Best UV Disinfection Equipment

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection equipment employs UV light to combat microbial contamination in water, air, and surface. UV light is suitable for this equipment, as it is capable of inactivating microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. When bacteria, viruses, and protozoa are exposed to germicidal wavelengths of UV light, the light penetrates the microorganisms and destroys their DNA. When the DNA of microorganisms is damaged, it becomes unable to function and stops reproducing; this helps to disinfect the area of contamination.

Top 10 UV Disinfection Equipment Vendors:

1. XYLEM INC.
2. TROJAN TECHNOLOGIES
3. HALMA PLC
4. KURARAY CO. , LTD
5. ATLANTIC ULTRAVIOLET CORPORATION
6. EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC
7. ADVANCED UV, INC.
8. AMERICAN ULTRAVIOLET
9. ATLANTIUM TECHNOLOGIES LTD
10. HOENLE AG

Overview

The UV disinfection equipment market is diversified, with over 50 companies operating across the value chain. These companies offer a wide range of components such as UV lamps, reactor chambers, quartz sleeves, and controller units, which are the core components of UV disinfection equipment. UV disinfection equipment manufacturers offer their products with low, medium, and high power rating, that can be deployed in a wide range of applications, including water and wastewater disinfection, process water disinfection, air disinfection, and surface disinfection. Residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal are the major end users of UV disinfection equipment. The UV disinfection equipment market in APAC is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Increasing demand for UV disinfection equipment due to threats of infectious diseases, and long life and lower power consumption of LED-based UV disinfection equipment are the major factors driving the growth of the UV disinfection equipment market. The increasing demand for ultrapure water is expected to act as an opportunity for the manufacturers of UV disinfection equipment. However, the lack of residual ability of UV disinfection equipment is expected to hinder the growth of the market.

The UV disinfection equipment market was valued at USD 2.6 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 5.3 billion by 2025; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2020 to 2025.

Visionary leaders are the leading market players in terms of new product launches, market size, and adoption of growth strategies. These players have advanced technology-based product portfolios and global presence. Visionary leaders have well-established channels throughout the UV disinfection equipment value chain. These companies are reputed in the market; hence, it is easy for them to expand their presence worldwide. Xylem Inc. (US), Trojan Technologies (Canada), Halma plc (UK), Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Japan), and Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation (US) are visionary leaders in the UV disinfection equipment market.

Dynamic differentiators are established vendors with effective business strategies and market presence. These players have limited product offerings for a particular segment. They have lesser R&D investments than those of visionary leaders. Dynamic differentiators have the potential to become leaders in the market. A few of the dynamic differentiators in the UV disinfection equipment market are Hoenle AG (Germany), ULTRAAQUA (Denmark), Atlantium Technologies Ltd. (Israel), and Ozonia (US).

Innovators demonstrate substantial product innovations than their competitors. Companies in this quadrant are players that increasingly invest in R&D activities to develop and launch new products in the market. As the UV disinfection equipment market is quite matured, there is no observation of any key innovator either increasingly investing in the UV disinfection equipment business or having a broad portfolio of UV disinfection equipment. Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (US), Integrated Aqua Systems, Inc. (US), Aquanetto Group GmbH (Switzerland), Nectar Solutions (India), Typhon Treatment Systems Ltd. (UK),and Aquatic Solutions (India) are a few innovators in the UV disinfection equipment market.

Emerging companies are the market players that are smaller than the established players. They have a limited global footprint; however, these players have the potential to expand their presence either in a particular region or application. Emerging companies in the UV disinfection equipment market include Advanced UV, Inc. (US), American Ultraviolet (US), Lumalier Corporation (US), UVO3 Ltd (UK), LIT Company (Germany), Alfaa UV (India), UV Pure (Canada), Australian Ultra Violet Services Pty. Ltd. (Australia), Aqualine II Water Systems (US), SITA slr, (Italy), and Hitech Ultraviolet Pvt. Ltd. (India).

What are the major drivers for the UV Disinfection Equipment market?

