April/May 2024

A UK report was recently published on working conditions for cleaners. April/May

Hartley Milner takes a closer look at this definition of the global financial system.

43 ‘Outdated, dysfunctional, unfair’ 03 News

24 Vision of a better future

12 EFCI

14 A.I.S.E.

16 European reports

29 The pros and cons

How much do chemical dispensing systems make operations more efficient?

32 Growth continues

A special focus on the professional cleaning sector in Portugal.

39 The employees’ view

How do people feel about the hygiene standards in their workplace?

49 Interclean Amsterdam

Your 50-page guide to Europe’s biggest cleaning exhibition starts here.

97 Truly time-saving?

How much time does smart technology actually save the cleaning operative?

103 The future of training

Every business can implement a VR training programme for their workforce.

108 Claims must pass the test

Let’s all work together to make sure our industry gets its green claims right. 112 Product review

110 Shining in the face of adversity

It’s challenging to achieve a consistent high shine on a hard floor.

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Amsterdam Innovation Awards - winners to be announced at Interclean

The finalists for this year’s Amsterdam Innovation Award - a highlight of the Interclean Amsterdam exhibition this May - have been revealed.

The 12 nominees were selected by an independent jury from 96 entries across four categories. The winner of each category will be announced during the opening ceremony of the show on Tuesday, May 14. From those four, one will be named the overall winner.

Here are the finalists:

Sustainability & Environment

• Slimstones/Diversey: Lesseau NO-Touch bar soap dispenser & refills

• Essity: Tork Carbon Neutral Certified Dispensers

• Werner & Mertz : Switch Smart Technologies & Digitalisation

• Nexaro: NR 1500

• Adlatus: Adlatus SR1300

Autonomous Vacuum Sweeping Robot

• Kärcher: KIRA CV 50

Workforce & Ergonomics

• Hako: Scrubmaster

B5 430 ORB

• Unger: Unger VisaVersa Pro 2-in-1 window squeegee

• Baudoin: Baudoin

Wash Drone

Health & Hygiene

• Kimberly-Clark: KimberlyClark Professional ICON

• i-Team: i-Clean Handle

• Hagleitner: XIBU

2WIPE hybrid

Robert Stelling, director Interclean global events, commented: “We’re thrilled to announce the nominees for the 2024 AIA - a high point of Interclean Amsterdam. With this

year’s show set to be our most impressive and interactive one yet, we are looking forward to showcasing the winning entries to the international cleaning and hygiene community.

“We’re proud to continuously raise the bar and can’t wait to share the highly anticipated results and shine a spotlight on the winners.”

Michelle Marshall, editor of ECJ and AIA jury chairman added: “As usual with the Amsterdam Innovation Award, the jury was tasked with evaluating many diverse entries from all aspects of the cleaning sector.

“Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, I can say the scores were extremely close in all categories and the standard of entries was truly impressive. Congratulations to all the final nominees across the four categories!”

She concluded: “We now look forward to seeing all the nominated products when we get together in Amsterdam before the show, to decide on the category winners. And, of course, the overall winner.”

Visitors’ Choice Award and Cleaners’ Choice Award

Industry professionals can start voting for the Visitors’ Choice Award on the Interclean website from the beginning of April. And new this year is the Cleaners’ Choice Awardnominees of the Dutch Cleaner of the Year election will also vote for their favourite product.

All winners will be announced on May 14, the opening day of Interclean Amsterdam.

For more information about visiting Interclean Amsterdam visit: www.intercleanshow.com/ amsterdam

ECJ’s special preview to Interclean Amsterdam begins on page 49. There you’ll find a list of exhibitors, map and news of all the important events taking place through the week

EVENTS

May 14-17 Interclean Amserdam

www.intercleanshow.com

October 3 EuropeanCleaning&HygieneAwards Lisbon, Portugal www.echawards.com

October 16-18 Cleantex Africa Johannesburg, South Africa cleantex.co.za

November 18-21 ISSA North America Las Vegas, USA www.issa.com

December 11-13 Interclean China Shanghai, China www.intercleanshow.com/china

March 18-20 2025 The Cleaning Show London, UK cleaningshow.co.uk

March 25-27 2025 Europropre Paris, France www.europropre.com

May 27-29 2025

ISSA Pulire Milan, Italy www.issapulire.com

September 23-26 2025 CMS Berlin Berlin, Germany www.cms-berlin.de

November 10-13 2025 ISSA North America Chicago, USA www.issa.com

October 19-22 2026

ISSA North America Las Vegas, USA www.issa.com

To have your event included in the Events section, contact ECJ via email at: michelle@europeancleaningjournal.com

Les 12 finalistes des Prix de l’innovation Amsterdam, un haut point du salon Interclean Amsterdam, ont été annoncés.

Die 12 nominierten Finalisten der diesjährigen Amsterdam Innovation Awards – ein Höhepunkt der Interclean Amsterdam im Mai – wurden bekanntgegeben.

Sono stati annunciati i 12 candidati finali per l’Amsterdam Innovation Award di quest’anno, uno dei momenti salienti della fiera Interclean Amsterdam di maggio.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

BCC research shows cleaning industry ‘in recovery’ after pandemic

LATEST RESEARCH published by the British Cleaning Council (BCC) shows how the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector is ‘in recovery’ after the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latest figures, published last week, show the industry contributes nearly £59.8 billion (€69.95 billion) to the economy, after a dip following the start of the pandemic. It remains one of the 10 biggest sectors in the UK.

Positive moves

There are a number of positive developments for the industry to build on including the launch of the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship and increased recognition for the sector postpandemic, the report highlights.

What remains challenging, however is the perfect storm of severe staff shortages’ and an ageing workforce. The cleaning industry continues to struggle to replace staff who have left

the sector in the wake of the pandemic and Brexit, with other staff having moved to new roles. There are a record number of job vacancies across the UK in a wide variety of industries.

Turnover growth

Figures quoted in the document show the entire sector was worth £58.9 billion (€68.89 billion) in 2019, but this dipped to £57 billion (€66.67 billion) in 2020 before increasing again in 2021. All subsectors, bar landscape service activities, saw growth in turnover in 2021 after a dip the previous year.

If occupations involved in cleaning across other industries such as public services and hospitality are included, the total number of individuals working in the industry is 1.47 million. This equates to approximately five per cent of the UK workforce.

More businesses

The sector continues to grow, with a reported 75,565

businesses operating in 2023, up from 73,655 businesses operating in 2022, most of which are micro-businesses.

Free, digital copies of the BCC’s 2024 research report are available by emailing: compsec@ britishcleaningcouncil.org

ABM launches Women’s Impact Group in UK and Ireland

• Une étude par le Conseil britannique de la propreté (BCC) montre que les activités de propreté, d’hygiène et d’élimination de déchets sont « en reprise » au lendemain de la pandémie.

• ABM, un prestataire international de services d’installation et d’aviation, a lancé son premier groupe Impact des femmes au Royaume-Uni et en Irlande.

INTERNATIONAL integrated facility and aviation services business ABM has launched its first Women’s Impact Group in the UK and Ireland.

The UK and Ireland group will focus on promoting a culture that values the contribution and leadership of women at ABM while advancing the understanding of what an equitable and inclusive work environment for women should look like.

The group will partner with the executive steering committee to identify clear pathways for women team members at ABM to enter leadership roles and create avenues that support mentoring, recruiting, and

• Untersuchungen des British Cleaning Council (BCC) zeigen, dass sich der Reinigungs-, Hygiene- und Abfallsektor von den Herausforderungen der COVID19-Pandemie erholt.

• Das internationale Unternehmen für integrierte Anlagen- und Luftverkehrsdienste ABM hat seine erste Women’s Impact Group in Großbritannien und Irland ins Leben gerufen.

development of women within the business.

The first order of business is to collect insight from around the business, all of which will inform the strategy for the group’s inaugural year. People of all genders across ABM’s industry groups are welcome to join.

Susan Mason, UK & Ireland IT director and Women’s Impact Group member comments: “The enthusiasm which this group has been met with has been fantastic. This is a historically male-dominated industry and so it is refreshing to see the encouragement and support that has been given to a group set on making incremental change.” www.abm.co.uk

• Una ricerca del British Cleaning Council (BCC) mostra come il settore della pulizia, dell’igiene e dei rifiuti sia “in ripresa” dopo le sfide della pandemia di Covid-19.

• ABM, azienda internazionale di servizi integrati per l’aviazione e le strutture, ha lanciato il suo primo Women’s Impact Group nel Regno Unito e in Irlanda.

Tennant Company & Brain Corp sign technology agreement

Cleaning machine specialist Tennant Company has signed an exclusive agreement with autonomous technology company Brain Corp. The aim is to accelerate the development and adoption of the next generation of robots in the floor cleaning industry.

Next generation

The two companies anticipate Tennant’s purpose-built robotic equipment driven by Brain Corp’s next-generation and AIenabled autonomous navigation technology will improve the customer return on investment and enable more customers to invest in robotic cleaning.

Tennant and Brain Corp already

have a longstanding partnership which has resulted in the launch of a number of autonomous cleaning machines. “We are excited to expand our existing partnership to dramatically accelerate the transition to robotic cleaning and drive adoption in new segments

• Tennant Company, le fabricant de machines de nettoyage, a signé un accord exclusif avec Brain Corp., une société technologique indépendante.

of our markets,” said Tennant Company president and CEO Dave Huml.

“By combining cleaning intelligence and automation, we are poised to lead the disruption that AI-enabled robotic technology will bring to

our industry.”

Purpose-built

In the second quarter of 2024, Tennant will launch the new X4 ROVR, the company’s first purpose-built Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR). Specifically designed for operation in smaller spaces, it is driven by

• Der Spezialist für Reinigungsmaschinen Tennant Company hat eine Exklusivvereinbarung mit Brain Corp., dem Unternehmen für autonome Technologie, unterzeichnet.

Brain Corp’s next-generation navigation software and hardware suite which will be available exclusively on Tennant machines for floorcare applications.

As part of this new agreement Tennant has invested $32 million in Brain Corp.

You can now buy your ticket to this year’s European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards gala dinner in Lisbon on October 3. Visit echawards. com/attend

• Lo specialist di macchine per la pulizia Tennant Company ha firmato un accordo esclusivo con la società di tecnologia autonoma Brain Corp.

Interclean Amsterdam to host Healthcare Cleaning Forum

INTERCLEAN’S HEALTHCARE

Cleaning Forum (HCF) - the oneday international conference dedicated to advancing healthcare environmental hygiene - will take place during Interclean Amsterdam on May 16 at RAI Amsterdam.

Healthcare Cleaning Forum brings togetherhealthcare experts, cleaning professionals, hospital managers, infection prevention specialists, facility managers and industry leaders.

Latest research updates

The focus is on the intersection of environmental cleaning, disinfection, patient safety and infection prevention and control.

The programme will feature keynote speeches from Professor Didier Pittet (University of Geneva Hospitals, Switzerland), Martin Kiernan (Richard Wells Research Centre, United Kingdom), Edmée Bowles (Radboudumc, the Netherlands) and Brett Mitchell( (Avondale University, Australia). There will also be breakout sessions.

Trends insights

Multiple factors influence the efficiency of cleaning, including procedures, training and education, technology and materials. HCF aims to offer insights into trends and challenges affecting environmental cleaning and

Le Forum Propreté au sein des services de santé, tenu durant le salon Interclean, est une conférence sur l’hygiène environnementale en milieu hospitalier qui aura lieu le 16 mai.

hygiene in the healthcare sector. There will also be updates on scientific research about how cleaning can have an impact on

Das Healthcare Cleaning Forum (HCF) der Interclean – die eintägige internationale Konferenz, die sich der Förderung der Hygiene im Gesundheitswesen widmet – findet am 16. Mai im Rahmen der Interclean Amsterdam statt.

infection prevention and control.

For details on how to register visit www.intercleanshow.com/ healthcare-cleaning-forum

L’Healthcare Cleaning Forum (HCF) di Interclean, la conferenza internazionale di un giorno dedicate al progresso dell’igiene ambientale nel settore sanitario, si svolgerà durante Interclean Amsterdam il 16 maggio.

Interclean event focuses on empowering women in the industry

INTERCLEAN AMSTERDAM will be the venue for an international event dedicated to women in the cleaning industry. Female Leaders in Cleaning is being organised by Martine Mallee from the Netherlands and will take place on the morning of May 15 at RAI Amsterdam.

“By promoting diversity within companies, we not only attract and retain top talent, but also increase the success of businesses. This aligns with the United Nations’ sustainability goals, making it crucial for companies to embrace diversity,” said Mallee.

“To spread this message, we have assembled a powerhouse of successful female leaders in

the industry and I am proud to take part of this. Our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of diversity and inspire others to create similar groups in their own countries,” added Shybon George, director of Resolve Cleaning in South Africa.

Unique challenges

“Each country faces unique challenges when it comes to diversity and inclusivity, but by coming together, we can learn from each other’s experiences, share guidance, and offer support.”

“In addition to promoting diversity, we also want to challenge companies to take

• L’Interclean Amsterdam servira, le 15 mai, de cadre à une manifestation internationale consacrée aux femmes dans le secteur de la propret é: Leaders femmes de la propreté.

responsibility for their social impact” says Helge Alt from Puhastusekspert OÜ in Estonia and member of the event committee.

“By having someone dedicated to addressing issues related to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, we can make a significant difference. This person would ensure that all employees are treated fairly, with equal pay and opportunities for growth.”

“Female voices will take the stage to empower and inspire other women in the industry. Talks will focus on female leadership and the unique challenges faced by women in the cleaning industry,” explained

•Im Rahmen der Interclean Amsterdam wird am 15. Mai unter dem Titel „Female Leaders in Cleaning“ eine internationale Veranstaltung für weibliche Führungskräfte in der Reinigungsbranche stattfinden.

Esther van der Lelie, coorganiser of the meeting.

“The event aims to not only inspire, but also foster a sense of solidarity among women in the industry. It will be an opportunity to share experiences and learn from one another.”

Among those taking part on May 15 are: Lara Paemen (IFMA EMEA), Sarika Saluja (World Toilet Organisation), Helge Alt (Puhastusekspert OÜ), Grazia Polidori (Sofidel), Shybon George (Resolve Cleaning), Pamini Hemaprapha (Emaar Hospitality Group) and Michelle Marshall (ECJ).

For more information: info@ femaleleadersincleaning.com

• Il 15 maggio Interclean Amsterdam sarà la sede di un evento internazionale dedicato alle donne nel settore della pulizia: Female Leaders in Cleaning.

Most hospital infections ‘come from bacteria living in the patient’

NEW RESEARCH carried out at the University of Washington School of Medicine counters the theory that infections contracted during hospital stays are acquired at the healthcare facility itself.

Instead it points to the fact that in most cases, the infectioncausing bacteria were actually present in the patient’s body before surgery.

Scientists conducting the research were keen to explore why surgical site infections, which occur in around one in 30 surgical procedures, have not significantly declined despite general adherence to infectionprevention measures such as

environmental cleaning and sterile processing.

They examined 210 patients undergoing spinal surgery and analysed bacteria from their noses and stool samples. Skin swabs were also collected on the day of surgery from the region directly overlying the planned incision area. All patients were also monitored post-surgery.

New approaches needed

It emerged that 86 per cent of the bacteria that were causing infections after spine surgery were genetically matched to bacteria already present in the patients before the procedure took place. And when an

• De nouvelles recherches aux États-Unis contredisent la théorie selon laquelle les infections contractées lors d’un séjour à l’hôpital sont contractées dans un établissement de santé. Il indique que des bactéries responsables d’infections sont souvent présentes dans le corps du patient.

• Sodexo UK & Ireland est l’une des 70 entreprises importantes qui se sont associées à Tent UK, une nouvelle coalition d’entreprises visant à mettre des réfugiés en contact avec des possibilités d’emploi.

additional 59 surgical site infections in patients in the same environment were analysed, scientists discovered that none of the SSIs were caused by a common bacterial strain.

“This finding indicates that spine SSIs in our population were not caused by strains originating from shared reservoirs within the hospital environment at any measurable frequency,” the

study authors wrote.

Published in Science Translational Medicine, the study points to the need for new approaches concerning strategies to prevent surgical site infections.

“It could drive important shifts in infection prevention strategy and enable more individualised and patient-centred approaches,” write the authors.

Sodexo commits to TENT

SODEXO UK & IRELAND is one of 70 major businesses to join Tent UK, a new coalition of companies connecting refugees to jobs.

Through its Social Impact Pledge Sodexo has committed to do all it can to actively promote social mobility across its business and support disadvantaged groups in finding employment opportunities.

In recent years the UK has welcomed more than 500,000 refugees yet many have been unable to find formal employment. While they have the legal right to work, refugees are over 20 per cent less likely to be employed than

• Neue Forschungsergebnisse in den USA widerlegen die Theorie, dass Infektionen, die während Krankenhausaufenthalten übertragen werden, in der Gesundheitseinrichtung erworben werden. Es heißt, dass im Körper des Patienten häufig infektionsverursachende Bakterien vorhanden seien.

• Sodexo UK & Ireland ist eines von 70 großen Unternehmen, die Tent UK beigetreten sind, einer neuen Koalition von Unternehmen, die Flüchtlinge mit Arbeitsplätzen verbinden.

the UK population, with this gap widening to 30 per cent for refugee women.

At the same time, the UK is experiencing labour shortages, with almost one million job vacancies across key industries such as hospitality, food service and others including manufacturing & healthcare.

Jen Stobart, UK director at Tent said: “Refugees face numerous barriers to formal employment, such as lower language proficiency, transportation issues, lack of childcare options, as well as a lack of social and professional networks. www.tent.org

• Una nuova ricerca negli Usa smentisce la teoria che le infezioni contratte durante la degenza ospedaliera vengano acquisite presso la struttura sanitaria. Dice che i batteri che causano infezioni sono spesso presenti nel corpo del paziente.

• Sodexo UK & Ireland è una delle 70 principali aziende ad aderire a Tent UK, una nuova coalizione di aziende che collega i rifugiati al lavoro.

EFCI unveils manifesto for the future of the cleaning industry

EFCI, the European federation representing the cleaning and facility management industry organised an event recently to present its Manifesto ahead of the European elections of next June. More than 50 guests, including policymakers, representatives of the business community and social partner organisations gathered in Brussels to participate in a presentation of this document, illustrating the points that the industry requires from policymakers to deliver upon in the next EU legislature.

EFCI president Lorenzo Mattioli opened the event with a detailed presentation of the different points, which included sector-specific issues and considerations that are common to the wider EU business community. These included:

• The recognition of the industry’s contribution to economic development, social integration and employment, in the wider context of the role of labour-intensive services, ensured by the creation of a specific portfolio within the European Commission

• A call for the integration of regular cleaning and sanitising services into the future development of the EU public health and emergency preparedness policies

• A revision of EU public procurement provisions tailored to the specificities of labourintensive services that includes price-revision mechanisms

• The adoption by policymakers of a new approach to business legislation that

supports entrepreneurship and removes unnecessary administrative and regulatory burdens

• Accompanying the transition to greener practices within a different, more businessfriendly regulatory context that recognises the efforts made and supports further improvement

• The recognition of the critical role and contribution of cleaning activities in the EU policies on buildings’ energy efficiency and waste reduction

• Reinforcing the political commitment to supporting the EU social dialogue and safeguarding social partners’ autonomy and initiative in the new social policy agenda.

