Tuesday, June 30, 2020

UVC Germicidal Lamps Benefit Many Industries

The powerful germicidal effectiveness of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been known for over 100 years, although UV disinfection is becoming a hot topic in the midst of the pandemic. UV lamps are designed to emit the most effective wavelength for killing viruses and bacteria at 254 nanometer (nm). 

UV light at 254 nm is proven to kill harmful pathogens, bacteria and viruses including super viruses. Ozone lamps emit UV radiation at 185 nm and are utilized in water and air sterilization applications as a proven sterilizer and natural deodorizer.

UV Air Sterilization

UV air sterilization systems provide clean and sterile air to protect people from airborne illnesses including bacteria and viruses. UV air purification systems installed in HVAC units protect employees in businesses, patients in hospitals, employees in manufacturing facilities and many other applications.

Industrial air purification systems are required to meet municipality air emission regulations. Industrial air sterilization helps businesses meet air quality requirements with low cost, no labor and long lasting sterilization. UV air purification provides many benefits to commercial, industrial and residential environments such as:

  • Public buildings
  • Industrial manufacturing
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing homes
  • Schools
  • Day cares
  • Hotels

Germicidal UVC lamps instantly kill bacteria and viruses by quickly penetrating and altering the DNA so that they cannot replicate which makes them harmless.

UV Surface Sterilization

Germicidal lamps provide significant benefits to many industries including effective sterilization with cost-effective operation. UV sterilization lamps operate 24/7 with no labor costs and no harmful chemical use. Some industries which benefit from UV surface sterilization include:

  • Hospitals
  • Nursing homes
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Medical devices
  • Dinner buffets
  • Grocery stores
  • Restaurant kitchens

UV sterilization lamps used in these industries provide valuable health protection to patients, customers, employees and the public.

UV Water Sterilization

UV lamps have been used to sterilize and purify water in many applications with high efficacy and many cost efficient benefits. UV lamps quickly eradicate harmful pathogens in many water applications such as:

  • Ballast water treatment for ships
  • Wastewater treatment plants
  • Drinking water applications
  • Pools and spas
  • Water life and sciences
  • Fish hatcheries

UVC lamps and ozone lamps are providing safety to consumers, employees and the public in these industries and many others. UV radiation is proven to eliminate harmful bacteria that chlorine does not, eliminating bacteria, harmful and invading microorganisms in many water applications.

High Quality Germicidal UVC Lamps

LightSources and LightTech are world leading providers of high quality germicidal UVC lamps and lighting solutions. The LightSources group is recognized for providing innovative, high quality lamp products, components and custom designed solutions. We support OEMs of all sizes with prototype design, engineering and patented solutions. 

LightSources is dedicated to delivering high quality UV lamps and components which outlast and outperform comparable lamps with high efficacy and energy efficiency. We employ the leading, high-tech lamp designers in the industry with vast knowledge of UV radiation and custom lamp development. Contact us with any questions on the best UVC germicidal lamps for your application.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Does UV Light Kill Viruses?

Ultraviolet (UV) light is light emitted at wavelengths shorter than visible light in the range of 10 to 400 nanometer (nm) and is either in the UVA, UVB or UVC range. UV light at precisely 254 nm is UVC light in the exact wavelength optimal for effective sterilization. UVC wavelengths at 254 nm are proven to kill bacteria and viruses. 

UVC germicidal lamps designed to emit light at 254 nm are used to destroy harmful pathogens with a high rate of efficacy, killing 99.99% of harmful microorganisms. Germicidal UVC lamps are used in many surface, water and air purification systems worldwide. UV sterilization is currently used in many environments such as medical facilities, research labs, hospitals, nursing homes and pharmaceuticals. 

UV light is also used in a myriad of water sterilization applications including wastewater treatment, ballast water treatment systems, fish hatcheries, pools, spas, drinking water applications and more. UV light kills bacteria that chlorine does not, is safe and effective. UV light in air purification systems will eliminate the transmission of harmful pathogens through the air and ozone lamps will even remove foul odors from the air.

UV Lamps Protecting People from Coast to Coast

Medical facilities worldwide are increasing the use of UV light to sterilize hospital rooms as UV lamp manufacturers ramp up production. UVC irradiation has been tested in New York on buses and subway cars. UVC lamps used to sterilize buses in Shanghai are proving to be effective while reducing sterilization time from 40 minutes to about 5 minutes, with no labor expenses. 

A UV sterilization system that can be utilized on aircraft and pushed through a plane like a refreshment cart is produced on the west coast in Los Angeles. Airplane giant Boeing is working on developing a self-cleaning system for bathrooms on planes that kills germs with a burst of UV light. 

