Arbo3 pushes automatic air control as hospital staffing tightens

Removing filter-replacement upkeep is a core design goal for the current lineup.

Taiwan’s shift towards smart hospitals is increasing interest in automated air-quality systems that can operate with little manual intervention as staffing shortages place more pressure on medical facilities.

Mark Pai, who oversees technology and operations at Arbo3, said during Medical Taiwan 2026 that hospitals are paying greater attention to shared indoor air because patients, visitors and staff spend long periods in the same enclosed spaces.

“The biggest trend right now is the smart hospital,” Pai said. “We are in the same room and share all the air together.”

He said the aim is to reduce the risk of bacteria and viruses spreading through shared air whilst limiting the amount of work required from hospital staff.

The company is focusing this year on systems for larger areas such as waiting rooms, hospital offices, public service zones and senior care homes. These spaces can be difficult to manage because of constant foot traffic and the number of people using them throughout the day.

“This year, we are innovating for large areas and public areas, like waiting rooms, hospital offices and senior homes,” Pai said.

Pai added that automatic operation and lower maintenance demands are central to the design. The current product line is intended to work without regular staff input and without routine high-efficiency particulate air filter replacement.

That could make such systems more practical for facilities with limited technical and maintenance staff, although hospitals would still need to assess performance, safety and compliance with existing ventilation and infection-control standards.

Pai expects automation to become more common over the next three years as shortages of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers continue.

The larger test will be whether automated air controls can deliver consistent results across crowded hospital spaces without creating new maintenance or oversight gaps.