April/May 2015

The pan-European magazine for the professional cleaning sector

APRIL/MAY 2015

CASE STUDY

INTERVIEW

SURVEY

Preview of Pulire exhibition Starts page 57

Laundering for the cleanroom

Henrik Andersen, ISS

EFCI report contract cleaning

Page 50

Page 35

Page 19

CONTENTS

April/May 2015 | Vol.23, No.2

BUSINESS

SPECIAL REPORTS

53 Plenty of life left

19 The European picture

Hartley Milner explores how attitudes to older workers are beginning to change.

The results of the latest EFCI survey into the contract cleaning sector.

25 Trending in the toilet What impact are today’s key trends having on public washrooms?

35 “It’s all about the people” An exclusive interview with Henrik Andersen, EMEA ceo for ISS Group.

39 Frequent care essential What are the toughest façade cleaning challenges, and how to tackle them.

43 Don’t be floored by polishing

03 News

We look at the simplest solutions for achieving shiny floors.

49 Laundering for cleanrooms

12 European reports

A visit to the CWS cleanroom laundry in Germany.

57 Build-up to Italian cleaning show Pulire A look ahead to the exhibition taking place in May.

67 Buying into lithium-ion Are cleaning companies buying into the latest battery technologies?

70 Finding the right match How to choose the correct floor pad for your cleaning task.

Criterion Publishing Ltd PO Box 299, Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 1FP UK T +44 (0)1494 791222 F +44 (0)1494 792223 info@europeancleaningjournal.com www. europeancleaningjournal.com Subscriptions UK - £60 / Continental Europe - £70 / International - £80

Editor Michelle Marshall Features Writer Ann Laffeaty Advertisement Director Chris Godman Advertisement Sales Carole Dawson Circulation Marie Payne

Italy, Spain & Switzerland Fabio Potesta Mediapoint & Communications Corte Lambruschini, Corso Buenos Aires, 8 V0 Piano, Interno 7 16129 Genova, Italy T +39 010 570 4948 F +39 010 553 0088 info@mediapointsrl.it www. mediapointsrl.it

European Cleaning Journal is published six times a year by Criterion Publishing Ltd. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in European Cleaning, Criterion Publishing Ltd and its agents can accept no responsibility for the varacity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Copyright for all material published in European Cleaning remains with Criterion Publishing Ltd and its agents.

Germany Reinhard Knittler Knittler Medien, Mittlerer Hubweg 5, D-72227 Egenhausen, Germany T +49 7453/9385 787 F +49 7453/9385 797 info@knittler.de www.knittler.de ISSN 0968-901X ©Criterion Publishing 2015

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NEWS & EVENTS

Latest News & Events from ECJ

Diversey Care acquires robotics specialist Intellibot assets Diversey Care parent company Sealed Air has acquired certain assets of Intellibot Robotics, a US-based privately owned company specialising in the development of commercial floor cleaning robots.

The acquisition includes certain intellectual property, the manufacturing operations in Virginia as well as sales, production and engineering staff. The business will be integrated into the Diversey Care division and its brand of TASKI floor cleaning machines.

Dr Ilham Kadri, Diversey Care president said: “This is another example of how Sealed Air

is changing the game and it positions Diversey Care as the first hygiene and cleaning player to enter the industrial robotics arena.

“Our industry expertise, global reach, design and manufacturing capabilities combined with Intellibot’s artificial intelligence technology will help accelerate the development of the robotic floor cleaning machines market - ultimately driving efficiencies and business value for our industry.”

With the introduction of

models including Hydrobot, Aerobot and Duobot Diversey Care claims to have addressed the technological issues associated with the various floor cleaning robots developed over the years by other manufacturers. For example, these models can work with any type of sensor.

For many building service companies, cost will also inevitably be a key factor in the decision whether to invest in robotic technology. Kadri said: “We are keen to promote the total cost of ownership and the overall savings in the cleaning operation that can

be made through the use of robotics. And we now believe we have a realistic, feasible option to make robotics work for the industry.”

Jerome Peribere, president and ceo of Sealed Air explained: “We feel it is the right time for us to introduce this type of technology. This is the future. Of course it will be an evolutionary process and we believe the most obvious markets to start with will be those with a high cost of labour, for example.” www.diversey.com

Sealed Air, la parente de Diversey Care, a repris certains actifs à Intellibot Robotics, société américaine spécialisée dans le développement de robots de nettoyage des planchers.

Register now for your free monthly email newsletter from ECJ. And don’t forget to bookmark the ECJ website and don’t miss our regular blogs - including Dr Ilham Kadri from Diversey Care, Rob den Hertog of Amsterdam RAI, Mike Sullivan of GOJO, EUnited’s Markus Asch and Vectair’s Paul Wonnacott www.europeancleaningjournal.com

EVENTS May 19-21

May 10-13 2016

Pulire

ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam

Verona, Italy www.pulire-it.com

Amsterdam, Netherlands www.issainterclean.com

July 28-30

October 25-28 2016

CleantexPulire

ISSA/Interclean North America

Johannesburg, South Africa www.cleantex.co.za

Chicago, USA www.issainterclean.com

September 22-25

March 14-16 2017

CMS

The Cleaning Show

Berlin, Germany www.cms-berlin.com

London, UK www.cleaningshow.co.uk

October 20-21

September 11-14 2017

Ausclean Pulire

ISSA/Interclean North America

Queensland, Australia www.auscleanpulire.com

Las Vegas, USA www.issainterclean.com

October 20-22

October 2-5 2018

Clean Expo Moscow

ISSA/Interclean North America

Moscow, Russia www.cleanexpo-moscow.ru

Orlando, USA www.issainterclean.com

October 20-23

ISSA/Interclean North America Las Vegas, USA www.issainterclean.com October 27-29

Hygienalia+Pulire Madrid, Spain www.hygienalia-pulire.com November 2-4

Clean Middle East Pulire Dubai, UAE www.cmepexpo.com To have your event included in Events, contact ECJ via email at: michelle@europeancleaningjournal.com

Sealed Air, das Mutterunternehmen von Diversey Care, hat bestimmte Aktivposten von Intellibot Robotics akquiriert, einer in den USA ansässigen Firma, die auf die Entwicklung von Robotern für die gewerbliche Bodenreinigung spezialisiert ist.

Sealed Air, la società madre della Diversey Care, ha acquisito alcuni beni della Intellibot Robotics, una società con sede in America specializzata nello sviluppo dei robot per la pulizia professionale dei pavimenti.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 3

NEWS German cleaning show CMS to host congress

Colin Hasson

The organisers of this year’s CMS 2015 cleaning exhibition in Berlin, Germany, have announced plans for the second International CMS Congress which will be held alongside the show.

The theme will be People and the Market, emphasising the particular importance of people in our sector. The presentations and panel discussions will aim to identify the available workforce potential and the kind of employees that will be needed in the future.

The discussions will also explore whether market requirements, and therefore the demand for services, will change

It is with sadness that we report the death of Colin Hasson, a much-loved figure in the cleaning industry and great friend of ECJ. Colin enjoyed a long and successful career in this industry - at cleaning machine manufacturers Clarke and Gansow before taking up roles within the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc). He was one of its greatest characters.

A champion of the cleaning industry, Colin always took pride in his achievements and was highly respected by his peers and colleagues. Those who knew him well would consider him a loyal and trusted friend.

in the foreseeable future, and whether the available workforce potential can cope with this situation.

Other themes will include the implications of demographic changes, an increase in pandemics and infections, and the demand for hospital capacity, care facilities and

•Les organisateurs du salon de la propreté CMS à Berlin ont annoncé qu’un Second congrès international CMS accompagnerait l’édition de cette année.

• Colin Hasson, personnalité bien connue et populaire du monde de la propreté depuis de nombreuses années, est décédé.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 4

private care services.

Supporting the International CMS Congress are trade organisations the European Federation of Cleaning Industries (EFCI), the European Cleaning Machines Association (EUnited) and the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (AISE).

The event will take place on September 23-24 during the CMS exhibition at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

Presentations will be translated simultaneously into German, English and French. www.cms-berlin.de/en/ CMSCongress

• Die Organisatoren der diesjährigen Reinigungsfachmesse CMS in Berlin haben Pläne für den 2. Internationalen CMS Kongress neben der Messe angekündigt.

• Colin Hasson, eine über viele Jahrzehnte hinweg bekannte und beliebte Persönlichkeit in der Reinigungsbranche, ist verstorben.

• Gli organizzatori dell’edizione di quest’anno della fiera del cleaning CMS di Berlino hanno annunciato i piani per il secondo Congress Internazionale CMS che si terrà in contemporanea con l’esibizione.

• E’ deceduto Colin Hasson, una figura che è stata per molti decenni ben nota e famosa nel settore del cleaning.

NEWS Lack of hygiene in both sexes

Cleanliness key factor - guests

If you’ve ever harboured doubts about the personal hygiene habits of your work colleagues, the results of a new survey will not do anything to reassure you.

A survey of 100,000 people carried out by Initial Washroom Hygiene has revealed 62 per cent of men do not wash their hands after going to the bathroom. And while women are slightly better, still 40 per cent of them admit to this unsavoury habit.

A previous study by the firm found that after using the toilet, a person has on average 200 million bacteria per square inch

A pan-European study of over 4,000 respondents commissioned by P&G Professional has revealed 97 per cent of hospitality guests felt that cleanliness is the most important factor when choosing a restaurant, café, bar or hotel - more important than cost, service, location and little perks.

The European study also found if hospitality operators want their staff to secure more tips from paying guests, then cleanliness is the number one deciding factor - 90 per cent of respondents felt cleanliness is important when deciding

on each hand.

People can then transfer the bacteria to their hands or mouths, as well as on to doors, keyboards and phones. This means office workers come into contact with an average 10 million bacteria a day. www.initial.co.uk/washroomservices

• D’après un sondage européen, 97 des personnes qui fréquentent des hôtels et restaurant situent la propreté au premier rang des préoccupations qui déterminent leur choix d’établissement.

• Une récente enquête aux Royaume-Uni a révélé que 62 pour cent des hommes ne se lavent pas les mains après avoir utilisé les toilettes.

• Aus einer europäischen Umfrage geht hervor, dass 97 Prozent von Gästen der Gastronomie der Meinung sind, dass Sauberkeit der wichtigste Faktor bei der Auswahl einer Restaurants oder Hotels ist.

• Aus einer vor kurzem in Großbritannien durchgeführten Umfrage geht hervor das 62 Prozent der Männer nach dem Gang zur Toilette nicht die Hände waschen.

whether or not leave a tip with the bill - proving that cleanliness really does pay.

No cleaning shortcuts Liz Rogers, commercial director UK & Ireland for P&G Professional explained: “Remember there are no shortcuts when it comes to cleaning! A clean kitchen, shiny table top, spotless crockery and crisp, white linen all contribute to creating a pleasant experience for your customers and can have a direct impact on a business’ bottom line.” www.pgpro.co.uk

• Uno studio europeo ha rivelato che il 97 per cento degli ospiti di strutture di ospitalità e accoglienza percepiscono la pulizia come il fattore più importante quando scelgono un ristorante o un hotel.

• Un sondaggio condotto di recente nel Regno Unito ha rivelato che il 62 per cento di uomini non si lava le mani dopo avere utilizzato il bagno.

NEWS Best practice guide predicts bright future

Ethical list

Cleaning is essential both at home and in the office - that is the message from new research commissioned by UK-based cleaning industry PR specialist Ceris Burns International (CBI PR).

Everybody who took part in the independent survey, carried out by Mindlab International, endorsed cleaning as an important industry sector, delivering invaluable services to society. Responses from the survey form the basis of a new best practice guide, The Future of Cleaning.

SCA, manufacturer of Tork hand hygiene and tissue systems, has appeared in this year’s World’s Most Ethical Companies listing. It was one of only three companies in the Forestry, Paper and Packaging category to appear.

“SCA places strong emphasis on corporate responsibility and we are honoured to be named one of the world’s most ethical companies for the eighth consecutive year,” says SCA’s group function sustainability senior vice president Kersti Strandqvist.

Consumer perceptions

Dedicated to standards

The guide uses consumer perceptions revealed through the independent survey to help cleaning professionals develop the products and services that will deliver the right results. Company branding, investment in machinery and equipment, practical research and development, and the importance of communication are all highlighted.

The key findings of the independent survey were: • 78 per cent of participants said that machinery is more effective than a mop • 66 per cent said effectiveness is the single most important aspect when

The World’s Most Ethical Companies list recognises corporations that go beyond simple statements about ethical business practices and translate them into action.

This year’s list includes 132 honourees spanning 21 countries and five continents.

More than 50 industries are represented. The list has been running for nine years and is administered by the Ethisphere Institute, an organisation dedicated to advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. www.sca.com

designing cleaning equipment or services • 51 per cent would prefer to see cleaners in branded uniforms • 34 per cent never talked to a cleaner at work • 72 per cent said that cleaning makes them feel satisfied • 38 per cent said that cleaning makes them feel contented.

The study used a series of timed-response sorting tasks to

Next edition of ECJ - June/July

• Indispensable à domicile et au bureau, le nettoyage est promis à un bel avenir. C’est ce qui ressort de recherches commanditées par Ceris Burns International (CBI).

• Pour la huitième année consécutives, SCA figure cette année sur la liste des Entreprises les plus éthiques du monde.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 6

measure associations with different cleaning images, as well as an explicit survey looking at people’s perceptions of the cleaning industry.

Two hundred people, located across England, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland, took part in the survey, representing a wide range of ages and professions. www.cbipr.com

• Die Reinigung ist sowohl zuhause als auch im Büro wichtig und hat eine glänzende Zukunft vor sich. Das geht aus einer im Auftrag von Ceris Burns International (CBI) durchgeführten Untersuchung hervor.

• SCA wurde im achten Jahr in Folge als eines der weltweit ethischsten Unternehmen genannt.

• Le pulizie sono essenziali sia nelle case che negli uffici ed hanno un futuro promettente, a quanto risulta da un sondaggio commissionato dalla Ceris Burns International (CBI).

• La SCA è apparsa per l’ottavo anno consecutivo nella lista delle imprese più etiche del mondo di quest’anno (World’s Most Ethical Companies).

NEWS Enter award

Single-use towels most hygienic - ETS study

All manufacturers exhibiting at this year’s CMS cleaning exhibition in Berlin are invited to enter the CMS Purus Awards for 2015.

There are five categories: Machines, Equipment, Washroom Hygiene, Management Systems and Software and Brand Communication. The judging panel will evaluate each entry on its design, function and innovation credentials.

Deadline for entries is May 22 and entry forms can be downloaded at www.cmsberlin/CMSPurusAward

New research commissioned by the European Tissue Symposium (ETS) and carried out by the University of Westminster in the UK has concluded that drying hands with single-use towels shows a lower level of airborne microbe dispersal and contamination.

The study looked at the potential for microbial contamination from hand drying and the potential risks for airborne microbe dispersal, particularly if hand washing is sub optimal. Four different hand drying methods and three different test models were

• Il ressort de recherches commissionnées par l’European Tissue Symposium (ETS) que l’emploi de serviettes à usage unique pour le séchage des mains fait tomber la dispersion et la contamination microbiennes de l’air ambiant.

• Tous les exposants au CMS 2015 de Berlin sont invités à s’incrire aux Prix d’innovation Purus.

used to determine differences between the drying methods and their capacity to disperse microbes on the hands of users to other occupants and into the washroom environment.

Three test models Paper towels, a textile roller towel, a warm air dryer and a jet air dryer were compared using three different test models: acid indicator with lemon juice, yeast, and bacterial transmission from hands when washed without soap. The peer-reviewed study was published in the March 2015 edition of the Journal of

• Aus einer vom European Tissue Symposium (ETS) in Auftrag gegebenen Untersuchung geht hervor, dass das Trocknen der Hände mit Einwegtüchern weniger mikrobielle Streuung und Luftverunreinigungen verursacht.

• Die Aussteller der im September in Berlin stattfindenden CMS 2015 sind dazu eingeladen, sich mit Ihren Produkten und Lösungen für den Purus Award zu bewerben.

Hospital Infection.

A jet air dryer dispersed liquid from users’ hands further and over a greater range – up to 1.5 metres – than other hand drying methods. The jet air dryer also led to the greatest dispersal of microbes into the air at both near and far distances for each of the tested models.

At a distance of 0.2 metres jet air dryers resulted in 67 colonies compared with 6.5 for paper towels. At a distance of 1.5 metres the jet air dryer recorded 11.5 colonies of yeast compared to zero for paper towels. www.europeantissue.com

• Il sondaggio commissionato dall’ European Tissue Symposium (ETS) raggiunge le conclusioni che asciugare le mani con gli asciugamani monouso abbassa i livelli di dispersione e contaminazione da microbi portati dall’aria.

• Tutti gli espositori dell’edizione di quest’anno della fiera CMS di Berlino sono invitati a iscriversi al Purus Awards per l’innovazione.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 9

NEWS Convergence in facilities management (FM) accelerates rapidly

Fergus Bird, event manager of Facilities Show 2015 discusses the increasing convergence within FM and how it is changing the face of the sector.

Convergence is a sign of a maturing market. For facilities management (FM), convergence is resulting in the sector being characterised by one-stop-shop businesses, offering multiple services as a single, managed package.

These ‘total facilities management’ companies are proving popular with clients who benefit from dealing with a single contractor and simpler invoicing, saving time on contract management and ultimately reducing costs.

What’s more, combined services enable deeper client relationships and more holistic support for client businesses.

Take recycling for example.

All recyclable materials have a value, yet cleaning contractors often lack an incentive to separate waste for recycling.

Waste contractors and ultimately the client can both benefit from the sale of materials, so in a total FM service, it becomes worthwhile, with the financial incentives (of avoided disposal costs and rebates from recyclable materials) tipping the balance and driving a wholly different business model.

Of course, facilities

management encompasses a vast range of potential services, from security and fire, safety and health, furnishing, maintenance and telecoms.

Total FM service providers need to consider which of these areas it can manage itself, and which could be outsourced to specialist providers who might be able to provide a more tailored service. (This in turn provides opportunities for single service companies to form longlasting relationships with parent contractors.)

Better client retention When implemented properly, convergence to offer Total FM services can improve client satisfaction and retention.

Reporting in particular is an area that a converging market scores highly in. The entire contract management process can be streamlined, with online access and automatic tracking of key performance indicators.

This puts the client in more control, as it is easier to review the performance of all services together, and in turn the contract manager is able to be more proactive and responsive.

Online access and automation is transforming many aspects of FM services, from mechanical and electrical maintenance, to waste, energy and water.

Already we are seeing the streamlining of services and operations through the use of telemetry, reducing costs and

• Au sein du facility management (FM), on constate une convergence croissante des fonctions de nettoyage, gestion des déchets et recyclage.

