Meet Olga, marketing expert at Nedap for the past two years, and a member of the Sustainability Excellence team. Specializing in our UV lamp driver portfolio, Olga takes charge of both our internal and external communications. Let’s amplify the message on UV technology’s sustainable impact together.
For over 30 years, UV technology has proven to be very effective in water treatment. Resources like water and energy are becoming increasingly scarce. This makes Nedap’s UV driver portfolio very relevant. It facilitates integrators in designing energy-efficient UV systems. Together with our partners we explore how people and planet can profit from the power of UV technology. With existing disinfection and curing solutions, and in future applications. Together, we’re writing this story of sustainable impact. Through strategic alliances, we energize the UV industry.
“I like to work for a company that aims for a genuine and positive impact on planet, people and profit. By giving people autonomy in their work, shaping it yourself, Nedap has proven to be a very sustainable and good employer.”
Over the past two years, we have reshaped our marketing strategy. Our promise, “We power UV”, reflects our dedication to collaboration. Not just as a principle but as a practice. We see our customers as strategic partners, and work closely with lamp manufacturers to tackle technical challenges together.
By promoting the use of UV technology, we empower businesses to grow and innovate. Our series, “How Our Team Powers You,” showcases the diverse ways we contribute to our customers’ success across various disciplines.
We want to give a strong, powerful voice to UV technology. We believe that by aligning the story of UV, we can have more impact. Therefore, we are looking at ways to share best practises. If you are open for collaboration on marketing, please reach out and contact us.
Jürgen is a Hardware Engineer at Nedap, using his skills and expertise to design and test UV lamp drivers. Jürgen has enriched Nedap for over 26 years. He specializes in the CU/cUL certification process. He can help you design UV systems that meet international safety standards.
Nedap’s UV drivers are designed according to the UL/cUL standards. This makes it much easier for UV systems builders to integrate them in their system and get the product certified. Jürgen conducts the UL tests. He is responsible for the audits as part of Nedap’s participation in the Client Data Program.
“We are in the client data program and when we design a new driver we use the benefits of it. So our certified drivers make it much easier for our customers to install in their installation”
Manufacturers who sell internationally need to obtain UL/cUL certification. This gives them access to the US, Canadian, and other markets. The UL label signifies compliance with U.S. safety standards. The cUL label confirms the same for Canada. Both are issued by Underwriters Laboratories after testing. Using UL/cUL listed UV drivers generally shortens the certification process of a UV solution.
Jürgen and Nedap’s R&D experts are ready to support your designers. They offer advice and guidance at any stage. Together, we’ll enhance your UV system’s reliability and performance.
Want to know how our UV driver technology can power your ambitions? Let’s discover it together.
Remco is a Firmware Architect at Nedap, using his skills and expertise to contribute to the development of our latest 4/8 kW UV driver. Remco has been working at Nedap for over four years and is a specialist in software and firmware development. He’s helping our customers optimize processes by providing relevant and timely data insights.
Remco and the team are ready to support you when you are designing robust UV systems.
Nedap’s software team is developing and optimizing our industry-leading ‘smart’ lamp driver portfolio. Our next-generation electronic UV lamp drivers feature integrated Modbus communication and support onsite Bluetooth diagnostic monitoring – giving ultimate control.
Remco is involved in continuously enhancing the smart UV driver platform to supply the user with all relevant information about the driver and lamp.
“The drivers continuously measure and analyse the signals to guarantee efficient and uninterruptible operation. Providing customer insights about the performance of the driver and lamp enables them to optimize their systems and schedule maintenance.”
Next-generation UV drivers – including Nedap’s 4kW UV driver – use a Windows-based PC software tool that makes it easy to configure, control and monitor lamp driver data. The advanced software solution provides developers with more effective tools for testing the lamp driver and the UV solution. They can optimise systems during the design phase.
The integrated Bluetooth diagnostic monitoring provides real-time monitoring, alerts, diagnosis, and fault finding. Service engineers receive instant access to performance information and insights without disrupting the operational processes controlled by Modbus.