Increasing demand for UV Disinfection Equipment due to threats of infectious diseases
In today’s age of fast transit global travel, any outbreak of infectious diseases could cross national and international boundaries within hours. The SARS, H1N1, Ebola virus, swine flu, and bird flu have affected thousands of people and businesses. In 2019, the Coronavirus (officially known as Covid-19), originated in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Till February 2020, this infection has spread to more than 25 countries from China, alarming public health authorities worldwide.UV disinfection equipment can deactivate any living organism in air, surface, or water, and prevent the spread of such diseases. When bacteria, viruses, and protozoa are exposed to the germicidal wavelengths of UV light, they are rendered incapable of reproducing and infecting. UV disinfection equipment can be installed at schools, hospitals, airports, and other places to kill flu viruses and reduce incidents of flu infections. UV light with a wavelength of 200–280 nm is the most suitable for germicidal applications. Companies such as Xiaomi (China) have launched their UV disinfection lamps to fight the flu viruses present on surfaces. Other companies have also been involved in developing UV disinfection equipment to prevent infections from bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Hence, the increasing demand for UV disinfection equipment due to threats of infectious diseases is a major driver for the UV disinfection equipment market.

Growing concerns regarding safe drinking water in emerging nations
Governments across different regions, such as North America, Europe, and Asia, have stringent regulatory measures regarding clean and safe drinking water supply to their masses. Regulations have been defined for water, air, and surface disinfection, especially in industrial and municipal segments. The organizations and government bodies that have imposed regulations regarding disinfection include the European Commission (EC), and government agencies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Thus, while manufacturing and installing disinfection systems, companies and contractors are forced to adhere to the strict guidelines.

Long life and lower power consumption of LED-based UV disinfection equipment
LED lamp-based UV disinfection equipment employs UV LEDs, which emit solid-state lighting. These LED lamps can be deployed in a wide range of applications, such as water and wastewater disinfection, process water disinfection, air disinfection, and surface disinfection. They are an efficient substitute for mercury-based UV lamps since they have a much longer life in comparison. For instance, UV LEDs provide about a life of 5,000 hours or more at a considerably low maintenance cost than incandescent bulbs. The low price and power consumption are expected to drive the market for UV disinfection equipment

What are the major opportunities in the UV Disinfection Equipment market?

Increasing demand for ultrapure water
Ultrapure water (UPW) refers to water that has been purified with strict specifications and includes only the specified ions (H+ and OH− ions). UPW is mainly used in the semiconductor and pharmaceuticals industries. UV disinfection equipment are not only used to disinfect water but also to reduce total organic carbon (TOC) content in it. UV-based disinfection systems are preferred for UPW because of their benefits such as efficiency, reliability, and lesser time of operation.

The UV disinfection equipment designed for the pharmaceuticals industry help in eliminating all crevices and unnecessary fittings, thereby maintaining the integrity of systems. Apart from this, UV systems in pharmaceuticals and semiconductor industries are also used for dechlorination, TOC reduction, deozonation, treating/reducing toxic and effluent discharges.

Increasing adoption of UV disinfection equipment for water and wastewater treatment worldwide

The adoption of UV disinfection equipment for water and wastewater treatment has created a huge opportunity for UV disinfection equipment manufacturers. Municipal organizations are the major users of UV disinfection equipment for water and wastewater treatment applications. There are several applications for which water treatment is carried out by municipal organizations. Some of them are drinking water treatment, metal removal, and wastewater treatment.

Among the methods of water disinfection, UV disinfection offers several advantages over ozone-based and chlorine-based disinfection. UV disinfection is cheaper than ozone-based disinfection, and unlike chlorine-based disinfection, it does not require a chemical to disinfect water. It is more environment-friendly and requires lesser contact time with water during the disinfection process. Owing to these benefits, the demand for UV disinfection equipment is increasing among municipal corporations worldwide. With the increasing population across the world, most of the municipal corporations are choosing UV disinfectionequipment as their first choice to treat drinking water and wastewater and are increasingly focusing on the installation of UV disinfection equipment for distribution of safe drinking water to people. The impact of this opportunity is currently moderate and is expected to be high in the coming years.