• Enabling the acquisition of new professional skills for all, also via an easier recognition of informal competences and facilitating the access to training opportunities for all, and support increasing the attractiveness of the sector.

Understanding the elections

As the European Union gears up for its next round of elections, scheduled for June 2024, the significance of this democratic process extends far beyond traditional political circles. For industries like cleaning and facility management, actively engaged in shaping policies and regulations, understanding the dynamics of European elections is crucial.

So, how are these elections so impactful on the EU decisional system? How are they organised? At the heart lies the intricate interplay between politics and policy-making in Brussels and in the different EU Member States. The distribution of competences between Brussels and the capitals is complex, and sometimes not univocal. The renewal of the EU Parliament, happening every five years, is the lintel of this

En prévision des élections européennes de juin, l’EFCI a récemment formulé sa position sur ce que les législateurs européens ont à faire pour que le secteur de la propreté continue à livrer de bonnes prestations lors de la prochaine législature européenne. Quelles en sont les priorités ?

complex institutional structure.

In June citizens of the EU member states will elect their national representatives to the European Parliament. Electoral rules vary from country to country, however some basic criteria are common.

Impact on the industry

The results of the elections will impact on the composition of the other main EU institution, the European Commission – the third one, the European Council, is composed of the heads of government of member states and its internal structure therefore does not depend directly on the vote. Based on such results, the European Council will gather in June to identify a president-elect of the European Commission, the executive body of the EU.

The president-elect will then be confirmed by the European Parliament and only after this preliminary approval will they be entitled to present a list of potential candidates to the other posts within the European Commission, each with a distinct portfolio. Finally, after individual scrutiny of all commissioner candidates by MEPs the new Commission must receive another, final and global approval by the Parliament, before it can enter into function.

The new political scenario that will come out of the polls will have an indirect impact on another body, the European Council, whose chair is elected for a permanent mandate of two-and-a-half years. This choice, although not formally, is also dependent on a complex balance influenced by political and geographical considerations and is closely associated with how the nomination to all the other posts is ensured.

But why do these elections matter to the industry? It is difficult to set a specific

Im Vorfeld der EU-Wahlen im Juni legte der EFCI vor Kurzem seine Ansichten darüber vor, was die Reinigungsbranche von den EU-Gesetzgebern benötigt, damit sie im nächsten institutionellen Zyklus der EU weiterhin ihre Leistungen erbringen kann. Wie lauten die Prioritäten?

percentage of how much of the legislation that is applied in our countries is decided or voted upon in Brussels. And navigating the complex web of EU legislation and procedures can often feel like solving a mystery. But understanding how the legislative process works is essential for engaging with policymakers, advocating for industry interests, and influencing policy outcomes.

In brief, the legislative process in the EU typically involves multiple stages, from proposal and negotiation to adoption and implementation. Proposals for new legislation usually originate from the European Commission. A preliminary work of impact assessment is performed and several other mechanisms exist to allow the representatives of societal groups or business express their views on its content.

Crucial five years

Once a finalised version is on the table, it undergoes intense debate and amendment within the relevant parliamentary committees and plenary sessions. Ultimately, legislation must garner majority support from both the Parliament and the Council of the EU to become effective, once again in a complex ‘triangulation’ process where the EU Commission is also involved.

The next five years will be crucial for Europe: with growing fears for the security of the continent, the EU will have to decide on how to continue with the implementation of its main current political initiatives, especially in the field of the Green Deal, while defining new objectives and priorities. In particular, there is a debate about the necessity to reconsider some of the very ambitious environmental targets that have been set.

In vista delle elezioni europee di giugno, di recente l’EFCI ha presentato ai legislatori dell’UE il proprio punto di vista in merito a ciò che ritiene necessario fare affinché l’industria della pulizia possa continuare ad assicurare buoni risultati nel prossimo ciclo istituzionale dell’UE. Quali sono le priorità?

Better hygiene for better business

Better hygiene for better workplace satisfaction with Tork

86% of office employees consider cleanliness the most important aspect of a good work environment.* At Interclean 2024, Tork will showcase its innovative, award-winning hygiene solutions that inspire facility managers and other decision-makers to meet high hygiene expectations and optimize business performance.

tork.co.uk/Interclean

A.I.S.E. appoints Alexis Van Maercke as director general

A.I.S.E. has been the voice of the European detergents and maintenance products industry since 1952. Alexis Van Maercke became director general in January 2024. The association’s senior communications manager Aisling O’Kane spoke to him about his plans for the organisation in the coming years and writes this exclusive piece for ECJ.

A.I.S.E. represents the detergent sector in Europe: can you briefly tell us how the association is structured?

The diversity of our membership is one of our greatest strengths. We represent the whole sector from large multinationals to SMEs as well as associate members active in our supply chain. This variety of voices allows us to take an integrated and balanced approach to every issue.

Based in Brussels, A.I.S.E., our member companies and our network of 29 national associations, represent over 900 local companies in national capitals and to the European Institutions.

Can you give us an outline of the current economic situation of the sector?

Our annual reporting of the European market shows annual growth across most businesses, with an annual market value of over €42 billion. The exceptional demand for cleaning and disinfecting products during the pandemic, particularly in the professional sector, disrupted many markets which are now returning to normal. However,

despite stabilised turnover, production remains disrupted: costs are still very high due to high raw material prices, wage cost and inflation.

What are the hot topics you are working on at European level?

The Detergents Regulation governs our core business and, A.I.S.E. is the lead stakeholder for this revision. Of course, we cannot do this alone – we are working in close cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Member States and the value chain. The European Commission’s impact assessment found that the current regulation is effective but needed updating to reflect sectoral developments.

Unfortunately, we see significant regulatory burdens being introduced as it progresses through the legislative process. If the Regulation is overly burdensome, challenging or even impossible to implement for SMEs, innovation will suffer, small businesses will struggle, and employment impacted. Highly political

Besides the Detergent Regulation, the revision of REACH is highly political and could dominate the next electoral cycle, with the evaluation of the biocides legislation scheduled for 2025. The volume of new or revised legislation will lead to significant numbers of secondary implementing acts mean a massive workload for the association, members and member states.

One aspect of great interest is the product passport, can you explain what it is?

The European Commission injected the concept of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) in recent legislation proposals (eg, Detergent Regulation) with

L’A.I.S.E, l’Association européenne représentant le secteur de la détergence et de l’entretien, a un nouveau directeur général. Il s’agit d’Alexis Van Maerke, qui s’entretient en exclusivité avec ECJ des priorités de son organisation au niveau de l’UE.

the framework for all DPPs being set by the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The purpose of DPP is to make detailed product-related data available via electronic means. DPP is emerging as a powerful tool, however, there are numerous issues with its implementation for detergent products. As this develops we will know more.

Pioneering

The association has been a pioneer in sustainability with the ‘A.I.S.E. Sustainable Cleaning Charter’ and other initiatives. Where do you stand today in this regard?

A.I.S.E.’s leadership and long history of voluntary sustainability initiatives is one of the key strengths of our industry. These initiatives, created and driven by A.I.S.E. promote the safe and sustainable use of cleaning and hygiene products at home and outside the home, whilst the A.I.S.E. Charter for Sustainable Cleaning shows measurable reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions year on year, down 42 per cent over 16 years. How can artificial Intelligence (AI) be used in cleaning?

AI has enormous potential to track, monitor, train, and design cleaning programmes for key areas such as restaurants, hospitals, and hotels. Data such as foot traffic, customer surveys, occupancy etc can be integrated to streamline and target cleaning when and where it is needed. The prospects for efficiencies are tremendous. What do you see on the horizon in the future?

I have been in the European arena for many years, with experience inside both the Commission and the Parliament. We are still in the lull before the storm of secondary legislation

A.I.S.E. – der europäische Verband, der die Wasch-, Pflege- und Reinigungsmittelbranche repräsentiert – hat einen neuen Generaldirektor. Er heißt Alexis Van Maercke und in einem exklusiven Gespräch mit dem ECJ erläutert er die wichtigsten Prioritäten der Organisation auf EU-Ebene.

that will follow. It will be even more demanding than the current revisions, more complex, more technical, and more difficult to influence. We will continue to do targeted advocacy to make sure EU legislation is realistic and implementable across the member states, at the level of all businesses.

Finally, a strong internal market is a prerequisite for European industry to continue to grow and innovate. The current fragmentation of the Single Market is a threat to industry, consumers and European society. European businesses must be enabled to remain at the forefront of innovation. The future of Europe is made with industry.

About A.I.S.E.

A.I.S.E. represents the detergents & maintenance products industry in Europe. Based in Brussels, A.I.S.E. has been the voice of the industry to EU regulators since 1952. Membership consists of 29 national associations across Europe, 18 corporate members and 18 value chain partners. Through this extensive network, A.I.S.E. represents over 900 companies supplying household and professional cleaning products and services across Europe.

The industry is a substantial contributor to the European economy with an annual market value of €42,8 billion, directly employing 95,000 and 360,000 throughout the value chain. A.I.S.E. has a long history in leading voluntary industry initiatives that focus on sustainable design, manufacturing and consumption, product safety and safe use of products by consumers and professional customers. www.aise.eu

L’A.I.S.E., l’associazione europea che rappresenta il settore dei detergenti e della manutenzione, ha un nuovo direttore generale: Alexis Van Maercke. Qui parla in esclusiva a ECJ delle principali priorità dell’organizzazione a livello europeo.

Industry tackles modern slavery

From the UK, Lynn Webster on a renewed focus on the impact and evidence of modern slavery.

There has been a recharged focus of the impact and evidence of modern slavery coming through the cleaning industry. It is driven through the launch of industry led initiatives; as headlined at a recent trade show and the publication of studies of its impact on procurement.

With an estimated 100,000 in the UK ‘living’, in modern slavery and over 17,000 potential victims of human trafficking or modern slavery referred to the Home Office in 2023 it is on the increase and should not, and cannot be ignored.

The cleaning industry is highly susceptible to this where it manifests easily into FM, security construction and social care. There are a number of indicators which may highlight slavery and labour exploitation both within companies and across their supply chains. Consider...

Appearance: wearing the same clothes every day, dressed inadequately for work ie, without an outdoor coat or suitable footwear; displaying unexplained injuries resulting from assault.

Finances: having little or no money, bank cards or documents; accruing debts.

Behaviours: allowing others to always speak on their behalf; instructions from controlling others; demonstrate limited or no interaction with colleagues or reveal no details of home life; distrust of anyone in authority.

Restricted freedom or engagement: unable to communicate freely; show limited contact with others; rely on specific support with transport to work or limited access to medical care

Accommodation: reluctant to share details of their home address or don’t know it; may have poor or substandard housing; living in a closed group

Rapportant du RoyaumeUni, Lynn Webster parle du souci croissant qui entoure les effets et les preuves de l’existence d’un esclavage moderne dans le secteur de la propreté.

with no choice to leave.

It is in every employer’s interests to avoid becoming embroiled in the stress and distress of individual casesbeing able to reassure customers and staff that they are free from such exploitation. It is clearly important to have policies and processes aligned to prepare, prevent, protect and pursue a possible situation.

Specific awareness must be made for example when employing agency or subcontracted staff with possible use of different staff attending each day.

Have a defined system with suppliers, not only reviewing sources of your supplies, for example, uniform but where are they made?

Help is at hand – SOS, Stamp Out Slavery (stampoutslavery. org) has been launched to support cleaning companies in their approach, minimise the risks of modern slavery/human trafficking occurring in their labour supply chains. It helps in providing external review, validation of human resources practices, procedures and records - and those of subcontractors - to raise the awareness of exploitation, how to report potential incidences and in turn offer financial support to charities that work with victims. Twenty per cent of the fee income from SOS is donated to Unseen (unseenuk.org), a charity that supports survivors of slavery, equips organisations and frontline staff with the knowledge to tackle exploitation, and influences legislation to create longterm change.

The Modern Slavery Helpline is open 24/7, 365 days a year, free and confidential for users on 08000 121 700.

Lynn Webster berichtet aus dem Vereinigten Königreich, dass die Auswirkungen von moderner Sklaverei in der Reinigungsbranche und die Beweise dafür erneut in den Brennpunkt geraten sind.

Dal Regno Unito, Lynn Webster ci parla di una rinnovata attenzione all’impatto e alle prove della schiavitù moderna nel settore delle pulizie.

Green is the new black

Industry gathers at a seminar with a ‘green’ focus. Lotte Printz in Denmark reports from the event.

As the conference auditorium is filling up this early spring Friday, there are various reliable indicators that this is a ‘green’ event. Some seminar goers are flashing shirts and bags made from recycled tea towels and a majority of attendees turn up with the reusable coffee cups handed out as they arrived the previous day.

Green is the New Black is the name of this year’s two-day seminar held by the Danish Association for the Technology of Cleaning and Maintenance (DRF), and the first speaker to enter the stage on this second day is a media celebrity known as ‘The Farmer’ named after the awardwinning TV programme in which he pursues his dream of becoming self-sufficient.

In this context, he shared with the audience his views on how to live more sustainably, pointing out, among other things, that the way we build our houses and office buildings in this first world society doesn’t do much good for the environment. Despite what we might think. And the average family home is both bigger and better built than our real needs. So families spend half their time at home trying to find other family members, the other half on cleaning the house. A heartfelt joke that might have touched a raw nerve with some, but also filled the auditorium with laughter.

‘The Farmer’ also took part in the following panel discussion on green transition with five representatives from the cleaning industry and got a bit worked up when one of them noted that the transition is a journey.

“You cannot take a journey in a world in flames,” he remarked and stressed that he backs regulatory measures in this area: as human beings we are not as much in harmony with nature as we think

Rapportant du Danemark, Lotte Printz évoque un séminaire de propreté de deux jours qui s’est concentré sur des impératifs écologiques.

and we simply don’t know how to handle it when given a choice.

The panel had different views on regulatory measures, but generally agreed there was little choice in going ahead with a green transition.

“Financially it pays off as well,” one company owner who’s worked with environmentally friendly solutions for more than 15 years, said.

While the only female in the panel emphasised it shouldn’t be viewed from a financial perspective only. As an example, using less chemical would lower sick leave and eventually have a positive impact on recruitment. Another talking point was ESG which one suggested SMEs should be exempt from as it is both time-consuming and resource intensive. A view no one else on the panel shared.

The battle on words, as you might call it, that fired up ‘The Farmer’ in the panel, was also addressed on the first day of the seminar when the author of Climate Communication told the attendees to be careful using words such as sustainable or carbon neutral when marketing their products or companies. There’s too much greenwashing in the industry and it may backfire – both in the courts of law and with customers and consumers – so stick to the plain truth and do a proper clean-up, she recommended!

To end on a positive note, cup washing was highly reduced at the seminar. Due to the reusable cups handed out, only 46 ordinary coffee cups had to be washed up compared to 600 cups at similar events, staff reported! Attendees left with plenty of ‘green’ input. Whether they left with the cups and will actually reuse them at the next seminar remains to be seen.

Lotte Printz berichtet aus Dänemark und bringt Neuigkeiten von einem zweitägigen Seminar der Reinigungsbranche, bei dem der Schwerpunkt auf Umweltfreundlichkeit lag.

Dalla Danimarca, Lotte Printz porta notizie da un seminario di due giorni sul settore della pulizia con una particolare attenzione all’ecologia.

Quality deserves more than a score

John Griep at VSR in the Netherlands explains how the organisation assesses cleaning quality.

At VSR, we do not assess cleaning quality by means of a score, but with the Acceptance Quality Limit (AQL), part of our proven VSR-KMS system. For the quality of cleaning delivered, an unambiguous score is simply inadequate. You can’t just lump different types of cleaning work together and make a uniform judgment. This ignores all kinds of important data.

From that point of view we’ve developed the VSR-KMS system, which is based on statistics and percentages. The AQL within this system represents a percentage that indicates the number of errors allowed in a specific room of a specific building. You have different requirements for cleaning a sanitary area than for cleaning workplaces, don’t you?

As soon as the collaboration between a client and a cleaning company starts, the preconditions for the AQL are drawn up. That starts by first identifying the needs of the end user. Think, for example, of office workers who want to use clean sanitary facilities on a daily basis.

Based on these needs, a suitable cleaning programme is chosen. This includes all elements - things that need to be cleaned, such as a desk or office chair - and sample units (an entire workstation). The contracting parties then determine the MAF values (maximum number of error possibilities).

then displayed in a margin of error (AQL percentage) and is the minimum acceptable quality level (AQL) of the service.

Thanks to the AQL method, you can easily determine different quality levels for different types of buildings and spaces. For washrooms, a relatively strict maximum error rate of four per cent is usually used. Offices, classrooms and other common rooms may have an AQL of seven per cent. In specific industries, lower AQL values of one per cent and two per cent are also used. For production environments for food products or treatment rooms of healthcare providers.

The AQL also lends itself very well to identifying trends in cleaning quality. There is a margin between the AQL value and the actual number of errors made if a cleaning company delivers sufficient quality. And this margin can fluctuate over time. The following applies: the larger the margin, the better the delivered cleaning quality and vice versa. Over a period of time you can use the AQL for trend analyses. It is important you can only compare rooms/buildings with the same AQL values.

The MAF is a categorybuilding-specific indicator. By combining the number of sample units in the control of a room category (eg, ‘sanitary area’ or ‘open-plan office’) with the MAF value of that category, an approval limit is created. So the maximum number of allowed errors that may result from a sample/check. This is

In practice, we see some parties link the AQL margins to a report grade. At VSR, we don’t allow this. Complex data that says something about a certain type of space within a specific building simply cannot be flattened into a single number. So trend analysis, yes; grade, no.

When the reporting is applied correctly, the VSR-KMS system provides a confidence rate of at least 95 per cent. Thanks to the use of AQLs both the client and the cleaning company receive a reliable statement about the quality delivered.

John Griep, de l’organisation néeerlandaise VSR, explique la manière dont celle-ci évalue la qualité du nettoyage en recourant à la Limite d’acceptation de la qualité (AQL). In seinem Bericht aus den Niederlanden erklärt John Griep (VSR), wie das Unternehmen die Reinigungsqualität anhand des Acceptance Quality Limit (AQL, deutsch „erlaubte Ausschussquote“) bewertet.

John Griep di VSR nei Paesi Bassi spiega in che modo l’organizzazione valuti la qualità della pulizia utilizzando il campionamento AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit, limite di accettabilità della qualità).

Cleaners’ podcast enters fourth year

German contract cleaning association BIV has a new content focus for its podcast, reports Katja Scholz.

Joining in the discussion on sociopolitical questions – that is the challenge for the skilled trades sector with the largest workforce in Germany. The ‘Showpiece’ podcast of the Federal Association of Contract Cleaners (BIV) made its debut in January 2021 and now has more than 30 episodes under its belt following more than three years on air.