Remco and his expert colleagues in Nedap’s R&D department are ready to support your field engineers. They can provide specialist advice and guidance at any stage of the process, working with you to improve the reliability and optimise the performance of your UV system.
Want to know how our UV driver technology can power your ambitions? Let’s discover it together.
Ziad Taiem is the latest addition to the Nedap team. He started in November 2023, with his first week coinciding with the Aquatech fair in Amsterdam. The high-profile event was the perfect opportunity to become acquainted with the world of UV and Nedap’s leading role in the industry.
Today, Ziad is well-versed in UV driver technology and a dedicated member of the R&D team, where he is heavily involved in supporting existing customers and developing new hardware.
Nedap’s R&D team comprises experienced electrical hardware engineers, design and mechanical engineers and embedded software architects.
“When I first arrived at Nedap, I was amazed by the company’s remarkable scale and outstanding design. As I entered our office, I was warmly welcomed by my supervisor and colleagues, who not only extended their hospitality but also conveyed to me that I was a significant part of the team. This welcome left an important impression on me, affirming my sense of belonging and significance within the team.”
By listening to concerns and questions – and then providing assistance, guidance and resources – we help our customers solve problems and overcome challenges they face in their projects. We maintain continuous communication with our partners, working together to identify root causes, brainstorm solutions, and implement strategies.
Over the past 30 years, Nedap’s UV driver portfolio has developed to incorporate a broad range of low– and medium–pressure solutions. Because our partners rely on them for long-term use, quality, continuity, and customer support are crucial.
The R&D team develops new products and plays an important role in providing technical support to customers, serving as a knowledge base for our partners. Currently, the team is working on a new driver for low-pressure UV lamps. The unveiling will occur in early May during IFAT (Munich) and IUVA/Radtech (Orlando).
Ziad and his expert colleagues in our R&D department are ready to support your field engineers during the design phase. Our team is available whenever you require assistance. How can our UV driver technology power your ambitions? Let’s discover it together.
René has worked at Nedap for over 25 years. He has been captain of the R&D team for the last eight years and is closely involved in developing our product portfolio, including new driver technologies and solutions. Together with the team, René specialises in translating customer insights into new product features, ensuring we stay at the forefront of innovation.
The R&D team – led by René – is focused on developing UV drivers and platforms with the features our customers need. One relevant example is the ‘smart’ 4/8 kW lamp driver platform, a new product inspired by feedback from our valued customers.
The design of our drivers stands out and delivers high energy efficiency levels. This is important for two reasons. First, it means that less electrical energy is wasted as heat, which is environmentally friendly and results in cost savings for the end user. Second, a high-efficiency product is generally more reliable because it produces less heat stress on components.
At Nedap, we create a genuine, sustainable, and positive impact on the planet by developing solutions that enhance our customers’ success. Our R&D team focusses on creating products that optimize your UV solution’s performance and minimise operational costs.
Nedap’s UV lamp drivers address two key factors: saving energy and reducing service costs. Curious about the mechanism behind it? In this video we unravel the details.
René and his expert colleagues in our R&D department are ready to support your field engineers during the design phase. They are available to provide expert advice and guidance at any stage of the process, working with you to unlock efficiencies and improve environmental protection.
Want to know how our UV driver technology can power your ambitions? Let’s discover it together.
Previously, we explored the emerging developments around UV legislation and standardisation and what they are likely to mean for UV businesses. In this follow-up article, we’ll take a closer look at how the regulatory landscape should evolve to create a conducive environment for further innovation.
Today, UV-C LED disinfection has several use cases, notably for air and surface cleaning, as well as water treatment. However, although the use of UV for disinfection dates back over a century, the regulatory environment around the technology stays immature. Fragmentation persists significantly across geography, industry and utility.