UV light radiation technology is being utilized around the globe as Japan and the U.S. work to make places safer for residents. Moving about public places, going to school or riding the subway may soon be safer with UV light technology despite the pandemic threat. 

LightSources is a leading supplier of UV lamps and lamp components offering high quality germicidal UVC lamps, prototypes and custom designed products. We support OEMs worldwide with quick turnaround time, research and development to provide first-to-market, innovative UV lamp solutions. Contact us to learn more about our UVC germicidal lamp solutions.

Friday, May 29, 2020

UV HVAC Systems for Hospitals and Homes

9.13.14
Ultraviolet light is a powerful disinfectant, sterilizing surfaces, water and air in many environments.  The power of UVC radiation was discovered decades ago and UVC lamps are now found in many sterilization applications, providing quick, effective and cost-efficient sterilization solutions.  The ability for UV light to kill pathogens in air and water was proven scientifically early in the 20th century.  UV lamps have been used in air treatment systems in hospitals since the 1930’s to prevent the spread of diseases including tuberculosis and measles.

UVC Lamps Kill Many Viruses and Bacteria

UVC lamps replicate the powerful UV electromagnetic radiation from the sun, proven to eliminate harmful viruses, bacteria and pathogens in air and surface sterilization systems.  UVC germicidal lamps are proven to be effective against many types of viruses including influenza (flu), rhinoviruses (common cold), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).   UV light also eliminates bacteria such as many variations of Streptococcus including Staphylococcus aureus (Staph infection).

UVC lamps, when properly installed in HVAC systems, are known to prevent the spread of airborne illnesses by destroying viruses on contact.  UV HVAC systems are also known as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems and target air contaminants like viruses, bacteria and mold spores.  UV light has the ability to penetrate the DNA of these living organisms and render them unable to replicate which leaves them harmless.

Commercial and Residential Benefits of UV Lamps in HVAC Systems 

Hospitals and many commercial and industrial applications have been using UV air sterilization systems for decades to disinfect potentially dangerous environments.  UV HVAC systems used in hospitals help to prevent the spread of airborne illnesses in patient rooms, operating rooms and common areas.  UV lamps can be installed in the main HVAC unit aimed at the coils to prevent the spread of contaminants through your heating and cooling system as well as in air ducts.  Stand alone units can be placed in patient bathrooms for further protection in areas known to spread bacteria and viruses.

UV HVAC systems are becoming more popular in residential homes as many people become aware of the benefits and the ease in which you can disinfect the air in your home.  This is very beneficial to people with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions, especially respiratory illnesses like asthma. 

UVC Lamps for HVAC Units

Using the proper UVC germicidal lamps with proper installation is key to achieve maximum benefit.  LightSources understands UVC radiation and how to harness the most effective, germ-killing wavelength for maximum germicidal effectiveness.  We offer a wide range of UV germicidal lamps including medium output lamps, high output lamps patented amalgam technology and custom, specialty designed lamps.  LightSources is a valuable supplier of high quality lamps, bases and sockets to OEMs worldwide.

LightSources is recognized as a leader in UVC germicidal lamp solutions, with a wide range of products to meet any sterilization requirement.  We design, engineer and manufacture UV lamps with custom phosphor blends and high quality lamp components.  Contact us to learn more about our UV germicidal solutions including surface, water and air purification. 

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Ultraviolet Light Key in Disinfecting Hospitals

post 95
Ultraviolet light has long been known to provide powerful disinfecting properties and is now more than ever a hot topic to sterilize hospitals, operating rooms and medical equipment.  Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are a real concern, especially in the midst of a global pandemic where hospitals are treating highly contagious people with serious disease.  Cleaning and sterilizing hospital rooms and equipment is critical to prevent the spread of disease through airborne viruses and contaminated surfaces.

UV Light Kills Viruses on Surfaces

UV light is proven to kill viruses, bacteria and airborne contaminants when using UVC germicidal lamps for air treatment systems, designed to emit the proper wavelength of light.  UV light from the sun is emitted in UVA, UVB or UVC wavelengths, with UVC being the most powerful form of germicidal electromagnetic radiation.  UVC light from the sun is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer, although scientists and lighting specialists have designed UVC lamps which mimic the powerful, germ-killing wavelengths. 

