Necessity is truly the mother of invention

While most businesses are providing their own system of ‘hand-sanitisation’, it was somewhat refreshing to come across a professionally constructed, hi-spec, completely versatile sanitising unit, which inspires real confidence in the way we approach the ‘new norm’.

What fascinated me even more was that the MXB S3 Sterilisable Sanitising Station (its proper name) was manufactured here in Derry, the invention of local engineering company, Pakflatt. Better known for its association with the manufacture of equipment for the global election industry, Pakflatt has extended its operations to help fight the current health pandemic.

When I caught up with the company’s managing director, Patrick Mc Gonagle, he explained to me some of the background to his latest ‘innovation’.

Like many engineers, with a strong social conscience, Patrick felt that he had to try and do something meaningful in the fight against the deadly virus.

“By an amazing co-incidence, we had just shipped the last of the current consignments of election equipment to the US on the 18th March, when the health emergency and the ‘lockdown’ was beginning,” says Patrick.

“It was our production manager, Paul Kerrigan, who suggested that we develop a form of sanitising unit, similar to an idea that he had come across online.

“He felt Pakflatt could draw from its extensive engineering expertise and skills to invent something that could make a real difference.

“Pakflatt spends around 6% of its revenues on research and development (R&D) and now, in the ‘face’ of a real emergency, it was an opportune moment to put the R & D team to serious use.”

The Pakflatt R&D team is made up of experienced engineers, designers and innovators from near and far. It is headed up by Patrick, a Chartered Engineer and Inventor with 34 years of experience ‘under his belt’.

Other team specialists are based in Belfast, Dorset and Derby, with the most intriguing team member being a Derry man domiciled in Helsinki, Finland.

“The team got to work rapidly and within just a few weeks, we ‘rolled out’ the prototype – The MXB 3 - Sanitising Station”, says Patrick. “We re-purposed one of our American election kiosks (booths) into a two-sided, robust, free-standing unit - suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

“The ‘Sanitising Station’ can be adapted to specific customer requirements. It accommodates ‘touchless’ sanitising dispensers with optional paper towel dispensers. So far, we have orders from airports, food stores, hotels and manufacturing companies. Different versions of the ‘station’ are available to reflect specific needs. The success of this totally serviceable product is in its versatility and dependability. As an engineering team, we are really proud of our new invention.” says Patrick.

The current health emergency has brought out the best in many people. It has focussed the minds of all of us in some way or other and has sorely tested all our survival instincts. We are having to adapt to a new way of living, which may continue for a lot longer than we first imagined.

Seeing the Pakflatt ‘Sanitising Station’ production line at first hand convinced me that the company has identified a need for a global product that is certain to be in demand for the long haul.

As I came to the end of the ‘tour’, Patrick reminded me of the words of that famous Greek Philosopher, Plato, who once said that: “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

How true.