Looking ahead to 2023, there is a need for standards to simplify UV-C legislation to foster further innovation around UV-C LED air disinfection and other germicidal applications. A lack of standards and regulations for these applications affects the adoption and market trust in innovative technologies. In this article, we delve into the outlook for 2023 and beyond by exploring the potential implications and advancements in this field
Taking a forward-looking approach, there are discussions around changing standardisation rules for medium-pressure UV lamps, as well as greater standardisation planned for municipal LED applications. Translating these discussions into legislation will take time, but it is key for businesses to proactively stay informed about the current trajectory at the earliest opportunity.
At the ICULTA 2023 in Berlin, new upcoming GUV (germicidal ultraviolet) Guidelines and standards for air disinfection were presented as ‘under development’:
ASHREA GPC 37 – Guidelines for the application of upper-air UV-C devices to control the transmission of airborne pathogens
ASHREA 185.3 – Method of testing in-room devices and systems for microorganisms or inactivation in a chamber.
NALMCO – Creating a newly standardized curriculum and certification protocols for GUV devices maintenance staff, installation technicians and system designers in the field.
For UV-C water disinfection, there are upcoming test standards for the use of UV LEDs in public drinking water disinfection. Official drafts are planned to be released at end of 2023:
DIN 19294-1 (published)/ DIN 19294-2 (planned end 2023)
Testing of Composition, Function and Disinfection Effectiveness for (LP) Low Pressure UV devices and (MP) Medium Pressure UV devices.
DIN 19294-3 (published) / DIN 19294-4 (planned end 2023)
Reference radiometers for LP and MP UV devices
DIN 19294 – 5 (DRAFT planned end 2023) Devices for the disinfection of water using devices equipped with UV LEDs – requirements and testing – Research project DINoLED project
The goal of the DINoLED project is the development of a DIN draft standard for UV LED-based water disinfection devices in public drinking water treatment (point-of-entry and point-of-use devices are not considered in the standard). The DINoLED project is funded by the German Federal ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy and it is the result of a cooperation between several UV companies (Xylem, OSRAM) and educational institutes such as Technologiezetrum Wasser.
In terms of UV LED products, a clear distinction between regulation and validation should be kept front of mind. Regulation sets parameters that UV technologies must adhere to, while validation provides companies with the means to decide whether they are working within those parameters.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air disinfection has received a major push forward. Innovative technologies like LED and UV are now more common and better known. In the US, threshold limit values (TLVs) supply recommendations around biological exposure to UV radiation. All radiation below 250 nm has different TLV standards, with exposure limits being much higher than they were previously. A study on far-UVC at 222nm, published in Nature Scientific Reports (2022), showed that it efficiently inactivates airborne pathogens. This research also showed that 222nm devices are safe for human skin and eyes.
Image: Study presented by David Brenner at ICULTA conference (Columbia University) showing the effects of FAR UVC to skin
Currently, most of the responsibility around the design, production and operational quality is with the manufacturer of UV-C LED disinfection solutions. The current lack of clarity around regulations and guidelines means that many manufacturers are simply taken on their word. Compliance is promoted through marketing claims, which may or may not be verifiable.
UV validation brings confidence, making it crucial for manufacturers to test and validate their systems. While clear standards exist for water disinfection, challenges arise when it comes to new LED technology such as UV-C LED. This is primarily due to variations in validation requirements across applications and the power variability of current LEDs. These variations depend on the LED manufacturer, product, drive current and temperature. Adding to the complexity is the fact that current LED datasheets are rarely representatives of the ‘real-world’ performance. Thus, to obtain reliable data, it becomes necessary to measure system performance in operation.
The opportunities of UV-C LED systems and their applications are being explored by the industry. There are many challenges to overcome, such as the power efficiency, costs and reliability. At Nedap, our LED driver technology can support testing and validation of UV-C LED solutions, supplying data insights and full control of the power supply. Our smart driver technology is designed to suit current regulations, with an eye on future developments. Get in touch with us to find out how our UV technology can help you navigate the current regulatory landscape, with a design that prioritises both validation and standardisation.