UVC germicidal lamps are used in UV surface sterilization equipment to treat hospital equipment, surfaces, beds and entire hospital rooms.  Scientists have even developed robots which roam through a hospital room and effectively eliminate bacteria and viruses on contact.  According to this article in Hospital News, UVC light emitted at the right wavelength can kill the MRSA bacteria in 1.2 minutes at a 5 ft. distance.  Hospitals use UVC disinfection in many types of surface sterilization equipment including portable units and UV germicidal robots.

LightSources Offers Quality UVC Germicidal Lamps

LightSources offers a wide range of UVC germicidal lamps used in many types of disinfection equipment and applications.  The lighting engineers at LightSources design and engineer powerful, effective and cost-efficient UV lamps for a wide range of applications.  We supply OEMs worldwide with high quality germicidal lamps used in water, surface and air purification systems.

LightSources is recognized as a leading supplier of UV lamps, supporting OEMs worldwide with effective and efficient UVC germicidal solutions. We offer custom designed lamp components, bases and sockets to meet your specific requirements. Contact us with any questions and to speak with an engineer about improving your UVC germicidal lamp supply base. 

Friday, January 31, 2020

Specialty Lighting Solutions for OEMs of All Sizes

Gas station by night
Whether you’re considered to be a small, medium or large sized business, you have a mission, goals and a production schedule to meet.  Partnering with a supplier who supports your vision with a high level of expertise, flexibility and quick turn-around time is key to growing your business.  When you need customized, specialty lamps to make your vision a reality, you need a lamp supplier with these qualities and more.

LightSources assists OEMs worldwide with small to large volume requirements, custom designed prototypes and proprietary lamp products.

LightSources Offers Specialty Lighting Solutions

LightSources makes your lighting vision a reality with custom designed, specialty lighting solutions.  We partner with OEMs of all sizes to design, engineer and provide specialty lamps for nearly any lighting application.  LightSources in the U.S. and China, combined with LightTech in Europe and several valuable partner companies make up the LightSources Group.

Together, we provide innovative lighting solutions including proprietary products for increased brand awareness and market share.  The LightSources Group offers quick turn-around time, custom lamp bases and components to match specific requirements including logos and colors.  We provide lamps for:
  • Commercial signs
  • Neon signs
  • Backlighting solutions:
    • Aviation controls
    • Optical
    • Mechanical
    • Computer backlighting
  • Phototherapy lamps
  • Tanning lamps
    • Low pressure tanning lamps
    • High pressure facial lamps
    • Patented tanning lamp products
  • Aquariums
  • Ballast water treatment systems 
  • Horticulture 
  • Cinematography 
  • UV curing
  • Germicidal UVC lamps for use in:
  • Lamp bases and components
LightSources offers these many lighting solutions and more, as well as custom designed lamps and components. We offer a vast product line of germicidal UVC quartz and soft glass lamps, LPUVC amalgam lamps, HID lamps, specialty fluorescent and more. Our skilled engineers understand UV radiation and develop custom phosphor blends to meet any wavelength requirement. 

We do this with a commitment to high quality and quick turn-around time, providing significant value to any supply chain.

The Benefits of The LightSources Group

With our vast resources and expertise, partnering with The LightSources Group offers many benefits.  Our clients experience many advantages including:
  • Vast product line
  • Custom designed solutions
  • Prototype and proprietary lamp products
  • Flexible run sizes
  • Quick turn-around time
  • Internal engineering resources
The LightSources Group provides added value with lamp engineering expertise, design and development.  We provide specialty lamp solutions for your application to meet your specific requirements with the most effective and cost efficient lamp products.

LightSources partners with clients to provide high quality lamps and strong, strategic partnerships. We add value to any supply chain with reliable, high-tech lamp solutions, tested and proven for maximum performance.  Contact us to speak with an engineer about your specialty lamp requirements. 

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Germicidal UVC Lamps Protect Food with Irradiation

post 94
Food irradiation has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1963 as a safe method of eliminating foodborne pathogens and controlling spoilage. Food irradiation was first approved by the FDA to eliminate insects in flour and wheat.  The FDA and USDA have since approved UV germicidal food irradiation (UVGI) to treat vegetables, fruits, spices, red meats and raw poultry.

The FDA regulates food irradiation in the United States. UVGI is also endorsed by the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization.  Food irradiation provides many benefits in the food and beverage industry with germicidal UVC lamps eliminating harmful microorganisms on food products, surfaces and water/beverage systems. 

What are the Benefits of Food Irradiation?

