Spotlight
EleClean Transforms Water into Chemical-Free Disinfectant
Dr. Chien-Hung Chen and his team members at EleClean.
Outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as H1N1 influenza and enterovirus infection, have triggered a rapid increase in demand for portable disinfectant products. Data from the market research database Passport in 2015 showed a market of NT$65 billion for surface cleaning products, which highlights the enormous potential for various applications. Spun off from ITRI, EleClean was founded this February based on its technology that can transform water into high-active oxygen disinfectant in just 15 minutes, with 99.9% efficiency in bacteria sterilization.
In this Issue, we are pleased to have EleClean General Director Chien-Hung Chen to share the story of his startup and product.
Q: What are some technology highlights of the EleClean spray?
Dr. Chen: EleClean disinfection spray is the first real-time self-producing device that uses electrochemical technology to reorganize water molecules and produce high-active oxygen disinfectant for sterilization of bacteria and viruses. Just add water into the spray bottle and press the power button, then everything gets done in 15 minutes!
Video of EleClean.
Q: How is the EleClean spray different from existing products?
Dr. Chen: What differentiates EleClean from others is its safe recharging mechanism that alleviates the need for preservatives, stabilizers, antimicrobials, or scents that are common in conventional disinfectants. In other words, EleClean disinfection spray contains no chemicals, so it won’t result in skin allergies or dermatitis.
Q: What motivated you to start the company EleClean?
Dr. Chen: I used to participate in the research project of ITRI’s Qwater technology, a mobile treatment system for drinking water supply. When I worked with Tzu Chi, the Red Cross, the Rotary Club, and the Taiwan Christian Health Care Alliance to apply Qwater in some disaster-stricken areas or remote villages, I found that there’s a huge need for cleaning and sanitizing products in places where water-borne diseases may be a health concern. The application of Qwater thus inspired the development of EleClean. Incorporating an electrochemical reaction mechanism, this disinfectant module was developed for personal use, pet care, and disaster relief.
Q: What is the biggest difficulty in forming your company?
Dr. Chen: I have friends who keep asking me, “Did you really want to start you own business?” I have to say the biggest challenge for me is to always race against time. At the early-stage of business operation, we need to get ahead of the market while monitoring potential competitors. When it comes to commercialization, there are problems such as how to maintain the quality of product details in mass production and how to strengthen our business model. There are also issues in people management, for instance, how to grow the size of the company at a good pace, and how to merge different opinions into one clear voice.
Q: How did you solve these problems?
Dr. Chen: What I do is to communicate, study, and collaborate with my team members; then try to find the best solution from trial and error. Frankly speaking, the key is nothing but never give up, never give in to any challenges, and eventually you will learn how to survive.
Q: In what ways did ITRI support you?
Dr. Chen: Besides having support from the national technology development programs, we have opportunities to do on-site demonstrations in some disaster-stricken areas with ITRI’s Public Welfare Committee. Moreover, both ITRI’s Commercialization and Industry Service Center and the Material and Chemical Research Laboratories provided some business training. Industrial mentors were invited to share experiences and knowledge of business operations, production development, strategic management, etc. Overall, I am grateful that ITRI provides collaborative resources from different departments, creating a perfect environment for building a new startup.
Q: What are the strategies or goals of EleClean in the next 5 to 10 years?
Dr. Chen: We are targeting both the developed countries where people are highly aware of sanitation issues and rural areas where medical resources are scarce. EleClean disinfection spray is already being used on a trial basis at Tzu Chi recycling centers, for children in remote areas, at selected restaurants and companies, and in welfare projects for the underprivileged in Myanmar. In the future, we hope the EleClean disinfectant module can be applied to a variety of disinfectant products, such as table disinfectant sprays, wet wipe paper towel dispensers, fruit and vegetable cleansers and other household appliances. Meanwhile, we expect to explore international markets such as China, Southeast Asia, and the United States, taking a leading position in healthcare industry.
Q: What would you like to say to people who are looking to start their own business?
Dr. Chen: To be honest, at this moment we still have a long way to go; however, I can say that at least we’ve fulfilled our dream in which we offer a different choice to society and have good impact on the environment. For those who are just beginning, I’d like to share a word with them,
Dr. Chien-Hung Chen, General Director of EleClean, remarked that persistence is always the key to overcoming hurdles along the journey.
“persistence”, namely never give up. With a clear goal in mind, I believe that persistence is always the key to bringing your dream alive and overcoming the hurdles along the journey. Stay passionate about what you do, and success will come at any time.