Welcome to the UV Tech Insights newsletter for Jan. 13, 2022. As we roll into a new year, we have noticed some reduced volume in the number of ultraviolet (UV)-related disinfection announcements, but as we commented in our 2021 Top UV Articles wrap-up, that doesn’t mean the application has hit a dead end.

Rather, I’d speculate that behind-the-scenes work on standards, proper metrics, and best practices might be helping to reasonably space out the flow of new launches we observed in the previous 20 months or so. And while our latest issue won’t be out for a couple of weeks, I can tell you that we have an insightful article coming from Vyv founder Colleen Costello outlining the duties of product developers and marketers to ensure that antimicrobial light products — whether UV based or not — meet performance expectations and deliver clear and proper guidance on safe operation. Don’t forget that qualified subscribers can get access to our digital magazine for free.

Yes, UV business continues to move, though not always in the directions or at the pace we’d expect. For instance, an announcement out of the recent CES consumer electronics tradeshow held in Las Vegas had our contributing editor Mark Halper’s ears pricked for a new localized-disinfection product from, oddly enough, computer and mobile technology accessories provider Targus. Not only can you buy an ergonomic keyboard from the company but now you can sanitize it regularly with the simply named Targus UV-C Disinfection Light. However, Mark realized this tune sounded familiar and discovered that the product actually debuted at the 2021 CES event. What seems to have held back the physical product launch thereafter, he says, was getting UL 962 certification for the UV product, which indicates that the lamp meets electrical, flammability, and personal injury safety requirements. Seems like a smart move given the need for user protection from exposure to UV-C radiation.

On the opposite side of the country, Mark has reported that Florida-based Healthe Inc owes quite a bit to debtors, as discovered in its Chapter 7 bankruptcy papers. After the company filed for bankruptcy, LEDs Magazine learned that UV-C LED supplier Crystal IS is owed more than $2 million and co-owner Stephen Ross is owed over $8 million. We’re still looking into other details of the filings and will report anything significant.

As always, we do cross-pollinate our newsletters with some relevant content, so if you haven’t read our tribute to retired chief editor Maury Wright and welcome to editorial director Wanda Lau, please check that out. And feel free to comment on our LinkedIn page or drop me a note at the e-mail address below to wish Maury well.

We have a lot of exciting things in the works. We’re also looking for more quality content on the development of UV technology, test & measurement, application and design best practices, and more, so please reach out to us with any proposals.

- Carrie Meadows, (603) 891-9382, [email protected]