Health experts operate the mobile hospital "Shellbe"

A mobile hospital that can be set up, adapted, and relocated at any location in the world as needed: In 2014, engineers Gernod Dittel and Matteo Filippi began developing this idea into a market-ready product through a Bavarian-Italian joint venture. Five years later – in November 2019 – their innovative concept was awarded the "Building Better Healthcare Award" by a high-profile international jury in London.

"Shellbe" is a transportable cleanroom that can be assembled faster than any stationary hospital.

Especially in crisis areas or sparsely populated countries, there is a lack of medical care, which could be improved with expandable modules. The core is a basic module measuring 6 by 6 meters on the inside, with interior heights of 3.2 or 3.4 meters. It is no larger than a "bus shelter," can be completely disassembled, and transported on standard pickups. "Shellbe," the English namesake of the module, combines "Shelter" for protection and "Shell" for the outer shell. Depending on the interior configuration, it can be used for many purposes, such as an operating room, ambulance, pharmacy, nursing room, bio-, sterilization-, and security laboratory, research station, and much more. Additional modules can be docked as needed. Based on the prototype in Ancona, the developers have already designed and planned facilities with up to 1,000 beds on computer. This allows operators to build according to demand and keep costs in check.

Shellbe is also now equipped for use in the "Vertical Agriculture" sector.

On October 30, 2019, in London, representatives from the international healthcare sector awarded "Shellbe" the highly coveted "Building Better Healthcare Award" in the "Best Modular/Mobile Healthcare Facility" category, among 650 invited guests. This new award category recognizes exemplary solutions that include modular and mobile building concepts. The judges justified their choice with the versatile application possibilities resulting from the consistently implemented modular construction. Before participating in the renowned "Best-Practice" competition, the creators of "Shellbe" had to meet technical, economic, and ecological requirements. They had to demonstrate to the jury, for example, that their modules are economically efficient and prepared for future challenges in the healthcare sector.

Another point was the demonstration of sustainability, such as the possibility of autonomous, environmentally friendly energy supply, substitution of materials, and even the reusability of sensitive material structures.

Once the basic module reaches market maturity, the founders of the Bavarian engineering firm DITTEL Engineering and the Italian Adriatic Institute of Technology (AIT) are engaging in discussions with potential customers from several countries and industries. "The 'Shellbe' project is in the starting blocks," says Gernod Dittel, whose company was already awarded in 2018 by an expert commission of the business magazine "Global Health & Pharma" as the "Best Cleanroom Design & Engineering Company – Europe."

About the company:

The Adriatic Institute of Technology (AIT) in Ancona has 35 employees. The German-Italian company was founded in 2014 by engineers Gernod Dittel and Matteo Filippi. Dittel is president of the cleanroom planning firm DITTEL Engineering in Schlehdorf near Kochelsee/Bavaria and also serves as president of AIT. The civil engineer Filippi, experienced in special constructions, is CEO. The company's goal and that of its suppliers is to develop modular, mobile, and multifunctional cleanrooms that meet the high quality standards of stationary hospitals and laboratories.