The East Westphalian company Plasmatreat from Steinhagen wants to enter the disinfection business on a larger scale and thus provide solutions for the disinfection of protective clothing in the current corona crisis. 

A prototype of a cleaning machine is currently already being used by the Bavarian Red Cross, another machine is in the clinical test phase at the Technical University Hospital in Munich, and the American Yale University has also expressed interest. The idea is to disinfect disposable protective clothing using a safe and simple process. The actual disposable item can then be used a second time. In the current global pandemic situation, protective masks and suits are becoming increasingly scarce - the disinfection process using plasma means that masks that have already been used can be disinfected and used again quickly and with little effort. 

How does plasma work?
Plasmatreat is the world leader in atmospheric plasma research and application. Plasma technology has many applications. To date, Plasmatreat has specialized in surface pretreatment and supplies solutions for the aerospace, electronics, packaging, automotive and textile manufacturing industries.  Plasma is created when air and high voltage come together - for example, when lightning flashes during a thunderstorm. The light of the flash consists of pure plasma, a gaseous matter. This is a ray of hope in the current Corona crisis, because one of the distinguishing features of plasma is that it disinfects excellently with the help of a special process. Even particularly stable multiresistant germs can be killed with plasma - according to years of research in the microbiology laboratory at the Plasmatreat Technology Center. 

"We can help solve worldwide problems"
"If we can successfully apply plasma to the Corona crisis now, our research will be tremendously advanced and ultimately the pending approval process could be expedited. Because we are still in a gray area. We know that our process works, and we also have sufficient evidence - but the process is not yet approved. This process is taking an incredibly long time!" explains Managing Director Christian Buske, adding thoughtfully: "Time is particularly precious today. I want us to be able to continue to expand as a company and for our workforce to build new products that help solve a worldwide problem!"

Plasma in use against Corona 
The first plasma disinfection process is already being used in Bavaria. Plasmatreat has been working closely with the Bavarian Red Cross for years. The BRK is experienced in disasters and has taken the Ebola crisis as an opportunity to explore new ways of disinfection. Conventional disinfection options are very limited in the fight against viruses such as Ebola or Corona (transport problems, supply difficulties, limited shelf life, not applicable everywhere, often chemical maces and damaging to textiles). The low-cost and, moreover, environmentally friendly use of plasma comes just at the right time. 

At present, 3 plasma infection machines have been set up and are ready for use - more could go into production immediately. Buske and his staff feel the need almost daily: "We get many calls and requests for help from doctors and clinics, but also from private individuals and entrepreneurs. Protective masks are becoming scarce - so disinfection is a solution." 

Plasma offers even more opportunities
Plasmatreat has long been working on other innovative solutions in the field of disinfection. Tap water is enriched with plasma, making it a simple but ingenious disinfectant. Here, too, the Plasmatreat Technology Center has been running test series for years. For Buske and his team, the vision hovering over the company is currently being confirmed: "Plasma helps us to combine innovation with sustainability and to make the world a little safer".

Medical Disinfection