• Des chercheurs à Londres ont développé une peinture ayant des propriétés autonettoyantes.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 10

wastes, and linking with building information management (BIM) systems to provide total control of estates from a single system.

With online information sharing, managers can keep a track of multiple sites using an app on their phone, meaning they no longer have to physically visit sites to review their performance. Buildings, sites and even whole estates can be benchmarked for continual improvement, and it becomes much easier to identify and correct weak points in the services provided.

This use of technology combined with convergence in the sector means that in 10 years’ time the FM sector may be unrecognisable from its current form. Companies that offer multiple services and online information management are growing at a faster pace than

those stuck in the slow lane, with inflexible offerings and paper based systems.

Total FM companies For professionals interested in how these developments are set to transform the sector even further, the Facilities Show takes place at the Excel London from June 16-18.

Total FM companies are definitely becoming a key feature in the sector, with Mitie as a show partner and companies such as CBRE, Vinci Facilities, Bouygues, PHS and Bilfinger all with a significant presence at the event. These TFMs will also be part of this year’s Meet the Buyer programme, giving specialist service companies face-to-face access to key decision makers in some of the UK’s largest FM outsourcing businesses. www.facilitiesshow.com

Self-cleaning paint created Researchers in London have developed a paint that is claimed to be able to clean itself.

The coating can be applied to various substances including clothes, paper, glass and steel.

When combined with adhesives it is said to maintain its selfcleaning properties even after being wiped, scratched with a knife or scuffed with sandpaper.

Self-cleaning surfaces work because they are extremely repellent to water. However, they often stop working when they are damaged or exposed to oil. The new super-hydrophobic paint is said to be highly resilient and impervious to both water and oils.

“Being waterproof allows materials to self-clean,” says study author Yao Lu “Water forms marble-shaped droplets that roll over the surface, acting like miniature vacuum cleaners picking up dirt, viruses and bacteria along the way.

• Im Bereich Facility Management (FM) gibt eine zunehmende Konvergenz von Reinigung, Abfallmanagement und Wiederverwertung.

• Forschern in London ist nach eigenen Angaben die Entwicklung eines selbstreinigenden Lacks gelungen.

“For this to happen the surface must be rough and waxy, so we set out to create these conditions on hard and soft surfaces by designing our own paint and combining it with different adhesives to help the surfaces withstand damage.”

The fact that the paint is resistant to everyday wear and tear means it could be used for a wide range of applications from clothing to cars, say the researchers who were drawn from University College London, Imperial College London and Dalian University of Technology in China.

“Our paint worked extremely well for a variety of surfaces in tough conditions that were designed to simulate the wear and tear of materials in the realworld,” said Lu. “For example, car paint frequently gets scuffed and scratched and we wanted to make sure our paint would survive that.”

• All’interno del facility management (FM) aumenta la convergenza sulle operazioni di cleaning, gestione dei rifiuti e riciclo.

• A Londra, i ricercatori hanno sviluppato una vernice che affermano essere in grado di autopulirsi.

UPDATE: FRANCE Closing the gender pay gap Men still earn more than women in the French cleaning sector, reports ECJ correspondent Christian Bouzols. A new agreement has been signed to address the issue.

At the end of 2014, the French cleaning federation signed an agreement with the trade unions to increase the minimum wages in the sector during 2015. This agreement contains clauses to reduce the gender wage disparities that still exist among cleaners.

The Fédération des Entreprises de Propreté (FEP) - the contract cleaning association - has therefore signed with the three main unions – CFDT, CGT and FO – an amendment to an existing collective agreement regarding the minimum wage, to be implemented throughout the cleaning sector during 2015. Four separate negotiating sessions were necessary for both sides to agree to the changes, which will also apply to the French overseas departments.

In keeping with previous collective agreements, this new arrangement for the cleaning sector acknowledges that there are significant wage differences between men and women, even though “these disparities are to some extent explained by the increased feminisation of non-skilled jobs and by the high proportion of women who work part-time”.

Sector agreement The parties however recall that the cleaning sector signed an agreement on equal pay in 2012. This situation, which is quite frequent in France, doesn’t only affect the cleaning sector, but other branches of industry as well, where wage differences can reach 30 per cent.

The signatories call on cleaning companies to “correct the observed wage differences between men and women” and Les hommes gagnent toujours plus que les femmes dans le secteur de la propreté en France, rapporte Christian Bouzols.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 12

to take action on all the factors that play a role in determining wage levels, including recruitment policies, training opportunities and equal access to career progression.

They stressed the necessity to monitor more closely the early careers of women in order to enable them to progress more rapidly. Restating earlier resolutions in that respect, the FEP and the unions called on employers to increase the share of women holding both management and operational jobs in the cleaning sector.

Minimum increased In terms of wages, this agreement for 2015 updates the earlier scale that had been agreed in July 2013. The increases to be applied in 2015 range from one to 1.1 per cent.

The minimum hourly wage is increased from 9.75 to 9.86 euros for the first level of the scale applicable to operational workers. The next three levels in that scale are brought up to 9.30, 9.95 and 10 euros an hour respectively. The next five levels range from 10.08 to 17.24 euros an hour.

As regards the increases agreed in the scale applicable to management workers, where wages are measured on a monthly basis, they have been raised to 2,582.19 euros for level one workers and to 3,046.06 euros for level two employees.

A clause in the agreement also provides for a new meeting of the social partners should the official minimum wage (the SMIC) surpass the agreed value of the minimum hourly wage for cleaners.

In der französischen Reinigungsbranche sind Männer nach wie vor höher bezahlt als Frauen, berichtet Christian Bouzols.

Il corrispondente Christian Bouzols ci informa che nel settore del cleaning francese gli uomini guadagnano ancora oggi più delle donne.

UPDATE: GERMANY Clean with a click German reporter Thomas Schulte-Marxloh looks at the rise of domestic cleaning businesses offering services online.

The internet has already affected many businesses, not to mention our personal life; while new internet-based business models seem to rocket, traditional businesses like stores seem to fade away.

Likewise, traditional consumers seem to vanish. Once online, the contemporary armchair consumer can conveniently shop worldwide and 24/7. Just a mouse click and the demanding consumer will be supplied and served.

Apart from online shops and online portals where you can buy almost any physical goods, an increasing number of platforms offer services eg, taxis, decorating or, last but not least, cleaning.

These platforms have been objected to by existing businesses as services are often carried out by non-professionals or allegedly dummy businesses. While the company Uber has raised some dust in the taxi business, contract cleaning professionals in Germany seem not to be scared or alarmed by the new platforms for cleaning services like Book a Tiger, Putzfee or Helpling.

Black labour The German contract cleaning association BIV believes the new service portals mainly address private households: “Professional contract cleaning is too complex.

(Online) providers mainly focus on the market of private households which is dominated by black labour”, Johannes Bungart, head of the BIV, explained in an Interview with Handelsblatt.

Sad but true, German private households are predominantly cleaned by ‘black workers’. Their employers want to save costs like social contributions or insurance fees and also fear bureaucratic hassle when lifting employment to a legal level - despite strict laws against ‘black labour’ and fines Notre correspondant Thomas Schulte-Marxloh parle des répercussions entourant le fait que des entreprises de propreté proposent désormais leurs services en ligne.

up to 5,000 euros which affect both employee and employer. Erik Thomsen, head of the state-run Minijob-Centre, believes up to four million private households have employed a typical ‘mini jobber’ but only 250,000 of them were working in compliance with existing laws. It seems neither threatening punishment nor incentives like tax benefits of up to 510 euros per year for the employer have changed the minds of these workers and their employers.

The platforms for cleaning services promise to clear this legal twilight zone by delivering cleaning services without remorse for employers. According to Helpling the customer can simply order cleaning without having to care about insurance, social contributions and tax. Bungart does have another view: “Black labour is only substituted by pseudo-selfemployment”. By working with pseudo-self-employed the on-line providers were avoiding having to pay minimum wages or collective labour agreements.

While the providers’ provision is 20 per cent of the wages the customer has to pay, the selfemployed worker has to carry expenses like health insurance, pension, other insurances, cleaning supplies, transport, or time off.

Bungart called this model ‘modern day labour’.

Stiftung Warentest, an independent consumer protection institute, found customers should read the small print. They might be surprised that, for instance, the place of jurisdiction can be a city in the US; the customer is asked to check the official documents of the workforce himself; qualification, reliability, and quality of work is not guaranteed, etc. Businesses might change, however the small print will stay.

Unser DeutschlandKorrespondent Thomas SchulteMarxloh berichtet über die Auswirkungen, die daraus resultieren, dass einheimische Reinigungsunternehmen jetzt ihre Dienste online anbieten.

Il corrispondente tedesco Thomas Schulte-Marxloh ci informa sulle implicazioni per le imprese di pulizia domestica che offrono ora i loro servizi on-line.

UPDATE: ITALY FM - driver for economic recovery Anna Garbagna reports on the key role being played by the facilities management (FM) sector in Italy’s economic recovery.

The facilities management (FM) service sector (maintenance, cleaning, environmental services, energy, security, logistics), which is made up of thousands of small and medium sized companies and many large operators, is a dynamic sector in constant and continuous growth.

According to the data supplied

by Lorenzo Bellicini, director of Cresme, recorded strong growth in 2014 (+17.2 per cent compared to 2013) reaching a turnover of 29.4 billion euros, with a massive impact in terms of employment. Numbers are often underestimated because many public bodies are currently unable to call for tenders because of the complexity of the regulations.

New tendering code With regard to this market’s increasingly important production chain, the ‘manifesto of the property estate and urban estate service’s sector’ was created and promoted by the main associations of the Facility Management’s service sector (Afidamp, Assistal, Confcooperative, Fise Anip, Fnip and Legacoop Servizi) with the scientific support of Patrimoni PA net.

Through this manifesto the associations ask the government and parliament to ensure that the new tendering code, which will originate from the bill for the transposition of the European directives on tendering, will be truly the instrument to unblock the current situation, allowing public bodies to maintain, make safe and make efficient Italy’s public buildings and urban estate.

“The facility management Dans son compte rendu d’Italie, Anna Garbagna constate à quel point le secteur du facilty management entraîne la croissance du marché dans son ensemble.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 14

sector can become a real driver for Italy’s economic recovery.”

This is the message which emerged during the meeting promoted by OSSIF, Cresme and Terotec with the theme ‘facility management in Italy: public market, private market’. During the course of the meeting, Lorenzo Mattioli, president of ANIP – (the national association of cleaning companies and integrated services of FISE Confindustria) intervened.

Mattioli, in his position as spokesperson of the signing associations involved, underlined the great value of the manifesto of the property estate and urban estate service’s sector.

“For the service sector,” the president highlighted, “it is an historic moment: all the sector’s associations are united today, with precise proposals regarding the next regulation deadlines, especially the transposition of European directives on contracts and concessions.

“It is necessary”, continued Mattioli, “that the sector has rules suited to its own characteristics, especially because our companies are certainly at European level as far as quality and efficiency are concerned”.

In this scenario, which sees the service sector taking on the role of primary driver of economic and occupational development of Italy, it becomes urgent, as stated by the sector representatives attending the meeting, to create a new reference point which is directed at ministerial and governmental level - and able to guarantee specific political attention to this economic sector.

In ihrem Bericht aus Italien untersucht Anna Garbagna, in welcher Weise der Facility Management-Sektor eine treibende Kraft für das Wachstum des Marktes insgesamt ist.

Dall’Italia, la corrispondente Anna Garbagna ci informa su come il facility managment sia la chiave per la crescita del mercato nel suo insieme.

UPDATE: NETHERLANDS Current state of affairs The latest contribution from Dutch correspondent Nico Lemmens offers a brief overview of the current state of affairs in the cleaning sector.

During the last few years we have seen the introduction of the Code for Responsible Market Conduct as well as the Cleaning Quality Mark. The latter was introduced

by OSB, the Dutch association of cleaning companies. Both have become well established since their introduction. OSB lost a number of members because of the Quality Mark, but some of them have now renewed their membership. During the last few years the body has made substantial progress in improving the industry’s image and in fighting price pressure. However, it remains to be seen whether this progress is sustainable.

Prime minister Rutte’s cabinet is still alive, and so is its insourcing policy, which has been heavily criticised by the cleaning industry.

Recently, however, those critics were joined by Roel Bekker, a former secretary general in several Dutch ministries. Bekker pointed out the government’s insourcing policy is not being followed by the Dutch municipalities. They prefer social return based outsourcing. And, according to Bekker, rightly so. Insourcing will result in loss of efficiency.

Not only that - according to the coalition plans, civil servant fringe benefits will be stripped. One should not be surprised, were a next cabinet to put an end to this insourcing policy.

On July 1 2014 the Dutch senate agreed to the so-called Participation Act. That same day a proposal for a Quota Act was sent to the second chamber, the legislative part of Dutch parliament.

Both laws are about employing people with a so called ‘distance to the labour market’. Employers are required to employ a certain Notre correspondant aux Pays-Bas, Nico Lemmens, discute de la situation actuelle de ce pays concernant le Code pour la conduite responsable sur le marché, et la Marque de qualité de nettoyage.

minimum number (quota) of such people. Both acts came into effect on January 1 this year. These laws constitute a huge opportunity for the facility services sector in general and the cleaning sector in particular by delivering added value to their customers in realising the required quotas. The cleaning industry is pre-eminently qualified in creating jobs for the target group. Above all knowledge intensive client organisations will benefit.

On the purchasing front best value purchasing is gaining ground. More and more output based contracts are used. Traditional inspection is replaced by KPI based contract management. Also hospitality and social return are of increasing importance in demand specification.

Finally, more and more cleaning companies are broadening their scope. Some of them have entered the home care market, while others are broadening their facility services package. This trend has a twofold background.

In the first place, companies are trying to escape the commodity trap. Secondly, they want to satisfy the increasing demand for cost reduction and high service quality from their customers. In the end, this can only be achieved by delivering packages of integrated facility services.

Of course there will remain business for single service providers. However those companies which have the ambition to deliver integrated facility services, will ultimately have to make major organisational changes. This is because the traditional business unit model is a major impediment for delivering integrated facility services.

Der NiederlandeKorrespondent des ECJ, Nico Lemmens, diskutiert die aktuelle Situation im Hinblick auf den Kodex für verantwortungsvolles Marktverhalten und das Qualitätszeichen für Reinigung.

Il corrispondente olandese Nico Lemmens discute la situazione attuale riguardo al Codice per la Condotta Responsabile del Mercato e il Marchio di Qualità del Cleaning. (Code for Responsible Market Conduct - Cleaning Quality Mark).

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 15

UPDATE: DENMARK New Danish app prevents stress Our correspondent in Scandinavia, Petra Sjouwerman, reports on a new Danish app, developed to monitor employee wellbeing and prevent stress. One of the country’s largest cleaning companies is now using it.

Did you wake up feeling fresh and rested? Have you felt cheerful and in good spirits? These are two of the five questions the new Danish app Howdy asks employees in private and public companies. The purpose of the app: to detect employee stress at an early stage.

Once every two weeks the employees have to answer five simple questions on their smart phone. These questions test different parameters based on the so-called WHO-5 Wellbeing Index, like sleep quality, vitality and general interest in things.

It is not surprising that the cleaning industry is very interested in the results of this app.

In fact, a recent survey among cleaners carried out by Danish trade union 3F has shown that one out of every five cleaners leaves the labour market before retirement age because of stress or depression.

“This is a very serious problem,” according to a spokesperson from the Danish trade union.

One of the biggest Danish cleaning companies, Forenede Services, with 4,000 employees in Denmark, started using Howdy in January of this year.

All 150 managers from different parts of the country participate and answer the apps questions twice a month.

“We were wondering if we really could detect stress at an early stage. We kind of knew that our managers are under a lot of pressure, and we thought it could be interesting to measure the stress levels. The app has made the problem visible,” says Jens Une nouvelle appli a été introduite au Danemark pour assurer le suivi du bien-être des employés, rapporte la correspondante d’ECJ Petra Sjouverman.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 16

Nielsen, the quality manager for Forenede Services.

The managers have reacted very positively to the app. “For some of them it has been a great help. I know this because they told me themselves. They said the psychologists have intervened in time, and that is why the stress problems have not resulted in sick leave,” adds Nielsen.

Danger zone The app has been developed by the Danish Psychiatry Fund and Worklife Barometer, a Danish company specialising in the prevention of stress.

Psychologists analyse the incoming data on a daily basis and contact employees who are in the danger zone by telephone.

These employees are offered therapy sessions. Furthermore an action plan is put into place to assure the continuing wellbeing of that employee.

“Once a month, the HR department receives a report on job satisfaction levels in the different departments. The report also states the numbers of managers receiving therapy assistance, but not who. All responses are processed anonymously,” Nielsen says.

The Danish cleaning company pays one Danish krone per employee (0.13 euro) to Worklife Barometer for the use of the app, and this includes reports and therapy sessions.

“We started using Howdy only in January, but it is already a success. It could be very well possible that we, in the future, will use the app for all our employees,” says Jens Nielsen.

In Dänemark wurde eine neue App vorgestellt, mit der das Wohlbefinden der Mitarbeiter überwacht werden soll, schreibt ECJ-Korrespondentin Petra Sjouwerman.

In Danimarca è stata lanciata una nuova app progettata per monitorare il benessere dei dipendenti, come ci informa la corrispondente di ECJ Petra Sjouwerman.

UPDATE: RUSSIA Cleaners in higher education A degree programme has been launched for cleaners by a Russian university, reports Oleg Popov.

The Russian cleaning industry is relatively young. During recent years specialists from different fields have entered the cleaning market and gradually gained all the basics of the cleaning trade while practising. It took time for different courses and seminars to become available and bring with them European cleaning expertise. The unquenchable hunger for skilled personnel has forced companies to initiate their own training while developing a methodical approach to teaching what the company needs.

Until recently, in Moscow, the state-issued diploma confirming the secondary level of vocational training within cleaning was the highest level of education possible. Now however, graduates of that programme can continue their studies to obtain a bachelor’s degree level diploma at the Russian New University (RosNOU). Different curriculums will require between three and five years of study. Much attention will be dedicated to ecological safety and energy resourcepreserving technologies. Students will also be offered the opportunity to work abroad - Germany, Estonia and Holland.

The first degree programme within the cleaning industry is, without a doubt, a positive trend in the market. Our hope is that educated cleaners will shift the status of the cleaning industry professional for the better, and educated personnel will move the entire industry to a new level.

