feature chemical dispensing systems
Raise questions to select the correct equipment In this article, Hydro Systems’ Global Director of Brand and Marketing Communications, Alistair Blair-Davies explains how selecting the correct chemical-dispensing equipment is one of the most crucial decisions you will make. Without being sure of delivering safe, cost-effective operation and high-quality cleaning – while responding to all of your customer’s key requirements for quick installation, reliability of dilution, ease of use and maintenance – you risk damaging the most important asset you have – your firm’s reputation.
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ave you ever been disappointed by the performance of a chemical dispenser? Did the model turn out to be nothing like the sleek and efficient problem-solving unit that was promoted to you by the manufacturer? Were you even certain that your choice would have been able to satisfy your customer’s growth and aspirations in the future – let alone their immediate needs? There is much to bear in mind when you choose a chemical-dispensing system. Avoid being seduced simply by price, by one highlighted feature, or assurances that nothing else on the market is better able to optimise the potential of your chemicals. Otherwise, when there is an irate caller on the line who stood in a pool of congealed chemical residue, reeling from a stream of disgruntled employees and disappointed customers, it is you who will be bearing the brunt of their aggravation.
Asking the right questions Above all, it is about the total package that you offer: the system you choose has to deliver a mutually beneficial high level of performance. What is right for you, is right for your customer – and vice versa. With what can appear to be a bewildering number of dispensers on the market, how do you ensure that you are giving your customers exactly what they want? Doing your research and asking the right questions is essential. If you do so, it will help you to maximise the benefits and lifespan of each unit, making for a smooth and profitable long-term relationship.
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African Cleaning Review March/April 2020
From ensuring efficient dispensing, you can immediately begin to deliver a range of significant benefits to your customers, which you can promote in order to gain and retain business. These include improved environmental friendliness and cleanliness, in addition to labour cost savings, increased productivity and safety. A virtuous circle to the bottom line. Employing a dispensing system that delivers the right amount of chemical every time eliminates wastage and ensures that chemicals are not dumped where they can have a negative effect on water supplies and your brand. A closed dispensing system significantly reduces waste packaging that would otherwise end up in landfills. Greenhouse gasses are also reduced because less fuel is needed to ship chemicals in concentrate form. With automatic dilution, there are no guessing games on whether too much or too little chemical is being used. The right dispensing equipment reduces customers’ cleaning costs by up to 30 percent by accurately diluting the proper amount of chemical – supporting their bottom line. Getting it right, safe and productive by automatically mixing concentrates with water, there is less direct contact with potentially hazardous chemicals, and no heavy containers to carry. Properly diluted chemicals also help to reduce the risk of litigation from dangerous slip-and-fall accidents. Dispensing systems avoid manual measurement, while correct dilution eliminates the need to fix areas that
were not properly cleaned, resulting in a reduction of labour costs. When cleaning chemicals are consistently diluted to the manufacturer’s specifications, it allows the concentrates to work at their full potential. Overly rich mixtures can leave slippery residues and even damage surfaces, while weak mixtures can leave germs remaining. Each scenario could leave the customer pointing accusingly at you.
Thinking ahead Try to be strategic and think ahead. You should base your selection decisions on being able to respond to both the current and future requirements of your customers. Make sure that features are well-suited for their application or they may not function as efficiently as you would like, and that units are user-friendly and enhance productivity. You will want any system to be easy to install to minimise potential problems, whether this is for your in-house team or any contractors you employ to do the job. Bear in mind that, although some dispensers are designed to handle only one or two chemicals, others allow for multiple options, which can improve cleaning efficiency. It is important to pick a manufacturer whose product line incorporates this range of functions. Water-pressure problems can be responsible for inconsistent dilution rates. Look for dispensing systems that address this, such as those that contain a regulating component. There are other features that can help to narrow your
