Research to IMPACT: Mero’s sensors installed at a Heritage Building

Written by Anju Kakkar

Mero Technologies collaborates with Humber College and CleanSlate UV to address COVID-19 challenges. Through the collaboration with CleanSlate UV, Mero’s sensors have been installed in existing dispensers at a Heritage Building.

In 2020, Humber College received funding of nearly $150K for two projects under the NSERC College and Community Innovation Program – Applied Research Rapid Response to Covid-19 Program. This funding enabled Humber College to partner with industry partners and provide valuable input through applied research to help address and manage the challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic by developing innovative solutions.

A research project approved under this program is in collaboration with Mero Technologies Inc., an Internet of Things (IoT) company providing smart labour allocation and supply utilization to commercial property managers powered by smart sensing technology. Their vision is to optimize the way buildings perform day-to-day cleaning maintenance. Their products are deployed across 100+ buildings globally. Mero is headquartered in Toronto, ON.

Researchers at Humber College, supported by Humber’s Office of Research & Innovation, worked closely with Mero Technologies. Dr. Timothy Wong, Research Lead on this project, continues to collaborate with Mero and shares the following update.

Research Project Impact

Mero Technologies has announced a collaboration with CleanSlate UV and Humber College to help address and manage the COVID-19 outbreak. Mero has developed a universal sensor system to retrofit existing hand sanitizer and soap dispensers that employs Internet of Things (IoT) technology to assure timely replenishment of supplies.

Through the collaboration with CleanSlate UV, Mero’s sensors have been installed in existing dispensers at a Heritage Building. The Mero sensors allow for evaluation of hand hygiene compliance in collaboration with CleanSlate, with further developments underway to provide a repeatable solution that eliminates the need for specialized deployment for different dispenser vendors. In addition, the soap dish designed by Humber College permits a streamlined, easy-to-use monitoring system, which was critical to the project’s success.

70 Richmond St E Suite 201, Toronto, ON M5C 1N8 managed by Allied Properties. Photo from Allied Properties.
70 Richmond St E Suite 201, Toronto, ON M5C 1N8 managed by Allied Properties. Photo from Allied Properties.

Two research assistants, Sinead Summerfield and Henry Boy, from the Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology at Humber College worked with Dr. Timothy Wong, Principal Investigator of this research project, and Sandro Zaccolo, Co-Investigator.

Here’s what Sinead Summerfield, Research Assistant—Industrial Design Consultant on this project, and now a Humber graduate, had to say:

“In the past year as we watched the unfolding of COVID-19 and the world drastically changed overnight, designers were put in a unique position of simultaneously embracing the unfamiliar, while also utilizing the opportunity to innovate. It was a pleasure to work with a team that recognized a distinct problem space in the public health sector, and create an impactful solution to aid in the safety of others. Ultimately this experience helped me to understand the responsibility designers hold, and the potential impact a solution can have on a person.” – Sinead Summerfield

Soap Dish designed by Humber College. Photo provided by Professor Timothy Wong
Soap Dish designed by Humber College. Photo provided by Professor Timothy Wong

CleanSlate UV is a rapidly growing tech start-up in Toronto, having raised Series A funding and now employs over 50 hires to provide commercial-grade UV disinfection products for buildings, including applications at Pearson Airport, Metrolinx, Mackenzie Health, and other locations. Their patented technology leverages the power of UV-C light to kill the most dangerous bacteria and viruses without damaging devices. CleanSlate UV units have been installed in 1600+ locations and have sanitized over 80 million devices. The company is headquartered in Toronto, ON, with offices in Buffalo, NY, and partners worldwide.

“The hand hygiene sensors developed by Mero have been critical towards tracking compliance and understanding sanitization patterns. Through the initial deployment of these sensors, we’ve captured and illustrated hygiene compliance and visualization to the next level.”– Kevin Truong, Sr. Product Manager, CleanSlate UV

The new design and manufacturing process will allow sensors to be deployed quickly at COVID-19 epidemic hotspots, including hospitals and airports.

“Now more than ever the public understands how something as simple as hand hygiene compliance protects themselves, their loved ones and their communities from infection,” said Nathan Mah, Co-Founder, Mero Technologies. “Working with Humber College on this project will help us to bring our near market-ready product to market three times faster and will mean we can contribute to the health and well-being of Canadians sooner.”

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