You have chosen electric hand drying!
That's it! You've decided or arbitrated, drying your hands with paper towels costs you too much , generates waste and the level of hygiene required in your establishment is compatible with the implementation of a hot air or forced air drying method...
But now, you'll have to choose the right electric hand dryer model in the jungle of features, manufacturers, "sub-brands," "assemblers," etc., to have a reliable, suitable, and economically accessible device. At Voussert, we've been sourcing supplies for our clients from the biggest manufacturers for over 45 years , and we'll try to help you understand this complex market.
How is an electric hand dryer made?
Finally, the design is mainly composed of a motor, electronic card , infrared detector and a shell covering in ABS or metal . There may then be components such as LED lighting , a Hepa filter for discharge into the air, additional disinfection by UV lamp , a tank for water recovery in the case of a vertical air pulse model such as "Dyson" .
It is therefore obvious that no "manufacturer" possesses all these skills which require at the same time the manufacture of engine, the injection molding of plastic, the design of electronic components...etc. As a general rule, the different elements are assembled by the manufacturer who has (or does not have) an exclusivity on the design of his device through a mold for the hull. The injection can be done internally or be outsourced while keeping the absolute property of the mold which costs several tens of thousands of euros.
He then builds his device and its variants from these elements.
In this specific case we are talking about manufacturers like JVD , in France, who on devices like the Exp'air, Sup'Air for example, are really masters of design and manufacturing. This does not prevent the fact that on part of their range, the products are only sourced and "branded" to the brand. Other players like Rossignol do not manufacture any hand dryers and there too offer a range (selection) of finished products "branded" to the Rossignol brand.
So you will have understood, there is manufacturer and manufacturer...
Where are the manufacturers of electric hand dryers?
Like the majority of manufactured products now, the Asian continent is the main source for hand dryers . While there are assemblers in France, Italy, etc. who, as we have seen, have their own design and mold , in the end everything else is imported. So how can a manufacturer claim "Made in France"? Quite simply because "made in France" does not require that the entire finished product be made in France but that a substantial part of the value of the product (including assembly) be done in France. Therefore, if you import $50 worth of components but the assembly, mounting, and adjustment of the product added to these $50 is "significant", the manufacturer can claim "made in France".
What is the warranty period for electric hand dryers?
The legal and mandatory warranty period is 2 years under the European legal guarantee of conformity, but you may be offered commercial warranty extensions on certain models or certain manufacturers, extending them up to 3 years or even 5 years. It is important to check the scope of these warranty extensions and what they cover.
Of course, you will have to take care to maintain and manage the device as a good father . Regular replacement of the motor or Hepa filters . Regular emptying of the water recovery tank in the case of a forced air device. Of course, do not use the device for any purpose other than drying hands... Experience shows deviated uses such as drying mechanical parts... Device sizing unsuitable for daily traffic... In all cases, the electrical connection must be made by a professional and with an electrical protection system adapted to the use because we are in the presence of a device intended for installation in sanitary facilities.
Lifespan: brushed or brushless motor?
The motor, which is generally high-power, can be brushed for a better price or brushless for high-end models. There are therefore several levels of manufacturing quality knowing that it is the heart of the product! The reliability of a brushless motor is of course longer but this choice is more expensive to purchase. It will be necessary to make a choice according to the daily traffic. Of course, for intensive use such as an airport, a train station, a motorway service station, the Brushless motor option is almost mandatory even if a brushed motor remains reliable. The "Prestige" vertical models from Voussert are Brushless models for high traffic and very reliable.
Comparison of options: Hot air, forced air, automatic or manual
The offer has now become more complex with the arrival of pulsed air hand dryers in recent years.
The product range is currently divided into two main categories:
- Hot air (automatic or manual trigger)
- Pulsed air (vertical type Dyson, JVD or Rossignol Aery).
The choice now falls mainly on devices which offer a solution widely promoted by Dyson when these devices were launched.
The big advantage is speed because we are talking here about a few seconds compared to 30 seconds for a traditional device.
Advantages and disadvantages of hot air hand dryers with resistance
It is characterized by hand drying based on the production of hot air blown at speeds varying from 80 to 110 km/h.
This electric hand dryer, which incorporates a resistance, is historically the most widespread and most economical to purchase. There are push-button models or cell (automatic) models that prevent any contact between the user and the electric hand dryer.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an automatic trigger model and a model with a manual push button?
-> The automatic model, like all the new generation, offers contactless use . From a hygiene point of view, this is an additional guarantee, knowing that a very large part of contamination occurs via the hands.
The disadvantage of this type of hand dryer is the reliability of the detection cell , which sometimes (you must have experienced this) no longer triggers. In this case, it is impossible for the user to have an alternative drying option if no dispenser is installed in parallel.
-> The manually triggered model is more reliable in cells but should be reserved for low-traffic toilets . In fact, excessive use of the push button inevitably leads to failure of the mechanism . On the other hand, contact between the user's hands and the button is not a guarantee of impeccable hygiene.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Dyson type pulsed air hand dryer
It has become the new benchmark because it has been democratized by the manufacturer Dyson in terms of installation volume with a plethora of offers and features that need to be detailed. It is characterized by hand drying based on an air speed much higher than conventional products. It is this air speed that blows the water present on the hands towards the bottom of the device and thus dries the hands. This air speed does not require having hot air but many devices offer it with the option of disconnecting it.
The water is therefore generally collected at the bottom of the product in a tank that must be emptied regularly for perfect maintenance. Indeed, only certain products combine this air speed with light heating. There is therefore no "evaporation" as in the case of the electric hot air hand dryer but rather "evacuation." This explains an ultra-fast drying time of around 10 seconds.
The cost of use is low in consumption but the investment remains heavy with prices 5 to 8 times higher than a hot air hand dryer.
It will therefore be necessary to check several points:
-> Motor type : brushed or brushless motor
-> Presence of a removable filter and cost of the consumable
-> Presence of an ultraviolet system to reduce contamination
-> Accessibility for people with reduced mobility
-> Manufacturer's warranty announced
-> Type of hand access: vertical or horizontal, which will determine whether children or small people have easy or difficult access.
Forced air is essential but...
Dyson, who originated this concept, has made it a must-have product, but we must not lose sight of the fundamentals.
Wiping with disposable solutions remains the benchmark from a hygienic point of view with greater bacteriological proliferation. important in case of poor maintenance. It cannot be guaranteed that when drying the user will not put water or soap on the walls.
Furthermore, even if the latest generations equipped with Hepa filtration significantly improve the results, it is an exaggeration to consider that they offer superior bacteriological safety to paper hand towels. The other concern with this type of hand dryer is the air speed which very often generates a noise level higher than that of conventional hot air devices. It is therefore necessary to pay particular attention to the location where the hand dryer will be installed. A quiet product will be more appropriate in restaurants, hotels where the traffic is not that of a train station...
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