Direct Dispense technology will significantly challenge current pou cooler options and bring into question their microbiological vulnerability - this refers to its susceptibility to contamination. The greater the surface area, the greater the risk of water contamination occurring. An ordinary reservoir has a typical water volume of 2,500ml and a typical surface area of 1,000cm2 - a huge amount of microbiological vulnerability. Even with direct chill, the typical water volume is 500ml so it is significantly lower in volume to an ordinary reservoir. However the surface area increases to 1600cm2 giving it a greater vulnerability to microbiological growth. UV protected reservoirs show some improvement with 60ml water volume and 200cm2 surface area, but there are still parts of the cooler the UV light can't reach such as pipes and taps.

Ebac's new Direct Dispense pou cooler is said to have a 98 per cent reduced chance of microbiological contamination compared to an ordinary reservoir, with only 30ml of water volume open to contamination and only 100cm2 surface area.

John Elliott, Chairman of Ebac said: "Microbiological vulnerability in the pou market is very important to the water cooler businesses and distributors. Our customers want a product that differentiates them from their competitors and gives them a competitive advantage. Not only are we providing a product that our customers want but we are providing a product that their customers want, too."

Philip Walton, Technical Director added: "It is great to break the boundaries of innovation in watercooler design with the Direct Dispense cooler. The pre-production model has already received an enthusiastic response from significant customers in the industry and this further demonstrates the demand for such a product in the marketplace."

The Direct Dispense technology is different to traditional pou coolers in which water is supplied directly from the mains supply which has been disinfected (typically with chlorine in the UK) to remove bacteria and ensures safe water reaches the public. With Direct Dispense, the water supply is not filtered before it enters the cooler reservoir, but immediately before it is dispensed. Therefore, the disinfectant properties in the mains supplied water stop any bacteria growth occurring in the reservoir or connected parts. It is not until water is dispensed that it passes through a filter ensuring high quality water with the least possible chance of contamination.

Changing a filter is easy, too, the ‘slot and go' cartridge is changed in a matter of seconds with minimal effort. The unit is then 100 per cent sanitised as all parts susceptible to microbiological vulnerability have been replaced.

Guarding against flooding

The Direct Dispense feature is not the only innovation on this product. Ebac has designed a patented flood prevention measure called the ‘StopMax', which provides total peace of mind against an accidental flood occurring, which has always been a concern with pou.

Ebac's new machine will be the first Direct Dispense unit on the market and is based on the best selling FMax platform with the same features, such as the energy saving hot tank and high burst rate.

http://www.ebacgroup.com/

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---