sustain magazine - "revolution is in the air"

Spinning out onto the uk market, a revolutionary energy-efficient and cost-savingspinning air hand dryer is set to have a massive impact on the commercialwashrooms sector…

Revolution is in the air

With claims to be the World’s greenest,quietest and fastest hand dryer to thecommercial washroom sector, SAVortex

has launched The Vortex Hand Dryer – a patent-protected spinning air hand dryer which uses noheating elements, saving energy and dries hands injust 10 seconds.

Syed Ahmed is the founder, chief executive anddriving force behind SAVortex Limited. Having hitthe headlines by reaching the final five in Series 2of BBC TV’s ‘The Apprentice’, Syed Ahmed maybe a familiar face to many – but few are aware ofthe real story behind his success. Having initiallyfinanced the project from the start he has broughttogether a highly respected management teamincluding experienced engineers and innovativedesigners who have invented this revolutionarynew technique to heat air efficiently usingabsolute minimal energy.

Working with fellow director, Chief TechnologyOfficer Peter Williams, a distinguished electrical andmechanical engineer who specialises in energyefficiency and air flow dynamics, it is the firstproduct launched by the company in a portfolio ofdesign and engineering excellence.

“My main objectives were to found a companythat could produce innovative British-designed

products and moreover be efficient in theworkplace, sustainable and economical in today’senvironment by reducing energy costs and savingon electricity,” comments Ahmed.

The Vortex Hand Dryer has three unique capabilities:• Spinning air technologyThe technique of heating air without the need ofcommonly used, environmentally unfriendly anduneconomical electrical heating elements thatconsume huge amounts of energy. It is a uniquepatented spinning air technology, where its motiongently breaks water on the surface of hands morequickly rather than blasting our hands, deliveringlow-cost, fast, quieter drying. This spinning techniquecreates a ‘curve’ of warm air, similar to how anaeroplane wing curves up at its end in flight, thatnaturally feels warmer due to the wraparound effect.

• Regenerative heat recoveryThe regenerative heating technique complementsthe spinning air from the nozzle by better air mixingand conserving energy – it uses minimum energyby recovering and reusing heat that’s used whilstdrying; saving money as well as reducing theimpact on the environment and producing theindustry’s lowest heat emissions. Not only will this

Key benefits:• Power Consumption : 900W only,

lowest carbon footprint;• Quieter and Faster : 10-second drying time;• Longer lasting (5 x life cycle);• Antibacterial coating and more hygienic;• Compelling cost savings : 97% cost

savings against paper towels;• Protected IP – granted patents;• Space-saving sink mounting and dripless floor;• Easy installation.

reduce electricity costs, increasing over-all carbon efficiency;the Vortex is the lowest carbon footprint dryer in its class.

• IP54 design classificationThe Vortex Hand Dryer is unique in that it is the onlyelectrical hand dryer to have been granted IP54 designclassification, which means that it can be mounted directlyabove a sink avoiding water droplets from hands beingsplashed onto a washroom floor and removing the risk ofusers slipping. The Vortex Hand Dryer can quite literallybe showered itself, which opens up a whole host of newinstallation opportunities in the health, hygiene and food-processing industries.

It enables the technique of heating air efficiently, usingthe principles of thermodynamics to reduce energyconsumption. SAVortex dryers use a proprietary digitalbrushless technology, compressing and spinning air toproduce heat. This removes the need for unreliable,uneconomical and environmentally unfriendly heatingelements; delivering long life, industry-beating power dryingat 10 seconds drying time and excellent hygiene – and allat a massively reduced energy consumption of sub 1kW(only 900W) with dramatically lowered maintenance costs.

It’s not just hot air… this is sound adviceWith exposure to over 90dB carrying a risk to yourhearing, noise levels was a serious consideration whendeveloping this product. The Vortex is the quietest in itsrange operating from 80dB; quieter than some handdryers operating at 90 or 100dB. At 90dB the soundenergy is ten times that of 80dB and at 100dB it’s 100times! The difference is the same as that between a dialtone on your phone and an underground train at 200yards! Just imagine a whole row of other manufacturers’dryers operating well over 80dB and what that could doto you and your employees’ hearing.

Honours all roundAlthough just entering the electrical hand dryer market,Ahmed has every reason to be confident of securing ordersand making a real impact having just scooped a BestBusiness Award for Best New Product and, most recently,been shortlisted for the sustain’ Magazine Awards underthe most competitive category of Product of the Year.

“I am delighted that we’ve won our very first award,”says Ahmed. “This is an important milestone for thecompany and proves that our hard work and effort isbeginning to pay off. The fact that we have beenshortlisted for the prestigious sustain’ magazine awardfor Product of the Year is just a really exciting time for us.

To be recognised by sustain’ magazine is a real honour.”

To learn more about The Vortex Hand Dryer visitwww.savortex.com or call 0207 847 4091.The sustain’ Awards 2010 take place on 2 March atChelsea FC, Stamford Bridge, London. For further infowww.sustainmagazine.com

PAGE 1 SUSTAIN’ v10 i06

Pictured: Founder and CEO of SAVortex, Syed Ahmed,with the revolutionary Vortex Hand Dryer.