Hygienico, a Hampshire-based company, is making waves in the catering and hospitality industry with its novel commercial ice making machine sanitiser, HygienICE™ CIM. The device uses innovative ozone generating technology that has been developed over the last five years by Ozone Industries and ZERO2FIVE food industry experts from Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Ozone is commonly used in the catering, hospitality, and healthcare industries to sanitise air and water. However, most ozone generators still rely on the use of UV or electrolysis, which are criticised for high energy consumption, limited output, excessive maintenance needs, expensive equipment and safety concerns. HygienICE™ Technology (HIT) is based on the corona discharge method, an alternative way of generating ozone. The new CIM sanitiser is compact, easy to install, and requires constant power of just 14 Watts. It offers higher and better controlled output, longer lifespan, lower maintenance costs, and overall – higher ice making efficiency.
Hygienico’s CEO, Martyn Jutsum, sees HygienICE™ CIM as a device that is likely to revolutionise the catering and hospitality industry and re-write its standards of hygiene. Almost 40% of public liability cases in the UK insurance claims come from the catering and hospitality industry, and hygiene is the second most complained about issue with serious legal consequences. HygienICE™ is capable of producing pure, hygienic ice while ensuring clean and safe components, surfaces, and working environments. This can help businesses improve ice hygiene, save money on operational costs, and reduce risks of public liability.
Hygienico is selecting members of the food and drink sector to participate in the final stage of the Government-backed clinical trial before the product becomes widely available. The company needs to identify 18 venues ready to operate the new device along with 9 other businesses, for comparison, using conventional ice makers and cleaning routines. Pubs, bars, clubs, hotels, hospitals, and schools located in Cardiff or nearby will be selected for the trial, giving the owners an opportunity to experience technology of the future and leave their mark in the history of catering.
Hygienico was founded in 2018 by Martyn Jutsum, a career scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur involved in research, design, development, and technical sales of products and bespoke solutions for the application of ozone as a sanitising agent since 2003. Hygienico is the distribution and sales arm and a marketing partner of Ozone Industries Limited (OIL), whose R&D and engineering teams enable Hygienico to draw directly on their expertise.