Peter Chung and Lee Teong Li took six months to develop the Wash Easy hybrid mask sterilisation machine, which cleans and sterilises reusable fabric masks in the shortest time possible.
The sterilisation machine does its job using three processes. The reusable cloth masks go through steam-washing at 120°C, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation with short wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light and drying under hot air at 150°C.
Chung said the whole sterilisation process for one mask only takes 75 seconds and the waiting time is 20 seconds. Any subsequent fabric mask can be placed in the machine while the first one is still undergoing sterilisation.
“If the machine keeps getting fed with fabric masks, it can sterilise 180 fabric masks in an hour,” he said, adding that the machine only required electricity and water to operate.
Chung said the machine was targeted at factories because a large number of factory workers were required to wear disposable face masks.
At present, it is more feasible to just throw away rather than wash the reusable ones after eight hours of work, leading to mounds of discarded used masks.
Chung said this machine would encourage the workers to use reusable face masks as they would be able to sterilise their face masks in a very short time.
He said the machine could currently be found at two locations, specifically in MBSP, as well as at a police station on Penang island.
He hopes to have the machine available at government agencies and public areas, such as malls, shops and schools.
The machine could either be sold through a one-off purchase of RM6,000, or through a rent-to-own scheme, with a monthly rental fee of RM500 for 18 months.
“We have also submitted our machine for a Malaysian patent and will do so in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries,” Chung added.
The machine has already caught the eye of Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Rozali Mohamud. Lauding their achievement, Rozali said the machine not only encourages the public to use reusable face masks, but is also easy to use.
“It has received a positive response from those who have tried it,” he said during a demonstration at the MBSP office in Bandar Perda here.