Along with the positive changes, there is also growing suspicion that graduates may never return to cleaning companies. Graduates will more than likely seek employment working for five-star hotels or in administrative departments of large companies. In those places they will find use for their new-found skills and be in En Russie, un programme aboutissant à l’obtention d’une licence en propreté industrielle a été institué, écrit notre correspodnant Oleg Popov.

high demand. True enough, it is not attractive to spend five years on one’s education only to then become a project manager within a cleaning company. In six months one can gain a level of expertise enough to manage a project, and then some skills on top. Of course academic knowledge is needed, but it provides no practical application or experience to solve problems. Theoretical knowledge and practical experience must work together.

Cleaning is, first of all, customer service, and only then it becomes technology. It is important to be capable of satisfying every need of the customer 24/7. This sort of knowledge can be learned in any hotel in the US or Europe in just three months. Cheap, practical and reliable.

Speaking of compensating the cost of education, this programme appears to have appeared at the wrong time. Crisis is not expected to affect prestigious educational establishments where the students are sure the finances and time invested in their education will not be lost and results will compensate for the expense they have incurred. After all, who will pay for education in the industry if this education is not expected to swiftly increase the student’s income?

Nevertheless, one must endure this stage of our professional education. I am sure, in the very near future, we will see saturated, succinct and practically oriented programmes that will last from six months to two years. Moreover, students will be able to enter the cleaning field in the shortest possible time. They will get knowledge of the trade and not lose the desire to develop within the industry. They will also, most importantly, begin to see the realisation of their careerrelated ambitions.

Neu in diesem Jahr in Russland ist ein Programm mit BachelorAbschluss für die Reinigungsbranche, schreibt ECJ-Korrespondent Oleg Popov.

La novità di quest’anno in Russia è un programma di diploma universitario per il settore del cleaning, come ci riferisce il corrispondente di ECJ Oleg Popov.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 17

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EFCI CONTRACT CLEANING SURVEY

The European picture The European Federation of Cleaning Industries (EFCI) has recently published its latest survey of the contract cleaning industry in Europe. All data relates to 2012 and shows a good recovery from the severe economic crisis between 2008 and 2010. Total turnover increased by 4.83 per cent over the two years 2010-2012.

For the 19th time, the European Federation of Cleaning Industries has published its annual survey on the contract cleaning industry in Europe. Data is gathered through the EFCI member associations across the EU and this year’s report features figures from the year 2012.

In that year cleaning contractors achieved a total turnover of 64,522 billion euros in the 20 European countries covered by the survey. This represents a healthy recovery from the financial and economic crisis of 2008-2010 – with net growth of 4.83 per cent between 2010-2012. This could be down to higher productivity gains and the continuous increase in market penetration. On average, annual turnover growth in the industry over the last 22 years is at 9.1 per cent.

Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK are the five largest national markets, representing around 70 per cent of total European turnover. Three of the five largest markets in Europe (UK, Italy and Spain) decreased while Germany and France registered a strong growth.

Market penetration by contract cleaning firms has been growing steadily in recent years and is now at a level of around 66

per cent, up by 1.3 per cent compared to 2010. This means 34 per cent of cleaning is still performed in-house, representing significant opportunity for further development of the sector.

Office cleaning remains by far the most important segment in terms of turnover for the contract cleaning sector (49.5 per cent), a decrease of one per cent compared to 2010. As the previous survey highlighted, the relative importance of office cleaning has continuously decreased since 2002 and dropped below 50 per cent in 2008.

The small increases in the other segments were registered in ‘shops and commercial sites’ (+1.01 per cent), as well as in ‘schools and leisure’ (+0.76 per cent) followed by ‘façade cleaning” (+0.19 per cent) and ‘hospitals’ (+0.17 per cent).

The diversification of activities towards integrated services, facilities management etc, is happening in all EU member states.

The total number of cleaning contractors in the 20 countries covered by the survey exceeded 176,900. This represents an increase of 27 per cent over two years (2010-2012), an average rise of 13.5 per cent per year. The number of companies

Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK are the five largest national markets, representing around 70 per cent of total European turnover.

Continued page 20

April/May 2015 | ECJ |19

EFCI CONTRACT CLEANING SURVEY The European picture (continued)

increased in the majority of countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Companies employing more than 500 people (about 1.36 per cent) achieve almost half of the total turnover in the industry. However, in absolute figures the cleaning sector is still very largely dominated by small companies – around 76.4 per cent of them employ fewer than 10 people.

Turnover by company increased by 1.46 per cent on average across the EU, from 437,000 euros in 2010 to 444,000 euros in 2012. This small increase is attributed to organic growth and the increase in outsourcing.

In 2012 more than 3.32 million people were employed in the cleaning industry, up from 3.317 million in 2010 – an average growth of 0.05 per cent per year. After the crisis between 2008 and 2010 many companies were forced to reduce their employee numbers in all European countries but employment is now on the up again. In fact the average annual employment growth for the industry over the last 22 years is 4.35 per cent.

Germany remains the largest employer in absolute figures (17.5 per cent of the total workforce) with an employment growth of 9.2 per cent (+48,897 employees) between 2010 and 2012. It is followed by France, the UK, Italy and Spain (all between 14.13 per cent and 10.38 per cent of the workforce). In total around 68 per cent

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 20

of the sector’s workforce is employed in those five countries.

Productivity in the industry showed a strong increase in 2012, with the average turnover per worker at 24,800 euros – a rise of 20.5 per cent compared to 2010 (20,640 euros). This figure should be regarded cautiously, however, says EFCI because it is caused mainly by data updates and new calculation methods in Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Norway.

So in reality the national situations in most countries have only changed slightly, with

only Slovenia, Belgium, Austria and Spain showing important actual increases.

In terms of work organisation, cleaning still remains an occupation predominantly performed outside the usual periods of occupation of the premises. This is particularly true for office cleaning, but also applies to commercial premises or buildings with public access. On an EU average, cleaning services are carried out either early in the morning (24 per cent) or in the late afternoon/early evening (38 per cent).

Continued page 22

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EFCI CONTRACT CLEANING SURVEY The European picture (continued) In Norway, Finland and Sweden however, daytime cleaning has become the norm and represents respectively 80 per cent, 75 per cent and 70 per cent of the total. Poland is at the fourth place with 50 per cent of cleaning services performed during the day followed by Denmark and Belgium, where it covers almost half of the total. In the rest of Europe, daytime cleaning remains limited - the average of 32 per cent is reduced to 12.7 per cent if those six countries are not taken into account in the calculation.

This illustrates the continuing reluctance of clients to accept daytime cleaning solutions. In their Joint Declaration for the Industry, the EFCI and UNI-Europa stress the benefits daytime cleaning is offering to clients, contractors and employees and La Fédération européenne du nettoyage industriel (FENI) a récemment sorti son sondage le plus récent de l’industrie de la propreté professionnelle en Europe.

Portant sur l’année 2012, les données mises en lumière témoignent d’une bonne reprise par rapport aux années de crise économique de 2008 à 2010.

Le chiffre d’affaires du secteur a progressé de 4,83 pour cent entre 2010 et 2012. L’Allemagne, la France, l’Italie, l’Espagne et le Royaume-Uni constituent les cinq marchés nationaux les plus importants.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 22

show their support to all initiatives aiming to increase daytime cleaning.

Part-time work remains the most frequent form of employment in the industry and covers 67 per cent of the workforce.

Finland, however, is one of the examples where full-time employment has taken over. In 2001, part-time work accounted for 60 per cent and this steadily decreased over the years to be stabilised at the level of just 31 per cent in 2012. Together with Poland (30 per cent), the two countries have the lowest levels of part-time work in Europe.

Traditionally women account for the majority of the workforce in cleaning, at 73 per cent of the employee total. Compared to 2010 the EU average of female employment actually decreased by one per cent.

Die European Federation of Cleaning Industries (EFCI) hat vor kurzem ihre neueste Umfrage der Vertragsreinigungsbranche in Europa veröffentlicht.

Alle Daten beziehen sich auf 2012 und zeigen eine gute Erholung von der schweren Wirtschaftskrise zwischen 2008 und 2010. Der Gesamtumsatz stieg um 4,83 Prozent gegenüber den Jahren 20102012. Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien, Spanien und Großbritannien sind die fünf größten einzelstaatlichen Märkte.

The only increases were registered in Sweden (+six per cent) and the UK (+two per cent).

It is interesting to note when looking at a longer timescale (2006-2012) that the average proportion of women in the sector has been steadily decreasing since 2006: from 77 per cent (in 2006) to 75 per cent (in 2008), to 74 per cent (in 2010) and finally to 73 per cent (in 2012).

Another characteristic of employment in the cleaning industry is a high proportion of workers from ethnic minorities or migrant workers. The EU average figure has remained stable since 2010 at 32 per cent.

•The Cleaning Industry in Europe report is available to purchase at 180 euros. Visit www.efci.eu La Federazione Europea delle Imprese del Cleaning (EFCI) ha pubblicato di recente il suo ultimissimo sondaggio sul settore del cleaning professionale in Europa. Tutti i dati si riferiscono al 2012 e mostrano una buona ripresa dopo la forte crisi economica del periodo fra il 2008 e il 2010. Il fatturato totale è aumentato del 4,83 per cento nei due anni dal 2010 al 2012. La Germania, la Francia, l’Italia, la Spagna e il Regno Unito sono i cinque mercati nazionali maggiori.

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WASHROOM HYGIENE

Trending in the toilet Automation, technology, inclusiveness, social changes – what impact are today’s key trends having on the public washroom? ECJ finds out what exactly is trending in the toilet.

Society has changed dramatically over the past few decades. The internet has revolutionised our way of life and enforced a new transparency on businesses and public facilities. Online reviews of everything from hotels and mail-order services to holidays and restaurants mean there is no longer any hiding place for sub-standard facilities. There is also a greater reliance on automation in all walks of life.

Social changes have led to an increasing acceptance of alternative lifestyles and a growing compassion for weaker members of society. So facilities for the elderly and disabled have improved and there has been increasing provision for single-parent families and transgender people.

These trends have had an impact everywhere – and the humble toilet is no exception. Gender-inclusive washrooms have been opening up all over the world and on university campuses in particular.

West Hollywood in the US has even gone so far as to ban gender-specific washrooms completely.

Parent-and-baby washrooms are replacing traditional mother-and-child facilities since it is accepted that fathers carry out more parenting duties than ever before. And automation and technological solutions are cropping up everywhere.

”Today’s consumers are becoming increasingly accustomed to high-tech solutions,” confirms SCA’s global brand innovation manager Maria Zevgren Sundberg. “Touch-free washroom systems are now popular for both hygiene and consumption-control reasons, and we are also seeing various other new types of technology entering the market.”

As an example, she quotes SCA’s own Bloe and Tork EasyCube products. Bloe is a toilet system equipped with a sensor that triggers an automatic flush when needed.

And Tork EasyCube is a service that alerts facilities staff via their smartphone when a washroom’s dispensers need refilling.

“Tork EasyCube uses technology to create the ability to see what is needed on a cleaning route,” said Zevgren Sundberg.

“It is a waste of time to check whether a dispenser needs refilling: that time could be used to clean the floor instead.

And since Tork EasyCube also provides statistics about traffic flow it allows staff to evaluate cleaning needs and optimise their operations.”

“Trends indicate that smart systems and automation will become more important in the future,” said Zevgren Sundberg.

“Connectivity is firmly on the agenda and we are seeing an increasing number of ‘internet of things’ solutions in society.

This will probably continue to have impact on washrooms as well.”

As far as social trends are concerned, she says accessibility for all washroom users – particularly the disabled and frail – is becoming increasingly important. “One of the issues we have been addressing is the pull force required when dispensing soap,” she said. “We have easy-to-use dispensing systems on all our foam and liquid dispensers that allow them to be used by small children, the elderly and people with reduced strength in their hands.”

Managing director and president of Vectair Systems Paul Wonnacott agrees that technology is having a major impact on the washroom. “Technology is spreading far and wide and customers don’t just

want it, they expect it,” he said. “Could you imagine places like Starbucks stopping its free wifi availability? Their customers would start a riot! “ He says some customers are taking online reviews more seriously than others. “For those who don’t, I would urge them to take more notice,” he said. “With the rise in social media and with so much communication going on online, we have to find ways in which to use this medium to our advantage.

“At Vectair we have a Facebook page and our community regularly interacts with one another. It is an open platform.”

He says the recent Ebola crisis has focused attention on the need for hand hygiene. “No-touch is a key buzzword at the moment when it comes to washroom trends,” said Wonnacott. “For customers concerned about touching a dispenser we have incorporated antimicrobial protection into the cover of our manual dispensers.”

Matching dispensers According to Wonnacott there is a continuing trend towards co-ordinated washrooms. “Many European countries prefer their washroom dispensers to match, although the traditional white is perhaps now on par with new offerings such as chrome and black,” he said.

“Another trend - one that has come over from Asia - is that today’s washroom systems increasingly need to be quiet and discreet. In ladies’ washrooms in particular, systems that make little noise are required since they enable females to dispose of sanitary waste discreetly.”

Managing director of GOJO Europe Mike Sullivan agrees with Wonnacott that concern for aesthetics is a hot trend. “Dispensers that look good and are easy to use – and are installed at convenient locations - play a valuable role in encouraging people to develop healthy hand hygiene habits,” he said. “The use of touch-fee technology meanwhile helps to improve hygiene levels.

“Efficacy is of course important, so Continued page 26

April/May 2015 | ECJ |25

WASHROOM HYGIENE Trending in the toilet (continued) companies should be able to prove the effectiveness of their soaps or hand rubs against germs through independent scientific testing.”

Julia Wörgötter from Hagleitner agrees that touch-free systems are increasingly being incorporated into the washroom.

“This trend for new technology is just beginning: Industry 4.0 has not entirely reached the washroom – yet,” she said.

She feels that relatively few customers have realised the importance of washroom apps and reviews. “Reviews for restaurants, hotels and recreational facilities are normal, so reviews of washrooms and public washrooms might also be normal eventually,” she said.

Touch-free options are available on all Hagleitner dispensers says Wörgötter, and she adds that sustainability is another emerging trend in the washroom. “Environmentally-friendly soaps and sustainable paper products are of growing importance.”

Group commercial director of Airdri James Clark echoes this sentiment. “Sustainable products should be accessible to everyone – those using wheelchairs, adults, children, the elderly, the partiallysighted and the hard of hearing,” he said.

“The shape, size, power or noise of some dryers can alienate people from using them, and this has implications for effective washroom hygiene.

“Our aim is to produce a range of innovative, inclusive products that accommodate the requirements of every organisation and its end-users.”

Reduce touch points Airdri has recently launched two new hand dryers: the Quest and Quazar. “Both these models were submitted to the UK Noise Abatement Society for Quiet Mark assessment,” said Clark.

Marketing vice-president at Excel Dryer William Gagnon agrees with the consensus that technology is having a significant impact. “Automatic solutions improve hygiene by reducing the number of touch points in the washroom,” he said. “This helps to prevent the spread of bacteria while also increasing efficiency through water and energy conservation.”

He says social trends are also driving Les mutations dramatiques de la société ont conduit à dépendre toujours plus de l’automatisation et de l’Internet, à multiplier le nombre des familles monoparentales mais aussi à accorder davantage de considération aux personnes handicapées. De plus, la pratique des évaluations en ligne a obligé les entreprises desservant le grand public à sans cesse améliorer leur offre. Quelles en ont été les incidences sur l’aménagement de toilettes publiques ?

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 26

changes in washroom design. “For example, we are seeing more family-friendly environments such as baby-changing stations in both men’s and women’s rooms,” he said.

He feels that online reviews are having an impact on today’s toilets. “A washroom says a lot about a facility and online reviews not only influence the public’s perception of cleanliness, but also how likely guests are to return to that facility.”

Washroom review apps And he adds that digital review platforms and apps that echo word-of-mouth feedback can extend the message for days, weeks or even months. “A wellmaintained washroom equipped with the latest technology should be top of the list for any facility manager or owner looking to improve the customer experience,” he said. “Washroom review apps are currently on our customers’ radar on a limited basis, but we expect this technology to become more popular within the next few years.”

Among the company’s high-tech offerings is a smartphone app that is currently in its final stage of development. This incorporates dual functionality for both the facility manager and Xlerator hand dryer users, says Gagnon.

“Facility managers can use the app to control the new features of Xlerator to adjust the speed and sound or turn up the heat while also controlling the infrared sensor range,” said Gagnon. “The app can also be used to troubleshoot maintenance issues and measure usage data such as the number of cycles and energy used.

“Meanwhile, washroom patrons will be able to use the app to learn about the environmental savings offered by Xlerator hand dryers versus paper towels, and share that information in an interactive format to increase awareness for sustainable solutions.”

He feels sustainability will be one of tomorrow’s key trends in commercial buildings. “Technology - including smart systems and automation - will be the catalyst for change so that facility managers can track performance and improve upon it,” he said. “Washrooms are a great place to start working with smart systems and automation to track and reduce energy Die Gesellschaft hat sich dramatisch verändert - sie verlässt sich stärker auf Automation und das Internet; es gibt mehr Familien mit einem Elternteil und eine stärkere Berücksichtigung von Behinderten. Und Online-Rezensionen bedeuten, dass Unternehmen, die der Öffentlichkeit dienen, sich in zunehmendem Maße bessern müssen. Welche Auswirkungen hat all dies auf den öffentlichen Waschraum?

and water usage - two key components of sustainable buildings and FM.” Metsä Tissue’s UK and Ireland sales director Mark Dewick agrees with other manufacturers that technology will play an increasing role in the washroom industry.

“While this includes touch-free systems, other technology is evolving too,” he said. “For example we are increasingly seeing the ability to assess the quantity of product being used and how much is left in the dispenser, with paging alerts to support this data. Variable sheet length and vandal alarms are also available while online training and mobile assistance are becoming increasingly common.”

He feels the industry - rather than end-user demand – is driving technology, however. “End-users mainly want clean, hygienic products but manufacturers are increasingly trying to find ways to deliver added value,” he said. “There should be a balance between technology and value for money in terms of washroom spend.”

According to Dewick, organisations are becoming more aware of how the washroom reflects their brand. “Online reviews and video footage are both increasingly common because mobile devices are everywhere,” he said. Metsä offers touchfree dispensers for soap, hand towels and air fresheners.

As far as social trends are concerned, Dewick believes that sustainability continues to resonate with customers while combined washroom facilities for men and women are becoming common both in bars and in new builds where space is limited.

“Aesthetics will also become increasingly important as the upturn starts to take effect and restaurants, bars and hotels begin to fight for wallet share,” he said.

“They all want their facilities to be stateof-the-art and they want their washrooms to reflect this.

“But according to research we carried out recently, cleanliness and hygiene are still the number one requirement for endusers. A beautifully designed, high-tech and well-appointed dispenser will serve no purpose if it is empty.

“Fashions come and go but the need for cleanliness and hygiene will never go away.”