Topics so far have been as varied as the industry itself: politics and science, trade and industry, training, digitalisation, migration and sustainability, as well as social and cultural developments. “Since launching in 2021, we have always tried to engage with new topics, new faces and new perspectives” said Christopher Lück. “And that will be no different with our new-look podcast.”

In this fourth year of production, a new content focus will be created: specific legal issues and legislative proposals governed by both federal policy and the EU, along with key judgments of the labour courts, will form the centrepiece of this year’s podcast. Host Christopher Lück will be joined by association lawyer Andrea-Simone Johannes who will provide the legal expertise and categorisation in the discussions.

Law expertise

The inspiration for a specialised legal podcast came in fact from her: Johannes can draw on decades of expertise particularly in employment law, in addition to her experience of podcasting. She not only headed up the legal department of a well-known contract cleaning company but also established a knowledge podcast there. “In terms of our service concept it is, in my view, absolutely crucial to use different approaches in communicating,” says Johannes. “This enables us to make relevant information

L’association allemande de la propreté professionnelle, BIV, a remanié l’orientation de son podcast, qui est entré dans sa quatrième année, rapporte Katja Scholz.

accessible at all times and in all places - and hopefully in doing so present the appropriate degree of objectivity in an entertaining way.”

First episode - court decision

While the final episode of ‘Showpiece’ in 2023 still centred on a skilled craft topic - the victory of Sarah Lutz on behalf of the contract cleaning trade in the 72nd German Skilled Crafts Championships - the focus in the first episode of the new year is the recent decision by the Federal Labour Court (BAG) regarding sick leave following notice of termination of employment. The BAG ruled that, in certain circumstances connected with termination of employment conditions, the certificate of incapacity for work or the electronic notification of sick leave is no longer sufficient proof that an employee is actually unable to work due to illness.

The BIV is actually following a trend in that podcasts are unwaveringly popular. According to digital association Bitcom, almost every German male and every other German female from the age of 16 (43 per cent) listens to podcasts at least occasionally – that corresponds to 29.7 million people. Among the younger generation between 16 and 29, more than half (52 per cent) are podcast listeners, while among 30- to 49-year-olds, the number is exactly half (50 per cent). “We would like to make the conversation with relevant opinion leaders accessible to these interested people so that the next generation of contract cleaners can see: ‘we’re discussing it with you!’” explains Christopher Lück, BIV director of policy and communications. The podcasts can be heard on the BIV website as well as on common platforms such as Spotify, Deezer or iTunes.

Der Bundesinnungsverband des Gebäudereiniger-Handwerks BIV hat im vierten Jahr seiner Podcasts einen neuen inhaltlichen Fokus, berichtet Katja Scholz.

Per il quarto anno del suo podcast, l’associazione tedesca delle imprese di pulizia BIV si concentra su nuovi contenuti, riferisce Katja Scholz.

Services price index well received

From France Christian Bouzols reports on the recently-introduced cleaning services price index.

An ‘Index Propreté’ (cleaning services price index) has been officially instituted in France in October 2023. It is now published every quarter. According to the feedback received so far, it has been well received not only by cleaning companies, but also by their clients.

This index purports to track the evolution of cleaning company costs. It allows both suppliers and purchasers of cleaning services to revise or update cleaning contracts, with these changes being initiated by one or the other of the two parties.

Methodical

The index was developed methodically on the basis of a 1500-company sample and verified by the directorate for competition and fraud control and the national statistical institute (INSEE). It is now published on the index-propreté.fr site. Both cleaning companies and their clients can also register to automatically receive the latest value of the index.

of 2024.

Good initial feedback

Following its first official publication in October 2023, the Index Propreté has been very well received by the sector and its clients. Having been hurt by a recent inflationary period which highlighted even more the need for such an index, many companies have integrated it in their new contracts or in their contract revision procedures. They also appreciate the fact that this index has been created with a view to balance the market. Buyers have started to make use of it, as shown by the fact that several public procurement bodies have integrated it in their price revision clauses.

Practical tools

At this time, the latest known value is the one published at the end of the third quarter of 2023 and was 108.6. This means that cleaning company costs have increased 8.6 per cent between the first quarter of 2022 and the third quarter of 2023. The value of the index for the fourth quarter of 2023 was to be known, at the very earliest, at the end of the first quarter

To help suppliers and purchasers in the use of this new index, the federation of cleaning companies (FEP) and other sector stakeholders have created several ancillary tools. It is thus possible for them to download complete price revision clauses from the Achat Propreté site (achat-proprete. com). In addition, FEP members can download several tools to help them establish the implications of price revisions, obtaining, for example, completed clauses, client information notes and other inputs. A legal representative, specialised in cleaning sector transactions, is also on hand to answer questions.

Dans son rapport de la France, Christian Bouzols parle du nouvel Indice Propreté.

Christian Bouzols berichtet aus Frankreich über den kürzlich eingeführten Preisindex für Reinigungsdienste.

Christian Bouzols riferisce dalla Francia in merito all’indice dei prezzi dei servizi di pulizia recentemente lanciato.

Cleaning sector’s climate strategy

Italy correspondent Anna Garbagna reports on a conference discussing environmental strategies.

Environmental protection is a topic that is becoming increasingly crucial in the management of the economy. In March, the industrial cleaning sector dedicated two days of the H3i HI&I Cleaning Forum event to sustainability, ecodesign, certifications and environmental strategies for the cleaning industry.

The conference, entitled The Climate Strategy of Professional Cleaning to Overcome the Challenge of the Ecological Transition, was organised by AFIDAMP to discuss the possible solutions for a sustainable future with companies, study the regulatory framework and identify a climate strategy to help businesses operating in the cleaning sector work towards an effective ecological transition.

The event was attended by many industry experts, chaired by Matteo Marino, AFIDAMP head of chemicals GDL. Among them, Danilo Sartori, new recycling solutions manager at COREPLA; Nicola Fabbri, senior consultant for ERGO; Piera Pellegrino, technologist of ISPRA Service for Environmental Certifications; Domenico Zuccaro, technologist at ISPRA Service for Environmental Certifications and EU Ecolabel CB forum coordinator; and Cesare Buffone, head of LCA analysis and sustainability at PUNTO 3.

This panel of experts was able to establish a clear picture of what needs quickly and expertly addressing. Thanks to the participation of numerous professionals and the different skills they brought, it was possible to examine the situation in which the cleaning industry operates today and look at its future prospects, in line with the new regulations.

The need has emerged for all companies to future-proof by immediately setting up a real

Dans son compte-rendu d’Italie, Anna Garbagna parle d’une conférence qui s’est penchée sur des questions de durabilité, de conception écologique, de certification et d’environnement.

climate strategy, through research and implementation of environmentally friendly actions. Not only at a marketing and communications level, but above all at the level of business, production and clear presence on the market.

The climate strategy is not and must not be considered an isolated element, but rather part of a growth project.

As highlighted by Danilo Sartori, this way of thinking requires the commitment of everyone, through teamwork and - in the case of recycling and reuse of containers - it must start from design and planning, to make improvments. These actions must be in line with the European Green Deal, which Italy actively promotes.

It is no coincidence that many steps have been taken in Italy, in particular thanks to the CAMs which have allowed us to be ahead on recycling and the Ecolabel. As highlighted by Piera Pellegrino and Domenico Zuccaro, to date already 464 companies (out of a total of 2000 at European level) have at least one Ecolabel certified product, a voluntary label assigned to products/services that meet certain environmental and performance criteria during the entire life cycle: from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and distribution, and through to disposal.

Nicola Fabbri underlined the need for companies to understand how to proceed, laying the foundations for building measurable strategies, while Cesare Buffone emphasised the importance of eco-compatible design, integrating environmental assessments in the product development process. The climate strategy must help companies reduce their carbon footprint and compensate for unavoidable emissions by adapting their production methods.

Bei einer kürzlich in Italien veranstalteten Konferenz lagen die Schwerpunkte auf Nachhaltigkeit, Ökodesign, Zertifizierung und Umweltstrategien, berichtet Anna Garbagna.

Un recente convegno in Italia incentrato su sostenibilità, ecodesign, certificazione e strategie ambientali – ce ne parla Anna Garbagna.

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Vision of a better future

In November 2023 ECJ ran a news story highlighting the findings of a report in the UK about working conditions for cleaning operatives. The year-long investigation by the Centre for Progressive Change found that more than a third of them had worked while unwell because many of them are unable to claim sick pay. In this special report we delve deeper into the detail of the survey that took a close look at working conditions in the sector through the eyes of the operatives themselves.

nian, Polish and Bulgarian. Of the survey respondents, 77 per cent answered the survey in Spanish (93 per cent of which were of Latin American heritage); three per cent in Portuguese; eight per cent in Bulgarian; two per cent in Romanian; two per cent in Polish.

Other characteristics of participants:

• Gender identity: 51 per cent female; 48 per cent male; 0 per cent non-binary; one per cent no answer.

• Indirectly employed: 79 per cent

• Unionisation: 59 per cent of Spanish language survey respondents members of a union (the overwhelming majority IWGB); about 23 per cent of the other cleaners who participated in the research were members of a union.

• No contract: nine per cent

• Zero-hours contract: 24 per cent.

Key findings

The key findings of the report are:

CLEANING UP THE SECTOR - A Better Future of Work for Cleaners is the title of the report published by the Centre for Progressive Change in the UK following a year-long project. During that time it surveyed and interviewed 500 cleaners across the UK to report on working conditions. The aim was to present the main issues affecting cleaning operatives in the UK and draw on their ideas from those on the ground to build a vision of an alternative, positive future for cleaning work.

In the Listening Campaign the researchers heard from 520 cleaners using online surveys (209 participants); one-to-one interviews (28 participants); house meetings (85 participants); Facebook forums (37 participants); Issues Workshops (53 participants); and imagination events (108 participants).

Approximately 68 per cent of the cleaners in the Listening Campaign as a whole were based in London, while 32 per cent in other parts of the UK. The researchers heard from cleaners in six languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Roma-

• 70 per cent of respondents said excessive workloads were a problem. Participants cited underpayment and negative health impacts as the key negative results of excessive workloads.

• The experiences described by participants in the research demonstrates that working in the cleaning sectors comes with many risks to both the worker’s physical and mental health. Participants regularly used terms such as ‘backbreaking‘, abusive’, ‘inhumane’, ‘painful’ and ‘stressful’ to describe issues such as workloads and shift work.

• Despite this, just 21 per cent of the participants reported being allowed to take sick leave. Unsurprisingly, ‘sick pay’ was the issue raised most frequently by participants in the Listening Campaign.

• 34 per cent of respondents mentioned low pay as a key issue. Many cleaners emphasised that the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is simply not enough to live off, particularly when working volatile shifts, which create significant uncertainty around income. Many other participants mentioned issues of underpayment, wage theft, as well as difficulty utilising the

legislative avenues available to challenge employers who refused to pay.

• Overall, 32 per cent of cleaners involved in our research raised issues related to bullying, harassment and discrimination. Asked directly if they had been discriminated against, harassed or assaulted at work, 53 per cent of the survey respondents said they had. Twentytwo per cent of English speakers had experienced discrimination, harassment or assault, while 59 per cent of non-English speakers had experienced these issues.

• Twenty-seven per cent of respondents mentioned short, anti-social and split shifts as a key issue in the cleaning sector.

• Twenty-four per cent of participants in the research were on zero-hour contracts, and 20 per cent mentioned job insecurity as a key concern. These participants emphasised that shift work comes with a host of problems, namely financial insecurity, volatile hours, invisibilisation and negative health impacts. Indirect impacts of volatile working patterns included problems accessing rental accommodation and state welfare.

Improve conditions

Cleaning operatives in the Imagination Campaign and Issues Workshops came up with a number of pragmatic and intuitive proposals for how employers could help to improve working conditions in the sector:

• Employers should raise staff levels. Increasing the number of staff would help to solve problems with both excessive workloads and short, volatile shifts by spreading the work more evenly across a greater number of workers.

• Employers should ensure all cleaners are offered sick pay, regardless of how much they earn, from the first day that they are off sick, and pay sick pay in line with the real Living Wage. If a cleaner is paid less than the real Living Wage then they should be paid sick pay in line with their wages.

• Employers should pay the Real Living

RECYCLED POLYESTER ONLY

Wage. This would help to make sure that cleaners can at the very least afford housing, utilities, food and other basic items.

• Employers should implement regular auditing of contractors, supervisors and line-managers. Regular staff surveys to gather workers’ views and help firms identify problem areas before they become serious.

• Employers and clients should move to a model of daytime cleaning. This would be less disruptive to the worker’s sleep, health and family and social life. It would also mean that cleaning is no longer invisible work, which would have important knock-on effects in terms of reducing bullying and abuse.

Heavy workload

Alongside sick pay, excessive workloads were the most widespread problem identified. Seventy per cent of the survey participants confirmed they had experienced excessive workloads. They were the third most raised issue independent of direct questioning. Having to do heavy physical work under unreasonable time constraints was a particular problem. Indeed, some described completing the workloads in their contracted hours as an ‘impossible’ job. This hotel cleaner’s comments are typical: “Cleaning a hotel room in 30 minutes with all the standards and tasks they expect of you for each room, it’s impossible.”

Many spoke of the ways in which excessive workloads often meant being paid for less time than they worked for. Respondents repeatedly made clear that excessive workloads contribute significantly to unpaid overtime and associated minimum wage violations.

Unsurprisingly, a major impact of excessive workloads described by participants was the physical health toll. When asked why their workloads were excessive, some cleaners replied by listing the most strenuous aspects of the job, such as vacuuming, using specialist rug cleaning machines, shining floors and mopping. Many others recounted the physical exhaustion and injuries they suffered as a result of undertaking such physically demanding work at

Dans le cadre d’un projet mené au Royaume-Uni pendant 12 mois auprès de 500 agents de nettoyage, le Centre for Progressive Change a voulu en savoir plus sur les conditions de travail dans le secteur de la propreté commerciale. Parmi ses constatations: 70 pour cent des répondants mentionnent une charge excessive de travail ; 21 pour cent, la difficulté de bénéficier de congés maladie; et 34 pour cent, la modicité des salaires.

excessive speed or for long hours.

Repeated physical strain and stress in the workplace can lead to chronic health problems. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are extremely common for example. Some described not having time for breaks so were not able to eat properly. Others commented that being treated poorly had negative effects on their mental health and sense of self-worth.

Sick pay

Of all the problems identified by cleaning operatives through the Listening Campaign, lack of sick pay was the most widespread. Across English and Spanish language surveys, 37 per cent of participants mentioned sick pay as an issue they would most like to see campaigning focused on, and was the issue most regularly mentioned independently of direct questioning. When the issue was specifically prompted, 81 per cent of participants highlighted sick pay as an issue. Of 350 cleaners consulted on the problems they face at work, just 21 per cent reported being allowed to take sick leave. This means they are often attend work when they are not fit to do so.

The UK’s statutory sick pay (SSP), the legal minimum that employers must pay their employees, is a flat rate payment (not-tethered to an individual’s earnings) which currently stands at £109.40around 19 per cent of average pay, or just 12 per cent of the average UK household’s weekly expenditure.

This represents among the lowest rates in Europe. In countries such as Germany, Sweden, Belgium and Spain, sick pay amounts to 100 per cent, 93 per cent, 64 per cent and 42 per cent of average pay respectively. UK SSP also has one of the shortest durations of payment in Europe; it can be paid for only a 28-week period. In the Netherlands, which has the one of the most generous SSP in terms of duration, workers receive 70 per cent of their pay for up to two years.

Low pay

Pay was one of the most important issues raised in the Listening Campaign, with 34 per cent of respondents mentioning it as a key issue. Pay was also the issue

In einem einjährigen Projekt des britischen Centre for Progressive Change wurden 500 Reinigungskräfte befragt, um mehr über die Arbeitsbedingungen im gewerblichen Reinigungssektor zu erfahren. Zu den wichtigsten Erkenntnissen zählten, dass 70 Prozent der Befragten sagten, dass übermäßige Arbeitsbelastung ein Problem sei; 21 Prozent gaben an, dass sie sich krankschreiben lassen können, und 34 Prozent nannten niedrige Löhne als ernstes Problem.

raised most frequently by cleaners independent of being directly questioned.

A number of issues surrounding low pay were raised: The National Minimum Wage (NMW) being insufficient; uncompensated additional hours ; wage theft and wage default; refusal to pay holiday and sick pay; substituting a wage with unsatisfactory on-the-job benefits; being ineligible for the NMW; short, anti-social shifts; difficulty challenging employers.

Low pay is a growing problem in the UK labour market, with the cost of living crisis forcing households to spend more of their income on food and energy, meaning that wages are in real terms significantly lower than they were only a few years ago. At first glance, wages for low-paid workers do appear to be rising and there has been a rapid surge in numbers receiving the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW). While the report welcomes this growth, it also points out the cost of living crisis, when inflation is soaring, real wages are declining and workers are increasingly unable to meet their daily needs.

Shifts

Participants in the Listening Campaign also frequently raised problems associated with the shift-based nature of commercial cleaning work. There are three principal, interrelated ways in which current shift structures are affecting the workforce. Firstly, they are short - often only a few hours long. They are anti-social, falling at inconvenient times of the day, for example late at night and early in the morning. And often they are split - intersected by long periods of ‘non-work’ time, for example a brief morning shift is followed by a long wait until an additional night shift.

Work patterns like this give rise to many other challenges such as mental and physical health problems, additional transport costs, difficulty fulfilling caring responsibilities, access to housing, disrupted sleep routines, second-class status in the workplace.

• The entire report is now available to download: autonomy.work/portfolio/cleaningupthesector/

Un progetto del Centre for Progressive Change (centro per il cambiamento progressivo) britannico durato un anno ha intervistato 500 addetti alle pulizie per saperne di più sulle loro condizioni lavorative nel settore delle pulizie commerciali. Fra i principali risultati emerge che il 70 degli intervistati ha affermato che l’eccessivo carico di lavoro è un problema; il 21 per cento ha riferito di avere avuto il permesso di prendere un congedo per malattia e il 34 per cento ha affermato che la paga bassa è un problema serio.

The pros and cons

THERE IS A GROWING TENDENCY for firms to use chemical dosing systems when carrying out cleaning procedures rather than having to dilute their products by hand.

The traditional ‘glug glug’ method of mixing is now generally regarded as being old-fashioned, inaccurate and potentially unsafe. But what boxes do chemical dispensing systems actually tick? And as businesses strive to be more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective, how far do dosing systems help them to fulfil these ambitions?

Accurate dosing is a constant challenge and a time-consuming aspect of cleaning, says Kärcher’s accessories and detergents product manager Ilona Klein. “A dispensing system improves time efficiency while also preventing uneconomic overdosing,” she said. “Not only do these systems offer advantages from an economic and ecological viewpoint, they also ensure a consistent result without negative effects such as a sticky floor caused by overdosing.”