UV DISINFECTION EQUIPMENT MARKET, BY COMPONENT

UV disinfection equipment employ UV light to disinfect any surface, air, or water, without using any harmful chemicals. UV disinfection is a highly effective method used to remove microbial contaminants from water. UV disinfection equipment comprise several components that play a vital role in the disinfection process. Based on component, the UV disinfection equipment market has been segmented into UV lamps, quartz sleeves, reactor chambers, controller units, and others, which include power supply units, solenoid valves, sensors, and wiping systems. Accessories such as standalone disinfection and alarm systems are used to enhance the performance of UV disinfection equipment. These accessories are installed into sensors, solenoid valves, and wiping systems.

UV LAMPS

UV lamps are the core components of UV disinfection equipment. The UV lamps used in UV disinfection equipment emit UVC light with wavelengths ranging from 200 to 280 nanometer (nm), which is suitable for germicidal applications. Companies operating in the ecosystem offer different types of UV lamps with different properties specially designed for specific applications. These UV lamps can be recycled, which acts as an extra advantage.

REACTOR CHAMBERS

Also known as chambers or reactors, reactor chambers are part of the system that physically houses a UV lamp and sleeve. Reactor chambers also control the flow of water through the systems. These chambers are usually made of stainless steel; however, some manufacturers also use other materials, for example, copper. UV lamps can be installed in reactor chambers in a horizontal or vertical configuration, or a combination of both. Companies operating in the UV disinfection equipment ecosystem manufacture different types of reactor chambers, such as axial and boot shape. Reactor chambers are available in different sizes depending on the flow of water and the model. UV reactors are responsible for adding the minimum dose of UV light to disinfect water, air, or surface; hence, serving an important role in regulating the flow of water and UV dose in the system. Reactor chambers are generally manufactured by the integrators present in the market, such as VIQUA (a subsidiary of Trojan Technologies) (Canada), Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation (US), and Heraeus Holdings (UK).

QUARTZ SLEEVES

Quartz sleeves are used to protect UV lamps from the external environment. They also protect the lamps from air and water flow, leakage, breakage, and temperature fluctuations. Quartz sleeves are a long, cylindrical tube made of quartz glass. The lamp is inserted into the quartz sleeve, from where it transmits UV light into the water. It is necessary to maintain and clean the quartz glass as it can get contaminated by minerals and other contaminants over time. It is recommended by manufacturers to change the quartz sleeve whenever lamps are replaced. These sleeves are simple components and are responsible for the efficient operation of UV systems. The number of quartz sleeve manufacturers in the UV disinfection equipment market is high, and hence, it is easily available. Some of the manufacturers include Greenway Technologies (US), Hitech Ultraviolet Pvt. Ltd. (India), VIQUA (a subsidiary of Trojan Technologies) (Canada), and Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation (US).

CONTROLLER UNITS

Controller units play a vital role in UV disinfection equipment. These units are responsible for controlling the electrical output of UV lamps and powering the UV lamp to emit UV light. Some systems have a single controller unit only for UV-C light generation. Other UV systems are more complicated and have lamp-change timers, low UV lamps, or trouble indicators that indicate the user when the system is not working. The controller unit is also known as ballast and effectively controls the system diagnostics. Usually, the controller unit is manufactured by the integrator or by the manufacturer of the reactor chamber.

UV DISINFECTION EQUIPMENT MARKET, BY POWER RATING

UV disinfection equipment offer great flexibility and reliability for disinfection of water, air, and surface. The introduction of UV LEDs has driven the market for UV disinfection equipment as UV LED-based lamps offer high durability and lower power consumption compared to traditional mercury-based UV lamps. Based on power rating, the UV disinfection equipment market is segmented into low, medium, and high power UV disinfection equipment.