La società è cambiata in modo rilevante, c’è una maggiore dipendenza dall’automazione e dall’internet; ci sono più famiglie con un genitore solo e c’è maggiore rispetto per le persone con delle disabilità.

Inoltre la presenza di recensioni on-line significa che le imprese che servono il pubblico vengono sempre più spinte a migliorare il loro operato. Che impatto ha tutto questo sulle sale da toilette pubbliche?

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PRODUCTS: WASHROOM HYGIENE

• US Pumice produit des tampons de plancher non toxiques utilisant de la ponce naturelle.

• Avec le lancement des produits SanTRAL Next Generation, Ophardt a apporté un look nouveaux à ses distributeurs en acier inoxydable pour toilettes publiques.

• EcoNatural est la gamme de papiers hygiéniques produite en Fiberpack par Lucart.

• US Pumice fertigt ungiftige Reinigungspads unter Verwendung von natürlichem Bimsstein.

• Mit der Vorstellung von SanTRAL Next Generation präsentiert Ophardt seine Waschraumspender aus Edelstahl in überarbeitetem Design.

• Bei EcoNatural handelt es sich um die Produktfamilie mit Hygienepapier aus Fiberpack von Lucart.

• La US Pumice produce tamponi di pulizia non tossici utilizzando pietra pomice naturale.

• Con il lancio di SanTRAL Next Generation, la Ophardt propone un nuovo look per i suoi dispenser in acciaio inossidabile per sale da toilette.

• EcoNatural è una linea di carta prodotta in Fiberpack dalla Lucart.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 28

Non-toxic US Pumice Company produces non-toxic cleaners under the brand name Pumie for porcelain, ceramic tile, and steel surfaces.

Pumie products are said to avoid the need for scrubbing with brushes and pads. According to the company they work on contact to effectively erase stains, grime, rust and scale from surfaces using a mild abrasive action.

The Flex-Scour flexible scrubbing screen is designed for use on curved or round surfaces and can remove rust, paint, mineral deposits, grease and carbonised food deposits. www.uspumice.com

New generation

Recycled fibres EcoNatural is a new range of tissue made of Fiberpack from Lucart Professional. Because it is made from 100 per cent recycled cellulose fibre from beverage containers, Fiberpack is totally sustainable and ecologically sound - the company says.

Ophardt Hygiene has updated its SanTRAL stainless steel washroom dispensers with the launch of Next Generation, a redesign of the locks and windows plus an upgraded optional black or silver operation lever.

Included in the range are manual and touchless soap dispensers, foam soap dispensers, disinfectant dispensers, paper towel dispensers and waste bins - all made in stainless steel.

All units feature a durable antifingerprint-coating (AFP) and there is optional powder coating of the housings. www.ophardt.com

Lucart has developed a mechanical process that separates the fibre from the material without using any hazardous substances. And the light havana colour of EcoNatural paper comes from the natural shades of wood - a characteristic of the unbleached fibre contained in the beverage containers. www.lucartprofessional.com

PRODUCTS: WASHROOM HYGIENE

For paper

Latest dryers

Hands-in

The latest paper dispenser from Kennedy Hygiene Products is the Easyroll Ellipse, a centre pull unit aimed at hospitality, food preparation and kitchen areas. It can accommodate any centre pull paper roll with a diameter of 210 mm and width of 230 mm.

The dispenser comes with a translucent cover for easy inspection of paper level and can be secured with the standard Kennedy key or converted for keyless opening. www.kennedy-hygiene.co.uk

Airdri’s Quest and Quazar are the latest models in the company’s Q range of warm air hand dryers - boasting design innovation, energy efficiency and low noise output.

Available in a variety of cover finishes the Airdri Quazar is an ultra-slim dryer with a contemporary design, suitable for facilities with limited space. The Quest, meanwhile, offers low noise level, energy efficiency and fast drying.

Both models have been awarded the international Quiet Mark. www.airdri.com

Dualflow Plus M14 is the latest ‘handsin’ hand dryer from Mediclinics, developed with the aim of making significant cost savings on every use. The company says it is hygienic, environmentally conscious and easy to maintain.

Units are made from ABS in either white or satin aluminium finish and are claimed to dry the hands in eight seconds. The absence of a heating element means energy savings, while the speed regulator on the motor helps to reduce consumption and noise level.

The surface and water tank are coated with BioCote for antimicrobial and antibacterial protection. www.mediclinics.com

Pulire preview starts on page 57

• Le dernier distributeur de serviettes en papier à retrait central Kennedy Hygiene est l’Easyroll Ellipse.

• Le Quest et le Quazar sont les modèles les plus récents de la gamme de sèche-mains Q de la société Airdri.

• Le Dualflow Plus M14 et le dernier sèche-mains à être proposé par Mediclinics, qui le présente comme étant à la fois hygiénique et écologique.

• Der neueste Papierhandtuchspender mit Mittelzug von Kennedy Hygiene Products ist der Easyroll Ellipse.

• Bei Quest und Quazar handelt es sich um die neuesten Modelle in der Produktreihe Q mit Handtrocknern von Airdri.

• Der Dualflow Plus M14 ist der neueste Handtrockner von Mediclinics – der laut eigenen Angaben sowohl hygienisch als auch umweltfreundlich ist.

• Il più nuovo dispenser di asciugamani in carta della Kennedy Hygiene Products è Easyroll Ellipse.

• Quest e Quazar sono i modelli più recenti della gamma di asciugamani Q della Airdri.

• Il modello Dualflow Plus M14 è l’asciugamani ad aria più recente prodotto dalla Mediclinics e vanta di essere igienico e che rispetta l’ambiente.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 29

PRODUCTS: WASHROOM HYGIENE

• Tork a lancé une gamme de désinfectants des mains à mousse et à gel d’alcool, proposés dans des formats divers.

• Rieke Packaging Systems produit des distributeurs pour un large éventail d’applications, y compris des liquides et des lotions épaisses.

• Les nouveau système Paradise Air Bar de la société CWS comprend une interface utilisateur offrant différentes options de réglage.

• Neu von Tork ist die Produktreihe Alcohol Hand Sanitiser, die in verschiedenen Formaten in Schaumund Gel-Ausführungen erhältlich sind.

• Rieke Packaging Systems produziert Spender für eine Vielzahl von Anwendungen, einschließlich Flüssigkeiten und dickflüssigeren Lotionen.

• Die neue Paradise Air Bar von CWS bietet eine integrierte Benutzeroberfläche zur Steuerung der verschiedenen Einstellungsoptionen.

• La novità della Tork è una gamma di sanitizzanti per le mani a base di alcool in schiuma e gel disponibili in numerosi formati.

• La Rieke Packaging Systems produce dispenser per una vasta gamma di utilizzi inclusi i liquidi e le lozioni più dense.

• Il nuovo sistema Paradise Air Bar della CWS è dotato di una interfaccia per utente integrata che offre diverse opzioni di impostazione.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 30

Hand alcohol New from Tork is a range of gel and foam alcohol hand sanitisers in various formats. Alcohol Gel Hand Sanitiser, for example, is available in a 1,000 ml bottle; a 500 ml push pump format

and in an 80 ml pocket size for personal use. It can be used in hospital wards and healthcare treatment rooms.

Also new is Tork Alcohol Foam Hand Sanitiser which is designed for use in any public area and claimed to be gentle on the hands. www.tork.co.uk

Accurate dosing Rieke offers a line of dispensers suitable for many applications and product types, includ-

ing liquids, thicker lotions and aggressive chemicals.

Said to enable accurate dosing with minimal effort are the RS3 and RS5 units. Shower proof construction prevents water ingress and a special ‘suck-back’ system can be specified that pulls product back into the nozzle.

Tamper-evident and child resistant options are also available, along with wall mounted and elbow operated versions. www.riekepackaging.com

User interface CWS says its Paradise Air Bar is the first fragrance dispenser to feature an integrated user interface offering a range of setting options.

Suitable for use in washrooms, receptions, conference rooms, spas and smoking areas, the

system targets bad smells without being oppressive, says CWS. All fragrances are made from ingredients that are not harmful to people or the environment.

The user can switch between two different fragrances at any time and intensity can be set to four different levels. And the Air Bar can also be used to create a pleasant ambience in areas which may be difficult to ventilate - not just eliminating unpleasant odours. www.cws-boco.com

PRODUCTS: WASHROOM HYGIENE

Self-cleaning

New from Pure Hold is NanoTouch Self-Cleaning Surface, an adhesive material that can be applied to many different surfaces where it destroys germs.

NanoTouch can be used on any touch point, says Pure Hold, including washroom door handles, and works using a light-powered catalytic oxidation process that oxidises organic material and kills bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Claimed to be highly durable, the material can cope with high use and routine cleaning. www.purehold.co.uk

Premium range

New in soap

Platinum Reflection is the latest range for washroom equipment from Dudley Industries, comprising soap dispensers, hand dryers, door signage and other products - manufactured

San Jamar has taken its notouch technology from towel dispensers into soap - its new Rely electronic no-touch hybrid system is sensor-activated while also incorporating a manual push cover that allows the user to access soap when the batteries are low. The dispenser cover actually has a ‘push’ icon indicator that goes on when batteries are low.

The unit can dispense foam, liquids and sanitisers. At 900 ml it is high in capacity and is easy to maintain with replaceable pumps and bulk reservoirs.

The Rely dispensing line also includes manual units. www.sanjamar.com

in high grade stainless steel and finished with a coated lacquer.

The new line is aimed at premium applications including executive washrooms, luxury hotels and modern commercial developments. www.dudleyindustries.com

• Produit nouveau de la société Pure Hold, la surface autonettoyante NanoTouch et un matériau adhésif qui peut être appliqué à diverses surfaces.

• Dudley Industries propose la nouvelle gamme Platinum Reflection d’équipements pour toilettes publiques.

• Les distributeurs électroniques de savon sans contact Rely, de la société San Jamar, passent au fonctionnement manuel lorsque leur charge de batterie tombe.

• Neu von Pure Hold ist die selbstreinigende Oberfläche NanoTouch – ein selbsthaftendes Material, dass auf einer Vielzahl verschiedener Oberflächen eingesetzt werden kann.

• Neu von Dudley Industries ist die Produktfamilie Platinum Reflection mit Waschraumgeräten.

• Rely, die hybrid-elektronischen, berührungslosen Seifenspender von San Jamar, schalten bei niedrigem Batteriestatus in manuellen Betrieb um.

• La novità della Pure Hold è il rivestimento autopulente NanoTouch, un materiale adesivo che può essere applicato a numerosi tipi di superfici.

• La novità della Dudley Industries è la linea di unità per sale da toilette Platinum Reflection.

• I dispenser di sapone ibridi, elettronici e no-touch Rely della San Jamar passano automaticamente al funzionamento manuale quando la batteria è quasi scarica.

PRODUCTS: WASHROOM HYGIENE

• ECOBreeze est un système de filtrage de l’air et de diffusion de parfum assurant le filtrage des odeurs plutôt que leur masquage.

• Ecolab a développé la gamme de solutions de nettoyage Maxx2 pour la désinfection de surfaces de toilettes publiques.

• Vendor propose les armoires à serviettes de coton et de papier IQ et Original.

No masking ECOBreeze is an air filtration and fragrance system whose manufacturer claims filters out smells rather than masking them - through a triple action system.

Sanitary clean

• Bei ECOBreeze handelt es sich um ein Luftfilterungs- und Beduftungssystem, das Gerüche herausfiltert statt sie zu verdecken.

• Ecolab hat die Produktreihe Maxx2 mit Reinigungslösungen für die Sanitärreinigung von Waschraumoberflächen entwickelt.

• Vendor bietet die Baumwoll- und Papierhandtuchspender IQ und Original.

• ECOBreeze è un sistema di filtrazione e profumazione dell’aria che filtra ed espelle i cattivi odori invece di mascherarli.

• La Ecolab ha sviluppato la gamma di soluzioni Maxx2 per la pulizia igienica delle superfici delle sale da toilette.

• La Vendor propone le unità dispenser di asciugamani in cotone e in carta IQ e Original.

the air clean and fragrant.

The manufacturer says servicing of ECOBreeze is quick, easy and can be carried out as part a cleaning schedule. And it incorporates washable dust filter, recyclable fragrance container and non-hazardous carbon filter. www.washroom-wizard.co.uk

Ecolab’s new MAXX2 range of cleaning solutions incorporates a number of products for sanitary cleaning of washroom surfaces, floors and glass areas.

Solutions are CLP-compliant, says Ecolab, so there is no need for extra safety training, separate storage, on-site personal First the unit draws air through a dust filter to remove all airborne dust particulate; air is then directed through a carbon filter to extract smelly organic molecules. Finally the clean air passes over a wicking system that releases a fragrance leaving

protective equipment (PPE) and safety manuals. And most are used in low concentration.

Colour coding makes for clear usage identification. www.ecolab.com

Clean towels Vendor’s towel cabinets IQ and Original dispense clean paper towels and come in paper and cotton versions, and with notouch or pull system operation.

The company also produces a folded towel dispenser with separate paper hand towels

or an Autocut dispenser which transfers paper hand towels automatically. A unit for washable, cotton roller towels is also available. www.vendorinternational.com

Range 6 floor pads

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Our Range 6 floor pads line have been designed to satisfy the professional cleaning world’s demand, with a more open structure for the most efficient abrasive action.

The polyester fiber construction ensures durability and elasticity, making it an indispensable product for the cleaning world. Fibratesco Range 6 line includes a new set of floor pads to be used with medium and high speed machines to perform a wide variety of treatments on any surface.

Top quality floor pads. Directly from the manufacturer.

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INTERVIEW

“It’s all about the people” ECJ editor Michelle Marshall speaks exclusively to Henrik Andersen, chief operating officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at ISS Group about the workforce challenges facing the cleaning sector, and also the many opportunities that exist to attract and retain new employees.

“I believe we are now well recognised by industry and government worldwide as an extremely important employer.”

“Every success we have is founded in our employees,” says Henrik Andersen, group chief operating officer (coo) for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at ISS Group – the Denmark-based leader in the provision of facility services worldwide.

Founded in Copenhagen in 1901, the company currently has around 518,000 employees and local operations in more than 50 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America and Pacific.

Andersen has been in his current position since March 2013, having joined ISS in 2000 and worked in roles including group cfo, ISS UK country manager and ISS UK cfo. As a senior management figure in a company that has made very clear commitments to the health and wellbeing of its workforce, Andersen takes his responsibilities for employees very seriously. “We want to be the preferred employer in the industry,” he says, “which is easy to say but much more challenging to achieve, particularly on a global scale.

“It’s about supporting not just the employee but also their family,” Andersen continues. “There is a life cycle involved in every staff member – recruiting, training and development, then progressing and remaining with us or exiting the business.

The really encouraging thing is that we sometimes see people leaving the company after 40 or 50 years with us.”

Employee engagement is a core part of the ISS strategy – PwC carried out a survey of employees for the company in 2010 which revealed the most important factor for them was that leaders care for the entire person and treat them as a human being rather than simply a resource.

Other key points were health, safety and working environment; correct pay on time; and job opportunities.

Andersen explains why a survey of this kind is so important. “For many of our people this could be the first job in a new country for them and they are simply not used to being asked for their opinion, or being heard. And when we had the results they were closely evaluated with our site managers, the objective being to get to the root cause of any problems which may have arisen, for example.”

Andersen doesn’t believe this level of engagement is happening across the industry in general. “However we feel it is our responsibility to help in as many ways as possible, particularly if people are settling into a new country and this is their first job. A new job in a new country is a very big step for them and they don’t always know about the language, the values, or how to set up a bank account for example. These are the things we can help with.

Continued page 36

April/May 2015 | ECJ |35

INTERVIEW “It’s all about the people” (continued) “However, there are still countries where there are ‘alternative’ ways of entering, through illegal documents for example. We cannot rectify that as ISS and we will not use illegal labour, but we can be involved in improving overall conditions and we will play our part.”

The industry as a whole has improved tremendously in the last 10 years with regard to employee relations, in Andersen’s view, “and the three parties of trade unions, governments and private companies are working together much better.

Relationships between trade unions and employers are certainly healthier too”.

The world is facing significant demographic change because of the ageing population and Andersen evaluates how this may affect employment in the sector.

“Twenty to 30 years from now the ageing population will be higher and the working population will be lower. You might compare it to the years before the financial crisis. In 2005-2007, we were running at a much lower unemployment rate in Europe compared to today, so we saw a different mobilisation and flexibility of the workforce.

“The recession then came, and many workers returned to their home countries as a result,” he continues. “However, we shouldn’t worry too much about this factor, because there will still be many people across Europe with an interest in moving abroad to get a job.

“The world has become smaller and it is now much easier to travel and to work across different countries. As a company we see this as a great opportunity, and it will continue to happen I believe. In Europe alone we have tremendous possibilities across borders.”

The profile of the service sector is changing too, Andersen believes, which could bring a new generation of personnel.

“In the early 2000s in Europe, for example, we saw a young generation that was not so interested in entering the service industry. Now, we observe they are generally much more engaged with the service sector because they realise there are plenty of career opportunities to go into supervisor or management roles if that is what they are looking for.

“This is happening because our clients Henrik Andersen, chef d’exploitation pour la région EMEA du prestataire mondial de multi-services ISS, fait part de ses vues sur les problèmes de main-d’œuvre auquel le secteur de la propreté est confronté. Il souligne l’importance d’un engagement de la part des employés et de la poursuite des efforts du secteur pour se professionnaliser.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 36

are changing, and they are becoming more international in nature. The view of existing employees, and those looking into the sector for jobs, has altered. And we also must not underestimate the emotional connection that often takes place between employee and employer. This relationship is also improving.”

One of ISS’ key objectives now is to make the job functions more flexible, which could lead to employing more of its staff on a full-time basis. “Jobs are no longer always purely cleaning and janitorial tasks carried out for a few hours at different sites,” Andersen explains. “We have more full-time positions and an operative could also be involved in hospitality, property services and handyman tasks for example.

“We as employers and colleagues must always see the cleaning assistant as a person who helps us and works hard - and as an individual.”

“Many of those tasks do not require certification, however we offer the relevant training to make the operative competent in what we are asking them to do,” he continues. “I would estimate that 70 per cent of tasks can be carried out by well-trained members of staff, with 30 per cent requiring actual certification.”

The benefits of this way of working are numerous, says Andersen. “Operatives have the opportunity to earn more, and to form a stronger link with the client and with their employers. They have more variation in their day-to-day job and as a result they feel more self-esteem and more in control of their own destiny.”

