MiniTec profiles used for prototyping UV disinfection system

MiniTec UK is always pleased to engage with young engineers and was recently able to help Alanna-Rose Abella, a student at Bournemouth University, with her final-year project.

Alanna-Rose was designing a product for secondary schools to disinfect protective sports gear and help prevent bacteria and infections from spreading from student to student.

Previous research had identified the strain of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Staphylococcus Aureus (PVL-SA) that is generating a new disease within the UK, resulting in skin infections occurring - especially for sport enthusiasts. Bacteria can easily spread through skin-to-skin contact and when people share contaminated sports equipment.

Alanna-Rose believed there was a solution to this problem, using UV light as an effective alternative to chemical-based means of deactivating the DNA of organisms, thereby preventing them from reproducing and reducing the risk of bacteria transferring from one user to another.

The working Exposure prototype (pictured here with Alanna-Rose) was created in six weeks using processes such as MIG welding, laser cutting, metal fabrication and vacuum forming, with MiniTec aluminium profiles and components used for the frame and body.

Gary Livingstone, MiniTec UK's Managing Director, comments: "MiniTec is such a great product for prototyping due to its flexibility for construction and we are often asked to help industry. But, it is always great to support up-and-coming engineers and Alanna-Rose has executed her idea extremely well."

Alanna-Rose is now a First Class Graduate in Product Design.

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