You may well recall that back in July last year, Cartoni announced the UV-C BOXER. The UV-C BOXER is a UV disinfection device for video and motion picture equipment. Like me, you may have had your doubts as to whether a device like this actually does work. Well, an independent study has now certified that the CARTONI UV-C BOXER has the ability to neutralize microorganisms, including COVID-19, in just 3 minutes.
The independent study makes the CARTONI UV-C BOXER the first device specially designed for the film industry to be certified to sanitize against microorganisms & COVID-19
COVID-19 has affected everyone and safety needs to be of paramount concern no matter who you are or what you do.
In addition to the need to avoid infected persons, global health experts now know that the virus that causes COVID-19 can live on plastic and metal surfaces for up to 3 days. Making sure that equipment on set is clean and sanitized can be a big job and it has to be done properly. Wiping equipment down with alcohol sprays is one way of doing it, but there is always the risk of someone not doing it properly. So what if there was a safer way to do things?
As there was a need for better solutions, Cartoni came up with the UV-C BOXER which was specially designed to harness the power of germicidal UV to safely sanitize film and video equipment – including cameras, batteries, lens, Steadicams, and other accessories.
“At Cartoni and in Italy, we were among the first to be hit by this devastating pandemic. During our state-mandated lockdown, we studied a solution to help our industry. The answer was a device that could help production crews and rental houses to stay safe from the virus. Social distancing, masks, and gels meet safety requirements, but on production sets where the equipment is constantly handled multiple times during shooting hours by operators, assistants, grips, etc… we think for production to truly ramp up again, there is a compulsory need to disinfect and decontaminate gear daily or even several times a day.”
Elisabetta Cartoni, the President and CEO of Cartoni Camera Supports.
The UV-C BOXER is being directly targeted at rental houses and large productions. This is not a device for the average shooter.
What is UV-C light?
UV-C, or germicidal UV, is a wavelength of UV light, typically between 200 to 280 nanometers, that can inactivate pathogens like bacteria and viruses. UV-C light, in the right strength and dose, modifies the DNA structure of an infectious cell so it cannot reproduce and therefore cannot colonize and spread.
UV radiant energy was first used for disinfecting surfaces in 1877, and has been used extensively, for over 40 years, in disinfecting drinking water, waste water, air, pharmaceutical products, and surfaces against a whole suite of human pathogens. UV-C has been used in hospitals and healthcare facilities for decades and is proven to be effective in both the reduction of hygiene failures and in control environmental contamination by high-concern microorganisms, such as COVID-19. Similar to UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun, exposure to UV-C can damage eyes and skin if overly exposed, so it is essential to follow strict safety guidelines when UV-C devices are in use.
Advantages of germicidal UV
Germicidal UV lamps are incredibly effective and have several significant advantages:
- Pathogen kill rate – All bacteria and viruses tested to date (many hundreds over the years, including other coronaviruses) respond to UV disinfection. Some organisms are more susceptible to UVC disinfection than others, but all tested so far do respond at the appropriate doses. On top of that, bacteria and pathogens cannot become resistant to UV like they can to certain antibiotics and antibacterial products.
- Limited chemical exposure – UV-C works in place of potentially harmful chemicals. It’s safe to enter a room after germicidal UV products disinfect the area, but it might be hard to breathe in a room that has just been sprayed down with chemicals.
How does the Cartoni UV-C BOXER work?
Studies have shown that environmental transmission of germs and viruses can be an unwanted source of illness. The new Cartoni UV-C BOXER leverages the power of germicidal UV to safely sanitize the surface of film and video equipment without emitting moisture, gas, or powders. The UV-C BOXER is equipped with ten medical-grade UV-C (100-280nm) lamps and it is designed to neutralize any micro-organism, germ, including COVID-19 or mould, which may unknowingly contaminate film and video sets.
These features make UV-C irradiation ideal as a sanitization process for delicate professional film and broadcast equipment as it does not affect – if used properly – optical lens coating, electronic circuits & boards, lubricants, rubber, or plastic in cameras, lenses, monitors, microphones, etc.
Will UV-C irradiation damage the equipment?
As with prolonged exposure to the sun, which will fade the color of children’s toys on the beach or most plastics, all UV irradiation can produce some chemical deterioration on plastics, rubbers, or polymers.
Although UV-C may discolor plastic and ultimately affect the carbon boundaries of the molecule after extreme exposure of over 1000 hours, UV-C lamps will not deteriorate electronic boards, electrical components, or glass elements such as lenses and filters.
With this in account, the total irradiation and micro-organizsm disinfection cycle of the Cartoni UV-C Boxer takes just 5 minutes to sanitize each batch of equipment, as metered by a timer.
What can you fit inside?
The Cartoni UV-C BOXER has a large sliding boxlike container for safe loading and sanitization of multiple pieces of gear at the same time. Like all UV light, exposure to UV-C rays can be dangerous to humans so Cartoni designed the BOXER with a safety lock system to avoid accidental UV-C irradiation. If the door to the BOXER chamber is not safely locked, the UV-C lamps will not activate.
BOXER is safe if properly used, effective, and fast. Operational indoors and outdoors, it’s ideal for carrying to locations by small vans or large SUVs. Equipped with wheels with positive locks, it can easily be moved around on flat surfaces or studios.
What is the UV-C BOXER Advantage?
The Cartoni UV-C BOXER is the only medical-grade UV-C device designed for film and video equipment and is currently being evaluated by the Italian Health Ministry for certification. The UV-C medical-grade lamps in the Cartoni UV-C BOXER germicidal device has been designed and tested to provide ten times the irradiation needed to sanitize the surface of objects in the device.10
The BOXER has 10 Osram/Philips 4watt medical-grade UV 9-watt lamps installed in the chamber. The chamber is covered by high reflection polished aluminum on all six sides, which reflect the UV-C lamp beams in all directions to cover the entire surface of the item to sanitize, including the bottom.11 The power of a reflected beam is 40% of the original beam, exceeding the needed germicidal effect by five times. Each lamp has a life of 6,000 hours and has no ozone release.
The typical length of time needed to disinfect and sanitize a set of equipment, including a camera, two lenses, two batteries, and one microphone is just five minutes. In order for effective sanitization, the objects must be well arranged and spaced in the BOXER chamber to ensure no overlapping.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 100x66x95 cm or 39.5x 26×37.5 in
- Weight: 52 kg. or 114.64 lbs
- Internal chamber: 93x55x62cm or 36.5×21.5×24 in
- Chamber & rack: 10 x 4v UV-C lamps equally distributed on all 6 polished aluminum mirror coating for optimal reflection in all directions.
- Power: 110/220 volts, battery or power bank.
- Operating tension: 24volts.
- Irradiation: 360° UV-C wavelength covering all surfaces, including rack base.
- The only shadowed zones consisting in the 3 mm diameter of the rack’s stainless steel rods.
- Cycle: 5 minutes with timer.
For more information about pricing and availability contact: [email protected]
What are you doing to keep your equipment clean and safe during COVID-19? Let us know in the comments section below.