There are still areas, however, where the industry as a whole must continue to raise its standards says Andersen. “There are unfortunately still examples of companies where people are exploited, and where there is an illegal trade in employees. We Henrik Andersen, Group Chief Operating Officer EMEA beim globalen Gebäudetechnikunternehmen ISS, teilt seine Ansichten zu Herausforderungen, mit denen sich das Personal der Reinigungsbranche insgesamt konfrontiert sieht. Er betont, wie wichtig die Einbeziehung der Mitarbeiter und das kontinuierliche Bestreben der Branche nach mehr Professionalismus ist.

all have to improve, even though we are up against strong negative forces.”

ISS boasts a zero tolerance approach to illegal practices within its company, on a global level. “We have over 500,000 employees around the world,” Andersen explains, “so there might be isolated examples of violations, but if we find any illegal activity we deal with it immediately.

We also offer employees the facility to report such incidents to us – to whistleblow in effect.”

Other key drivers for ISS are outputdriven cleaning, and the developing trend towards intelligent buildings. “In this respect our employees need to have relevant data so we have developed an app which any of them can download to their smart phone, tablet or other device. There they can receive their tasks and updates in realtime, read company news, other useful information on new methods, etc – it’s a work-driven tool for them.

“We can never replace face-to-face communication at site level but this is a complementary tool to that.”

Andersen is confident of the crucial role technology has to play in the future of the industry. “Of course ultimately the service we offer has to be delivered in person, by an engaged employee with a smile on their face. But there is no doubt technology can make us feel more engaged. And this is where the journey for the service industry is really interesting. “ While acknowledging that cleaning is now a much more openly discussed area of service and generally it has improved its profile among clients, Andersen believes the perception of the staff working as cleaners can still be better. “We as employers and colleagues must always see the cleaning assistant as a person who helps us and works hard in order to do that. We must look more closely at that person as an individual. They are working to create a better life for themselves, and often for their family.”

He concludes: “As an industry we are offering jobs that are engaging and interesting and I believe we are now well recognised by industry and government worldwide as an extremely important employer - and we are certainly one of the best sectors at promoting integration.”

Henrik Andersen, direttore operativo EMEA per il fornitore mondiale di servizi ISS, espone il suo punto di vista sulle sfide dei posti di lavoro che il settore del cleaning nel suo insieme deve affrontare. Enfatizza l’importanza del coinvolgimento dei dipendenti e la professionalità sempre crescente del settore.

GO FURTHER With Pacvac’s cordless back pack vacuum

www.pacvac.com

FAÇADE MAINTENANCE

Frequent care essential What are the hardest types of dirt to clean away from the façade of a building? Which types of walls are most difficult to treat, and is height a major problem? Writing exclusively for ECJ, Mark Styles managing director of cleaning and restoration company ThomannHanry - looks at the toughest façade cleaning challenges.

The façade of a building is too often left to battle with the elements, with most building owners and facilities managers opting to look after the interiors of their building rather than the exterior.

Stone is often thought to be timeless.

Underground in the conditions of heat and pressure that created it, stone survives for millions of years. Brought to the surface it comes under attack both from the elements and from man. Stone therefore needs to be protected and maintained instead of being assumed to last forever.

Nevertheless there is a potential conflict between whether any adhering dirt or weathered veneer is in equilibrium with the environment and should not be upset, and whether the build-up of dirt that may lead to breakdown of the stone should be prevented.

It would appear however that much of the negativity surrounding the cleaning of natural stone façades is the result of poor research and improper selection of cleaning techniques. If cleaning is not undertaken at all or too late, stone may have suffered a level of irreversible delay.

Mark Styles, managing director of Thomann-Hanry, a UK-based cleaning and restoration company for the exterior of stone buildings, comments: “The façade of a building is too often left to battle with the elements, with most building owners and facilities managers opting to look after the interiors of their building rather than the exterior. We’ve worked on a vast array of projects where the build-up of dirt has caused a building’s material to become almost unrecognisable, most commonly found to be caused by a 24/7 city lifestyle and the heavy pollution this environment creates.”

The primary concern is to prevent dirt build-up, principally from airborne particulates that may contain a range of potentially problematic materials that can react with the stone and reduce its life. Regular cleaning will help to identify areas where there is above normal build-up of dirt and salts that may be indicative of more farreaching problems which if rectified at an early stage, may have considerable cost benefits in the longer term.

Damp areas are particularly likely to attract dirt, especially in a wet climate

and can be identified as a result of a clean if not already apparent. Thick layers of grime can retain water against or within masonry resulting in increased salt cycling in the masonry and accelerated deterioration, a particular problem with north facing façades. If left untreated permanent staining can occur which can be near impossible to remove.

The first and most important step to be taken before beginning any masonry clean is to identify the masonry. When dealing with stone, it is important to select a cleaning method best suited for the kind of stone – that is, one that will not dissolve or etch it. It is essential that the generic stone be identified, ie, whether it is limestone, marble, sandstone, or granite because of the differing properties of porosity, solubility and hardness, and mineralogical composition. It is these properties that determine which cleaning methods should be used without adversely affecting the stone.

Most easy to treat “There isn’t really a ‘hard’ type of dirt to clean” advises Styles “The exact composition of dirt will vary according to the location of a building – one in an urban, or heavily industrial area, is likely to exhibit a completely different type of soiling from a building in a rural or agricultural area.

The nature of our business sees us work predominately within city centres, so the main type of dirt we see results from heavy vehicular and human traffic common with highly populated areas.”

“Most types of façades are normally quite easy to treat, with the nature of our scaffold-free system allowing us to arrive on site and get up and running with two hours. The main difficulties come when dirt or soiling includes disfiguring pollutant or sulfate crusts, which usually build up in sheltered or protected areas not regularly washed by the natural action of rain. They are particularly common under cornices, window sills, or other projecting decorative features - common with buildContinued page 40

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 39

FAÇADE MAINTENANCE Frequent care essential (continued) ings in London - and if left for some time untreated, the removal process can sometimes involve a loss of a small amount of stone resulting in further costs and issues to building owners alike.”

Another concern for many is problems with working at height. As ‘falls from height’ remains one of the most common causes of fatalities and major injuries in the construction industry today, with more than five incidents every day, the task of ensuring a spotless result can see a cleaning operation venture to the very top of a building. “In the building cleaning industry today, the use of scaffold is largely avoidable bringing huge benefits to the safety of workers who can instead work from the more secure environment of an enclosed cabin. With frequent incidents, the reassurance of cleaning a building without the use of scaffold is appealing to the workforce as well as the proprietor,” comments Styles.

In addition to the safety implications, avoiding unsightly scaffold when exterior cleaning works take place ensures business can run as usual, minimising loss of trade, maximising profit potential and maintaining an ‘as normal’ functionality, whatever the business - especially beneficial to those in retail or hospitality trade.

Lack of scaffold also ensures vastly improved security during the operational period – a particular benefit to sectors where security is paramount such as banks or hotels.

Mark Styles continues: “When considering an exterior clean, using a system that does not require the use of scaffold, such as our nonabrasive Façade Gommage solution, is a huge benefit not only to the safety of workers but to the functioning business as works take place. Not only do we have a number of high profile banks and hotels as clients but interestingly many leading property companies – Land Securities, Grosvenor Estates to name a couple – have chosen the scaffold-free technique when cleaning their own buildings, which has to be the best endorsement going scaffold-free can get.”

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 40

FAÇADE MAINTENANCE Cleaning and restoration is undertaken from a cabin fixed to a hydraulic boom which methodically travels up and down the building. The Façade Gommage formula uses an ultra-fine, nonabrasive cleaning powder, softer than the masonry surfaces being cleaned but strong enough to weaken dirt without causing damage.

Once removed, the dirt is collected and recycled on completion.

But what happens once the clean has been completed? “The challenge of cleaning away dirt from a façade of a building isn’t the only tough obstacle to overcome.

It’s about looking ahead and ensuring the surface material doesn’t end up in the same situation later down the line,” advises Mark Styles. “In mainland Europe almost every tender for façade cleaning includes a requirement to apply surface protection, even on national monuments, but the UK seems to be lagging behind in adopting impregnation products which help protect buildings and keep them clean.

“The main obstacle to widespread use of products is lack of information and poor experiences with the previous generation of products which tended to be silicone-based and stopped surfaces from breathing. We’ve changed perspectives on this with Aqua Fend, our surface protection formula that has seen major

landowners such as Land Securities and Great Portland Estates protecting their investments and prolonging the longevity of an exterior clean via this option.”

Such discoveries may also be indicative of more far-reaching problems that, if rectified at an early stage, may have considerable cost benefits in the longer term. The removal of a seedling for example may prevent later damage from tree root growth and considerable disturbance to masonry, while dirt and staining may obscure evidence of structural failures in the masonry that could lead to eventual significant failures, for example stone fall-

ing onto adjacent public walkways.

The key to cleaning natural stone façades is a combination of minimum impact and great care and attention.

Advances in understanding stone and cleaning technologies along with the greater ease of access, have meant there are now generally far fewer issues arising from the various cleaning techniques.

Building owners should therefore be considering regular cleaning maintenance and surface protection products rather than leaving the façades to the lottery of the elements. www.cleanbuildings.co.uk

Quelles sont les salissures les plus tenaces à éliminer des façades de bâtiments ? Quels sont les types de murs les plus difficiles à traiter, et la hauteur présente-t-elle un problème majeur ? ECJ se penche sur les défis les plus rudes du nettoyage de façades.

Welche Arten von Schmutz sind am schwierigsten von einer Gebäudefassade zu entfernen?

Welche Wandarten sind am schwierigsten zu behandeln, und stellt Höhe ein großes Problem dar? Das ECJ betrachtet die härtesten Herausforderungen bei der Fassadenreinigung.

Quali sono le tipologie di sporco più difficili da pulire dalle facciate degli edifici? Quali tipologie di muro sono le più difficili da trattare, e le altezze sono il problema maggiore? ECJ prende in esame le sfide più difficili nella pulizia delle facciate.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 41

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FLOOR POLISHING

Don’t be floored by polishing Can a polished floor be kept in tiptop condition without the need for a complex regime involving scrubbing, recoating and stripping? And are shiny floors even a sought-after commodity in facilities these days? We ask floorcare manufacturers these questions and find out about their simplest solutions for shiny floors.

“A bright shine on a hard floor in an office, airport or department store will enhance the image of the facility while creating an impression of cleanliness.”

A polished floor in a building or facility creates the impression of cleanliness and care. But maintaining that floor in its shiny, newly-polished state can be hard work. The floor will have to be repeatedly stripped and refinished, and also meticulously maintained in order to keep that high gloss. Floor maintenance is expensive both in terms of products used and the labour required. And the fact any stripping or refinishing work will put the floor out of action adds to the overall inconvenience and cost.

Some floors are actually supplied readycoated with an integrated protective layer.

These include a PU layer – a polyurethane wear coat – which is applied to the floor during manufacture. This typically wears away after between two and five years and will then need replacing with a polish.

Alternatively, customers can opt for a floor with a PUR layer, an integrated polyurethane-based protection which will be guaranteed by most manufacturers to last a floor’s lifetime.

Some customers may choose to leave their floors unpolished completely, and simply clean them regularly with a scrubber dryer. So, are polished floors losing their shine in the customer’s eyes? Are there any viable shortcuts to floor polishing, and what do manufacturers advise as the easiest and best way of maintaining a polished floor surface?

KGS Diamond’s floor maintenance regime is the four-step Flexis system says floor division product manager Johnny van Leusen. This comprises a coarse red pad for heavy-duty surface renovation; a blue pad for deep cleaning; a fine yellow pad for daily polishing and the fine green Flexis pad for superior polishing.

However van Leusen says the green Flexis pad can be used on its own as a floor care ‘shortcut’. “Our green Flexis pad is particularly fine and will leave a high shine when used wet or dry,” he said. “But the floor needs to have been treated and should also be in a good condition for the operator to be able to work only with the

Flexis green pad. When it has reached this state, you will simply be maintaining your floor. “ According to van Leusen, demand for high-gloss floors is unlikely to diminish in the short term. “Customers will keep looking for beautiful floors that have a matt polish or a high shine, “ he said. “Hygiene and cleanliness are two very important factors that people will continue to value.”

He has observed no trend towards floors supplied with a built-in polished layer. “Even if customers were to opt for one of these, they would still face the same problem after three to five years when the polished layer would need to be restored,” he said.

Van Leusen feels that a rigorous floor maintenance regime is the only real way of ensuring a long-lasting floor finish. “If a polished floor is not maintained properly, it will quickly become damaged and will be impossible to clean or maintain. You will then need to restore it using aggressive tools, which will require more work and a consequent loss of time and money.

“Customers are not put off by the complexity of a good floor polishing system: on the contrary, they find it to be a plus since a high shine will enhance the style and look of the floor.”

Bio-Productions’ national sales manager James Brough concedes floor maintenance can be time-consuming and expensive. “Most professional floor care companies have a range of products under the heading of ‘floor polishes’ that cover a multitude of acrylic polishes, high-solids emulsions, wet-look polishes, underseals and polyurethane emulsions,” he said.

“But using one product to clean the floor and then another to maintain the gloss is time-consuming and labour-intensive.

And many buildings are not suited to this periodic stripping and resealing process.”

Bio-Productions claims to have come up with a solution in the form of its Supercare product. “This is a ‘one shot product’ that can be used to clean a floor and also Continued page 44

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 43

FLOOR POLISHING Don’t be floored by polishing (continued) to revive the polish by mopping, scrubber drying or spray cleaning,” said Brough.

“It can also be used neat in place of a floor polish.”

He says two or three coats of Supercare should initially be applied to the floor in neat form. “The following day the floor can be cleaned as usual using a one per cent solution. The floor can then be buffed.”

Tim Copner - 3M’s market development manager for the company’s commercial cleaning portfolio – says there are three important stages to any floor care regime.

“These are restoration, protection and maintenance – and if you’re looking for a high shine, the most important step is the maintenance stage,” he said.

“You can put a great shine on any floor but unless you maintain that shine, it will fade. However, protecting the floor will enable you to maintain the shine for longer.

If you don’t start from a good position you can only achieve a certain level of shine: eventually some degree of restoration will be needed.”

He says a good floor care system can be adapted to be highly cost-effective according to the customer’s expectations. “Ideally floor care should be a three-step process,

but the supplier can tailor the solution into a two step or even a one-step regime.

There are shortcuts, but the customer will pay for them in terms of the shine.” Copner claims that the company’s High Shine floor pads, launched last year, can provide a single-pad maintenance solution.

Growing trend According to Copner, many customers still prefer to have high-gloss floors. “The trend is actually growing in the retail sector and in transport environments such as airports,” he said. “Facilities are increasingly striving to enhance the customer experience, and a sparkly floor will achieve this aim in facilities such as airports and stores.

Demand for high gloss is still stronger in the US but it is growing in Europe.”

He adds that built-in floor protection layers tend to be encountered more in plastic and linoleum floors than in wooden surfaces. “They provide you with a good protective start, but you will need to maintain the floor because the protective layer will only last for a relatively short time,” he said. “We have not seen any product that is completely maintenance-free - all hard floors need maintenance.”

By contrast, Nilfisk-Advance’s floor care group product manager Anders Sandstrom says he has perceived an increased take-up of floors with a built-in polished layer. “While there are many products and solutions on the market that will preserve coated floors and extend their life, customers often choose a material they don’t need to coat from the start,” he said.

In contrast to Copner, Sandstrom feels that a high gloss finish is no longer desired by every customer. “It is true that many customers still require a high shine on their hard floors because they think that if a floor is shiny, it will also be clean and this will provide visitors with a good impression,” he concedes. “But it does depend on the country.”

Nilfisk-Advance offers various lowspeed, high-speed and dual-speed machines for a range of polishing needs.

According to Sandstrom shortcuts are possible – but these are dependant on the customer’s expectations.

“Polishing pads provide a chemical-free way to gain a better shine while reducing mopping friction,” he said. “Depending on the level of shine to be achieved, this procedure can be made to be more or

FLOOR POLISHING less complex. But it is important before you start to understand the customer’s expectations about the result depending on the location and the traffic on the floor in question.”

Sandstrom says floors can be quickly damaged if the wrong machine, pads or products are used – and also if the cleaner fails to follow the instructions relating to both the floor and the cleaning equipment.

“The main point is to use a detergent that is in line with the floor polish and to follow the machine maintenance guide,” he said. “The misuse of the right machine, pad or chemical product will destroy the floor in a very short time.

“A properly-maintained coat will last many years depending on traffic and daily cleaning. But it always takes a skilled eye to know what to do when. For example, Lustrage, brossage, revêtement, décapage, revernissage et entretien - un bon régime de polissage des sols appelle à des différentes étapes, et le processus peut être coûteux en temps et en argent. Des fabricants de produits de nettoyage des planchers nous expliquent les mesures à prendre pour maintenir un parquet dans un état parfait.

stripping before recoating can be carried out these days with a scrubber dryer, and this will speed up the job when large areas need to be treated.”

Costs driven up He admits that stripping before recoating will drive up the total costs of the operation. “Floors that are protected by floor polish undoubtedly require a considerably higher maintenance input than a floor that is left untreated,” said Sandstrom. “To a cleaning service provider this means more labour and therefore more cost. But there are also many positives to having a high gloss finish on the floor. Light savings is one important advantage since the coat will reflect the light and allow the customer to reduce their lighting bills which will lead to energy savings.

Polieren, scheuern, neu beschichten, entlacken, nachbearbeiten und pflegen – ein wirkungsvolles Bodenpoliersystem umfasst viele verschiedene Stufen, und der gesamte Prozess kann langwierig und teuer sein. Hersteller von Bodenpflegeprodukten erläutern die einfacheren Schritte, mit deren Hilfe der erstklassige Zustand eines Bodens erhalten bleiben kann.

“A bright shine on a hard floor in an office, airport or department store will also enhance the image of the facility while creating an impression of cleanliness. And a well-maintained floor will be tough and durable, even in high footfall areas.”

Floors that are not protected - and that are frequently cleaned in an abrasive manner - are likely to become increasingly porous over time, he said. “This makes them incrementally more difficult to maintain while also being unattractive aesthetically.

“Building owners and managers should be prepared to weigh up the life cycle cleaning and maintenance costs of an existing floor versus the purchase and installation of a new one - particularly when this requirement could be as frequent an occurrence as once in every five to 10 years,” he said.

Lucidare, pulire a fondo, ri-applicare le finiture, decerare, applicare le cere e fare la manutenzione – un regime di lucidatura efficace dei pavimenti implica numerosi stadi diversi e l’intero procedimento può richiedere molto tempo e può essere costoso.

I produttori di prodotti per la cura dei pavimenti ci illustrano le semplici fasi che ci possono essere di aiuto per mantenere un pavimento in condizioni perfette.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 45

PRODUCTS: FLOOR POLISHING

Three-stage Diversey Care says hard floors can be treated in three stages with its TASKI Jontec system.