The wrong dosage will result in wasted cleaning agent while also potentially damaging surfaces, she said. “A dosing system will provide the right dilution ratio, reducing waste and preventing unnecessary expense,” said Klein. “It will also ensure that the correct dosage is used, even when applied by untrained personnel in a high staff-turnover situation. And users will benefit from the safe and ergonomic handling of the products.”

Trigger reactions

Concentrated chemicals used in professional cleaning can often be highly alkaline or acidic, she said. “If the recommended safety equipment such as gloves and goggles is worn incorrectly, substances in these products could trigger reactions if they should come into contact with the user’s skin or eyes,” she said. “Consequently, any contact with concentrated cleaning agents should ideally be reduced as far as possible. So a dosing system can make a valuable contribution to the

cleaner’s occupational safety.”

When dosing systems in Kärcher’s scrubber dryers are combined with the company’s Eco!flow system they provide a uniform cleaning result, says Kärcher’s scrubber dryer application expert Patrick Prasser. “This significantly reduces the consumption of water and cleaning agent because the quantity is adjusted every time the operator slows down for bends and obstacles,” he said.

Even less contact

Dosing systems in the future are likely to require even less direct contact with the detergent concentrate, Prasser predicts. “They may also include individualised connection systems and digital networking options,” he adds. “The inclusion of digital features might thereby provide additional support in terms of centralised data availability and resource planning.

“In fact, we have already implemented an app connection into our B 50 W scrubber dryer that makes managing authorisations and setting up dilution levels even more intuitive.”

Automatic dosing prevents the glugging and spillages often associated with manual dispensing, says Fenton Packaging Solutions’ supply chain managing partner David Wilson. “The fact that the product is usually housed in a secure container means there is an immediate health and safety benefit,” he said.

“Chemical dispensing equipment also provides an accurate dosage each time provided the equipment is calibrated regularly and the system is maintained. And this delivers cost control benefits and takes out all the guesswork.”

Dosing systems allow chemical manufacturers to supply their product in concentrated form, he says. “This in turn means they can specify a more sustainable pack size by supplying a 10-litre bagin-box concentrated pack, for example, rather than a 20-litre or 25-litre rigid plastic pack that contains a chemical and water mix,” he said.

“Smaller packs allow for easier storage

How can chemical dispensing systems help companies to work more productively while also cutting costs and benefiting the environment? And do such systems have any downsides? ECJ asks companies their views.

while the reduced weight involved improves moving and handling. And another advantage is that a bag-in-box pack can be safely connected to the dosing system hardware using snap-on connectors which minimises the risk of spillage.”

Such systems can be set to produce cleaning product at the point of installation – which is the ultimate goal, he adds. “While minor tweaks may be needed, a subsequent call by the installer every four to six weeks to check the dosage is all that will be required,” he said. “With conventional pouring there is no consumption control, and this can lead to rising costs.”

Safer than manual

Dispensing systems are safer than manual dosing because they prevent any contact between the chemicals and the user, according to Wilson. They also allow businesses to easily gather usage data, he says. “Another advantage is that a controlled system eliminates the risk of theft, whereas traditional jerrycans and 750 ml trigger bottles can easily go missing,” he adds. “Dispensing systems have also moved on enormously which means that all information is now at the users’ fingertips and they can quickly identify and rectify any areas of concern.”

As sustainability moves further up companies’ agendas there are an increasing number of environmentally-friendly solutions entering the market, he says.

Continued page 30

Chemical dispensing

The pros and cons (continued from page 29)

“For example, the box used in our Cheertainer bag-in-box can be separated from the liner after use and the box can then be recycled, while the liner can be used in the waste-to-energy arena,” he said.

The Cheertainer system can be used to dispense a variety of substances and is claimed to deliver 99.8 per cent of the product from within the bag, says Wilson.

Chemical dispensing systems ease the cleaning burden and make the whole process more efficient, according to Greenspeed marketing executive Rosaliene Verhoef. “They measure out the exact amount of chemical required on the spot, making manual mixing a thing of the past,” she said. “This guarantees consistent cleaning results without the hassle.

“Dispensing systems also keep a tight grip on how much chemical is being used, which prevents overdosing and avoids situations such as method errors, residue build-ups and unnecessary costs. And by using concentrated chemicals, companies can minimise their waste and lower their carbon footprint.”

She says dispensing systems that prevent any contact between the customer and the chemicals are safer than manual dosing methods. “Such systems reduce the risks of accidents or mishandling and underscore the company’s commitment to ensuring a safe workplace environment,” she said.

Reduce risk

“Accurate dosing also ensures an effective clean and prevents issues such as sticky surfaces. These systems further enhance efficiency by delivering high-performance cleaning specifically formulated for different water hardness levels. And they enable companies to collect valuable data on chemical usage, providing the insights they need to fine-tune their processes and make informed decisions.”

Greenspeed’s Bag-in-Box systems are said to significantly reduce cleaners’ direct exposure to potentially hazardous substances and provide a safe and user-friendly experience. The company also offers Probio Tabs which are probiotic effervescent tablets designed to be added to water.

Chemical dispensing systems can speed

Aujourd’hui, l’industrie réclame de la durabilité, de l’efficacité, de la transparence, de la sécurité et de la rentabilité. Parmi ces qualités, quelles sont celles dont l’emploi de systèmes de dosage chimique peut se prévaloir? Dans quelle mesure ces systèmes favorisent-ils la productivité, la réduction des coûts et la protection environnementale? ECJ se penche sur la question.

up operations, cut costs and produce safer results, says Brightwell’s product manager Tom Ford. “Safety is paramount so a closed system will minimise exposure to harmful chemicals both for employees and for end-users,” he said.

Precise dosing

“Chemicals are formulated to clean surfaces at a specified dilution rate which means both under-dosing and over-dosing can have negative consequences. Using too much chemical is wasteful and will increase operational costs, while also leaving behind residues that are difficult to rinse off. However, failing to use sufficient chemical concentrate will compromise cleanliness and could lead to customer dissatisfaction. So precise dosing will save resources and promote environmental responsibility.”

Dosing systems that prevent any enduser contact with the chemicals typically offer safety advantages over manual dosing methods, he says. “However, thoughtfully-designed manual dosing solutions can still be a safe option when they enable precise dosage at specific ratios or provide secure containers for chemicals,” he said.

Besides enhancing cleaning and hygiene efficiency, dosing systems also offer sustainability benefits, says Ford. “Using highly concentrated chemicals at proper doses ensures efficient cleaning while also reducing shipping requirements, packaging and waste,” he said. “Other important advantages include access to valuable data reporting such as chemical usage reports, since these help to ensure that all cleaning processes are managed smoothly, efficiently and cost-effectively.”

Brightwell’s EcoSprayer and EcoFoamer systems are designed for heavy-duty cleaning and for disinfecting large areas. These systems are said to automatically dilute and dispense a controlled dosage of product without the user coming into contact with the chemical during the dilution process.

According to Ford, customers are increasingly demanding connectivity in their products. “They are seeking the ability to remotely access pumping systems in order to enable real time reporting,” he said. “The technology we’re developing will

Nachhaltigkeit, Effizienz, Transparenz, Sicherheit, Kosteneffizienz – all dies sind wichtige Anforderungen, mit denen sich die Branche heutzutage konfrontiert sieht. Wie viele dieser Kriterien erfüllen Chemikalienspendersysteme, und wie können sie Unternehmen dabei helfen, produktiver zu arbeiten und gleichzeitig die Umwelt zu schonen und potenziell Kosten zu senken? Das ECJ behandelt diese Frage.

ultimately span the range of products we produce and this will enable greater efficiency and effectiveness in our customers’ businesses and also benefit their own carbon footprint.”

So, are there any arguments against using a dosing system? “It has to be fit for purpose,” says Fenton Packaging’s David Wilson. “Dispensing systems come at a cost which means the supplier has to recoup that cost. So it is important to ensure that the usage matches the investment.”

Brightwell’s Tom Ford believes manual dosing can be more appropriate than chemical dispensing in certain situations. “Manual dosing allows for a hands-on approach, particularly in scenarios where it is important to allow on-site manual management and where cost considerations are paramount,” he says.

Kärcher’s Patrick Prasser says the installation costs of dosing systems can be off-putting for some. “However, this is offset by the savings made from avoiding overdosing along with the increased safety of employees,” he said.

In some environments the cleaning solution needs to be prepared on site, he adds. “If a two-bucket method is employed in a larger location such as an airport and the cleaning agent runs out, the nearest supply room might not be around the corner,” he said. “And in some cases a permanent installation is impractical. So in these situations we might recommend the use of a dosing head that is screwed directly on to the bottle, or a machine with a built-in dosing system.”

Greenspeed’s Rosaliene Verhoef agrees that the initial investment can be an argument against installing a dispensing system. “There is also a need for proper training so that staff are equipped with the know-how to effectively use these systems,” she says. “Technical maintenance is another factor since regular upkeep of dosing systems is essential for optimal performance.

“However, we feel the longterm advantages and efficiency benefits outweigh these concerns and that the convenience, safety and sustainability of dosing systems often prove to be much more significant in the grand scheme of things.”

Sostenibilità, efficienza, trasparenza, sicurezza, efficienza dei costi: questi sono tutti requisiti chiave dell’industria di oggi. Quante di queste caselle soddisfano i sistemi di erogazione di prodotti chimici e come possono aiutare le aziende a lavorare in modo più produttivo, aiutando allo stesso tempo l’ambiente e potenzialmente riducendo i costi? Se lo chiede ECJ.

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Growth continues

In this exclusive report for ECJ Fernando Sabino and Daniela Rocha at the Portuguese contract cleaning association APFS tell us about the key trends and statistics. The cleaning sector in Portugal grew by 50 per cent between 2018 and 2022, and there are now 7805 businesses operating.

Portugal is the host country for the 2024 European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards gala dinner. It will take place in Lisbon on October 3.

male. Eighty per cent of the workforce are Portuguese workers; 19 per cent are from abroad from outside the EU and only one per cent are from the EU.

Immigrant workers account for 20 per cent of the total, meaning that without immigration the staff recruitment problem, which is already serious, would be significantly worse. Immigration is essential to the functioning of the cleaning sector.

Cleaning work is essentially organised on the basis of open-ended employment contracts. The reason for this is that the Collective Labour Agreement contains a clause requiring that whenever a company loses a services provision contract, the company replacing it must keep the workers assigned to that contract on under the same conditions as they already enjoyed. In other words, the worker only changes the name of their employer.

Part-time dominates

THE PROFESSIONAL CLEANING sector in Portugal has grown very significantly in recent years. Between 2018 and 2022 the turnover growth rate was 50 per cent, that is to say an average growth rate of 10 per cent per year. Even in 2020 (the year of the pandemic) there was 3.3 per cent growth.

The trend of clients to outsource cleaning services, and the increase in the number of both healthcare facilities and office areas, are the principal reasons for the continual growth in turnover in the professional cleaning sector.

The number of companies has also grown, from 4410 companies in 2018 to 7805 in 2022, that is to say an increase of 77 per cent. Approximately half of the companies have just a single worker. The 10 largest companies account for around 50 per cent of the market.

The number of jobs has also grown between 2018 and 2022, albeit at a much slower rate of approximately eight per cent.

The labour force employed in professional cleaning in Portugal is essentially female: 91 per cent. Only nine per cent are

The organisation of working time is also characterised predominantly by part time workers: 68 per cent. Full-time workers account for 32 per cent.

The public procurement market in Portugal accounts for 34 per cent of the total, a very significant percentage.

The sectors of activity representing the highest percentages are:

• Health, 25 per cent,

• Offices and administrative services, 22 per cent,

• Industrial, 11 per cent,

• Shopping centres, 10 per cent,

• Transport, 8 per cent.

Geographically, 50 per cent of activity is in the centre of the country (Leiria/Setúbal), 26 per cent in the north (Valença/Coimbra), 17 per cent

in the south (Évora/Algarve), and seven per cent on the islands.

Challenges in the sector

The sector’s principal challenges are:

• Digitisation

• Sustainability

• Labour shortages

• Unfair competition

• The service being valued by clients.

Digitisation

The use of robotics in Portugal is already a reality with an increasing trend, particularly in large premises such as hospitals, shopping centres, hypermarkets, etc.

There is also development in process digitisation, thus lessening the administrative burden of hard copy data-processing when taking into account the expense of services for thousands of locations.

Sustainability

Sustainability programmes are also underway, particularly in the use of new products and methodologies. The great challenge will be to reorganise working times such that cleaning services are carried out during the day with the consequent improvements in terms of energy efficiency and social responsibility - eliminating night work - and permitting cleaning staff to work hours that are more

TURNOVER BY GEOGRAPHIC ZONE

compatible with family life.

Labour shortages

Staff recruitment has been difficult due to the shortage of labour. In recent years there has been a very sharp rise in cleaning staff pay, contributing to the increased attractiveness of the sector in employment terms. In addition to the increase in staff wages, companies have been adopting a management style that is closer to, and takes more interest in, their personnel’s personal needs and challenges.

Training is also a very relevant factor in the opinion of workers, and consequently an important motivational factor. Yet despite all the efforts made, companies still find it very difficult to retain their workers. Worker turnover rate is high, representing a high cost for companies.

Unfair competition

In Portugal, there is a problem of unfair competition in the sector, fundamentally fuelled by the public sector procurement market. The unprofessional and incompetent manner in which public sector tenders are issued, and the decisionmaking criteria employed, encourage less scrupulous companies to employ poor management practices - failing to fulfil their legal obligations - in order to tender more competitive bids.

The APFS (Portuguese Facility-Services Association), the sole representative of the sector in Portugal, has been alerting the official bodies responsible for the public procurement process to the serious problems in this market, but to no avail.

The challenge is to alter the procurement process which, given that this problem does not solely exist in Portugal, is being taken forward at a European level, with the full commitment of the APFS, in an attempt to change the Public Procurement Directive.

TURNOVER BY ACTIVITY SECTOR

In an attempt to combat this reality the APFS has created an Employment Compliance certificate to distinguish those companies which comply with their employment obligations. This will provide clients with important information at the time of taking a decision in respect of which company to award contracts to.

In parallel, the Industrial Cleaning Sector Observatory (OSLI) was created, consisting of the APFS and all the sector’s unions. This organisation has the following objectives:

• To promote the execution of studies on the economic and social situation of the sector with a view to identifying and analysing the principal trends, either to be used by the members for their own purposes or to be submitted to the Government in the form of recommendations

• To analyse the development of

labour relations in the sector and to submit proposals or recommendations

• To analyse practices employed and to encourage the reporting of irregularities, either to the public administration and the competent authorities, or to those companies and organisations where they occur, or to society in general.

A further challenge facing companies is that of inducing clients

to value the services provided. During the pandemic the sector managed to draw attention to the importance of this activity in public health terms. Clients showed greater willingness to pay a fair price.

Being valued by clients

does not help in the role of cleaning staff being valued. In most cases, clients do not even know the individuals who undertake the service.

Hence the importance of services being carried out during the day when people are in their workplaces and on a position to observe and appreciate the service of cleaning. With this objective, companies would need to change the way they organise their working hours and, to do this, clients must have an understanding of the benefits that daytime cleaning offers them in order to agree to such change.

The trend now, however, is that this reality is fading as a result of the need to reduce costs. The fact that the service is carried out either before or after hours Continued page 34

Growth continues (continued from page 33)

This is undeniably a challenge for cleaning service provider companies and their clients which, if overcome, will result in benefits for everyone: clients, cleaning workers and service provider companies.

Opportunities

In the coming years the professional

Dans ce rapport exclusif pour ECJ, l’association portugaise de la propreté, APFS, s’exprime sur les tendances et statistiques clés du moment. Le secteur portugais de la propreté a connu une expansion de 50 pour cent entre 2018 et 2022 et compte aujourd’hui 7805 entreprises.

sector’s representative associations, viz. those of companies and all the unions.

Social peace has been and will continue to be a positive factor contributing significantly to the development of the sector.

For more information contact: apfs.pt

• For more details about the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards dinner, visit www.echawards.com

cleaning sector will have opportunities to continue to grow, given the anticipated investment in the health and office sectors. It will also benefit from technological developments which will make it possible to modernise the operation and management of the service. Technological advances will also permit a closer and

more productive relationship with clients, enabling a more appropriate response to each client’s specific needs.

The relationship between the APFS and all the sector’s unions is very good. This is the only way to achieve a single Collective Labour Agreement signed up to all of the

In diesem exklusiven Bericht für das ECJ informiert uns der portugiesische Reinigungsverband APFS über die wichtigsten Trends und Statistiken. Die Reinigungsbranche in Portugal wuchs zwischen 2018 und 2022 um 50 Prozent, und heute sind 7805 Unternehmen tätig.

In questo esclusivo rapporto per ECJ, l’associazione portoghese delle pulizie a contratto APFS ci racconta le principali tendenze e statistiche. Il settore delle pulizie in Portogallo è cresciuto del 50% tra il 2018 e il 2022, e ora operano 7805 imprese.

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A TOTAL OF 43 PER CENT of workers have now fully returned to the office, according to UK recruitment company Hays. Meanwhile, around 39 per cent of employees are maintaining a hybrid schedule whereby they work at home for at least part of the week. And according to the October 2023 study of nearly 15,000 workers and employers, only 18 per cent of people are now fully working from home - a figure that has fallen by three per cent since 2022.

However, return to work statistics vary significantly across Europe with staff in France and Belgium now spending an average of 3.5 days in the office. A study by global research company JLL also revealed that employees in Germany, Netherlands, Spain and the UK are spending an average of 2.5 days in the workplace.

So, it appears that the days when all our conferences and meetings were conducted via Zoom are behind us. An increasing number of employers now expect - even demand - a physical presence in the office from their employees.

However, not everyone has fully recovered from the traumas of Covid-19 when the fear of being infected by people and contaminated objects was all-pervasive.

A recent UK survey of 2,000 office workers commissioned by Essity revealed that 45 per cent of employees believe their office to be a “breeding ground for bacteria”.

Offensive washrooms

Washrooms were deemed to be particularly offensive by 30 per cent of respondents, with common complaints including water and paper towels being left on the floor; soap and paper supplies running out; leaky taps; windows being kept locked shut and toilet rolls left loose near the toilet rather than being placed in a dispenser.

In fact, nearly one in five employees claim they refuse to use the toilets at work at all because of poor hygiene standards. Some are frequenting washroom facilities outside the office while

The employees’ view

others are even choosing to wait until they get home.

Refraining from visiting the toilet for long periods of time is a bad idea for many reasons. Such a practice could lead to poor concentration, discomfort and health issues on the part of staff, for example. And since most hand hygiene takes place in the washroom it could also result in more office workers contaminating their surroundings with unwashed hands.

General dissatisfaction

The Essity study also showed a general sense of dissatisfaction with workplace hygiene in general, with around 34 per cent of respondents claiming the kitchen also left much to be desired. Issues such as dirty fridges and microwaves, overflowing bins, grimy sinks and mouldy food being left in the fridge topped the list of office kitchen complaints.

