Our Washsmart

Daniels Robotic Washline Technology

Daniels reusable sharps containers are emptied and sanitized at Daniels’ clean processing facilities using its Washsmart system, a fully automated, robotic system used for decanting, washing, sanitizing, and drying the containers. Our Washsmart system provides highly effective washing and sanitizing of all Sharpsmart containers.

“The Washsmart cleaning process was independently tested by coating 16 Gallon Medismart bins with 6-log blood suspensions of Staph aureus and E. Faecalis. On swabbing them after the wash, no challenge organisms were detected – this is a very high level of decontamination.”

Terry Grimmond, Microbiologist FASM, BAgrSc, GrDpAdEd

  1. Decontamination

    Blood and human-source soiling are completely removed and the inside of the collector is made safe for handling.

  2. Sanitization

    Daniels’ Washsmart system has been extensively researched, tested and independently verified as achieving a
    level of sanitization 4x higher than required by the CDC in the United States.

  3. Quality Control Parameters

    The time, temperature and water volumes necessary to achieve this level of cleaning are closely monitored.
    If any parameter falls outside Daniels set criteria, the Washsmart machine immediately shuts itself down so it can be repaired.

  4. Tested

    The Washsmart process also passes the stringent Ninhydrin test – a forensic-level test to detect traces of protein or blood.

Learn more about our sustainable operations

Regulation Certified Processing: Meets strict wash requirements (OSHA)

Daniels mechanical Washsmart technology robotically empties and feeds each Daniels Sharpsmart container through a sophisticated 6-stage washing process.

Using a tested combination of water pressure, high temperatures, and biodegradable detergent (no harmful chemicals) to achieve high-level disinfection, the Daniels Washline is ground-breaking in its engineering. Our washing process achieves a 6-log bacterial load reduction, which is a higher sanitization result than any other container washing method.

Washsmart’s 8-step Process

1

Weigh & Scan

Each collector is loaded onto a robotic conveyor belt; contents are weighed and the collector barcode is scanned to enable complete traceability of its origins.

2

Decant & Empty

In a seamless automated action, the robotic arms of the Daniels Washsmart tip the collector upside down to expel contents into a large holding bin situated beneath the machine.

3

High Pressure Flush

Strong jet streams of water are injected into the collector to flush out any stubborn residue, at a high pressure force, this flushing process removes dry blood or residual fluids.

4

Wash

The collector undergoes a cold and hot water wash up to a maximum temperature of 131°F. The Daniels Washsmart recycles water from an earlier stage of the cycle to minimize environmental burden.

5

Hot Rinse

The collector enters into a secure chamber where it undergoes two phases of a hot water rinse, the first a detergent wash to 131°F for 45 seconds and the second final rinse for 15 seconds at 185°F.

6

Drying

The final stage of the Washsmart process is to remove surface water, thereby eliminating the possibility of subsequent microbial growth; this process is undertaken via a blow-dry mechanism. This process, coupled with the heat of the plastic following a hot rinse, results in Sharpsmart collectors emerging dry and ready for immediate use.

7

Smartguard

Daniels has a unique coating formulation which is applied at every wash to enable Sharpsmart collectors to easily shed sticky adhesives, blood, body fluids, and dyes. More than 200 formulations were developed, researched, and engineered before the Daniels SMARTGUARD formula was patented.

8

Quality Control Checks

At the end of the process, each Sharpsmart collector is subjected to a 10-point Quality Assurance Check for function, scuffs, cuts and smears. The Washsmart process achieves a 6Log reduction in bioburden – some 1000 times greater than that required for thorough cleaning.

Washsmart System Benefits

  • REGULATION CERTIFIED PROCESSING: MEETS STRICT WASH REQUIREMENTS (OSHA)

    Uses a thoroughly tested combination of water pressure, high temperatures, and biodegradable detergent to achieve high-level disinfection while avoiding the use of environmentally harmful chemicals.

  • COMPUTERIZED AND AUTOMATED DECANTING, SANITIZING AND DRYING

    Fully automated robotic system with process-validated standards for decanting, sanitizing, drying, and quality checking of each product (an FDA and OSHA requirement).

  • WASHSMART QUALITY ASSURANCE

    Each individual Sharpsmart and Medismart collector has its wash parameters (temperature time, water volumes) measured and permanently recorded, giving complete assurance of microbiological sanitization.

  • UNIQUE ANTI-STICK COATING

    Daniels developed, researched, and engineered more than 200 formulations before patenting SMARTGUARD, a unique coating applied at every wash to enable Sharpsmart collectors to easily shed sticky adhesives, blood, body fluids, and dyes.

Daniels Innovation

Our Australian team has driven the innovation of the safest sharps and medical containers in the world for over 38 years. One of our industry-leading inventions is a robotic washing and treatment technology that achieves the highest industry standard in bacterial load reduction. Learn more about our Washsmart and the spirit of innovation behind Daniels global brands.