First the surface is prepared for polish adhesion with solvented floor strippers TASKI Jontec No 1 and TASKI Jontec Prostrip.

The floor must then be protected in order to make maintenance more cost effective - whether it’s a matt or gloss finish. For that there is Jontec Eternum high gloss emulsion.

For maintaining appearance and minimising polish reapplication Jontec 300 Pur-Eco is a generic daily cleaner available in various packaging options. www.diversey.com

Large areas The Kärcher BDP 50/2000 RS step-on battery floor polisher • Le programme de soins de planchers Taski Jontec de Diversey Care rassemble tous les produits requis pour préparer, protéger et maintenir.

• La Kärcher BDP 50/2000 RS, une polisseuse à conducteur debout, combine la maniabilité de machines accompagnées et la performance de machines autoportées.

• La NuShine est la dernière adjonction à la gamme Hurricane des polisseuses de plancher Numatic, et fonctionne à de grandes vitesses de rotation.

• La gamme Maxx2 d’Ecolab comprend un certain nombre de produits performants pour l’entretien des planchers.

• Das Bodenpflegeprogramm Taski Jontec von Diversey Care umfasst alle Produkte, die zum Vorbereiten, Schützen und Pflegen erforderlich sind.

• Der Polierautomat zum Aufstehen Kärcher BDP 50/2000 RS kombiniert die Manövrierfähigkeit einer handgeführten Maschine mit der Leistung einer Aufsitzmaschine.

• Beim NuShine handelt es sich um den neuesten Zugang in der Produktreihe mit HurricanePoliermaschinen von Numatic, die höhere Poliergeschwindigkeiten bietet.

• Die Produktreihe Maxx2 von Ecolab umfasst einige sehr leistungsfähige Bodenpflegeprodukte.

• Il programma per la cura dei pavimenti Taski Jontec della Diversey Care incorpora tutti i prodotti necessari per la preparazione, la protezione e la manutenzione.

• La lucidatrice per pavimenti Kärcher BDP 50/2000 RS con pedana abbina la manovrabilità delle macchine con uomo a terra e le prestazioni delle macchine con operatore a bordo.

• Il modello NuShine è la più recente aggiunta alla gamma di lucidatrici per pavimenti Hurricane della Numatic che funziona a una più elevata velocità di levigatura.

• La gamma Maxx2 prodotta dalla Ecolab include numerosi prodotti ad alto rendimento per la manutenzione dei pavimenti.

is designed to combine the manoeuvrability of push-along machines with the area performance of ride-on models.

The ultra high speed machine can be used on surfaces such as natural stone, PVC, linoleum or parquet. Turning circle is 130

cm, making it suitable for use in small spaces, and the working width of 510 mm makes it capable of polishing up to 2,250 square metres per hour.

As the machine moves forward the operator stands on a running board so has a good view of the area to be cleaned immediately in front. www.karcher.com

Higher speeds Numatic’s Hurricane range of floor care equipment is designed to perform in the most arduous of conditions. The NuShine is a new addition developed for maximum performance at higher speeds.

NuShine is compact and manoeuvrable, says Numatic, and has complete directional control which makes for a consistently high standard of finish. www.numatic.co.uk

Prolong life In order to maintain appearance and prolong floor life Ecolab has developed the MAXX2 system of products which are non-CLP classified.

MAXX Isi2, for example, is an all-round floor finisher which contains a new generation of polymers. Its smooth protective film minimises dirt adhesion and enhances floor appearance while also offering resistance to scuffs, marks and traffic dirt.

For stripping of old layers there is MAXX Forte2 - suitable for stripping linoleum and natural rubber floors as well as for cleaning natural and artificial stone floors. www.ecolab.com

PRODUCTS: FLOOR POLISHING

Smooth burnish

High gloss

Productive

Nilfisk has updated its BU800 battery burnisher with an easier-to-use design for smoother operation.

With its double-pivot pad driver design, the BU800 burnishing pad stays in alignment and allows the pad to follow the floor surface, leaving a more consistent gloss.

Adding to the ease of use is the self-lowering burnishing deck when the palm switches on the handle are activated, the burnishing deck automatically lowers to the floor. When the palm switches are released, the deck automatically returns to a raised position. These simple controls also minimise operator training time, says Nilfisk. www.nilfisk.com

The B5 and B7 are Tennant’s battery-powered walk-behind burnishers, which the company claims are ultra quiet with propane-like performance.

The Orbis UHS 1500 from Truvox International is an ultra high speed singledisk burnisher designed for productivity in large areas. Its straight–line operation makes it suitable for locations such as hospitals and shopping centres.

Available in 43 or 50 cm working widths it can operate on a variety of surfaces including wood/parquet, terrazzo, granite, marble, resilient/Pirelli and vinyl.

The low-profile casing of the Orbis UHS 1500 has a builtin floating pad, ensuring full contact with the floor. A centre guide wheel allows up-to-theedge burnishing. There is an integrated folding handle and a battery version is available. www.truvox.com

Features include consistent down pressure and pad speed; low sound level (as low as 63 dBA); standard active dust control with HEPA filtration for optimum indoor air quality; operator ergonomic and safety; and simple operation. www.tennantco.com

Next edition of ECJ - June/July

• Nilfisk a actualisé sa lustreuse à batterie BU800 pour la rendre plus douce de marche et produire un lustrage plus régulier.

• Tennant propose les lustreuses accompagnées B5 et B7 à batterie lithium-ion.

• Proposées en largeurs de travail de 43 ou 50 cm, les lustreuses à disque simple Orbis UHS 1500 viennent s’ajouter à l’assortiment Truvox.

• Nilfisk hat das akkubetriebene Poliergerät BU800 aktualisiert, um den Betrieb ruhiger und den Glanz einheitlicher zu machen.

• Tennant bietet die batteriebetriebenen, handgeführten Poliergeräte B5 und B7.

• Die Einscheiben-Poliermaschine Orbis UHS 1500 von Truvox ist in Arbeitsbreiten von 43 oder 50 cm erhältlich.

• La Nilfisk ha rimodernato la sua levigatrice per pavimenti a batteria BU800 per rendere le operazioni più semplici e i risultati di lucidatura più costanti.

• La Tennant propone le lucidatrici ad alta velocità alimentate a batteria e con operatore al seguito B5 e B7.

• La lucidatrice ad alta velocità monodisco prodotta dalla Truvox Orbis UHS 1500 è disponibile con larghezze di lavoro di 43 o 50 cm.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 47

CASE STUDY

Laundering for cleanrooms CWS-boco is one of the leading international service providers of washroom hygiene, matting, workwear and textile solutions.

The company’s headquarters is in Germany and it has facilities in 18 countries. In September of last year it opened its latest cleanroom laundry in Heidenheim, Germany and ECJ editor Michelle Marshall visited the facility to find out about the very demanding requirements of running such a service for clients.

“When we are serving customers in such precise and demanding industries, this level of trust in our procedures is key.”

In many of today’s high-tech industries – pharmaceuticals and electronics for example – goods can only be produced under very special conditions, cleanroom conditions. A cleanroom is a controlled environment that has a low level of pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapours.

The controlled level of contamination is specified by the number of particles per cubic metre at a specified particle size.

Those people working in cleanrooms must wear specific workwear, often made from particular fabrics. For example, no cotton is used and often garments are made of 98 per cent polyester and two per cent anti-static material.

CWS-boco offers all aspects of the workwear service to this and many other industries – through this side of the business the company is involved in the development of fabrics and garments, it owns them all and rents them out to the customer. All clothes regularly come back to one of the company’s own laundries for washing and drying, before being delivered back to the wearer.

At the Heidenheim site, where the most recent cleanroom laundry was built, 25,000 garments of all kinds are laundered every day. Those that must be handled under cleanroom conditions are collected by CWS vans and brought back to the facility in aluminium boxes – all clothes are put inside them immediately after leaving the cleanroom.

Jan Ulrich, who is responsible for the Heidenheim laundry, explains why conditions are so tightly controlled. “Bodies shed skin particles continuously and cleanroom clothes keep those in – so protecting the product and the cleanroom.

Those clothes must be washed under cleanroom conditions because every time it is worn, that garment is contaminated.”

Each piece of clothing is scanned as it arrives and a batch number assigned to it so it can be traced at every stage of the process. Automatic counting of each batch means the CWS operative does not have

to do it – preventing machine overload.

The CWS software also gives a cycle count because some garments can be laundered more times than others.

A sticker is attached to each batch and the operative then checks for particular customer requirements in terms of ISO standard required (the recognised system for levels of cleanroom and associated controlled environments), washing, packaging and sorting.

Garment separation The trolley is then taken to the 80 kg machine, which is loaded to 70 per cent of capacity. The stainless steel drum is divided in order to enable separation of garments. “We never mix customer loads,” Ulrich explains. “Even if one load is only 10 kg it goes into the machine alone.”

The water used in the cleanroom washing machines is always fresh, there is no water recovery in this area, and it has been treated in advance to ensure it has low particulate levels. After treating it is softened and deionised.

A main wash is done at 60°C, with four rinses to remove all detergents and particles. “Large amounts of water are needed for this part of the process,” points out Ulrich. And sometimes a 40°C pre-wash is required. Only specially filtered chemicals can be used in these washes, and the detergent used within the cleanroom is also an approved formulation.

The washing machine is unloaded at the back, where cleanroom conditions are in place and the airflow is stringently controlled. Ulrich explains: “Cleanrooms must incorporate over-air pressure – which is air flow from above – because as people move they still shed particles and some particles will inevitably come out of the garment. Cleanroom air presses those particles down so they cannot contaminate the room.”

CWS employees enter the cleanroom over special mats before going into the changing room, which is a controlled area.

Here they put on cleanroom under-garContinued page 50

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 49

CASE STUDY Laundering for cleanrooms (continued)

ments and clogs. Then they wash, dry and disinfect their hands and enter the second room, where they get fully dressed for the cleanroom. “They use single use gloves, hood, coverall, face mask, overboots, goggles and a second pair of gloves. Then they disinfect again,” Ulrich continues.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 50

The third chamber which staff enter is like a sluice, an air shower to remove any remaining particles on their body. Only then are they ready to go into the cleanroom and start work.

Each cycle takes 15-20 minutes and in each room there are clearly displayed

instructions on the steps to follow, just to remind them of the routine. Each batch number is recorded at all stages of the process, with note taken if it’s been disinfected for example.

Firstly the operatives unload the washing machine and load the dryer – the air in the dryer unit must be filtered and 30 per cent of it is recycled. Because the staff are always working in such a confined space at all times the cleanroom laundry area has been designed with many windows in order for it to not be too claustrophobic.

When dry, clothes are folded according to individual customer requirements, with the barcode visible. Large items are then placed into the automatic packaging machine (for small items there is a manual machine) and out-scanned again when packed. This takes place in the last room of the cleanroom complex, and the bagged garments are conveyed through a plastic door to the outside environment. They are then put back into their aluminium boxes for delivery back to customers.

For garments that require sterilising CWS has its own autoclaving machine, however this is carried out only when necessary as the process halves garment life.

CASE STUDY At the end of laundering one garment from each batch is tested using the Helmke Drum Test , a method that simulates particle shedding of clothing under movement. The garment under test is tumbled in a rotating drum to release particles from the surface of the cleanroom garment in a controlled manner. An automatic particle counter is used to sample the air within the drum to determine the average particle concentration of the air during the first 10 minutes of the test.

“This allows us to document particle levels, along with data on how long garments were washed for, at what temperature, and dried for,” Ulrich explains. “This is absolutely crucial because it allows us to trace discrepancies and monitor all stages

of the laundering process. And there is an online tool enabling customers to track and trace their workwear at all times.

“When we are serving customers in such precise and demanding industries, this level of trust in our procedures is key,” he emphasises.

Notre rédactrice en chef Michelle Marshall se rend dans les établissements de blanchiment désinfectés de la société CWS à Heidenheim, en Allemagne. Les vêtements de travail des secteurs pharmaceutique et électronique, ainsi que ceux d’autres personnes appelées à travailler dans des salles blanches, doivent être lavés dans des conditions semblables.

C’est pourquoi CWS a mis en place une installation spécialisée où tous les vêtements sont lavés et séchés dans des conditions sévèrement contrôlées.

ECJ-Redakteurin Michelle Marshall besucht die CWS Reinraumwäscherei in Heidenheim. Berufskleidung, die in Branchen wie der Pharmaindustrie, Elektronik und anderen Reinraumanwendungen genutzt wird, muss unter gleichbleibenden Bedingungen gereinigt werden. Zu diesem Zweck hat CWS eine spezielle Einrichtung geschaffen, in der Reinraumkleidung unter streng kontrollierten Bedingungen gewaschen und getrocknet wird.

Cleaning the cleanroom So how is the cleanroom itself actually cleaned? As expected, this too is a tightly controlled procedure - it must be cleaned daily and everything that has come into contact with people or garments must be done. Floors, door handles, conveyors, walls, ceilings are also cleaned at least once a week with an approved disinfectant and each room in the facility has its own

cleaning plan with separate equipment/ chemical specifications.

Ulrich explains the cleanroom laundry staff clean the facility themselves. “They know best the critical places because they are in there every day, so they clean at the beginning of their shift - then they start with a completely disinfected area.”

Unlike conventional laundry and cleaning situations, a cleanroom laundry like the new CWS-boco one at Heidenheim is operating at high stakes, and mistakes can result in significant penalties and potentially serious consequences. Only the very highest of standards are good enough – not only that, CWS-boco must offer complete transparency and documentation of all its processes.

La editor di ECJ Michelle Marshall visita le strutture di lavanderia delle camere bianche CWS a Heidenheim, in Germania. Gli abiti da lavoro utilizzati in industrie farmaceutiche, elettroniche e in altre applicazioni di camere bianche devono essere lavate con gli stessi requisiti. Quindi la CWS ha organizzato una struttura specializzata dove tutti i capi d’abbigliamento vengono lavati ed asciugati in condizioni altamente controllate.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 51

BUSINESS: MATURE WORKERS

Plenty of life left in older workers

The baby-boomers of the post-WW II years are fast leaving the world of work.

But as birth rates tumble across much of Europe, can we afford to let them go … and do they really want to go? Hartley Milner explores why attitudes towards older workers are beginning to change.

Sid in stores had given his best years to the auto components distributor, rarely missing a day through malady or mishap in near on half a century. In at silly o’clock each morning to process overnight parts requests, Sid would never leave until satisfied all the day’s orders had been shipped out per his 24-hour delivery pledge.

From brake pads to contact breakers, it was Sid’s proud boast that he had built up the most comprehensive stock range in the UK, and if a component was not in store he had the contacts to promptly source it from anywhere in the world, whatever the vehicle make, model or vintage.

Dubbed the ‘King of Parts’, Sid had become something of a legend in the industry, earning awards for his warehouse management skills and an unrivalled reputation for customer care that had helped establish his employer as the ‘go-to’ supplier for much of the auto repair trade.

That was until a buyout of the

company when the new owners decided to launch an ‘efficiency drive’ and run the distribution operations from their central IT department, making the role of warehouse manager redundant. Viewing the shelf-stacking job he was offered as a further slap in the face, Sid took his severance package and went off fishing.

First to suffer was the business’s goodwill. Very soon, customers began calling in to inquire about overdue orders or to complain they had received the wrong component. Their frustrations grew when they found themselves confronted by a myriad of irritating phone menu options, only to be put through to an anonymous voice mailbox promising a response as soon as possible when they needed answers now. Emailed messages achieved no better outcomes.

Worrying stock control issues then began to creep in. Inventory tracking failures caused overstocking of some components, impacting on the company’s cash flow, while shortages of other parts led to unfulfilled orders and more unhappy customers, and an inevitable slide in revenues. Clearly, the new arrangements were not working and prompt action was needed.

Sid was barely six months into his retirement when he received the SOS. If the terms were right, would he accept an open-ended contract to return in his

former role, to oversee the reinstatement of the previous regime and help rebuild the company’s damaged reputation and fast dwindling customer base.

Though now in his late 60s, Sid was up for the challenge and more than up to the task. Using his skills, experience and personal good name in the industry, he turned the situation around in under 12 months, regaining all but a few less forgiving customers.

“There were two lessons to come out of this debacle,” said business troubleshooter Paul Petherick. “If something ain’t broke, why fix it? And if you have an essential cog in a wheel and it’s still got plenty of wear left in it, then why replace it – like they did Sid?”

See beyond the grey hairs Petherick was the first to be called in when the business began to nosedive, and it was on his advice that the directors, grudgingly, agreed to go caps in hand to the ‘King of Parts’. “It was the obvious solution to correct a big mistake,” he said.

“We still encounter this from time to time; where employers have a real issue seeing beyond the grey hairs and laughter lines to the valuable asset that a mature worker can be to a company. Curiously, we find that it is often older managers who make such judgements, being of a generation Continued page 54

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 53

BUSINESS: MATURE WORKERS Plenty of life left in older workers (continued)

when the retirement age was set in stone, or perhaps simply regarding themselves as exceptions to the rule that the years bring only decline.

“The truth is, older workers are generally more responsible, punctual, dependable, loyal and focused, and they can draw on two assets in particular that can only be acquired over time – experience and wisdom.

“We should be tapping more into this pool of experience and knowledge at our disposal and nurture it with new challenges, not discard people as deadwood or sideline them for promotion just because they have reached a certain age. Thankfully, we are seeing such contradictory views increasingly on the wane in Europe as governments cajole their ageing populations into remaining in the workplace for longer.”

In fact, the retirement age is being pushed back across much of the EU as pensions and other state benefits become increasingly unaffordable. People are living longer and are being expected to do more to pay for their care in old age. Currently, around one in six Europeans are aged over 65, but by 2060 it will be one in three.

Declining birth rates, due to lower fertility levels, mean the Eurozone will lose a significant number of workers by 2050, according to the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC), the leading think tank on living longer and demographic change. It predicts that Austria’s working population will be down by six per cent, the Netherlands by nine per cent, Portugal 14 per cent, Spain 33 per cent, Italy 15 per Les « baby-boomers » du lendemain de la Seconde guerre mondiale quittent aujourd’hui le monde du travail en nombres importants. Mais face à la dénatalisation croissante d’une bonne partie de l’Europe, peut-on vraiement les laisser partir en retraite, et le souhaitent-ils vraiment ? Hartley Milner explique les changements d’attitudes qui commencent à se faire jour envers les travailleurs âgés.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 54

cent and Greece 24 per cent. The biggest loser will be Germany, which faces losing 28 per cent of its workforce.

All this is priming a demographic time bomb that could have a devastating impact on tax revenues in member states and on the productivity of businesses.