Communal areas were another point of contention for 24 per cent, while 57 per cent of respondents said they were irritated by the state of their workplace surroundings overall.

It seems that standards have slipped dramatically since the days of the global pandemic, according to Essity’s communications director Gareth Lucy.

“During the Covid era it felt as though everyone took their personal hygiene and other people’s safety far more seriously,” he said. “At one point, every desk and meeting room in the office had hand sanitisers for staff to use, as well as frequent reminders to wash the hands.

“But oh, how quickly things change. This survey demonstrates a serious drop in office cleanliness at a time when it should still be a number one priority. And employees are understandably frustrated at the conditions in which they are expected to work.”

Neglecting the cleanliness of the workplace makes no sense from a business perspective. Around 60 per cent of those polled said they felt more productive in a clean workspace - though 39 per cent said they regularly had to clean it themselves.

How do employees feel about hygiene standards in their workplace? And how far has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted on their perceptions of cleanliness? Essity’s communications director Gareth Lucy shares details of the company’s latest study into workplace hygiene attitudes.

However, 70 per cent of respondents felt it should be the responsibility of the hired cleaners to ensure the office environment remained clean. And 22 per cent claimed to have complained to management or HR at one time or another about the state of their surroundings.

Support tools

We at Essity have taken steps to address this situation by launching the Tork Office Hygiene Package. This comprises a raft of support tools for business managers with the aim of improving staff satisfaction with the cleanliness and hygiene of the workplace.

Office complaints need to be avoided at all costs since they engender a general mood of negativity and discontent. The Tork Office Hygiene Package includes the Office Complaints Minimiser, a gamified digital challenge that allows facility managers to test their knowledge against industry data and discover hygiene and cleaning solutions designed to reduce complaints and save time.

Tork Vision Cleaning – Essity’s solution for keeping cleaners informed about washroom needs and dispenser refill requirements – is another of the tools in the Tork Office Hygiene Package.

“If washrooms are run well and efficiently, cleaning teams will have more time to clean the rest of the facility,” said

Workplace hygiene

The employees’ view (continued from page 39)

commercial marketing director for Essity’s professional hygiene business Anna Königson Koopmans. “This leads to a reduction in complaints related to cleaning – and our research proves that better cleaning quality builds better employee workplace satisfaction.”

One positive that came out of the study was the revelation that some good post-Covid habits have remained in place, with 36 per cent of workers still claiming to sanitise their hands regularly. Meanwhile, 35 per cent said they habitually made hot drinks for themselves alone for hygiene reasons instead of brewing up for everyone. And 18 per cent of respondents said they changed out of work clothes as soon as they returned home to avoid spreading bacteria.

The Essity study also touched on the

Que pensent les salariés des normes d’hygiène de leur établissement ? Et quels furent les impacts de la pandémie sur leur perception de la propreté? Gareth Lucy, chef des communications d’Essity, parle de la dernière étude de sa société sur les attitudes face à l’hygiène sur le lieu de travail.

issue of sustainability and looked at how employees felt about the environmentally-friendliness of their workplace. A total of 59 per cent felt their employers should be responsible for the eco-friendliness of the workspace.

However, common gripes among employees included buildings being heated at high temperatures; lights being left on unnecessarily and a lack of appropriate recycling bins in place. Others grumbled about the continued use of single-use items such as plastic cups, while some demanded more recyclable items such as paper towels.

Common gripes

However, it was the attitudes towards hygiene which made up the bulk of the results, with some professions showing a higher level of satisfaction with workplace

Was halten Mitarbeiter von Hygienestandards an ihrem Arbeitsplatz? Und in welchem Maße hat sich die Pandemie auf ihre Wahrnehmung von Sauberkeit ausgewirkt? Der Kommunikationsdirektor von Essity, Gareth Lucy, teilt Einzelheiten der neuesten Studie des Unternehmens über die Einstellung gegenüber der Hygiene am Arbeitsplatz mit.

standards than others. When the results were analysed according to profession it emerged that people working in business consulting and IT were among the most satisfied with the cleanliness of their workspace, allocating a score of eight out of 10 for these factors.

On the other hand, employees in the public services and administration sectors were less impressed with the hygiene standards of their offices, giving them a rating of seven out of 10 or below.

“It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that a workplace is a hygienic, welcoming and clean place for everyone to be,” said Gareth Lucy. “However, workplaces need to provide the right facilities in order to enable high standards of hygiene throughout all areas of the office.”

www.tork.co.uk/office-hygiene

Cosa ne pensano i dipendenti degli standard di igiene sul loro luogo di lavoro? E quanto ha influito la pandemia sulla loro percezione della pulizia? Il direttore delle comunicazioni di Essity Gareth Lucy illustra i dettagli del più recente studio dell’azienda sugli atteggiamenti in termini di igiene sul luogo di lavoro.

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“Outdated, dysfunctional and unfair”

Almost 80 years since its inception, the global financial system is showing its age and signs of falling into terminal decline. So how can this keystone institution be rejuvenated at a time when its stability has never been more crucial, asks Hartley Milner.

THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM has historically exhibited remarkable powers of recovery from the impacts of traumatic world events. Today, though, its resilience is being challenged by unprecedented waves of volatility and found woefully wanting.

Economists see an era emerging where the likes of the Covid pandemic, the Ukraine and Middle East conflicts, cyberattacks and climate change will conspire to create a ‘permacrisis’ of escalating threat levels. Without urgent reform, financial regimes will be in no fit state to withstand the socio-economic and geopolitical fallout.

A prime mover for change is Udaibir Das, visiting professor at India’s National Council of Applied Economic Research and senior adviser to the Bank of England. Below, Das explains in stark terms why the monetary system must act decisively to preserve its vital economic role:

“2024 will be a make-or-break year for the financial sector. It will rise to the challenge of a changing world or fall into irrelevance and chronic stress. The fate of finance and the global economy hangs in the balance.

“The world faces a perfect storm of threats: inflation, policy shifts, war and socio-economic shocks. The financial sector is vital in navigating these dangers by allocating resources wisely, managing risk effectively and creating wealth for future generations.

“But the old ways will not work anymore. The financial sector cannot afford to remain reactive or dependent. It must decide what transformations are essential to stay relevant to the needs of the hour. It must rethink its role and purpose in a market economy. Retroactively picking up the pieces after every period of stress or economic crisis and expecting central banks to save the day is no longer tenable.

Plagued by flaws

“Today’s financial sector is complex and plagued by structural flaws and unfinished reforms. The interactions between the financial sector and the broader economy are more direct and robust. To this end, financial sectors in both advanced and developing countries need support to stay resilient. All the while, the International Monetary Fund warns of higher interest rates and spillovers from other sectors that could amplify the sources of financial stability and bring out the risks endogenous to the financial sector.

“The balance sheets of governments, corporations and households are weak. Assets are overvalued or underutilised, while liabilities outstrip income. The global

credit cycle is unstable, as borrowers struggle to repay and financing dries up. These imbalances threaten financial stability, credit and funding patterns and economic growth.

“In developing markets, stability of the financial system has been elusive and inconsistent. As a result, balance sheets reflect the long-lasting consequences of distorted capital allocation and inefficiency. The availability and allocation of finance and credit essential for longterm economic growth, climate resilience and sustainable development goals are also inadequate.

The financial sector’s choices during 2024 will decide the future of finance and the global economy. How prepared will the system be and what will it choose?

“The financial sector will navigate the complex interplay of transitions likely to unfold during 2024 and the lingering macro-financial risks from the Covid-19 pandemic. Market movements could be higher, and risk aversion even tighter. 2024 might be a year when financial agents prefer to watch rather than assume risk. Most financial resources may remain within the system or move across select asset classes, such as real estate, instead of being aggressively used on the needed scale for productive purposes. The transitions during 2024 will have their own respective drivers, dynamics and relationship with financial stability.

Business:

global finance

“Outdated, dysfunctional and unfair” (continued)

“The final phase of post-pandemic financial normalisation still needs to be completed. It requires unwinding the remaining policy support, addressing the debt burden and developing more straightforward approaches to credit cycles and asset pricing.

“Technological turbulence is another transition. It will involve accelerated developments in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain and biometrics, which will continue transforming the financial system, blurring the industry boundaries and changing the regulation and governance requirements.

“Financial sectors are more interconnected across borders than ever before. However, this may change in a more fragmented and regionalised global finance and trade environment. The finalisation of the pending UK-EU agreement on financial services after Brexit will have regional and broader impacts on how much access, alignment, competition and cooperation there are between different markets and their central banks and regulators.

Ability and will to act

“The environment of these transitions limits the financial system’s ability and will to act in 2024. Political factors and industry interests restrict space for preemptive and macroprudential policies and the coordination among authorities and stakeholders. The international standardsetting and evaluation work has stalled, as the global financial governance and architecture are polarised and incomplete and the existing rules and standards could be enforced unevenly and inconsistently.

“Central banks and regulators face growing challenges from their legislatures demanding more accountability. Public mistrust in finance is evident and the view that regulators can be influenced by the industries they regulate at the public’s expense is widely held across advanced and developing countries.

“Despite these limitations, the financial sector can be part of the solution. Climate change and sustainability will demand new production and consumption patterns. The financial industry will finance and facilitate this transition, manage climate-related risks and align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Près des 80 ans après sa fondation, le FMI présente des signes de vieillissement et de déclin. Donc que faire pour rajeunir une institution à un moment où sa stabilité n’a jamais été aussi cruciale? se demande Hartley Milner.

“Technological innovation and disruption will create new values and advantages, bring new players and change financial behaviour and norms. The financial sector will face technological risks of data privacy, cybersecurity and ethics. It must adapt to improve the financial system’s efficiency, inclusiveness and security. Inclusion and diversity will require meeting all stakeholders’ various needs and preferences while ensuring the quality and affordability of financial services and access for the underserved and underrepresented segments.

“Other external forces besides climate change will shape these transitions. Social and political change across countries will affect the financial system. These shifts include changes in power, alliances and institutions related to money and finance. Migration and urban shifts will move people across and within countries and change the urban and rural dynamics.

“These will change the financial preferences of the population and alter the demand for and supply of financial services. The financial system must then respond and distribute the costs, benefits, rights and responsibilities among different groups and regions without harming social stability and cohesion.

“These transitions and external forces show the macroeconomic role of the financial sector and the close macrofinancial interactions. The industry will play a more significant role in capital, liquidity and risk management related to climate change, technological innovation and reducing frictions, costs and barriers to financial transactions and services.

Create new values

“Competition and co-operation among the financial actors and institutions – old and new, incumbents and disruptors, public and private – will affect the financial sector’s market structure and outcomes. The demand for new forms of financial intermediation will create new values and advantages and new issues and dilemmas, such as data privacy, cybersecurity and ethics. Alignment and integration with global goals and international standards will require coordination and cooperation among the authorities and stakeholders at the regional and international levels.

“These must meet the needs of the

Nach fast 80 Jahren seit seiner Gründung zeigt das globale Finanzsystem sein Alter und Anzeichen für einen endgültigen Niedergang. Wie kann diese Schlüsselinstitution in einer Zeit, in der ihre Stabilität so entscheidend wie nie zuvor ist, regeneriert werden, fragt Hartley Milner.

changing national and local situations and circumstances. Implementing frameworks such as the IMF’s integrated policy framework and the Bank for International Settlements’ comprehensive and coordinated policy response will address the structural challenges and opportunities of the financial system.

Profound implications

“2024 stands to be a pivotal year for the global financial system in advanced and developing economies. The transitions and external forces will have profound and lasting implications for the financial sector, the economy and society. 2024 will be decisive for the financial industry and its stakeholders to prove their worth and align with the common good.”

United Nations secretary-general António Guterres acknowledges the international financial architecture is “outdated, dysfunctional and unfair” and must become more “inclusive, just, representative, effective, resilient and responsive”. The UN has made reform a priority topic at its Summit of the Future in September, setting out six themes:

• Economic governance, giving developing countries a greater say in the decision-making of international financial institutions and aligning the system with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

• Lasting solutions on debt relief and lowering the cost of sovereign borrowing, including via a debt workout mechanism and ultimately a sovereign debt authority

• International public finance, massively scaling up development and climate financing, including through multilateral development banks

• Global financial safety net, ensuring all countries have access to the full capital account toolbox, revamping the role of SDRs (special drawing rights), ending surcharges and setting up a multilateral currency swap facility

• Addressing short-termism in capital markets and sustainable finance

• An inclusive and equitable global tax architecture that combats tax avoidance.

“Conflicts, poverty, inequality, geopolitical fragmentation and climate catastrophe are the result of choices the world makes … or fails to make,” says Guterres.

A quasi 80 anni dalla sua nascita, il sistema finanziario globale mostra la sua età e segni di un declino terminale. Cosa si può fare per ringiovanire questa fondamentale istituzione in un momento in cui la sua stabilità è più cruciale che mai? Se lo chiede Hartley Milner.

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THE VALUE OF THE cleaning industry has stood testament over recent years. From being one of the few industries that has continued to grow through a global pandemic, uncertain global economies, and other challenges, Europe’s cleaning sector is driving its market value and is expected to reach €310 billion by 2026. But to maintain a prosperous industry, businesses within the European cleaning sector must maintain a steady workforce. And with Europe being a melting pot of different cultures, languages, and nationalities, ensuring your multicultural and diverse workforce is a happy one to will need research and planning.

Benefits of a diverse workforce

The concept of diversity is not new in Europe. Scientists have found that ancient bloodlines, from Africa to the Middle East, have been present in Europe since the Ice Age. But now in modern times, cultural diversity has been given much attention by the media, economists and legislators. Through being a varied mix of different cultures within the regions in Europe, multiculturalism has been proven a driving factor in Europe - tapping into new markets and business success.

The proven success of a diverse Europe doesn’t just benefit the continent, businesses can be seen to benefit too from a diverse workforce. Diversity is seen as a cornerstone of strength for the European cleaning industry through:

Innovation through new perspectives: With an array of different experiences and viewpoints, having a diverse workforce allows for new creative solutions that can evolve a business’s cleaning practices.

Reach for clients: As the cleaning market continues to diversify, having team members who can effectively communicate and understand different clients, from cultural norms to language, a diverse workforce is a USP towards enhancing operational efficiency and client satisfaction.

Talent pool: The demographics in Europe are changing. Citizens are living longer and an increasing number

Embracing diversity

of households are raising fewer to no children. These drivers are shaping the ways European businesses are recruiting, looking into a more diverse labour market to draw on its strengths, talents, and diversity. With the working-age population shrinking in Europe, employers must tap into the continuous stream of new talent brought about by globalisation and increased mobility.

Onboarding a multicultural workforce is imperative for the success of many cleaning businesses across Europe, however, some policies and procedures must be implemented to maintain this success. Language and effective communication

The Free Movement Directive 2004 has been a catalyst for diversity across all regions in Europe. Whether it’s an EU citizen exercising fundamental rights, or a non-EU citizen relocating to Europe - EU immigration policies have fostered a vast multilingual continent. The European Parliament recognises 24 official languages but also notes there are more than 255 living languages specific to Europe and 7000 spoken languages worldwide.

Navigating the linguistic diversity of this continent’s workforce could present challenges, particularly in the cleaning industry, where effective communication is essential. Communication with your stakeholders will align to better efficiency with cleaning, ensuring end-user safety when handling cleaning technologies and ensuring profitability is on track through correct dosing and product use.

There is a plethora of different routes for businesses to streamline their communications within a multilingual workforce. From visual aids rather than written ones, utilising AI language conversion tools and taking the added step of lifting the language barrier by providing language learning opportunities. Incorporating these measures not only helps businesses stay in line with health and safety compliances, investing in your team’s learning will help morale across vertical and horizontal

The professional cleaning sector across Europe is a melting pot of different cultures, languages, faiths and nationalities. For service providers that requires understanding and planning.

Georgia Jordan at Biological Preparations takes a look at the key points to consider when encouraging collaboration and unity among a diverse workforce.

stakeholders. Rather than avoiding the challenges of a diverse workforce, implementing procedures to overcome potential language barriers will help your business positioning in the long term.

Religion and belief

Under The European Charter for Human Rights (ECHR) article 9, religion and belief are fundamental rights. And employers have certain obligations to accommodate workers to uphold these rights. Whilst there are too many global religions to quantify there are guidelines in what the article constitutes as a religion/belief. Even the core religions in Europe differ in terms of practice and worship so as an employer it is essential that when onboarding your staff your equality and diversity policies are up to date.

However, there should be extra measures of support and understanding for specific individuals undergoing religious rituals and festivities. For example, fasting is a popular practice in some religions (Islam with Ramadan, Christians during Lent, Yom Kippur in Judaism, etc) when the person is typically abstaining from eating and drinking during a certain period (eg, during Ramadan when worshippers do not eat during daylight hours for 29-30 days). During this fasting period businesses could make certain changes to help their staff continue to work optimally, such as:

Continued page 48

Workforce

Embracing diversity (continued from page 47)

• Sensitivity and understanding: Try not to organise lunchtime meetings and avoid organising team events that involve food and drink.

• Energy: Employees will have more energy earlier on in the day, try to allow for a more flexible working schedule during this time. Also, a dip in energy by the afternoon can affect productivity so incorporating earlier shifts can help to maintain that. Also, take into consideration if products are fit for use for that space and employee. For example, there is a common misunderstanding that Halal certifications simply apply to food products. But the term actually defines what products are permissible for use, extending Halal certification across many different products from cosmetics to vaccines. This encompasses the use of cleaning products. As most cleaning products use alcohol (which is not permitted under the Muslim faith), which leaves residues on the surface (cleaning wipes, hand sanitisers, etc), unless their use is

Le secteur de la propreté constitue dans toute l’Europe un creuset de cultures, de langues, de religions et de nationalités. Les prestataires de services doivent le comprendre et planifier en conséquence. Georgia Jordan, de la société Biological Preparations, examine les points clés dont il faut tenir compte pour encourager la collaboration et l’unité au sein d’une force de travail aussi diverse.

followed by a wash/rinse, they will be considered Haram (forbidden). Looking for products that fit under these guidelines provides respect and inclusivity for both Muslim cleaners and customers.

Technology and upskilling Technological innovations are changing the ways that many industries work and this is no different for the cleaning industry. So a vital measure for cleaning operatives is to have ongoing training and reskilling. According to the 2023 Workplace Learning Report skillsets across all jobs have changed by around 25 per cent since 2015, with an expectation of this to double. Approaching cleaning operatives through a culture of learning and agility will be key to maintaining a robust and reliable workforce during these changes. For example, the cleaning robot market is expected to grow by 22.9 per cent by 2026. By being proactive in their development, cleaning businesses must start to upskill

Die professionelle Reinigungsbranche in ganz Europa ist ein Schmelztiegel verschiedener Kulturen, Sprachen, Glaubensrichtungen und Nationalitäten. Von Dienstleistungsunternehmen werden daher Verständnis und Planung gefordert. Georgia Jordan von Biological Preparations wirft einen Blick auf die wichtigsten Punkte, die bei der Förderung der Zusammenarbeit und der Einheit einer vielfältigen Belegschaft zu berücksichtigen sind.

their staff in areas where the robots are unable to clean/maintain.

