The Spanish group develops new technologies for the interior and exterior sanitization of cars in order to respond to the new cleaning needs arising from COVID-19.

The Spanish group ISTOBAL has developed new technologies for the interior and exterior sanitization of cars in order to respond to the new cleaning needs arising from COVID-19.
The company leads the development of advanced technologies for cleaning, sanitization and disinfection through solutions that are safe for people and do not damage surfaces. These new sanitation technologies are included on their website www.istobal.com

For interior sanitization, ISTOBAL has developed a manual sprayer that sprays disinfectant product onto all vehicle surfaces and can also be used for exterior sanitization.

In addition, the Spanish group produces ozone equipment that completely sanitizes the vehicle in 8 minutes, including the ventilation system and using the vehicle’s air recirculation. It should be noted that ozone also eliminates unpleasant odours by oxidation.

Solutions for exterior sanitization

For exterior sanitization, the company has designed an easy-to-install autonomous arch composed of several sprayers that spray biocidal product as vehicles drive through, reaching all areas, including the underside.

Thanks to a photocell detection system, the arch is automatically activated when the vehicle drives through and quickly and effectively disinfects vehicles up to 2.8 metres high. This arch has an average disinfection capacity of about 1,000 vehicles per day and is particularly suitable for first response vehicles that may be in constant contact with the virus, such as ambulances or law enforcement emergency vehicles.

ISTOBAL will soon launch an adaptation of this arch for the external disinfection of commercial vehicles (such as buses, fire engines, refrigerated trailers, waste management and animal transport) and railways (trams, underground trains and trains).  For the disinfection of truck interiors, the company already has ISTOBAL HW’INTRAWASH, Europe’s first standardised automatic equipment for the professional washing and disinfection of refrigerated trailers, truck bodies, trailers and shipping containers.

Recommendations

In addition, ISTOBAL has incorporated specific programs in the rollovers of its M’NEX and M’START range and in its high-pressure jet wash facilities for external vehicle sanitization, as a final complement to a wash programme. These programs can be easily adapted to these wash equipment ranges, using upgrade kits to incorporate this new service.

For greater safety in wash areas, the Spanish group recommends a specific brush shampoo product with sanitiser that prevents contamination by transfer between car wash machines and vehicles.

All ISTOBAL disinfectant chemicals are registered as virucidal and biocidal for contact surface hygiene and have been tested for effectiveness in terms of concentration and application times as well as compatibility with various surfaces inside and outside the vehicle.

A large number of customers have shown interest in incorporating this new wash facility concept for the disinfection and sanitization of vehicles, the first prototypes of which are already in operation in Spain. The objective with these spaces is that both individuals and companies with transport fleets can clean their vehicles, as well as sanitize the interior and exterior.