Increasing the number of older workers could help stave off the crisis (workers aged over 50 contributed 2.5 trillion euros to the Eurozone GDP in 2013). The ILC warns that without a substantial rise in workforce productivity to offset the fall in employment, GDP per capita growth across the region may only reach one per cent per year up to 2050. It speculates that by the end of 2015 alone, higher participation rates among the over-50s could deliver 12.6 per cent more economic output per person, in real terms, than if they remain the same.

A long way to go However, the ILC stresses that the region has a long way to go. Just one in three people aged 60-64 are in employment across Europe at present and in a third of member states no more than one out of five are in work.

“It’s clear that we will not be able to subsist solely on our state pension in future, and we may struggle even with the added support of a private pension, so it seems certain that we will all be forced to work for longer, though it will require a fresh mindset,” Petherick continued.

“People of retirement age today are generally fitter and more active than they were 40 or 50 years ago, and a growing number are keen to continue working until Die Baby-Boomer-Generation aus den Jahren nach dem 2. Weltkrieg scheidet aus dem Arbeitsleben aus. Aber bei rückgängigen Geburtenraten in weiten Teilen Europas, können wir es uns leisten, sie gehen zu lassen … und wollen sie wirklich gehen? Hartley Milner untersucht, warum die Einstellung gegenüber älteren Arbeitnehmern im Wandel begriffen ist.

they feel they have nothing more to offer.

“Retirement can actually hasten your decline into old age. It can decrease your feelings of wellbeing as you slide into inactivity, increase the probability of clinical depression due to feelings of isolation and even increase the probability of having at least one diagnosed physical condition.

“For employers, having to find an experienced replacement for an experienced worker can be timeconsuming and costly. We point out to business owners that continuity of employment is key to keeping a company successful, and loyal, long-serving employees provide that stability. If a worker says they are keen to stay on, then it indicates that they are happy in their job and will continue to give it their all.”

This was certainly true of German worker Werner Brockmann. Werner had spent 48 years working as an electrician for rail operator Deutsche Bahn and was not looking to pull the plug on his career just yet. As the 62-year-old approached his retirement date, the company offered him a deal that allowed him to swap 13 per cent of his salary for an additional nine weeks holiday.

“I enjoy my work and wanted to continue, but also have a little more time to spend with my family and to do other things,” he said. “Now, I can have almost the whole summer at home. It has worked out well for myself and my employer.”

German companies have been struggling to find competent, highly skilled workers since before the recession and were coming under mounting pressure to compensate by offering existing employees incentives to postpone their retirement. One popular move has been to introduce flexible working to provide older staff with a better work-life balance.

Deutsche Bahn has brought in other changes, such as providing additional lifting gear to move heavy parts and ergonomic seats that provide extra back support. Meanwhile, in 2011, BMW opened an assembly line where all the workers were aged over 50. The experimental plant featured workstations of adjustable height and less rigid wooden floors to reduce joint strain.

Il bambini del baby-boom degli anni del secondo dopoguerra stanno velocemente lasciando il mondo del lavoro. Ma, mentre il tasso di natalità crolla in molte parti d’Europa, possiamo permetterci di lasciarli andare … e loro, vogliono veramente andarsene?

Hartley Milner indaga sul perchè l’atteggiamento verso i lavoratori più anziani sta iniziando a cambiare.

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PULIRE PREVIEW

Build-up to Italian cleaning show Pulire Pulire, the Italian professional cleaning exhibition, is set to take place from May 1921 in Verona - over 270 companies from 25 countries will exhibit there and more than 14,000 visitors from 90 countries are expected to attend.

The organisers say visitors will include facility managers, contract cleaning companies, distributors, importers and buying groups.

The last Pulire fair in 2013 saw the launch of Pulire 2.0, an app which enabled visitors to plan their visit thanks to a matchmaking system enabling them to book appointments with exhibitors. This year the app has been upgraded to Pulire Le salon italien de la propreté Pulire aura lieu du 19 au 21 mai à Vérone. Dans ce numéro, nous présentons une avant-première sur cette manifestation, en contemplant les nouveaux produits qui y seront lancés.

2.1. All information about exhibitors will be available on smartphones and tablets, and during the event exhibitors can receive real-time information about visitors, their origin, their role, etc.

Another feature of the exhibition this year is Pulire Outdoor, an area dedicated to sweeping and urban cleaning. The theme will be Clean City for Quality of Life, with a conference scheduled for May 19 at 2pm.

The outdoor demonstration area is close to Hall 1.

New for 2015 is Pulire Clean, a section aimed at manufacturers of washing machines and fabric care products.

Visit www.pulire-it.com for details.

Die italienische Reinigungsmesse Pulire findet vom 19.-21. Mai in Verona statt. Das ECJ bietet eine Vorschau auf die Messe mit einem Überblick über die dort neu vorgestellten Produkte.

Pulire, la fiera italiana del settore del cleaning, si terrà dal 19 al 21 maggio a Verona. In questo numero, ECJ fa l’anteprima dell’evento e dei nuovi prodotti che verranno lanciati durante l’esibizione.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 57

PULIRE

• Gloria a étendu sa gamme CleanMaster en y ajoutant cinq nouveaux pulvérisateurs chimiques.

• Ghibli prévoit de nouveaux lancements parmi ses gammes de nettoyeurs et d’autolaveuses.

• Papernet expose ses gammes de papiers de soie BioTech et Dissolve Tech.

Gloria Gloria has added five powerful models to its CleanMaster range of hand and pressure sprayers. Equipped with high quality Viton seals, the PF 12 and PF 50 sprayers are said to have a

• Gloria hat die Produktreihe CleanMaster um fünf neue Sprühgeräte für Chemikalien erweitert.

• Ghibli verspricht neue Produktvorstellungen in den Produktreihen mit Staubsaugern und Scheuersaugmaschinen.

• Papernet stellt die Toilettenpapier-Produktfamilien BioTech und Dissolve Tech aus.

• La Gloria ha ampliato la sua gamma CleanMaster con l’aggiunta di cinque nuovi nebulizzatori per prodotti chimici.

• La Ghibli ha promesso nuovi lanci di prodotti per le sue gamme di aspirapolveri e lavasciuga pavimenti.

• La Papernet espone le sue linee di prodotti in carta BioTech e Dissolve Tech.

particularly high resistance to acid cleaning agents with a low pH-value.

The new CleanMaster Extreme EX 100 hand sprayer is claimed to be particularly efficient when applying solvent-containing agents such as brake or wheel cleaners. The pressure sprayer has a filling capacity of one litre and a maximum operating pres-

sure of three bar plus a robust container made of resistant Polyoxymethylene plastic with seals made from Viton.

The CleanMaster Extreme EX 05 and EX 10 hand sprayers have a filling capacity of 0.5 and one litre respectively.

Features include a sturdy plastic container, a continuously variable hollow cone nozzle and an ergonomic pistol grip along with a double-action precision pump.

This produces two powerful sprays with a single movement of the pump lever. www.gloriagarten.de

Ghibli Ghibli will be presenting various vacuum cleaner and scrubber dryer innovations at Pulire.

These will include models of various sizes featuring a range of features tailored to the needs of different customers and users. www.ghibli.com

Papernet

Papernet’s Bio Tech range of products are aimed at environments particularly vulnerable to clogs and blockages.

Both toilet tissue and hand towel products are available in the Bio Tech range. These come in various qualities and sizes to suit every washroom.

Papernet will also be displaying its Dissolve Tech line which is aimed at problematic or restrictive waste water systems on airlines, trains and hospitals. All products are designed to ensure washrooms remain open and fully functional at all times, reducing downtime and additional servicing costs. www.papernet.it

PULIRE

Filmop

Filmop will be presenting its new system for separating waste collected on cleaning trolleys.

Designed to fit the bag holders of Filmop’s Alpha service trolleys, the system comprises a removable drawer beneath the bag holder along with waste dividers in the upper section. Together these allow waste to be segregated into six categories, or eight when further smaller dividers are added.

The removable drawer can be used as additional storage space for housing small cleaning tools. www.filmop.com • Filmop a lancé un système pour la collecte séparée de déchets, qui se monte sur le porte-sac de ses chariots Alpha.

• Microfibre Light est le nouveaux tissu de nettoyage proposé par Chicopee pour les usages de court terme.

• Parmi les nouveaux produits de la gamme Idrobase figurent la lance à mousse Delux et le nébuliseur Click Clock.

• Filmop hat ein System zur getrennten Abfallsammlung vorgestellt, das am Abfallbeutelhalter der Reinigungswagen Alpha befestigt werden kann.

• Neu von Chicopee ist Microfibre Light, ein für den kurzzeitigen Einsatz entwickeltes Reinigungstuch.

• Unter den Neuzugängen der Produktreihe Idrobase sind die Lanze Deluxe Foam und der Zerstäuber Click Clock.

• La Filmop ha lanciato un sistema per separare i rifiuti che può essere montato sul portasacchi dei suoi carrelli Alpha.

• Il nuovo prodotto della Chicopee è Microfibre Light, un panno per le pulizie progettato per utilizzo a breve termine.

• Fra i nuovi prodotti aggiunti alla gamma Idrobase ci sono l’erogatore per vapore Deluxe Foam e il nebulizzatore Click Clock.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 60

Chicopee Chicopee is launching its new Microfibre Light cleaning cloth for short-term use. This is claimed to remove 99.99 per cent of microbes from surfaces, trapping them within the cloth.

The Single Use Dispense System takes the form of a perforated roll of wipers supplied in a portable bucket that has space for labelling. Three types of dry wipe are available to meet food service, healthcare and specialty sector needs.

Also on the Chicopee stand will be DuraDry, claimed by the company to be the only microfibre cloth to offer antibacterial properties and food contact clearance. DuraDry has a splittable microfibre structure which is said to enable it to pick up invisible bacteria from all surfaces including glass, stainless steel and laminate. www.chicopee-europe.com

Visit ECJ at Pulire - stand B10/2

Idrobase New foam lances, nebulisers and accessories for high pressure cleaners will be among the innovations on the Idrobase stand.

The CdR Deluxe Foam Lance with stainless steel body and nozzle is said to be particularly durable, while the Click Clock nebuliser features an epoxy plastic coating, a new loading funnel and a reduced size.

Also on show will be a water inlet kit designed for use with Idrobase pressure washers plus a range of Dolly spare parts for car wash and industrial applications at temperatures up to 85°C. www.idrobase.com

PULIRE

Kärcher Kärcher will be presenting its KM 125/130 ride-on vacuum sweeper with hydraulic forward travel drive.

The machine offers automatic adjustment of the roller brush between the rear wheels plus automatic filter cleaning and intelligent operator system.

Fitted with an optional sickleshaped brush between the main roller brush and side brush, it can clean in tight corners.

CarpetPro RM 760 Powder detergent with iCapsol encapsulation technology dissolves dirt deep within carpet pile, enclosing it and drying it in crystalline form. This removes the need for rinsing while absorbing unpleasant odours, according to Kärcher.

The company will also be demonstrating it telematics system for organising machine fleets.

This is claimed to improve efficiency by allowing commercial cleaning contractors to use GPS and mobile telephony to find out where their scrubber dryers and sweepers are deployed and what condition they are in. www.karcher.com

Unger Unger will be demonstrating its nLite waterfed pole system, said to provide a good balance between weight and rigidity.

NLite is a modular system that has been manufactured using six grades of modern materials. It allows the user to select individual components to create a product that suits their requirements.

The company will also be demonstrating its FloWater Technology which is said to ensure a more efficient water flow through the vessel, and the FastLock opening system for quick and easy opening of the vessel. A pressure release valve is designed to improve resin efficiency and prolong the life of the system.

Also on show will be Unger’s QuickChange Resin Bags which are pre-packed, ready-to-use resin bags that can be changed in seconds and are designed to enhance filter productivity. www.ungerglobal.com

Tecnovap Steam generators and accessories will be on display on the Tecnovap stand.

These will include the Stainless Steel and Chattanooga steam generator lines. New technologies patented by Tecnovap include the Thermal Compact Power and True Temp Technology systems. www.tecnovap.it • Parmi les innovations sur le stand Kärcher figure la balayeuse aspiratrice autoportée KM 125/130.

• Unger présente le système nLite HydroPower DI Filters à l’intention de ceux qui nettoient à l’eau pure.

• Tecnovap est un spécialiste des générateurs de vapeur et accessoires de génération de vapeur.

• Unter den Innovationen auf dem Stand von Kärcher ist die AufsitzKehrsaugmaschine KM 125/130.

• Unger präsentiert das nLite HydroPower DI-Filtersystem für alle, die mit Reinwasser reinigen.

• Tecnovap ist auf Dampferzeuger und Zubehör spezialisiert.

• Le innovazioni sullo stand della Kärcher includono la spazzatrice aspirante con operatore a bordo KM 125/130.

• La Unger presenta il sistema nLite HydroPower DI Filters adatto a tutti coloro che puliscono con acqua pura.

• La Tecnovap è specializzata in generatori di vapore e accessori.

April/May 2015 | ECJ 61

PULIRE

Trojan Battery Trojan Battery has launched what it claims to be the first true deep-cycle AGM battery - Reliant AGM with C-Max Technology. This battery, it says, maximises sustained performance and increases total energy output to meet demanding deep-cycling requirements in the cleaning machine sector.

Key features include proprietary paste formula that comprises elements designed

ed battery life; plastic polymer case design for durability; and maximum flame arrestors for maximum safety. www.trojanbattery.com

TTS to address the unique needs of deep-cycle applications; separator composition whose design ensures high compression for effective contact between glass mat and plates which protects against stratification for extend-

TTS will be demonstrating its Magic Mobile application that allows users to configure their own cleaning trolley.

According to TTS, studies have shown that using a tailored workstation helps operatives to

reduce work time by up to 19 per cent. Magic Mobile enables users to ‘build’ their customised trolley and cost it as they go via their phone or tablet. www.ttsystem.com

RCM RCM is introducing a sweeper for use in large areas and a compact ride-on scrubber dryer.

The Macroclean M60 has a hopper volume of six cubic metres plus a 6,000 kg net payload, for heavy-duty sweeping.

It has a large filtering surface for work in very dusty environments, plus four-wheel drive for manoeuvrability. And it can sweep on inclines of up to 20 per cent. The Macro Canbus electronic system is said to improve efficiency.

The company will also be displaying its new Kilo ride-on scrubber dryer. The operator’s seat can be adjusted to suit any height of operator. www.rcm.it • Reliant AGM à technologie C-Max, la nouvelle batterie à décharge poussée de la société Trojan, présente une performance soutenue et une capacité électrique accrue.

• Magic Mobile est la nouvelle appli de TTS pour permettre aux utilisateurs de configurer leur propre chariot de nettoyage.

• RCM lancera deux machines à l’occasion du salon – la balayeusesécheuse autoportée Macroclean M60 et l’autolaveuse compacte autoportée Kilo.

• Reliant AGM mit C-Max-Technologie ist die neue Deep Cycle-Batterie von Trojan, die nachhaltige Leistung und erhöhte Energieausbeute bietet.

• Magic Mobile ist die neue App von TTS, mit der Benutzer ihren Reinigungswagen konfigurieren können.

• RCM stellt zwei Maschinen vor - die Aufsitz-Kehrsaugmaschine Macroclean M60 und die kompakte Aufsitz-Scheuersaugmaschine Kilo.

• Reliant AGM con la tecnologia C-Max Technology è la nuova batteria a ciclo continuo della Trojan – che vanta un rendimento prolungato e una maggiore energia prodotta.

• Magic Mobile è la nuova app della TTS che permette agli utenti di configurare i loro carrelli di pulizia.

• La RCM sta per lanciare due macchine, la lavasciuga pavimenti con operatore a bordo Macroclean M60 e la spazzatrice compatta con operatore a bordo Kilo.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 62

PULIRE

Neron Neron will be displaying its hydraulically-driven high pressure pump at the event.

The HWB can achieve pressures of up to 1,200 bar. It has a high pressure transformer with integrated circuits capable of reaching pressures of 1,000 bar.

When mounted on a vehicle the hydraulic system can supply the pump with pressure and flow to operate the pump.

The HWB can be used for various applications such as removing paint, posters and graffiti from buildings and clearing rust, old paint and algae away from boats. It can also be used for washing down walls, streets and pavements and for cleaning silos, tanks and fishing nets.

The HWB can also be used for fire-fighting.

The pump can be operated using hydraulic oil in the inlet section and in the dual fluid version it can pump either fresh water or seawater.

Neron pumps are claimed to be compact, lightweight and reliable. www.neron.it

It is powered by a lithium-ion battery that provides 40 minutes of working autonomy and can be recharged at any time. A telescopic tube allows the user to adjust the handle height, and the machine can be turned on and off via a foot switch.

The ergonomic handle and 360-degree swivel joint allow operatives to avoid the risk of backache when cleaning under tables, chairs and furniture.

Two side brushes allow the Broom to clean along walls and

into corners while following the outline of furniture, according to Fimap.

The brushes are self-adjusting which means they can be adapted for use on various floor types. Dirt is collected in an easy-to-remove two-litre waste container.

The Broom is both compact and lightweight and is said to be particularly suitable for use in coffee bars, bakeries, small shops and supermarkets. www.fimap.com

Fimap Fimap will be exhibiting a new compact and lightweight cordless sweeper. The Broom is claimed to strike a balance between using a broom - which can be both tiring and inefficient - and a vacuum cleaner that may seem over-the-top for smaller cleaning tasks.

• Ajoutée à la gamme Neron, la pompe haute pression HWB est à double circuit.

• La Broom est la nouvelle balayeuse sans cordon de Fimap, pour des tâches de nettoyage intermédiaire.

• Neu von Neron ist die Hochdruckpumpe HWB mit separaten Kreisläufen.

• Broom ist die neue kabellose Kehrmaschine von Fimap, die für die Zwischenreinigung entwickelt wurde.

• La novità della Neron è HWB, una pompa ad alta pressione con circuiti separati.

• Broom è una nuova scopa a batteria prodotta dalla Fimap e progettata per la pulizia domestica e semiprofessionale.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 63

PULIRE

Lavorpro Claimed to combine the mechanical force of high pressure water with the degreasing and disinfecting power of dry steam is the new Ultra Pressure Dry Steamer Fuji from Lavorpro.

The product comprises a steam generator and integrated cold water high pressure cleaner. It is said to be capable of removing coarse and superficial dirt both quickly and efficiently.

Described as an all-in-one prod-

uct for multiple applications, the Fuji is claimed to be particularly suitable for cleaning and sanitising car interiors, street furniture and playgrounds as well as for removing chewing gum and degreasing mechanical parts. Typical fields

of application are the food and beverage, catering, hospitality, healthcare, leisure, education and transport sectors.

