Irish air sterilisation company ILIMEX has announced plans to expand into the agri-food sector with an initial focus on poultry and medicinal mushroom production.
Founded during the Covid pandemic, ILIMEX products were first introduced to offer protection from airborne pathogens in public spaces such as schools, hospitality, workplaces and healthcare settings.
The company said its “Flufence” air sterilisation technology combines airborne pathogen detection with high-intensity UVC sterilisation which can neutralise viruses such as Avian Influenza.
To help fund its expansion, ILIMEX has announced the conclusion of a funding round raising £600,000 (€700,000) in equity finance.
The funds were raised from Innovation Ulster Limited, the enterprise venture capital fund of Ulster University, Invest NI via Clarendon Fund Managers and existing shareholders.
“The demand for ILIMEX’s high-level biosecurity solutions has expanded beyond their original use to include intensive poultry production and medicinal mushroom cultivation,” said ILIMEX Chief Executive Officer Gerry Corrigan.
“These are industries where airborne contamination poses significant risks that affect both the regulatory compliance of production systems, their commercial viability and bottom-line profitability,” he added.
Tim Brundle, Director of Research and Impact at Ulster University said they are delighted to continue backing ILIMEX.
“ILIMEX is a strong example of how academic collaboration can lead to real-world solutions addressing global challenges in biosecurity,” Mr Brundle said.
