A helmet mask with a curved air curtain could protect poultry processing workers against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and other airborne diseases.
“Instead of trying to wear a mask to protect yourself from viruses and bacteria, we can take the air that is treated by our non-thermal plasma, then direct down that air down your face like an air curtain,” explained Herek L. Clack, Ph.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer, Taza Aya, and associate professor of civil & environmental engineering at the University of Michigan.
At the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit, Clack will share information on the technology, which has been shown to neutralize more than 95% of airborne viruses and provides 99.8% protection against inhalation of viral aerosols.
The Poultry Tech Summit, scheduled for November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia, brings together inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, poultry industry professionals and established technology providers to discuss challenges and solutions for all aspects of the poultry supply chain.
Registration for this event is now open. Early bird savings are available until September 30th.
An alternative to traditional face masks
The air curtain creates a barrier around the user’s face by expelling treated air from a nozzle array attached to existing hard hats or bump caps. The current model is designed for use in poultry processing facilities, but future iterations could attach to a variety of caps for use in any poultry operation.
The electrical and mechanical components that produce the air curtain, including a non-thermal plasma treatment process to neutralize airborne viruses, are contained within a lightweight backpack that weighs less than 10 pounds. Each battery runs for four hours before it needs to be recharged and batteries can be easily replaced throughout a shift.
People have better understanding of the limits of face masks after the COVID-19 pandemic. The wearable air curtain has several advantages, including the ability to provide provides protection without facial irritation or ear loop pain and no increase in breathing resistance, Clack said.
“This has a greater likelihood of people following recommendations for masking and keeping us all safe,” he added.
One unexpected benefit of the wearable air curtain is that it offers clear visibility of the worker's face for uncompromised verbal and non-verbal communication. Poultry processing facilities can be loud, and many workers don’t necessarily speak English as a first language, so clear communication is vital.
The technology is currently being trialed at a Michigan Turkey Producers processing plant. Additional partners are being sought to provide feedback on the prototype.
Attend the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit
The Poultry Tech Summit will return as an in-person event on November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia. The Poultry Tech Summit brings together inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, poultry industry professionals and established technology providers to discuss challenges and solutions for all aspects of the poultry supply chain. The event focuses on the transition of innovative technologies from researchers and entrepreneurs into commercial applications for the benefit of the poultry industry.
NEW in 2025, Poultry Tech Summit will be held in collaboration with the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs (US-RSPE) annual meeting held November 5, 2025.
Registration for the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit is now open. For more information, go to www.poultrytechsummit.com.