Training isn’t just restricted to cleaning operatives - team leaders and managers alike should also be subject to cultural sensitivity training. To truly empower your team all hierarchies should be on the same page, in terms of your business’s missions and policies. Keeping your management team up to date with inclusive leadership practices, recognising diversity and even unconscious bias, can help maintain a happy motivated team.

Bringing the team together

To foster collaboration and maintain individuality within your diverse team, implementing both team-building activities and employee resource groups (ERGs) can be essential for collaboration and morale. Firstly, organising team-building activities and cultural exchange events promotes understanding and unity among a diverse workforce. These initiatives encourage cross-cultural collaboration, break down barriers and strengthen team cohesion. Additionally, embracing diversity involves providing a platform for employees to connect, share experiences, and enable management to gain insights into the unique needs of their workforce.

Inclusive and supportive

Although the European cleaning industry stands as an example of resilience and adaptability to other industries in uncertain times, the next stage of its success is to ensure job satisfaction across a growing diverse workforce. As Europe continues to be a melting pot of culture, languages, and traditions, cleaning businesses must proactively be working to become a more inclusive and supportive employer. Empowering a diverse workforce has been shown to improve stability, maintain your team and enhance competitiveness. By embracing the practices I’ve discussed here and fostering a true culture of inclusivity at all levels of the organisation, cleaning businesses will unlock benefits - including innovation, client satisfaction and employee engagement. Investing in ongoing training and development in this respect not only future-proofs businesses but also demonstrates a commitment to the growth and wellbeing of employees.

Il settore della pulizia professionale in tutta Europa è un crogiolo di diverse culture, lingue, fedi e nazionalità. Per i fornitori di servizi che richiedono comprensione e pianificazione, Georgia Jordan di Biological Preparations esamina i punti chiave da considerare nel promuovere la collaborazione e l’unione nell’ambito di una forza lavoro diversificata.

INTERCLEAN AMSTERDAM - Europe’s largest exhibition for the professional cleaning sector - is about to open its doors again. And the organisers are promising a treasure trove of opportunities for cleaning professionals to learn, network, and propel their business forward.

With over 900 exhibitors, 11 exhibition halls, more than 30,000 expected visitors, over 100 knowledge sessions, four stages and visitors from more than 120 countries - Interclean Amsterdam is so much more than a trade exhibition.

The 2024 programme boasts a wide variety of content spread across various stages, each catering to specific areas of interest:

Main stage: Where industry leaders take centre stage, delivering thoughtprovoking keynote addresses and presentations on the most pressing topics impacting the cleaning industry.

Deep dive sessions: Delve into focused discussions on specific cleaning challenges and solutions. These in-depth sessions offer a platform for concentrated learning and knowledge exchange.

Product demonstrations: Cuttingedge cleaning technologies and solutions are brought to life. Explore innovative products and services first-hand and discover how they can impact on your cleaning operations.

Interactive workshops: Get hands-on and participate in interactive workshops designed to equip you with practical skills and strategies.

The four stages

This year Interclean features four stages, each centred around a specific theme (Sustainability, Healthcare & Hygiene, Data & Technology). Each day’s programme will showcase an item dedicated to the topic.

Sustainability Stage: Discover all the latest sustainability solutions to ensure you are protecting the planet and safeguarding our precious environment, whilst keeping the community safe.

Healthcare & Hygiene Stage:

The only place to be

Healthcare cleaning is experiencing a new wave of innovation. Discover all the developments on the dedicated healthcare and hygiene stage. This year you’ll also get the opportunity to relax with popcorn whilst viewing the Dutch documentary ‘Invisible’ (‘Onzichtbaar’) about people working in the hygiene industry.

Data & Technology Stage: Dive into the dynamic, ever-evolving world of Data & Technology. You’ll meet the world’s leading data brands and experience the “sci-fi” world of the Robot Arena, with a podium hosting several sessions from this growing global industry.

Amtrium Stage: Usher in the start of Interclean on a high note with the keynote opening from digital pioneer German Ramirez. This is also where you can find out who has won the Amsterdam Innovation Award (AIA) and become immersed in the Healthcare Cleaning Forum. On Friday make sure to return for the Feelgood party to be part of the fun!

Interclean Social Club

Each day will end with a special, daily changing entertainment programme on the stages. The perfect way to unwind after a busy exhibition day, to network with industry peers, and enjoy entertainment. Interclean Social Club will take place daily at the stages in Hall 5, 7 and 12 from 16:00 to 17:00.

Opening keynote and Innovation Award Ceremony

Interclean Amsterdam gets off to a fitting start on May 14 with a keynote speech entitled ‘Time for a Clean Start’ by visionary and disruptive pioneer German Ramirez. He will give a thought provoking, inspiring and eye-opening ride through the status of transformation in the cleaning industry and its particular challenges, and help understand why change is not enough, what transformation means for the cleaning industry and how to approach the journey and lead in the current age and into the future.

Continued page 50

Europe’s largest exhibition for the professional cleaning sector - Interclean Amsterdam - takes place from May 14-17 in the Netherlands.

In this comprehensive guide to the event, ECJ looks at what visitors can look forward to at this year’s show. We take a look at the special events, the content programme and the Amsterdam Innovation Award, then there’s a map of the show, an exhibitor list and a preview of the new products being launched.

ECJ is official media partner of the Interclean Amsterdam exhibition.

The only place to be (continued)

The cleaning industry finds itself in a challenging period. The amount of change and the speed with which it takes place are creating an enormous pressure. And the strong overall resistance to change of the cleaning industry has created a significant change backlog over the decades - which is surmounting the capabilities of leaders to cope with. To add insult to injury, there is barely any disruptive new technology or trend that does not have a great impact on the cleaning industry. Automation and robotics, digitalisation and data, changes in the job market and the generation shift on the workspace… The reality is that change has become exponential, because technology developments have become exponential. The cleaning industry needs to face this reality, understand its root cause, and embrace a new mindset.

Innovation Award

For many years now, the Amsterdam Innovation Award has been presented to the most innovative product, service or solution in the cleaning and hygiene industry in four different categories. All Interclean Amsterdam exhibitors can compete to win. An international expert jury has selected 12 nominees (three nominees per category) who were invited to pitch their innovation to the Jury in Amsterdam in March. From these 12 nominees, four categories winner and one overall winner have been chosen.

Here are the finalists:

Sustainability & Environment

• Slimstones/Diversey: Lesseau NoTouch bar soap dispenser & refills

• Essity: Tork Carbon Neutral Certified Dispensers

• Werner & Mertz : Switch Smart Technologies & Digitalisation

• Nexaro: NR 1500

• Adlatus: Adlatus SR1300 Autonomous Vacuum Sweeping Robot

• Kärcher: KIRA CV 50 Workforce & Ergonomics

• Hako: Scrubmaster B5 430 ORB

• Unger: Unger VisaVersa Pro 2-in-1 window squeegee

• Baudoin: Baudoin Wash Drone Health & Hygiene

• Kimberly-Clark: Kimberly-Clark Professional ICON

• i-Team: i-Clean Handle

Interclean Amsterdam, le plus grand salon euopéen de la propreté, ara lieu du 14 au 17 mai au RAI Amsterdam. ECJ en donne ici un premier aperçu, contemplant ce que le visiteur peut prévoir en termes de conférences et de manifestations spéciales.

• Hagleitner: XIBU 2WIPE hybrid

Robert Stelling, director Interclean global events, commented: “We are looking forward to showcasing the winning entries to the international cleaning and hygiene community. We’re proud to continuously raise the bar and can’t wait to share the highly anticipated results and shine a spotlight on the winners.”

Michelle Marshall, editor of ECJ and AIA jury chairman added: “As usual with the Amsterdam Innovation Award, the jury was tasked with evaluating many diverse entries from all aspects of the cleaning sector.

“Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, I can say the scores were extremely close in all categories and the standard of entries was truly impressive. Congratulations to all the final nominees across the four categories!”

She concluded: “We now look forward to seeing all the nominated products when we get together in Amsterdam before the show, to decide on the category winners. And, of course, the overall winner.”

Additionally there is a Visitors’ Choice Award and a Cleaners’ Choice Award. All winners will be announced during the Keynote Opening on May 14.

Healthcare Cleaning Forum

Running alongside Interclean Amsterdam again this year, on May 16, is the Healthcare Cleaning Forum, the forum exploring the latest trends and challenges affecting environmental hygiene and disinfection in healthcare institutions. This dedicated programme - developed in cooperation with CleanHospitals - is aimed at cleaning professionals, healthcare experts, hospital managers, infection

Die Interclean Amsterdam, Europas größte Ausstellung für die professionelle Reinigungsbranche, findet vom 14. bis 17. Mai im RAI Amsterdam statt. Hier beginnt die umfangreiche Vorschau des ECJ mit einem Blick darauf, was die Besucher an Konferenzprogrammen und Sonderveranstaltungen erwarten können.

prevention specialists, facility managers and industry leaders.

Delegates can look forward to an extensive programme featuring breakout sessions and internationally renowned keynote speakers Prof. Didier Pittet and Alexandra Peters (University of Geneva Hospitals, Switzerland), Martin Kiernan (Richard Wells Research Centre, United Kingdom), Edmée Bowles (Radboudumc, the Netherlands), Clare Nash (Black Country Alliance, United Kingdom) and Brett Mitchell (Avondale University, Australia). In the afternoon breakout sessions will highlight the use of Artificial Intelligence, digital platforms, automated room disinfection and what we can learn from each other.

To find out more and register for your ticket: www.intercleanshow.com/ healthcare-cleaning-forum/programme

China Breakfast

If you’d like to know more about the opportunities the Chinese market has to offer and how you could be at Interclean China 2024 in Shanghai, go along to the China Breakfast being held on May 15 from 09.00-10.00. Together with an expert the organisers will dive into some of the cultural nuances, tackle regulatory hurdles,and examine consumer preferences. To join, send an email to: Interclean@rai.nl

Interclean Amsterdam will take place from May 14-17 at RAI Amsterdam, the Netherlands. To register for your ticket visit the website: www.intercleanshow. com/amsterdam/register

ECJ is the official media partner of Interclean Amsterdam. Come and visit us on stand 01.100 at the show.

Interclean Amsterdam, la più grande fiera europea per il settore della pulizia professionale, si svolgerà dal 14 al 17 maggio presso RAI Amsterdam. Inizia qui l’ampia anteprima di ECJ, che lancia uno sguardo su ciò che i visitatori possono aspettarsi in termini di programmi di conferenze ed eventi speciali.

Amsterdam

Exhibitor A-Z

Interclean Amsterdam

Exhibitor A-Z

(continued)

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Interclean Amsterdam

Exhibitor A-Z

(continued)

Hall 1 Booth 218

VISIT US

Floor plan

Stand 07.228

Nilfisk will be showing an extensive range of floorcare equipment, vacuum cleaners and high-pressure cleaners at Interclean Amsterdam.

Visitors to the stand will be among the first to view the next generation of Nilfisk solutions. These are said to be high-performing while also being easy to learn, use and maintain.

The company also offers expertise in preventative maintenance and regular servicing. www.nilfisk.com

Ecolab

Stand 07.402

Ecolab claims to be on the brink of redefining industry standards with its new Maxx Synbiotic range. The company describes it as eco-friendly, innovative and transformational.

Also on show will be new Rasant Planet mops and Polifix microclin planet cloths made of 100 per cent recycled fibre.

Visitors will be able to experience Ecolab’s new Virtual Assist solution which is said to offer personalised expert support using state-of-the-art technology. www.ecolab.com

Nilfisk TTS

Stand 01.425

TTS’ Pockety system allows the cleaner to dispose of used mops without touching them, minimising the cross-contamination risk. This is said to be achieved with one easy and intuitive movement by removing the frame from the lid. The used mop then drops into the laundry bag inside the bucket, facilitating

laundry operations. Pockety enables the operator to use the most suitable mop for the type of surface and the degree of dirt in question, claims the company. It is compatible with all TTS washable and disposable pocket mops and can be used in combination with any TTS trolley.

Also new is the Wiz plate wringer. This is said to be able to wring between 10 and 20 per cent more effectively than rival products for a reduced floor-drying time and optimal performance. The product’s adjustment system allows the operator to set the moisture content according to the mop being used and the surface being cleaned which means the result is no longer dependent on the strength of the operator. Field tests have demonstrated a reduction in effort of 50-70 per cent, which results in less strain on the cleaner.

Wiz can be combined with any of the company’s multi-purpose trolleys, washing trolleys or trolleys with buckets.

www.ttsystem.com

Vectair Systems

Stand 12.207

The Vibe Pro fragrancing system will be making its debut on the Vectair stand. Featuring patented Precision Dosing Technology and Vibrating Mesh Technology, this is said to provide a consistent dispersion of fragrance in medium to large spaces. Fragrance bursts are delivered at convenient intervals to suit the customer, says Vectair.

The company will also be informing visitors about its Professional Washroom Programme. This emphasises the importance of coordinating fragrances across all platforms including air fresheners and urinal screens. The programme is said to create a cohesive scent narrative to eliminate the clash of conflicting aromas within facilities.

Visitors to the stand will also be able to try out fragrances at the company’s new Scent Bar. And they will be invited to help choose a future scent to add to Vectair’s portfolio.

www.vectairsystems.com

Numatic

Stand 01.123

Numatic is expanding its NX300 Pro Cordless range with the addition of new floorcare products and vacuums.

NX300 models are fitted with a fast-charge lithium battery for cordless cleaning.

Also on show will be the company’s ReFlo products which are engineered from recycled materials and which incorporate low-energy technologies.

Stand highlights will include the NX1K range of scrubber dryers which are said to feature the latest lithium phosphate technology. This is claimed to reduce cost of ownership and maintenance while also offering flexibility and reduced downtime while charging.

Numatic will also be showcasing its MULTI-Matic range of janitorial solutions made from recycled plastics. These are said to be both versatile and sustainable. numatic.com

• Nilfisk annonce avoir développé de nouveaux produits et services contribuant à relever tous les défis du nettoyage.

• Figurant pour la première fois sur le stand Ecolab, on y verra la gamme écoconviviale et certifiée de produits chimiques de nettoyage Maxx Synbiotic.

• Grâce au système Pockety de TTS, l’opérateur peut jeter une serpillère dans son seau sans devoir la toucher.

• Vectair propose le Vibe Pro, un système de diffusion d’ambiance recourant à une technologie brevetée de dosage de précision.

• Comme produit central, on verra sur le stand Numatic la gamme NX300 d’aspirateurs et de machines de soin des planchers à batterie.

• Nilfisk teilt mit, das neue Produkte und Dienstleistungen entwickelt wurden, die bei der Bewältigung aller Reinigungsprobleme helfen.

• Am Stand von Ecolab wird die umweltfreundliche und zertifizierte Reinigungschemikalie Maxx Synbiotic vorgestellt.

• Das Pockety-System von TTS ermöglicht es dem Bediener, die Mopps in den Eimer zu entsorgen, ohne sie mit der Hand zu berühren.

• Vectair präsentiert Vibe Pro, ein Beduftungssystem mit patentierter Präzisionsdosiertechnologie.

• Der Höhepunkt am Stand von Numatic ist die Produktreihe NX300 mit batteriebetriebenen Bodenpflegemaschinen und Staubsaugern.

• Nilfisk afferma di aver sviluppato nuovi prodotti e servizi per aiutare ad affrontare tutte le sfide della pulizia.

• Debutta allo stand Ecolab la gamma di prodotti chimici detergenti ecologici e certificati Maxx Synbiotic.

• Il sistema Pockety di TTS consente agli operatori di gettare i panni nel secchio senza toccarli con le mani.

• Vectair presenta Vibe Pro, un sistema di profumazione dotato della tecnologia brevettata Precision Dosing.

• Il pezzo forte dello stand di Numatic è la gamma NX300 di macchine per la cura dei pavimenti e aspiratori alimentati a batteria.

Interclean Amsterdam

• Le dernier modèle de sèchemains de Mediclinics, désigné l’U-flow, présente une forme innovante.

• Hako fait la démonstration de sa Scrubmaster B5, une machine de nettoyage de planchers, et de sa Scrubmaster B75 i, une laveuse robotique.

• Le Fizzy Flo est un nouveau savon probiotique, formulé en pastilles, signé Greenspeed.

Mediclinics

Mediclinics will be presenting its new U-flow hand dryer. This has a plug-in design that allows the machine to be replaced at any time for a continuous operation. Stand10.407

This model features a HEPA filtering system plus a Biocote antibacterial additive and ioniser designed to eliminate viruses and bacteria.

recovery tank.

Visitors to the stand will receive a preview of the new generation of Hako walk-behind scrubber dryers which are said to deliver increased comfort, improved performance and a higher level of safety. And the company will also be talking about the latest update to the Hako Fleet Management tool which offers a new user interface and extra functions. www.hako.com

Greenspeed

Stand01.106

A probiotic foam soap in tablet form will be the focus of the Greenspeed stand.

• Beim neuesten Modell des Händetrockners von Mediclinics handelt es sich um den U-Flow, der sich mit innovativer Form präsentiert.

• Hako demonstriert seine Bodenreinigungsmaschine Scrubmaster B5 und die robotische Scheuersaugmaschine Scrubmaster B75 i.

• Fizzy Flo ist eine neue probiotische Schaumseife in Tablettenform von Greenspeed.

The U-flow incorporates two water collection tanks and can be directly connected to the drainage system to eliminate the risk of floor splashes.

Claimed to be energy-efficient, the model offers energy savings of up to 80 per cent and dries the hands quickly and effectively, according to Mediclinics. www.mediclinics.com

Hako

Stand01.101

• U-flow, l’ultimo modello di asciugamani di Mediclinics, vanta una forma innovativa.

• Hako presenta la sua macchina per la pulizia dei pavimenti Scrubmaster B5 e la lavapavimenti robotizzata Scrubmaster B75 i.

• Fizzy Flo è un nuovo sapone in schiuma probiotico in compresse di Greenspeed.

Hako will be presenting the Scrubmaster B5 at Interclean. This uses the patented Hako Delta Cleaning System to dynamically clean close to w alls and into corners, claims the company.

Also on show will be new additions to the Scrubmaster B75 i cleaning robot such as a docking station for battery-charging, solution-tank filling and for autonomously emptying the

Fizzy Flo tabs come in a reusable glass bottle and are transformed into a foaming hand soap when tap water is added. Free of any harsh chemicals

that might dry out the skin, the soap is enriched with plantbased ingredients that nourish the skin’s microbiome.

When the probiotics re-enter the environment after use they are said to actively contribute to water purification and help maintain a natural microbial balance. And the microorganisms in the soap are safe to use and 100 per cent natural, according to Greenspeed.

Fizzy Flo tablets are claimed to cut CO2 emissions compared with traditional hand soaps because they reduce the transport burden. The compact tabs also offer significant storage savings, while the foam soap leads to reduced consumption compared with liquid soap, according to the company.

