Verduzco Enterprises will design, produce, and sell a novel form of chemical-free, UVC LED light specifically designed to minimize the risk of bacteria and microbes on conveyor belts. The product will be marketed to grocery stores and large retail environments nationwide and will offer a far more effective sanitizing process for conveyor belts than is currently available on the market, resulting in a safer and cleaner environment for both employees and customers.
Conveyor belts that carry groceries and other retail goods through checkout lanes are a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, and the porous nature of conveyor belts results in these potentially dangerous pathogens remaining inside the belt. Superficial sanitizing processes such as wiping down belts with cleaning spray do not actually kill bacteria; in fact, they make the problem worse by increasing moisture in the area, leading to the proliferation of more bacteria and mold. Verduzco Enterprises aims to combat this problem by producing an innovative new technology which offers a far safer and cleaner environment for both employees and customers in retail environments.
The 275-nanometer (207-222-nanometer light is covered in patent along with 405-420-nanometer) UV-LED customized light developed by Verduzco Enterprises will be adjustable so that it can be pointed like a laser for precision or opened like a floodlight for maximum surface coverage, allowing operators the flexibility of changing settings dependent on their needs. It will be installed within the underside of the conveyor belt to minimize customer and employee exposure to the light and will remain on while the belt is in operation, eliminating bacteria and other dangerous microbes safely and effectively with every rotation of the belt. To ensure consistency, the product will be developed with an automatic start and stop which aligns with the starting and stopping of the conveyor belt itself, so that the light is always cleaning the underside of the belt during its active operating status.
The product will utilize LED blue light technology, a safe and proven effective way to kill a wide range of bacteria and viruses. Blue light in the visible light spectrum has been proven safe for humans, plants and animals, and research has proven that focusing a particular nanometer level of blue light on a surface can deactivate a wide range of pathogenic bacteria as well as some viruses. Blue light and similar technologies are already in use in environments such as hospitals, fire departments, veterinary offices, malls, gyms and many other places in which hygiene and safety are top priority. Proven benefits of using blue light to sanitize and eliminate bacteria are that it is relatively inexpensive to implement, it is made with LED lights (which do not use as much power, last longer than ordinary lights, and are inexpensive to obtain), and it is chemical-free. In addition, the ease of use is a large benefit to this process as the only action required is to use a switch or timer rather than manually attempting to sanitize the area with ineffective or even harmful processes such as using cleaning spray. The LED’s have already been tested and proven successful at eliminating 99.9% of contamination. We have EPA approval and now we have EPA approval. These units will be made in America, so they will have “Made In America” stamps along with UL Certificate, stamp of EPA and FDA.
LED lights can handle hostile environments easily and can be programmed to turn on or off as needed, as well as the aforementioned ability to flexibly customize their strength and amount of surface area they cover. In addition, LED lights can last up to 10,000 hours before their strength even begins to falter and replacements are considered, which is a significant improvement over existing UVC bulbs which typically require replacement every six months to one year. The lifespan of LED lights generally extends between eight and ten years, dramatically reducing the need for maintenance or replacement.
Verduzco Enterprises will develop this light cleaning process as well as working with a company to add UV protectant to conveyor belts, resulting in non-porous surfaces which are instead flat with a clear additive layer. This will provide an additional safety factor as porous surfaces which comprise the majority of conveyor belts are excellent environments for bacteria and other dangerous microbes to live and proliferate. Ultimately, the product will not only offer much better sanitizing—making the environment far safer for employees and customers alike—but also benefit the store due to its discreet nature as it will be installed within the conveyor belt itself rather than in the open.
A National network of installers will be created to assist stores with the implementation of the new technology, and the installation process will be simple and efficient. Rather than utilizing traditional physical means of installation such as drilling or glue, industrial strength magnets or industrial strength adhesive will hold the lights in place in order to avoid compromising the conveyor system. During the installation process, the light will be hooked up with the lane on/off switch so that when a person flips the switch to begin the checkout process at that specific lane, the light will turn on. Furthermore, when that person leaves the lane and turns the switch off, the light will turn off. Adding to the flexibility of the product is the potential for an LED strip being customizable in length, as it can be designed to be cut and applied to the specific fit of each conveyor belt should they vary from standard design.
Utilizing the conveyor belt LED cleaning light developed by Verduzco Enterprises will benefit stores in many ways, including making the checkout environment significantly safer and cleaner for both employees and customers, as well as minimizing sick times for employees due to this healthier environment. It will also, in turn, reduce overhead costs for employers due to its longevity and flexibility of usage.
Management and Personnel
Robert Verduzco, the owner and sales manager of Verduzco Enterprises, will bring his extensive background in sales and subsequently developed business acumen to the table in terms of running the business from the ground up. From the age of 24, Mr. Verduzco began working in sales, beginning with selling corporate contracts for an employment company. Finding that he possessed a gift for sales, Mr. Verduzco pursued this professional avenue through multiple positions. He was recruited by a company to act as the sales manager for a small, family-owned business, after which he moved on to a national-sized, larger competitor and relocated to Northern California. As one of the first six people on the board opening the Northern California market for this competitor, Mr. Verduzco gained the valuable opportunity to develop and hone his sales skills. Ultimately, as the company expanded to over 100 sales representatives, Mr. Verduzco was consistently amongst the top five salespeople, only surpassed by owners and partners.
Next, Mr. Verduzco was invited to become a national sales trainer due to his expertise and skill in the field. He opened his own staffing company before selling it after establishing it and gaining success, and then shifted gears to a new industry. Working in DirecTV marketing, Mr. Verduzco opened three locations in the Bay Area local market. He then opened nearly 100 locations across the Nation, in the first year. During this time, he built the entire sales program, developed verbiage, created qualifying questions, and trained floor salespeople via roleplaying and other on-the-ground processes.
Currently, Mr. Verduzco is in the high-end art sales industry. With an art gallery in Carmel-by-the-Sea, he regularly sells pieces priced from $7,000 to $100,000 to customers. He relishes
Within Verduzco Enterprises, Robert will focus primarily on sales and driving company growth and expansion strategies. As the owner, he will also have high-level oversight on the full operation. In addition, he will work with a law firm, an accounting firm, and a production manager to ensure that all elements of the process are covered, organized, and regulated to the highest standards.