As concerns rise about the spread of COVID-19 in public indoor spaces, Sydney company ClariqAIR may have the solution to prevent rapid transmission.

Pubs and clubs throughout Australia are suffering more than anyone. Internal air quality company ClariqAIR believes it has the solution to providing a safer environment so that patrons can return to the simple pleasure of a schooner of beer or glass of spirits with friends.

With their proprietary Hybrid Ionic Generator Technology (HIGT) that cleanses air like sunlight outdoors using hydroxyls combined with some smarts that push virus molecules safely towards the ground, ClariqAIR have got the pubs and clubs excited to pilot the solution.  

 From pubs, shopping centres, office blocks and medical facilities one of the major challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic has been stopping the spread of the virus in public indoor areas.

Greater Sydney has been in lockdown for more than 12 weeks and is still recording more than 1200 new infections daily after a Delta variant outbreak. Victoria is also seeing its daily cases steadily rise and remains in lockdown along with the ACT.

The New South Wales Government has set a target of “living with COVID” and opening much of the economy after reaching the target of 70% vaccination of its adult population.

However, there remains concern vaccination may not be enough to stop spread of COVID-19 infection with the fear of cross-infection, particularly in public indoor spaces.

 

Hybrid Ionic Generator Technology (HIGT) cleanses air like sunlight outdoors

Established in 2013, ClariqAIR manufacture air purifier systems by using a patent pending process called Hybrid Ionic Generator Technology (HIGT) to generate Hydroxyls, which are modified water molecules that occur naturally in nature and are created by sunlight.

Hydroxyl technology is not new and was originally pioneered by NASA for use in space shuttles and on the International Space Station. It has been employed for fire, flood, chemical, and biological clean-up, and decontamination in Australia for several years.

ClariqAIR Chief Financial Officer Adrian Siah told Stockhead the company’s product HQAIr is an innovative and more efficient way to produce and distribute hydroxyls in an indoor environment, which essentially cleanses the air.

“It is a clean and healthy way to sanitise and clean the air as it’s sanitising through a natural occurring process,” he said.

 

Making indoor air as clean as a sea breeze

ClariqAIR has been working with its Master Distributor Fortress Medical and Hunter Technologies to provide a solution for bars, pubs and clubs.

House of Pocket has integrated the HQAIr system at several of its hospitality venues , including most recently the Pocket Bar in Terrigal, New South Wales. CEO Karl Schlothauer is hopeful the indoor air quality at Pocket Bar will be as safe as being on the beach it sits beside.

“Ventilation has always been a challenge for us due to the size and location of some our venues and upgrading our air-conditioned system was simply not commercially viable,” Schlothauer said.

“We have been using HQAir now for several months at Stitch Bar in Sydney’s CBD and are so impressed with the difference it has made to our business that we are now implementing the system in all our venues.

“As we learn to live with COVID this is another great tool for keeping our staff and guests safe.”

One of Sydney’s better known hotel chains, Aiden by Best Western, located at Darling Harbour, has also installed HQAir into the hotel’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from the hospitality sector but also from other sectors as air quality becomes the highlight of concern with the reopening in Sydney and other cities globally,” Siah said.

 

Potentially huge addressable global market

The technology is not just tackling coronaviruses but is also combating diseases such as asthma, allergies, and other breathing disorders initiated by airborne particles.

The global market for air purification is estimated to be worth US$7.5 billion per annum and is expected to grow to US$17 billion by 2027.

Mr Siah said ClariqAIR was targeting medical, hospitality, education, commercial, and industrial sectors along with homes and apartments. He said COVID-19 had made governments and businesses aware of how viruses and pathogens could be so disruptive.

He said the company’s business model was flexible with the unit able to be purchased outright with an annual service charge or as an operating lease arrangement, which includes services charges for a term of 3-5 years.

He said a third option was also to charge the client on a per square metre rate to suit their requirements for a term normally of 5 years, including the annual service charges.

ClariqAIR is currently gearing up for a capital raise, where it plans to raise $2 million in a pre-IPO round at 16c a share.

For more information contact [email protected] or [email protected]

This article was developed in collaboration with ClariqAIR, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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