Greenspeed describes Fizzy Flo as a sustainable alternative to traditional hand soaps housed in single-use plastic containers. www.greenspeed.eu

Interclean Amsterdam

Dreumex

Stand 11.101

Dreumex will be presenting a new two-in-one product designed for use in the food industry.

Dreumex Disinfectant and Cleaning Wipes Blue are said to be able to clean and disinfect surfaces with just one wipe.

They eliminate bacteria, yeasts and enveloped viruses from hard surfaces and utensils. Ready to use and compact, the wipes are

particularly suitable for use on equipment such as knives, thermometers and handles.

They save time, effort and resources, claims Dreumex, while also promoting a safer environment since they are free of alcohols or harsh chemicals such as bleach or chlorine. And they eliminate the need for any post-rinsing.

www.dreumex.com

HTS Bio

Stand 05.212

Two probiotic cleaning products will be at the forefront of the HTS BIO stand.

Multiflow is a versatile cleaner designed for use on various surfaces and floors, while Globalflow is aimed specifically at sanitary facilities. According to the company’s laboratory tests, both formulas are able to enhance cleaning efficiency by 24 per cent in one week.

The products are made from

selected microorganisms and biosurfactants which are claimed to be up to 300 times more effective than traditional petroleum or plantbased surfactants.

The bacteria remain on surfaces for up to eight days after application, which is said to ensure a healthier environment between cleanings.

By combining the power of probiotics and biosurfactants

HTS BIO says the products reduce the need for harsh chemicals and minimise environmental impact as a result.

www.htsbio.com

• Convenant au secteur alimentaire, Dreumex expose ses nouvelles lingettes Blue à double effet de désinfection et nettoyage.

• Multiflow et Globalflow sont les plus récents produits de nettoyage probiotiques de la société HTS Bio.

• Für die Nahrungsmittelindustrie eignen sich die neuen 2in1-Desinfektions- und Reinigungstücher Dreumex Disinfectant & Cleaning Wipes Blue.

• Bei Multiflow und Globalflow handelt es sich um die neuesten probiotischen Reinigungsprodukte von HTS Bio.

• Le nuove salviette disinfettanti e detergenti “due in uno” Blue di Dreumex sono adatte all’industria alimentare.

• Multiflow e Globalflow sono i nuovi prodotti per la pulizia probiotici di HTS Bio.

Interclean Amsterdam

• Le tampon de nettoyage de sols diamanté de la société EZshine comprend des particules de diamant de haut précision pour l’enlèvement de taches à l’eau seule.

• On verra sur le stand Diversey le distributeur de savon Lesseau et les machines de nettoyage TASKI.

• Die Diamond Bodenpads von EZshine enthalten hochpräzise Diamantpartikel zur Fleckentfernung ausschließlich mit Wasser.

• Besucher des DiverseyStands können den Handseifenspender Lesseau und die Reinigungsmaschinen von TASKI sehen.

• Il pad Diamond Floor Pad di EZshine incorpora particelle di diamante ad alta precisione per la rimozione delle macchie tramite l’utilizzo della sola acqua.

• I visitatori dello stand Diversey potranno vedere il dispenser di sapone per le mani Lesseau oltre alle macchine per la pulizia TASKI.

EZshine

Stand 03.214

EZshine pads incorporate highprecision diamond particles to facilitate the removal of tough stains and scratches using water alone. Besides offering cleaning efficiency they also reduce the reliance on chemical cleaners, according to EZshine.

The durability of the pads coupled with the reduction in cleaning frequency required is said to result in long-term cost savings.

Diamond Floor Pads are claimed to appeal to customers seeking effective and eco-friendly cleaning solutions.

www.ezshinepad.com

Diversey

Stand 05.511

Designed to reduce plastic waste from hand hygiene platforms is Diversey’s Lesseau dispensing technology, which is making its

debut at Interclean.

This uses solid soap bars in place of liquids or foam to eliminate the need for bottles or pouches.

Also on show will be Suma PolyDry, which is a specialised dishwashing solution for use with reusable plastic tableware.

Other products on the stand will include SURE Machine Dishwashing, a concentrated liquid detergent made from renewable resources; and the TASKI trolley which is manufactured from recycled plastic.

Diversey will also be exhibiting the TASKI Ergodisc FLEXX, a flexible cordless machine.

Visitors to the stand will be given demonstrations of the TASKI IntelliTrail 2.1; the TASKI AR and the TASKI IntelliBac along with the company’s latest ULTIMAXX scrubber dryers.

Also on show will be Ace Care and QS SafePack solutions from the SURE range alongside Jontec PE, Sani PE, and Sprint PE. diversey.com

Taxon

Stand 13.106

Taxon claims to have reinvented the flat mop impregnation process with its UniQo cleaning trolley.

The programmable trolley eliminates the pre-impregnation phase with its patent-pending Blue bucket which uses 12 pressure nozzles to impregnate the mop.

The process takes just 20 seconds and the system can be calibrated according to the size of the room, the type of dirt and the surface to be treated.

The UniQo system consists of eight models, two flat mops and a frame. It is said to achieve high levels of performance and con-

sistent results while also reducing waste because the detergent is precisely dosed.

The system is also claimed to reduce operator fatigue, while more than 50 per cent of the new Black version is made from plastic from renewable sources.

www.taxon.it

Sontara

Stand 01.218

Sontara describes its TriFlo multipurpose wipes as being a game-changer in the field of non-woven wipe innovation.

The products incorporate a multilayer fabric material which is made using the company’s proprietary hydroentangling process. This employs highpressure water jets to create a strong, absorbent web without the use of binders, chemicals or adhesives.

The fact that drinking-quality water alone is used in the manufacturing process enhances the sustainability of the product, according to Sontara.

TriFlo multipurpose wipes are described as being functional and sustainable with a soft surface and an enhanced visual appeal. They also boast minimal particle release and have good absorption capabilities. Sontara products are used in a range of industries as well as in cleanrooms and in the aerospace, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

www.sontara.com

• Sur le stand Taxon le visiteur verra le chariot de nettoyage programmable UniQO.

• Sontara présente son produit le plus récent: les lingettes tout usage TriFlo en non-tissé.

• Im Sortiment von Taxon ist der programmierbare Reinigungswagen UniQO.

• Bei der neuesten Entwicklung von Sontara handelt es sich um TriFlo Mehrzweckwischtücher aus Vliesstoff.

• Da Taxon arriva il carrello di pulizia programmabile UniQO.

• L’ultimo prodotto sviluppato da Sontara sono i panni multiuso TriFlo in tessuto non tessuto.

Interclean Amsterdam

• Rubbermaid expose ses solutions pour la gestion du recyclage et la gestion des déchets, présentant des serpillères, chariots, et distributeurs pour toilettes collectives.

• Parmi les points forts du stand Kärcher, l’aspirateur robotique KIRA CV 50 et l’aspirateur balai 60/1 RS Bp Pack méritent d’être mentionnés.

• Pour assurer en continu la diffusion d’ambiance et l’élimination d’odeurs dans des toilettes collectives, Fragrance Delivery Technologies a mis au point le système OxygenSupreme.

• La nuova linea di dispenser per bagno Simply Eco3 di SCI-Services è realizzata in plastica riciclata, con l’aggiunta di fibre di legno.

Stand 12.201

• Rubbermaid präsentiert seine Recycling- und Abfallentsorgungslösungen sowie Mopps, Reinigungswagen und Waschraumspender.

• Zu den Höhepunkten auf dem Stand von Kärcher gehören der robotische Staubsauger KIRA CV 50 und der Aufsteh-Staubsauger CV 60/1 RS Bp Pack.

• Für die kontinuierliche Beduftung und Geruchsbeseitigung in Waschräumen hat Fragrance Delivery Technologies das OxygenSupreme System entwickelt.

• La nouvelle gamme Simple Eco3 de distributeurs pour toilettes collectives de SCI-Services est fabriquée en matières plastiques recyclées et armée de fibres de bois.

• Rubbermaid presenta le sue soluzioni per il riciclaggio e la gestione dei rifiuti, insieme a mop, carrelli e dispenser per servizi igienici.

• Tra i fiori all’occhiello dello stand Kärcher figurano il robot aspirapolvere KIRA CV 50 e l’aspirapolvere verticale CV 60/1 RS Bp Pack.

• Per profumare ed eliminare gli odori in modo continuo nei bagni, Fragrance Delivery Technologies ha sviluppato il sistema OxygenSupreme.

• Die neue Produktfamilie mit Waschraumspendern Simply Eco3 von SCI-Services wird aus recyceltem Kunststoff mit zusätzlichen Holzfasern gefertigt.

Rubbermaid will be exhibiting its range of flat mops. The company aims to demonstrate the savings that customers can make by switching from traditional string options to flat mops. Visitors will also be invited to try out Rubbermaid’s touchfree washroom dispensers along with Brute containers and the modular Slim Jim recycling range.

The company will further be showcasing its cleaning products and highlighting new developments in its Love Sustainability Journey.

Rubbermaid offers products and systems for the waste and recycling, materials handling, cleaning and washroom sectors. www.rubbermaid.eu

Rubbermaid Kärcher

Stand 01.135

Kärcher will be presenting its new KIRA CV 50 robotic vacuum which is described as being both robust and intuitive.

Equipped with exchangeable batteries, it is designed to work well on small to medium-sized carpets and hard floors.

Boasting safety-certified sensors and a large LiDAR range, the robot aims to free up cleaners from the more monotonous tasks and enhance the efficiency of their work.

Also new is the CV 60/1 RS Bp Pack walk-behind upright brushtype vacuum cleaner. This provides a 40 per cent greater area

performance than its predecessor for enhanced productivity.

The machine also offers effortless step-on and step-off capabilities plus an easily-accessible hand nozzle, according to Kärcher. Other features include a compact design, an intuitive operation and simple manoeuvring through improved lines of sight.

Also on show will be the new entry-level BD 35/15 C Classic scrubber dryer which incorporates components from other, larger Kärcher machines. This battery-powered model is compact and manoeuvrable while its operation is described as being so simple that practically no familiarisation period is required before using it.

www.karcher.com

Fragrance Delivery Technologies

Stand 12.104

Fragrance Delivery Technologies will be showcasing its new Oxygen-Supreme system, designed to tackle stubborn washroom odours.

Oxygen-Supreme is said to provide continuous, reliable and efficient fragrancing and odour elimination. This is claimed to set it apart from passive systems and intermittent aerosols which only provide temporary relief.

Designed to combat tough odours that linger despite thorough cleaning, the Oxy-Gen Powered range uses pharma-

ceutical-grade patented fuel cell technology to release odour eliminators along with scented and non-scented oils to keep facilities smelling continuously fresh and clean.

It is described as being easy to use with a stylish and modern design. Oxygen-Supreme can be installed at any height and is programmable to deliver fragrance constantly and evenly for 30, 60 or 90 days. It runs on two AA alkaline batteries and has a minimum battery life of one year.

All Oxy-Gen Powered cartridges contain Neutra-lox, a proprietary malodour eliminator said to be capable of neutralising a broad spectrum of unwelcome scents including urine, faeces, body odour, tobacco, pet malodour, kitchen odour, mould and mildew.

Oxy-Gen Powered cartridges contain no harmful propellants or solvents, alcohols or added VOCs. The cartridges are safe to use, store and transport and are also fully recyclable.

Visitors to the stand will also be able to sample four new designer fragrances - Elan, Elate, Verde and Vita.

www.oxygenpowered.com

SCI-Services

Stand 12.503

SCI-Services will be presenting the Simply Eco3 hygiene dispenser line.

The dispensers are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic with the addition of wood fibres from PEFC-certified cultivation in the Black Forest.

This combination of materials reduces plastic waste through recyclability while also cutting energy consumption and CO2 emissions compared with products made from virgin plastics. www.sci-services.ch

Interclean Amsterdam

• Concept Manufacturing a substitué du polyester recyclé au polyester vierge dans la fabrication de ses essuie-tout.

• ASFEL est l’association professionnelle représentant les plus de 60 entreprises espagnoles et portugaises exposant à l’Interclean.

• Bica Solutions se spécialise dans les procédés de triage de déchets en intérieur et en plein air.

• Concept Manufacturing hat VirginPolyester in seinen Wischtüchern durch Recyclingmaterial ersetzt.

• ASFEL ist der Handelsverband, der mehr als 60 spanische und portugiesische Unternehmen vertritt, die auf der Interclean vertreten sind.

• Bica Solutions ist spezialisiert auf Abfallsortierlösungen für den Innen- und Außenbereich.

• Concept Manufacturing ha sostituito il poliestere vergine delle sue salviette con materiale riciclato.

• ASFEL è l’associazione di categoria che rappresenta più di 60 aziende spagnole e portoghesi che espongono a Interclean.

• Bica Solutions è specializzata in soluzioni per la raccolta differenziata dei rifiuti in ambienti chiusi e all’aperto.

Concept Mfg

Stand 05.303

Concept Manufacturing has replaced the virgin materials in its wipes with recycled polyester. And the company is now making the same switch with its wiping pads.

Concept has also eliminated as much plastic packaging as possible from its products. All packaging is now made using 30 per cent recycled plastic, which is said to result in savings of 13

tons of plastic per year or 1.8 million plastic bags. It now only uses plastic packaging where strictly necessary, such as when providing disposable products for hospitals.

Most of the virgin plastic parts in Concept Manufacturing’s tooling range have also been replaced with recycled plastic.

www.conceptmanufacturing. com

Come and visit ECJ at Interclean - stand 01.100

ASFEL

Stand 03.510

More than 60 Spanish and Portuguese companies will be represented on the ASFEL stand.

Interclean provides a platform for these companies to gain insights into the latest industry trends, technologies and best practices.

www.asfel.com

Bica Solutions

Stand 12.504

Bica Solutions will be exhibiting a range of indoor and outdoor waste-sorting systems.

Aimed at private companies and public institutions, these systems are described as being stylish, functional and flexible. Features include strong bag holders, hidden wheels and a powder-painted steel construction. The containers also have front doors with a softclose function.

The company’s waste-sorting solutions are suitable for a range of environments including offices, hospitals, theatres and educational institutions. www.bicasolutions.dk

Interclean Amsterdam

Stand 05.133

Described as being a chemicalresistant solution for industrial, cleaning and hygiene applications is the new C 50 two-wheel battery-operated sprayer from Birchmeier. This features a purpose-designed diaphragm pump, FKM seals and stainlesssteel fittings. Allowing the product

to be used for spraying strong chemicals such as disinfectants, diluted acids and alkalis.

All functions of both the pump and battery are controlled by electronics. The user selects the desired working pressure from

one to six bar and the appliance then maintains a constant pressure and flow rate throughout the process. And this saves the customer chemicals and money, according to Birchmeier.

Depending on the pressure and the accessories used, the rechargeable CAS battery can last for up to 22 hours between charging cycles.

Birchmeier makes sprayers, foamers and dosing units for use in the construction, automotive, pest control, cleaning and hygiene sectors.

www.birchmeier.com

Nexaro

Stand 07.116

Nexaro will be showcasing its advanced B2B cobotic vacuum solutions. The compact Nexaro NR 1500 autonomous robot vacuum cleaner is designed for

• Birchmeier a lancé un pulvérisateur chimique à batterie à deux roues et résistant aux attaques chimiques

• Nexaro présente son aspirateur autonome NR 1500 et son logiciel HUB. Birchmeier

use in offices, hotels, shops and all other environments where continuous cleaning is required.

The NR 1500 is operated via the Nexaro HUB, a central control unit enabling customers to efficiently manage, scale and optimise their cleaning operations. By creating individual profiles companies can clearly define which robot is responsible for which areas. And all cleaning schedules, areas of operation and modes can be configured and synchronised in line with the staff’s own tasks while every operation is monitored via the Nexaro HUB.

www.nexaro.com

• Birchmeier hat ein chemikalienbeständiges ZweiradAkku-Sprühgerät für Chemikalien vorgestellt.

• Nexaro stellt seinen autonomen Staubsauger NR 1500 und die HUB-Software vor.

• Birchmeier ha lanciato uno spruzzatore chimico a batteria a due ruote resistente agli agenti chimici.

• Nexaro presenta il suo aspirapolvere autonomo NR 1500 e il software HUB.

Delex Teknik

Stand05.421

The Toolflex One Utility Cart will be the highlight of the Delex Teknik stand.

Described as being both compact and sturdy, the trolley has been engineered to maximise efficiency and convenience.

All equipment can be stowed away in a streamlined fashion while remaining always ready for use. This avoids the need for operators to waste time and energy searching for tools.

The trolley can be equipped with Toolflex One holders, hooks and accessories depending on the customer’s needs. delex.se

Truvox

Stand05.211

Visitors to the Truvox stand will be invited to experience the latest Multiwash PRO models.

Alongside the three existing Multiwash PRO scrubber dryers will be the new Multiwash PRO Steam and Multiwash PRO Battery.

Multiwash PRO scrubber dryers are designed to wash, scrub and dry the floor in a single pass while the increased brush diameter of the machine is claimed to deliver up to 12 per cent more scrubbing power.

The new Multiwash PRO Steam features counter-rotating brushes for easy cleaning of dirt and grime. Tests have shown it can remove 99.99 per cent of S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis bacteria from surfaces, according to Truvox.

Designed for areas where there is no ready power source is the new Multiwash PRO Bat-

tery scrubber dryer. This has a run-time of up to 60 minutes and the battery can be charged in two hours while the quickchange battery system minimises downtime when charging.

The company will also be displaying its vacuum cleaner range. Models include the high-performance, manoeuvrable VTVe tub vacuum and the recently-launched VTVe Compact as well as the powerful and robust Valet Dual Motor Upright and the lightweight Valet Battery Upright II.

www.truvox.com

De Witte

Stand05.411

Visitors to the De Witte stand will receive a preview of the company’s new Tricot First microfibre on a roll range.

Each roll contains 75 cloths that are torn off singly. Said to provide a durable alternative to paper rolls, the machine-washable cloths are designed for use in the automotive sector and for general cleaning.

Also new is the Water Magnet drying cloth which comes in a large 60 x 40 cm format.

Claimed to be ultra-absorbent, this has a soft microfibre texture which provides scratch-free and streak-free cleaning on smooth surfaces.

The Water Magnet is aimed at garages, car washes and professional car detailers and is able to dry a car without needing to be wrung out between uses.

De Witte will also be showing the Carbon microfibre cloth and the Red Ball cleaning gun.

The Carbon microfibre cloth incorporates graphene fibres

which make it strong and flexible. It has antibacterial and antistatic properties and is claimed to leave all surfaces clean and streak-free.

Designed for use by car detailers, the Red Ball cleaning gun uses Ball Technology to create a swirling tornado effect for optimal spraying.

De Witte imports, assembles and prints a range of products including microfibre cloths, sprayers, foamers, brushes, handles, and disinfection and dispensing systems.

www.dewitte.com

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Brosserie Thomas

Stand05.316

Brosserie Thomas will be showcasing a full range of household brushes and professional cleaning systems.