LOW

Low-power UV disinfection equipment operate on a power rating of less than 5 kW. This equipment can be deployed for small-scale water, air, and surface disinfection. However, low-power UV disinfection equipment are not considered as a suitable option for process water and wastewater disinfection. These equipment are small and offer high flexibility at a low price. Residential and commercial are the major end users of the low-power UV disinfection equipment. LBX Series UV disinfection system manufactured by Xylem, Inc. (US), PharmaLine D AF manufactured by Halma plc (UK), and TrojanUV3000Plus manufactured by Trojan Technologies (Canada) are some of the UV disinfection equipment that operate on less than 5 kW of power.

MEDIUM

Medium-power UV disinfection equipment operate on a power rating ranging from 5 kW to 10 kW. This equipment can be deployed for medium-scale water and process waster disinfection application along with air and surface disinfection. Owing to the lower power consumption of UV LEDs, UV LED-based medium power UV dentition equipment offer output similar to mercury UV lamp-based high-power UV disinfection equipment. Commercial and industrial are the major end users of medium-power UV disinfection equipment. PureLine PQ IL manufactured by Halma plc (UK) and Quadron UV Series manufactured by Xylem, Inc. (US) operate between 5 kW to 10 kW.

HIGH

High-power UV disinfection equipment operate in the power range of more than 10 kW. These equipment are not suitable for residential as they are large and have a high cost of operation. Municipal corporations and large-scale industries are the primary users of high-power UV disinfection equipment. These equipment are most suited for water and wastewater disinfection, and process water disinfection applications. PureLine DC PH manufactured by Halma plc (UK) and Duron UV Wastewater Treatment manufactured by Xylem, Inc. (US) are some of the UV disinfection equipment that operate with more than 10 kW of power.

Types of UV Disinfection Equipment, By deployment mode

UV disinfection equipment is being deployed in applications such as water and wastewater disinfection, process water disinfection, air disinfection, and surface disinfection. This chapter covers the different types of UV disinfection equipment based on deployment mode, namely, mobile, wall-mounted, and others.

MOBILE

Mobile UV disinfection equipment are majorly used for air disinfection. Hospitals and commercial segments are the major end users of mobile UV disinfection equipment. These equipment are used to disinfect the air around the patients in patient rooms or surgical suites and serve as low-cost, flexible, and user-friendly tools to disinfect air. ARTZ 2.0 offered by American Ultraviolet (US) is a mobile UV disinfection equipment for air and surface disinfection processes.

WALL MOUNTED

Wall-mounted UV disinfection equipment are mainly used for water, air, and surface disinfection. These are relatively heavier compared to mobile UV disinfection equipment and are more suited for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. Wall-mounted UV disinfection equipment generally operate on a medium power rating ranging from 5 kW to 10 kW. They can also be deployed in hospitals for disinfecting medical equipment.

OTHERS

Other types of UV disinfection equipment include cabinet and fixed UV disinfection equipment. Cabinet-mounted UV distinction equipment are suited for surface disinfection and are majorly used for commercial purposes, for example, disinfecting small equipment and tools. Fixed UV disinfection equipment are large and are majorly used for water and wastewater disinfection application by municipal corporations across the globe. These equipment have a high price, operating cost, and power rating. Several manufacturers offer fixed UV disinfection equipment to disinfect the clothes stored in closets.

UV Disinfection Equipment Market, By Application

WATER AND WASTEWATER DISINFECTION

UV disinfection is a preferred choice among the users for disinfecting water and wastewater from bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. One of the major end-use applications of UV disinfection equipment in water is for disinfecting drinking water, due to which it is mainly used in households and commercial units. Although municipal water supplies are generally free from pathogenic microorganisms, the water is not considered suitable for drinking. In addition, the water from private sources, such as wells or springs, can be contaminated. UV disinfection systems help in treating the primary water to make it free from any pathogens or harmful microorganisms so that it is safe for drinking.

