A new concept bed – the disposable emergency hospital bed engineered to meet the needs of temporary quarantine centres, has been launched in the UAE and across the GCC.
The bed is a low-cost, 100 per cent recyclable, made of high strength corrugated board from high performance grade craft paper and is easy to transport and assemble, according to a statement by Regent General Trading, the company importing the beds into the region.
“The bed has had a rapturous reception in India in recognition of this feat of engineering. Although the bed is only 10 kgs, it is engineered to carry 200 kgs. It is coated with a chemical that enables it to withstand liquids so the floor can be mopped, and disinfectant can be used,” said Mahesh Kumar of Regent Trading. “A lot of thought and ingenuity has ensured it meets the needs of quarantine centers in the current conditions,” he added.
According to him, the beds are easy to assemble – the pieces fit like a jigsaw ensuring the structure is sturdy and secure. Instructions are clear and no instruments or tools are required – not even nails or hammers. The design has taken care of aesthetics, as well and varied bright colours have been used to add liveliness to quarantine centres and lift the spirits of patients, he added.
More than 50,000 beds are currently in use in India across 30 cities and over 100 facilities. The manufacturer has received enquiries for them across the world, including Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Regent General Trading have been appointed the sole agents for the Middle East region and have already imported the first consignment of 500 beds.
Recyclable cardboard is particularly relevant to Covid-19 conditions because cardboard stays infected for 24 hours only whilst the virus can stay on plastic surfaces for three days and on metal for four to seven days according to healthline.com (a site with more than 234 million monthly unique users). The disposability factor makes it even more attractive in containing infection, the statement said.
The new concept has been recognised by the Prime Minister’s office in India for one of the top 10 innovations during the Covid-19 crisis. The originators and manufacturers of the bed, Aryan Paper Mill, located in the western state of Gujarat have filed a patent for the product.
In the current situation, the beds are well suited for quarantine centres and they are fulfilling demand across the world. Once work is normalised they will be well suited for labour camp fit-outs, it added.—TradeArabia News Service