The degreasing and sanitising capabilities allow the Fuji to remove aggressive dirt from car rims, engine compartments, car components and vehicle floor mats according to Lavorpro. www.lavorpro.com

Visit ECJ at Pulire stand B10/2

WM System WM System will be exhibiting a wide range of loading ramps for use on light commercial vehicles.

The company supplies tailormade loading platforms said to be capable of handling loads from 250 to 1800 kg. Ramps can be customised in terms of length, width and capacity according to specifications. www.wmsystem.com

Nettuno Nettuno will be exhibiting its new T-Small soap dispenser. The unit is designed for use with 800 ml pouches containing a range of products including abrasive soaps for industrial use and foam and spray soaps for the janitorial sector.

One 800 ml pouch of foam soap is said to deliver up to 2,000 washes, while an 800 ml pouch of spray soap delivers up to 4,000 applications.

The T-Small can be used in the washrooms of offices, schools, restaurants and other public places according to Nettuno. www.nettuno.net • La Dry Steamer Fuji à ultra haute pression de Lavorpro représente un nouveau système de nettoyage combinant l’eau haute pression et la vapeur sèche.

• WM System est un spécialiste des rampes de chargement pour véhicules utilitaires légers.

• Nettuno propose un produit nouveau, le distributeur de savon à main multifonction T-Small.

• Bei Ultra Pressure Dry Steamer Fuji von Lavorpro handelt es sich um ein neues Reinigungssystem, das Hochdruckwasser mit Trockendampf kombiniert.

• WM System ist auf Laderampen für leichte Nutzfahrzeuge spezialisiert.

• Neu von Nettuno ist der multifunktionale Handseifenspender T-Small.

• Ultra Pressure Dry Steamer Fuji della Lavorpro è un nuovo sistema di pulizia che abbina l’acqua ad alta pressione con il vapore asciutto.

• La WM System è specializzata in rampe di carico per i veicoli commerciali leggeri.

• Il nuovo prodotto della Nettuno è il dispenser di sapone per le mani multifunzionale T-Small.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 64

PULIRE

Comac Comac will be unveiling its new CLS120 combined sweeping and scrubbing machine at the event.

The company will also be displaying new versions of its CS140 vacuum model. This is said to be able to pick up the tiniest particles and retain them in the filters.

and lightweight which makes it easy to use, transport and store.

According to Cimel it is particularly useful for cleaning beneath tables, desks and beds as well as in other areas that are less accessible for a larger machine.

The Turbolava 35 Plus Li-Ion is suitable both for daily cleaning and for scheduled deepcleans. The lithium-ion battery provides 45 minutes’ continuous use at high power while the two inclined counter-rotating brushes will remove tough

dirt from floors using a minimal amount of detergent.

The machine has two suction squeegees and a powerful vacuum system enabling it to dry in a single step, either forwards or backwards.

Claimed to be suitable for use in many applications, the Turbolava 35 Plus Li-Ion can be supplied with a wide range of accessories. These include brushes, pad holders, colour-coded pads and microfibre pads to

facilitate various floor maintenance needs from stripping to cleaning and polishing.

Cimel also offers a range of industrial steam cleaning systems. www.cimel.com

Various ride-on scrubbing machines and street sweeping models will also be on display on the Comac stand. They include the CS2000 compact street sweeping machine, designed to clean urban areas and historical town centres both sustainably and safely. www.comac.it

Cimel Cimel will be demonstrating its Turbolava 35 Plus Li-Ion scrubber dryer for use on small and medium-sized floors.

Described as an efficient alternative to mop cleaning, the model is said to be compact • Comac entend apporter des innovations à ses balayeuses autoportées et machines de nettoyage de voirie.

• La Turbolava 35 Plus Li-ion est une autolaveuse à batterie au lithium destinée au nettoyage d’aires très fréquentées.

• Comac verspricht einige Neuerungen im Rahmen der Produktreihen mit Aufsitz-Kehrmaschinen und Straßenreinigungsmaschinen.

• Bei der Turbolava 35 Plus Li-ion handelt es sich um eine Scheuersaugmaschine, die mit einem Lithiumionenakku betrieben wird und für beengte Bereiche entwickelt wurde.

• La Comac ha annunciato alcune innovazioni nelle sue gamme di macchine per la pulizia stradale e spazzatrici con operatore a bordo.

• Turbolava 35 Plus Li-ion è una lavasciuga pavimenti alimentata a batteria agli ioni di litio progettata per la pulizia di aree molto affollate.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 65

BATTERIES

Buying into lithium-ion Lithium-ion batteries are among the latest products to hit the traditionally slow-moving battery market. But are cleaning machine companies - and their customers – buying into the new battery technologies?

Lithium-ion technology has revolutionised the battery industry since it was introduced in the 1970s. Rechargeable lithiumion batteries are now commonly found in laptops, tablets and mobile phones.

They are also a popular choice for power tools and electric vehicles due to their low weight and high energy density. In recent years, too, there has been an increasing trend for cleaning machine manufacturers to use lithium-ion batteries.

Battery Supplies offers many products including open lead-acid, AGM, gel, purelead and lithium-ion. The company also supplies lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, which are lithium-ion rechargeable batteries for high power applications.

All these products have a place according to the company’s Alexander De Soete.

He says the main advantages of lithium-ion batteries are their fast charging capabilities and their long life cycle. “They also allow for intermediate charges and are maintenance-free,” he said. “The main disadvantage, however, is their high price.”

According to de Soete, professional users quickly see the benefits of lithiumion and are convinced by the total cost of ownership and return on investment argument. “If a battery is required for heavy professional use, then lithium-ion technology is probably worth the investment,” he said. “For someone who wants to use a cleaning machine on a more occasional basis, the choice is more difficult.”

He says pure lead technology has an enduring appeal in the cleaning sector.

“Pure lead also has the advantage of fast charging and intermediate charging, and like lithium-ion it is maintenance free,” he

said. “Pure lead batteries have a shorter life than lithium-ion – but they cost less.”

And gel batteries are still playing an important role in the cleaning sector according to de Soete. “They are reliable and maintenance-free and they offer good cycling at an acceptable price,” he said. “The fact that lead can be recycled also means the batteries are worth money if they are returned to the supplier.”

Trojan Battery Company has no imminent plans to launch a lithium-ion product according to director of global technical services Vicki Hall. “The flooded battery is standard in the cleaning industry, though flooded batteries gas more than AGM batteries,” she said. “So there has been a movement towards a safer solution for populated environments.”

Trojan is also looking into the lithiumion side of the battery business. “We would be remiss if we weren’t carrying out any R&D work in that area,” said Hall.

“There are various types of lithium-ion technology and we have a partner carrying out some developmental work for us. But any launch is years away and it is always going to be a niche application because lithium-ion is just too expensive.”

She says there are further disadvantages to lithium-ion technology besides its high price. “Lithium-ion batteries can short out in some circumstances and create a fire risk,” she said. “They are also hard to recycle, and you have to redesign your machinery line in order to accommodate a different kind of battery.

“Personally I have a hard time believing that someone is going to pay four or five times as much for a lithium-ion battery.

We don’t see it happening any time soon and it is never going to be mainstream technology in floor care.”

Diversey Care agrees that the newer battery technologies are not particularly relevant to the cleaning sector. The company promotes the use of gel batteries to its customers according to global Taski machine portfolio manager Laurent Ryssen. “This is our first offer because gel

batteries guarantee a high level of safety,” he said. “Next we offer wet batteries and AGM options.”

Lithium-ion batteries are not an option on Diversey machines. “It is true they offer a higher number of cycles, fast-charging advantages and are maintenance-free and lighter in weight,” admits Ryssen. “But the longer running times made possible by lithium-ion do not necessary result in a higher degree of productivity.

“The battery does not have an impact on a machine’s manoeuvrability - a machine offering a longer running time might seem to be more productive in theory, but if the machine is bigger and less manoeuvrable, the cleaning time will increase.”

According to Ryssen the battery industry has begun to evolve fairly quickly over recent years. “This is due to the fact there is increasing demand for mobile devices in the consumer market,” he said. “However, the next generation of batteries might have a name other than ‘lithium’.”

And he adds there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution in the cleaning industry. “It depends on the area to be cleaned, the level of congestion, the degree of staff rotation and whether or not staff have been trained in the maintenance of batteries,” said Ryssen. “Even if a lightweight battery appears to be a promising option, the manufacturer should avoid compromising on cleaning efficiency since the brush pressure is also linked to the weight of the machine and its batteries.”

Nilfisk-Advance uses lithium-ion batteries in some of its vacuum cleaners according to the company’s group product manager Thomas Tykskov. “The main advantage of lithium-ion batteries is they are lightweight, have a high capacity, can be charged very rapidly and can be partly charged and discharged without losing capacity,” he said. “While the main disadvantage is still cost, competition in the market is now so high that the cost of lithium-ion is going down at the same time as performance is improving.”

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BATTERIES Buying into lithium-ion (continued) Besides lithium-ion, Nilfisk-Advance also uses conventional lead acid, gel and AGM batteries in its machines. “The main advantage of these technologies is that they have a good price/performance ratio and this lowers the total cost of ownership. But conventional batteries are heavy and use a lot of space, and they also have a lower usable capacity compared with other battery technologies.”

Sebastian Wein from Kärcher says most of his company’s battery-powered machines run on lead, maintenance-free gel or AGM batteries. “For some markets or very large capacities we also use flooded lead acid batteries,” he said. “These classic batteries are more robust and better value for money. But in our newer, smaller machines we use lithium-ion.”

He feels lithium-ion batteries are the most efficient and the easiest for customers to use. “You can forget about the bat-

tery since it will have the same life as the entire machine, and the fast-charging and opportunity-charging benefits are really convenient for the user.”

He feels that the market share of lithium-ion will increase despite its disadvantages. “Besides the higher price, an additional electronic control is needed with lithium-ion batteries to prevent the risk of overheating,” he said.

“Flooded lead acid will disappear and be replaced by the gel and AGM battery,” he added. “This evolution has been taking place over a number of years.”

Truvox has adopted lithium-ion technology due to its fast-charging and longer life benefits says sales and marketing director Gordon McVean. “We believe the advantages of lithium-ion batteries in terms of flexibility and productivity for the cleaning team are compelling,” he said. “And the fact that self-discharge with lithium-ion

Les batteries au lithium-ion représentent l’une des évolutions les plus récentes d’un secteur industriel traditionnellement peu mobile. Il reste toutefois à savoir la mesure dans laquelle les fabricants de batteries et leurs clients s’intéressent à la nouvelle technologie. Nous les interrogeons sur les tendances les plus récentes pour savoir si le lithium-ion relève d’un choix du moment ou d’un choix durable.

Lithiumionenakkus gehören zu den neuesten Entwicklungen in der sich gewöhnlich langsam bewegenden Batteriebranche.

Aber inwieweit wird die neue Technologie von Batterieherstellern und ihren Kunden angenommen? Wir befragen sie nach den neuesten Trends und der Annahme durch Kunden, und erfahren, ob Lithiumionenakkus eine modische Wahl sind – oder eine nachhaltige.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 68

batteries is low means that battery charging can be timed to fit in with the cleaning regime rather than the other way around.”

He cites the low maintenance of lithiumion batteries as another important benefit.

“These advantages come at a premium compared with other types of battery, but the cost is outweighed by the benefits.”

According to McVean, battery technology is advancing all the time as manufacturers seek to find greener alternatives to fossil fuels. “While this is not a driver for the cleaning industry we will benefit from these advances and for now, lithium-ion seems to offer the greatest potential.

“However, conventional batteries will still have their supporters on cost grounds.

Users need to weigh the cost savings of using conventional batteries against the charging flexibility and low-maintenance advantages to be gained from using superior technologies such as lithium-ion.”

Le batterie a ioni di litio sono fra gli sviluppi più recenti dell’industria delle batterie che tradizionalmente è un settore che si sviluppa lentamente. Ma fino a che punto si spingono i produttori e i loro clienti nell’acquistare la nuova tecnologia?

Chiediamo loro quali sono i trend più recenti e di come i clienti li accolgono e scopriamo se gli ioni di litio sono una scelta dettata dalla moda oppure se è una scelta duratura.

FLOOR PADS

Finding the right match Just how important is the role of the floor pad in effective and productive floor care, and how to choose the correct pad for each application? Derik Landman from pads specialist Wecovi offers guidance and looks at the most significant technological developments in recent years.

The kind and type of machine affects the way we work, but above all, the result depends on the right match between the floor and the floor pad.

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Over the past decade, there have been huge developments in the field of floor pads. Naturally we closely follow every change, in order to provide the best to our end users and to have the most sustainable solutions at our disposal.

As a specialist, you are constantly looking beyond the traditional methods.

Continuing with the same thing means you fall behind. You need to keep up with and apply the latest innovations to guarantee the continuation of your business. It is about making the right choices, in this case it’s choosing the right floor pad.

A major innovation in the past decade has been the so-called diamond pad, which caused a breakthrough in the maintenance of natural stone floors. The surface of the floor pad contains billions of microscopically small diamonds that not only effectively clean the floor during daily cleaning, but polish it as well. The use of chemical cleaning agents is no longer necessary as this method only requires water to be added. This is a big step forward in serious corporate social responsibility and a conscious increase in efficiency. The use of diamond pads ties in very well with a microfibre cleaning regimen - here too only water is sufficient for optimal results. Within the cleaning world, the well-known microfibre is seen as the ultimate innovation of the past 25 years.

Chemical-free stripping An innovation that benefits the environment even more than it does us, the chemical-free stripping procedure gives great results, and as the name suggests, it does this without using chemicals. Again, only water is needed to strip the floor. Due to the special material, chemical-free stripping pads can even be used dry. The method is not only safe, it is very fast as there is no waiting time. This means lower material costs (no chemicals) and a reduction in working hours. Factors that every company in our industry has to take into account, more than ever before. It is hugely important to keep up to date with

the latest innovations and to make them a part of daily work procedures.

Melamine pads The melamine pad is also a very special type of pad. Designed and first marketed in the late 90s, the product was relaunched in 2011 in compressed form. Melamine pads have a sponge-like structure and are particularly suited to micro-porous floor surfaces. Again for this product, water is often the only required addition. Where other pads excel mainly due to their strong surface and long service life, the purpose of melamine pads is to release small particles which allow them to get closer to the dirt in the floor. These loose nano particles flow into the floor with water and remove the dirt that is deep down in the porous floor. An invention that quickly yields an exceptionally clean floor, has little impact on the environment, and as such meets the requirements of our current era and market.

The Sinner Circle All these innovations have brought the cleaning industry the innovations it so desperately needed. Indeed, more than ever before, the sector has been under pressure due to the requirements of clients and, among other things, due to environmental laws and regulations. There is much pressure on contracts, on time and on corporate social responsibility. This means among other things, working with fewer and less harmful chemicals. Mainly, all these changes require a more effective and efficient way of working. Nowadays mechanical action plays the most important part in the result of cleaning jobs. Within the cleaning industry there is one well-known method that can be used to map this information, the Sinner Circle.

Sinner Circle (also known as TACT) is a combination of factors that are applied during the implementation of successful cleaning actions. The idea, or rather the cleaning philosophy, was conceived in the late fifties and researched by Dr Herbert Sinner. From 1932 to 1965 he

FLOOR PADS was an employee of the German company Henkel, known for brands such as Persil, Pritt and Sellotape. His ‘circle’ describes four factors that make up the cleaning process: temperature, chemicals, time and mechanical action. The circle shows the mutual relationship between the four factors, which work relative to each other as communicating vessels. They have a direct influence upon each other. If the factors of ‘time’ and ‘chemicals’ have a smaller share of the circle, the role - ie, the ‘slice’ - of the mechanical action becomes larger, and thus more important to the result. This is exactly what is currently happening in the industry. Therefore it is especially important for cleaning companies to introduce innovations, keep up with developments and, very specifically, to choose the right product.

In other words, the floor pad that does exactly what the cleaning action demands.

Power of innovation The Sinner Circle stresses that in today’s cleaning business everything revolves around the power of innovative products. After all, we want to work as socially responsibly as possible. This is

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FLOOR PADS Finding the right match (continued) also expected of the cleaning industry. In addition, the client’s budget is smaller, so a lot more has to happen is less time. This means hard work and extra pressure on cleaners, the heroes who are doing the actual work. Never before was choosing the right cleaning product as important to the way we work and, in fact, for the right to exist within the cleaning industry.

If as a cleaning company, you use the wrong pad, the result will not be optimal and the customer will not be satisfied. This could mean that your contract is not renewed.

But how can you be sure to make the right choice with such a wide range of floor pads? The range is as large as it is diverse.

Each has features and functions suitable for different floor surfaces and specific dirt and situations. Naturally, the kind and type of machine affects the way we work, but above all, the result depends on the right Quelle est l’importance du tampon de nettoyage dans le soin efficace et productif de planchers et comment choisir le tampon qui convient pour chaque application ? ECJ propose des orientations et examine les évolutions technologiques les plus significatives des dernières années.

April/May 2015 | ECJ | 72

match between the floor and the floor pad.

This is an important step in the cleaning process. If you take an objective and smart look at a cleaning job, then the choice is not very hard. In fact, it is all about describing the treatment. There are four simple questions that will help to identify the right pad for the best results.

1. Start by assessing the floor.

What kind or type of floor will you be cleaning? This is a fixed factor and already determined when the building was constructed. In nearly all cases the choice will have been made based on appearance and status, not on functionality and maintenance. A challenge for the cleaner. So, should it be linoleum, glazed or unglazed tiles or do you want to stand on wood or a carpet? A professional will be able to give you the answer immediately.

2. How dirty is the floor? Is it mildly dirty or will it be a huge job involving heavy dirt Wie wichtige ist die Rolle, die Bodenpads bei der wirkungsvollen und produktiven Bodenpflege spielen, und wie wählt man die richtigen Pads für jede Anwendung aus? Das ECJ bietet Ratschläge und betrachtet die wichtigsten technologischen Entwicklungen der letzten Jahre.

and stubborn stains. It could also be that the floor simply looks clean. In that case, it may only need a mild treatment, or just maintenance.

After these two questions, the selection has already been narrowed down substantially, and we are closer to finding the right floor pad.

3. We need to describe the desired result. It makes a huge difference if the floor needs to be given an attractive shine or whether it is necessary to strip the protective layer. Will it be a light cleaning job or more rigorous maintenance. An essential step in the selection process.

4. We must determine what type of machine to work with. The right pad will work most effectively if coupled with the right machine. And the other way around applies too, a machine can only do the best job if the correct pad is used. www.wecoline.com Quanto è importante il ruolo dei dischi per pavimenti nella cura efficace e produttiva dei pavimenti, e come scegliere il disco perfetto per ogni tipologia di lavoro?

ECJ offre una guida e prende in esame gli sviluppi tecnologici più significativi degli ultimi anni.

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