PROCESS WATER DISINFECTION

Process water disinfection is mandatory for industries such as pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, cosmetics, and other biochemical industries to produce the highest quality products. It becomes necessary to have a robust industrial water disinfection system that can recycle, filter, and disinfect the water and make it suitable for use in the manufacturing of products. The size of the industrial UV process water disinfection plant depends on the volume of water flown each hour. The water disinfected via the UV treatment process is considered 99.99% pure. Due to its necessity, the number of UV disinfection equipment installations for residential purposes is high.

AIR DISINFECTION

UV disinfection of air is a highly effective way to destroy microorganisms. In places such as hospitals, food & beverage industries, and healthcare organizations, it becomes necessary to disinfect air to avoid infection and contamination. Hospitals, pharmaceuticals industry, food & beverage industry, and commercial spaces are among the major end-users that use UV disinfection equipment for air disinfection.

SURFACE DISINFECTION

Disinfection of surface is one of the important and the simplest applications of UV disinfection equipment. The ultraviolet method of disinfecting surface is effective as it controls microbial growth and achieves sterilization of most types of surfaces. Some of the applications that require surface disinfection include pharmaceutical product disinfection, area disinfection, cooling coil & drain pan disinfection, and surgical suites disinfection. UV disinfection equipment for surface disinfection also find applications in packaging and food processing industries where they are used for disinfecting the surfaces of food products. UV-based surface disinfection equipment can be portable or fixed, which makes them easy to install and operate. UV tunnels are among the recent advancements in the UV surface disinfection equipment that offers 360-degree surface disinfection and have a major application in air ducts and vents. JenAct Ltd (UK), Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation (US), and LIT Company (Germany) are some of the major players that offer UV disinfection equipment for surface disinfection.

UV Disinfection Equipment Market, By End-Users

RESIDENTIAL

The residential segment is one of the major end users of UV disinfection equipment. UV disinfection equipment can be used for water, air, and surface disinfection in the residential end user segment. For instance, a single unit of UV disinfection equipment can be used for water disinfection applications in a building or apartment. In the residential segment, air, water, and surface disinfection equipment are used to maintain the hygiene and safety of users. Alfaa UV (India), Trojan Technologies (Canada), and UVO3 (UK), and Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation (US) are some of the major players that offer UV disinfection equipment for residential applications. Water disinfection application using UV technology holds the maximum share of the UV disinfection equipment market in the residential segment. This is primarily due to the increasing need for safe drinking water among end users. Various manufacturers across the world are involved in the manufacturing of UV-based disinfection equipment that can be easily installed in households and residential societies to disinfect water.

COMMERCIAL

Commercial UV disinfection systems are used in commercial pools, dairies, hospitals, hotels, and other commercial institutions. Many companies provide commercial disinfection equipment with new technological features such as sensors and indicators. These equipment are developed for maintaining the flow of water from a few to hundreds of gallons per minute (GPM) and are being utilized to enhance the flow and retention time of the UV disinfection equipment to reduce bacteria up to 99.9%.

INDUSTRIAL

UV disinfection systems designed for industrial purposes are used for treating wastewater, water, and air. The use of UV technology in this segment lowers the cost of maintenance as the shelf life of the product increases. UV disinfection systems are used in various industrial applications such as pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, electronics, cosmetics, marine, and petroleum industries. In the industrial segment, governments in countries such as Germany, the UK, the US, and China have introduced stringent guidelines for proper disposal and ways to disinfect wastewater, process water, air, and surface; this is driving the growth of the UV disinfection market for this segment.

MUNICIPAL

Municipal corporations across the world are responsible for maintaining a clean and safe environment in their jurisdiction. To ensure this, different methods and technologies are being used. Many municipalities have adopted UV disinfection treatment over chemical chlorine disinfection as UV is safe, environment-friendly, and cost-effective. For instance, in North America, over 40% of the wastewater treatment plants employ UV disinfection. UV disinfection systems are used in the municipal segment mainly to treat wastewater. Apart from this, disinfection of drinking and process water is also undertaken by several municipalities. To protect the natural environment and resources, stringent regulations are framed and implemented to kill pathogenic microorganisms without polluting natural resources. Currently, water and wastewater disinfection is a key focus area for municipal corporations worldwide