Food irradiation provides many benefits to the safety of foods such as preserving nutritional value, prolonging shelf life and sterilizing harmful pathogens to reduce health hazards.  Here are some of the most important benefits of UVGI:
  • Prevent foodborne illnesses – UVGI is proven to eliminate organisms that cause  Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella
  • Foodborne preservation – UV disinfection lamps destroy the organisms that cause decomposition and spoilage which extends the shelf life of many foods
  • Insect control – food irradiation safely destroys insects on foods such as tropical fruits which are imported into the U.S. without the use of pesticides that may damage certain fruits 
  • Delay ripening and sprouting – UV food irradiation lamps delay the sprouting in potatoes, onions and garlic to increase food longevity
  • Sterilization – hospitals use sterilized foods for patients with severe immune deficiency illnesses such as AIDS or people who are receiving chemotherapy treatments
UV light offers these many benefits for food sterilization and is also used in the bottled water industry and food packaging processes.  UV lamps are used to treat surfaces such as conveyor belts, working surfaces and packaging containers. Germicidal UV lamps are highly effective at eliminating harmful pathogens on many food products although safe food handling procedures are still required to protect against foodborne illnesses.

LightSources Supplies Germicidal UVC Lamps for Food Irradiation

LightSources is a leading supplier of germicidal UVC lamps found in many surface, water and air sterilization systems.  Our highly skilled UV lamp designers and engineers excel with custom designed germicidal solutions to meet specific sterilization requirements.  We understand UV radiation and incorporate the latest technology for longer lasting, more effective UVC lamps which deliver cost saving efficiencies.

We offer low-pressure mercury and amalgam lamps, medium pressure germicidal UV lamps, specialty lamp components and more.  Our lamps are found worldwide in many commercial, industrial and residential applications. LightSources is committed to research, development and continual improvement, delivering first-to-market, patented UVC germicidal solutions which outlast and outperform comparable lamps. 

The LightSources Group consists of the leading high-tech lamp designers and engineers in the industry, supplying OEM-oriented solutions for germicidal applications worldwide.  We offer a vast product line, as well as prototype and custom designed UV lamp solutions. Contact us for more information on UVC germicidal solutions for any application as well as food irradiation. 

Monday, January 27, 2020

Find Relief from Eczema with UV Light Therapy

post 95

It’s that time of year when the air gets dry from the heat running constantly and people with skin conditions like eczema often experience an increase in symptoms.  There are more than 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of eczema, experiencing dry, itchy or scaly patches of skin. Various types of eczema include contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, nummular eczema, stasis dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and dyshidrotic eczema. 

The many bothersome symptoms of eczema may include:
  • Extremely itchy skin
  • Red, inflamed skin
  • Sensitive and dry skin
  • Scaly, rough patches 
  • Oozing or crusting
  • Swelling in areas
  • Dark colored patches of skin
Itchy skin is the most common problem people with eczema experience and is found in all types of eczema.  Some people may even keep scratching their skin until it bleeds which can cause even more severe problems with potential infections.  Eczema may appear anywhere on the body, although is commonly found on the chin and cheeks of children and babies.

Some children with eczema may outgrow it as they grow older and some adults may develop eczema later in life.  There is no real known cause for this skin condition, although there are some proven remedies to alleviate and even eliminate symptoms.

Phototherapy Provides Proven Effective Eczema Treatment

According to the National Eczema Association, phototherapy delivers proven treatments with significant relief to many people suffering with eczema. Phototherapy refers to treatment with specialized UV light, designed to emit the right wavelengths to target eczema symptoms and causes. Phototherapy is used to treat many different types of eczema and is proven to provide significant relief from bothersome and painful symptoms.

Narrowband UVB light is the most common type of light therapy used to treat eczema which replicates the most effective healing wavelengths from the sun.  UVA light is also used with a medication called Psoralen in a treatment referred to as PUVA and is proven to be effective at treating eczema. Light therapy should be prescribed by a physician and the right types of phototherapy lamps must be used to achieve desired results.  The wrong type of lamp, in fact, could make symptoms worse.

Light therapy is proven to alleviate symptoms of inflamed skin and itchiness while improving bacteria fighting symptoms and increasing vitamin D.  Phototherapy is proven to help at least 70% of people and can sometimes put eczema into a state of remittance long after therapy ends.
Be sure to consult with a phototherapy lamp expert and a reputable lamp manufacturer.  LightSources is a leading supplier of UV lamps and lighting solutions, including phototherapy lamps designed to treat various medical conditions. 

LightSources is recognized as an authority on ultraviolet radiation and technology, providing proven UV lamp solutions.  We offer a wide selection of UV lamps and provide custom designed solutions with specialty phosphor blends to meet specific requirements.  Contact us to learn more and for the most effective phototherapy lamps for eczema and many other health conditions.