Kiki Tanousis and Col Brumley didn’t expect to walk out of the Coppersmith Hotel in South Melbourne, with an invention that would spread round the world. But like the virus they are helping to defeat, that’s exactly what’s happened when they created SafeOpen – an Australian product that allows people to open doors hands-free.

“It started off with my irritation at having to touch a door after having just washed my hands – I know I’m not alone in that”, says Dr Tanousis, Edutech CEO and former molecular immunologist. “There had to be a better way”. 

As luck would have it, Tanousis’s close friend and outback travel companion, Col Brumley is the owner of Melbourne manufacturer, Advanced Sheetmetal, and an expert in stainless steel. So the two put their heads together.

Dr Kiki Tanousis and Col Brumley, creators of the SafeOpen foot operated door opener. Source: SafeOpen 

“There were a number of things SafeOpen had to do here” says Mr Brumley. “It had to do the job easily and ergonomically. Next, it had to be deployed swiftly and cheaply. Finally – it had to protect and create jobs. We were both adamant about that.”

The protecting jobs part was easy. Within 24 hours the pair had one of the nation’s leading law firms on the case, and their Australian creativity is now subject to an international patent. “We didn’t want get-rich-quick shysters to scuttle off to a low-cost country and send more jobs overseas,” says Dr Tanousis. 

And when it comes to creating jobs Mr Brumley is optimistic. “Even though SafeOpen is really easy to fit – we’re expecting there will be heaps of new work for chippies, builders and maintenance folk all over the country. COVID-19 has destroyed a lot of the economy, we’re happy to create new jobs where none had existed before.”

Dr Tanousis told WILLIAMSMEDIA, “This is a unique Australian product. It is the only one that is recommended for public, commercial or workplace use. SafeOpen is now the international OH&S benchmark for foot operated door opening.”

SafeOpen products have appeared all round South Melbourne. The petrol station on Kingsway, the local barber, the local Italian restaurant, the Mercedes office building - and of course - the Coppersmith Hotel.

At Top End Barbers, on Clarendon St, owner Ozcan Harman is doing whatever he can to make customers feel safe. “We have masks on, we have to wipe everything down all the time – now our customers can leave without touching the door. I have put these in my other shop too.”

Tonino Amadio owns Just Italy Restaurant on Clarendon St. He knows the impact COVID-19 is having back home. They want their staff to stay safe while at work. “We’re thinking of exporting these back to Italy – doors are the same all over the world.”

At the Coppersmith Hotel, again on Clarendon St, owner George Bagios is preparing for the return of customers. “We’re doing everything we can to welcome people back, SafeOpen makes opening doors that much more hygienic.”

Graphics design and marketing company Artillery Group have installed in their offices at the iconic 222 Kingsway Building – and the rest of the building is following suit. “It just makes so much sense”, says owner Stevie Kimonides. “The last thing you want to do in these times is touch a door handle. We’ve got them on our entrance doors, and our bathrooms”.

At Caltex on Kingsway, manager Sharon was tired of picking up paper towels from around the doors of the petrol station’s bathrooms, and is delighted that she and her staff have removed a nagging worry from their work day. “We need to use the facilities too, and the last thing we want to do is touch the handles on the way out. Thankfully, that’s a thing of the past.”

The team are installing the product for free on the doors of the local high school Albert Park College as students start to return to school. Former school principal of the year Steve Cook is delighted. “We have to do our best to reduce risks, not just for our staff, but for the students and by extension the whole community. And our school philosophy is all about local innovation, local creativity and local production.”

SafeOpen has been invented in Melbourne, built in Melbourne and is being shipped all round world.

More from The Business Conversation:

Applications open for COSBOA Small Business Relief Fund till June 1

Nando’s partners with Foodbank to provide 1 million meals to Aussies in need

7 Big Trends that Coronavirus is Accelerating