solution would be far more efficient for such repetitive tasks.  That’s why we’re suddenly talking to IT departments, CIOs or CTOs in addition to facility management departments about cleaning, because they all understand an automated solution is required,” says Ashish Panjabi, COO, Jacky’s Retail LLC and Jacky’s Business Solutions LLC.

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A Korean manufacturer, WeClean started developing the technology for escalator handrail disinfection and sterilisation solution way back in 2014. This was undertaken after a survey conducted in Korea showed that around 70% of escalator users were not in the habit of holding the handrails of the escalator as they feared the unclean surfaces. As a result, there have been several escalator related accidents. Today, the need for such an escalator handrail disinfection and sterilisation solution cannot be over-emphasised.

“The confidence for people to visit a mall or any public place will only come back when they know that the environment is following the highest standards of hygiene,” states Panjabi. “In the case of escalators, it isn’t practically possible to ask people to hold onto handrails and at the same time – until now – it wasn’t possible to have someone constantly clean an escalator handrail, each time a new person rides an escalator. With WeClean, we are able to ensure that any escalator handrail is chemically treated and sanitised with a UV light just before a person gets on the escalator. If visitors know this, it will only raise their confidence and make them feel more comfortable when they venture out.”

Disinfecting the escalator handrails, among several other measures, will create a sense of safety to visitors at the shopping malls, taking a ride on the metro or at the airports. This could be an opportunity to build consumer confidence in the post-COVID world.

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