Products in the Brosshygien range feature a non-porous polypropylene frame with tightly-packed PBT bristles secured with stainless staple wire. The bristles are said to be chemical-resistant and the frame is designed to absorb no water or detergent.

The brushes are described as being lightweight, easy to handle, tough, durable and both rust- and rot-proof. Colour coding is used to avoid the risk of cross-contamination in different cleaning areas.

Brosserie Thomas products are designed for use in the catering, healthcare, chemical and cleaning sectors.

www.brosseriethomas.com

• Le chariot utilitaire Toolflex de Delex Teknik peut être rationnalisé de manière à organiser les outils de nettoyage.

• Truvox International a étendu sa gamme d’autolaveuses Multiwash PRO.

• À l’occasion de ce salon, De Witte lance le tissue microfibre Tricot First conditionné en rouleaux et le tissu de séchage Water Magnet.

• Brosserie Thomas est un spécialiste des brosses hygiéniques à code couleur.

• Der Toolflex One Utility Cart von Delex Teknik bietet eine optimierte Möglichkeit, Reinigungswerkzeuge zu organisieren.

• Truvox International erweitert seine Produktreihe mit Multiwash PRO Scheuersaugmaschinen um einige neue Modelle.

• De Witte stellt die Mikrofasertuchrolle Tricot First und das Trockentuch Water Magnet vor.

• Brosserie Thomas ist auf farbcodierte Hygienebürsten spezialisiert.

• Il carrello multiuso Toolflex One di Delex Teknik offre un modo più semplice per organizzare gli strumenti di pulizia.

• Truvox International aggiunge alcuni nuovi modelli alla sua gamma di lavasciuga pavimenti Multiwash PRO.

• De Witte lancia la gamma di microfibra in rotolo Tricot First e il panno asciugante Water Magnet.

• Brosserie Thomas è specializzata in spazzole igieniche con codifica colore.

Interclean Amsterdam

• Sous la désignation Integral 1FLAIR, Hagleitner propose un nouveau système de dosage de produits de blanchissage.

• Les gammes Dettol, Sagrotan et Finish Professional de produits de nettoyage seront présentées sur le stand Reckitt Pro.

Hagleitner

Stand 05.213

• Bei Integral 1FLAIR handelt es sich um das neue digitale Waschdosiersystem von Hagleitner.

• Die Reinigungsprodukte Dettol, Sagrotan und Finish Professional werden auf dem Stand von Reckitt Pro präsentiert.

• Integral 1FLAIR è il nuovo sistema di dosaggio digitale per bucato di Hagleitner.

• Le gamme di prodotti per la pulizia Dettol, Sagrotan e Finish Professional saranno in esposizione presso lo stand di Reckitt Pro.

New from Hagleitner is the iFlair digital laundry dosing system which is described as being precise, user-friendly and safe. The system features a magneticallycontrolled pump that can accurately mix detergent and water on site whatever the water pressure, viscosity and temperature involved. This helps to prevent under- or over-dosage of the product while also using

resources economically and producing consistent results.

The canister closure of the system prevents staff members from needing to have any physical contact with the products when switching canisters for safer handling. And a traffic light system indicates the filling levels of the individual canisters while RFID technology prevents product mix-ups.

Real-time data on filling levels, consumption and service requirements can be viewed via the Hagleitner360 app on a smartphone or via a web portal. Instant information regarding connected devices facilitates the efficient planning of resources and refills. And the use of high concentrates provides cost benefits while also reducing CO2 and plastic waste.

The iFlair has a modular design that allows for flexible assembly even around corners or across pipes. It can also be tailored to suit individual space needs. www.hagleitner.com

Reckitt Pro Solutions

Stand 11.403

Dettol and Sagrotan products will both take centre stage on the Reckitt Pro Solutions stand. Also on show will be Finish Professional products which are designed for use with professional dishwashers, and the Air Wick range. Free from dyes and propellants, Air Wick is the brand’s

first aerosol-free, automatic air freshener and its formula is 95 per cent derived from natural products. Newer additions to the range include Air Wick 24/7 Active Fresh. www.reckitt.com

Interclean Amsterdam

Reflexx

Lindhaus

Stand11.312 Stand03.304

A new nitrile glove that is said to offer accelerated biodegradability will be among the highlights of the Reflexx stand.

The formula of Reflexx NBio is claimed to speed up biodegradation compared with other nitrile gloves available.

Uncontaminated medical gloves are usually disposed of in waste-to-energy plants or in landfills, according to Reflexx. The company’s new biodegradation technology has been developed to reduce the volume of waste to landfill.

www.reflexx.com

New from Lindhaus are the LW44 Flexy and LW52 Flexy scrubber dryers - designed to minimise environmental impact, increase productivity and reduce energy and water consumption.

A patented joint system allows the machines to operate at any handle position through to horizontal. The handle can also be locked every 15° for ease of use.

When cleaning under tables, around furniture and in confined spaces, the Flexy joint may be put in a free position that allows the handle to turn 360° in any direction. The machines feature a Rotafil brushless vacuum motor, electronic driver and two new Rotafil high-torque gearbox brush motors.

A six-litre water tank allows the machine to work for 60

minutes non-stop and both tanks are easy to remove and quick to refill. The recovery tank can also be completely opened and cleaned.

The scrubber dryers offer a 90-minute runtime and a fast battery charge, according to Lindhaus, while each motor has three speeds and three water flow settings. Other features include an eco function and UV-C LED lights.

The filtration system incorporates a washable sponge filter and two washable Hepa filters to keep the air clean in healthcare environments.

www.lindhaus.it

• Les gants jetables NBio 3.5g de Reflexx sont de biodégradabilité accrue.

• Les autolaveuses Flexy de la société Lindhaus comportent un système à articulation flexible breveté autorisant son exploitation à partir de toute position de manche.

• Die Nitril-Einweghandschuhe NBio g 3,5 von Reflexx bieten laut eigenen Angaben eine beschleunigte biologische Abbaubarkeit.

• Die Scheuersaugmaschinen Flexy von Lindhaus verfügen über ein patentiertes, flexibles Gelenksystem, das eine Bedienung in jeder Steuergabelposition ermöglicht.

• Si dice che i guanti monouso in nitrile NBio da 3,5 g di Reflexx vantino una biodegradabilità accelerata.

• Le lavasciuga pavimenti Flexy di Lindhaus sono dotate di un sistema di giunti flessibili brevettato che consente il funzionamento in qualsiasi posizione della maniglia.

• Freudenberg Home et Cleaning Solutions présentent des produits d’épongeage et d’essuyage proposés par Vermop et Vileda Professional.

• Se signalant par ses gains de productivité, Moerman propose le Carabao, son nouveau système de balayage humide

• Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions präsentiert Mopp- und Wischlösungen von Vermop und Vileda Professional

• Das neue Moppsystem Carabao von Moerman zeichnet sich durch Produktivitätssteigerungen aus.

Vileda Professional & Vermop

Stands 05.307, 05.205

Vileda Professional and Vermop will be exhibiting together under the strapline: Twice the Commitment, Double the Clean.

cleaning solutions.

The Vermop Green Line mop range - made from up to 80 per cent recycled materials - will also be on show. Other highlights will include the Universal One mop, combining dry and wet cleaning; the new r-MicroTuff family which offers up to 100 per cent recycled cleaning performance, and the new Purmicro Active range.

Visitors will also learn about the Vermop ONe software solution for professional cleaning and EviSense evidence-based cleaning technology.

to explore future cleaning challenges and take part in discussions with industry experts. Topics will include the impact of AI on cleaning and the critical importance of the proper use of disinfectant in healthcare. www.vileda-professional.com, www.vermop.com

Moerman

Stand 03.202

• Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions presenta le soluzioni di pulizia con panni e mop di Vermop e Vileda Professional.

• Il nuovo sistema di pulizia Carabao di Moerman offre una maggiore produttività.

The two brands will focus on environmental sustainability and will aim to empower customers to achieve higher standards of sustainability and cleanliness.

Highlights of the stand will include the new Max Mops which are available for the UltraSpeed Pro, the CombiSpeed Pro and the Express Pro floor-

The two companies will be hosting V-Talks which will take the form of a conference within the booth. Visitors will be invited

Moerman will be showcasing its Carabao mopping system designed for use in healthcare facilities, hospitality environments and offices.

Designed to save time and energy while cleaning, Carabao combines the toughness of the company’s floor wipers with the flexibility of its window-cleaning range. Moerman says it cleans 25 per cent faster than traditional mopping systems while removing 99.9 per cent of bacteria. www.moermangroup.com

Interclean Amsterdam

• Kimberly-Clark Professional expose sa gamme de distributeurs ICON et présente son programme RightCycle.

• ToolSense a ajouté un certain nombre de fonctionnalités à sa plateforme Asset Operations.

• Pour contribuer au lavage de vitres, Filmop propose un nouvel outil à utiliser avec sa gamme de lave-vitres.

• Sous une nouvelle marque désignée Estelaris, Alani a lancé les lingettes humides ECO.

Stand10.301

• Kimberly-Clark Professional präsentiert sein Spendersortiment ICON und hebt das RightCycleProgramm hervor.

• ToolSense stellt einige neue Funktionen seiner Asset Operations Platform vor.

• Filmop hat ein neues Werkzeug für die Glasreinigung zur Verwendung mit seinem Sortiment an Fensterwischern vorgestellt.

• Neu von Alani sind ECOFeuchttücher und eine neue Marke – Estelaris.

• Kimberly-Clark Professional presenta la sua gamma di dispenser ICON e presenta il Programma RightCycle.

• ToolSense lancia alcune nuove funzionalità sulla sua piattaforma Asset Operations Platform.

• Per quanto riguarda la pulizia dei vetri, Filmop ha lanciato un nuovo strumento da utilizzare unitamente alla sua gamma lavavetri.

• Le novità di Alani sono le salviettine umidificate ECO e un nuovo marchio: Estelaris.

The Kimberly-Clark Professional stand will take the theme: Better Care for a Better World.

Visitors to the stand will be invited to try out the company’s Icon dispenser range. They will also learn about the RightCycle Programme, a closed-loop recycling service for hand towels. This is claimed to help businesses reduce their waste by up to 25 per cent and increase their building’s recycling rate by up to five per cent. And this helps them to attain their zero waste to landfill goals Kimberly-Clark says.

The company will also explain how customers can make cost, waste and time savings by installing controlled single-sheet dispensing systems. These can help them to achieve business efficiencies and reach sustainability targets, it says.

Also on show will be products in the Kleenex, Scott, and WypAll ranges.

www.kcprofessional.com

Kimberly-Clark Professional ToolSense

Stand05.524

Fleet tracking, inventory management and safety inspections are among the services offered by ToolSense.

The company provides facility management firms with a digital asset operations platform to help them keep control of their equipment and maintenance workflows.

Customers can manage their assets on a single mobilefriendly platform and digitise their fleets using IoT hardware.

The ToolSense system automates maintenance and safety inspection workflows and enables frontline workers to report any issue by scanning a QR code.

The company will be announcing various new functionalities to its system at Interclean. These will include vehicle GPS tracking and live GPS updates with a map view to enhance route planning and improve response times.

Also new are updates on fuel consumption, mileage and engine health along with detailed data on start and end times, exact locations and travel routes.

ToolSense now offers geozone alerts when accessing sensitive or restricted areas as well as parts and inventory tracking. toolsense.io

Filmop

Stand01.311

New from Filmop is a fixed polypropylene holder for professional glass cleaning. This features a series of grooves that fill with cleaning solution and then gradually release it during glass washing.

Designed to be used with the Filmop window washer range, the holder is said to provide enhanced performance compared with traditional sponges.

The washer heads feature a short yarn designed to remove and trap dirt as well as a longer yarn for enhanced absorption. Versions with an abrasive fibre

side facilitate the removal of stubborn dirt from glass without scratching it.

Filmop also offers a tool for professional window drying: the Gloss-W squeegee window. This has a hard rubber blade claimed to dry the surface at the first wipe, saving time and costs. The stainless steel hand-grip has a non-slip rubber coating to ensure a firm grip in all conditions. And the design allows uniform pressure to be exerted over the entire length of the blade, which results in residue-free drying.

The company’s window squeegee and fixed holder can either be used manually or in combination with handles and poles via Uni-Connect. This system allows the operative to keep the entire range of cleaning equipment in place during all operations and quickly switch from one tool to another. Uni-Connect is designed to prevent the risk of dangerous disengagement while also facilitating the cleaning of surfaces, even those that are high or hard to reach.

www.filmop.com

Alani

Stand12.805

Alani specialises in coreless paper products designed to minimise waste and save on storage and transport costs. It will be introducing its new ECO Wet Wipes, a sustainable solution to the threat of ‘fatbergs’ caused by the disposal of wet wipes that fail to dissolve in water.

The company’s new Estelaris wipes will also be introduced. Manufactured using renewable energy and packed in biodegradable film, these wipes are 100 per cent flushable, biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

www.alani.es

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Interclean Amsterdam

• Au cœur du stand Tork figurent des distributeurs décarbonisés ainsi que les serviettes douces multipli Tork Xpress.

• Comme produit nouveau, Tennant propose la laveuse autonome X4 ROVR pilotée par la plateforme BrainOS Robotics.

Essity

Stand 10.101

• Am Stand von Tork stehen CO2-neutrale Spender sowie die neuen Tork Xpress Compressed Soft Multifold Handtücher im Mittelpunkt.

• Neu von Tennant ist die autonome Scheuersaugmaschine X4 ROVR, die von der BrainOS Robotics Platform angetrieben wird.

• Protagonisti dello stand Tork sono i dispenser a zero emissioni di carbonio, insieme ai nuovi asciugamani multipiega morbidi compressi Tork Xpress.

• Una novità di Tennant è la lavapavimenti autonoma X4 ROVR, alimentata dalla piattaforma robotica BrainOS.

Essity will be showcasing a range of Tork products and services designed to maximise hygiene while minimising environmental impact.

Making their debut at the show will be the new Tork Xpress Compressed Soft Multifold Hand Towels. These come in bundles that have been compressed by up to 50 per cent to prevent the need for frequent refill.

Also featuring are Tork carbon neutral dispensers. Essity has offset carbon emissions from 27 Tork of its washroom dispensers for soap, toilet tissue and hand towels by investing in climate projects with ClimatePartner. Dispensers certified as being carbon neutral include the Tork SmartOne Toilet Paper Dispenser, the Tork PeakServe Continuous Hand Towel Dispenser and all Tork soap dispensers.

Also new is the Tork Soap and Sanitiser Dispenser with Arm Lever for touchless dispensing, and the Tork 2 in 1 Scouring and Cleaning Cloth.

The new Tork Natural Colour range of washroom tissue products is made from 100 per cent recycled fibres and has a natural, light brown hue. All of those products are compatible with the Tork PaperCircle recycling service. Around 25 million hand towels in 14 countries are recycled every month under the scheme. tork.global.com

Tennant

Stand 07.108

The X4 ROVR autonomous floor scrubber from Tennant is the company’s first purpose-built autonomous floor cleaning machine. The compact dimensions of the X4 ROVR allow it to navigate through narrow and congested spaces. Powered by robotic AI software developer Brain Corp’s BrainOS robotics platform, this model features a dual disk scrub path, a 10-gallon solution tank

and a productivity rate of up to 20,000 square feet on a full tank. It adapts to various hard floor environments and is equipped with a lithium-ion battery providing up to two-and-a-half hours’ work. www.tennantco.com

Dreumex Disinfectant & Cleaning Wipes Blue

Safe cleaning and disinfection of surfaces without alcohol

Cleans and disinfects in one (s)wipe!

Get rid of germs and worries

Working safely without alcohol

Classified for PT2 and PT4 so the ideal wipe for food industry

Interclean Amsterdam

• Issue de la fusion entre Brightwell et QTS Italie, Hylab propose des systèmes de soin des mains et de distribution de serviettes.

• Johnson Matthey produit des systèmes à batterie au lithium ionique pour autolaveuses et balayeuses.

• Hylab, hervorgegangen aus dem Zusammenschluss von Brightwell und QTS Italy, ist auf Handpflegeund Papierspendersysteme spezialisiert.

• Johnson Matthey produziert Lithium-IonenAkkusysteme für den Einsatz in Scheuersaugmaschinen und Kehrmaschinen.

• Hylab, frutto della fusione tra Brightwell e QTS Italia, è specializzata in sistemi di erogazione della carta e per la cura delle mani.

• Johnson Matthey produce sistemi di batterie agli ioni di litio da utilizzare in lavasciuga pavimenti e spazzatrici.

Hylab

Stand 12.708

Hylab promises to show a range of versatile, sustainable and customisable solutions. These will include soap and paper dispensers made from recycled and eco-friendly materials, along with the patented TRIS delivery system. This can transform a single dispenser into three different versions.

Also being showcased is the Profood range which includes napkins and cup dispensers as well as countertop paper roll holders to help ensure that kitchens are well organised.

Hylab’s on-site recycling centre enables waste plastic materials from its production lines to be recovered, reground and returned to the manufacturing process.

The company’s Myriad Recycled and Intro ranges incorporate up to 100 per cent recycled materials, while the inter-

changeable components and accessories provide versatility while reducing waste and costs.

Hylab has an in-house design team and all products can be custom-designed with various colours and logos to suit the purchaser’s needs. They are aimed at various sectors including the commercial, healthcare and hospitality industries. www.hylabdispensers.com

Johnson Matthey

Stand 05.619

Johnson Matthey offers advanced lithium-ion battery systems for cleaning applications. The company’s tailored solutions can be used in scrubbers, sweepers and other types of cleaning machine.

The universal 24V battery system is maintenance-free and claimed to offer an increased cycle life compared with standard leadacid batteries.

The universal 36V battery system is aimed at industrial use. It has a solid aluminium housing which provides durability and resistance to mechanical damage. And the advanced Battery Management System is said to ensure a high energy density and a long service life.

The company’s LFP 48V battery combines technology and design with a long life-cycle and a high capacity. It uses stateof-the-art LFP cylindrical cells with an energy density of around 190 Wh/kg. matthey.com

Hagleitner Innovation World 730 (stand 05.312)

Hagleitner main booth (stand 05.213)

Hagleitner Healthcare (stand 12.426)

The Transport Vehicles and Tyres Show

Interclean Amsterdam

LionsBot

Stand 01.231

The R3 Scrub Pro compact cleaning robot will be the highlight of the LionsBot stand. This has 3D LiDAR for enhanced navigation and obstacle detection along with the ability to see the environment in 3D.

The machine has a 120-metre range and is capable of mapping out an area five times faster than other models says LionsBot. Designed with efficiency and autonomy in mind, the R3 Scrub Pro is claimed to deliver superior cleaning performance across a range of environments from commercial spaces to industrial settings. Its 3D LiDAR system

enables the robot to navigate complex layouts while ensuring thorough cleaning coverage and maximising operator safety, according to the company.

Other features of the R3 Scrub Pro are said to include reduced water usage and an energyefficient design aimed at meeting today’s demand for sustainable cleaning solutions.

LionsBot will also be showcasing its other autonomous cleaning machines including the R3 Vac and Rex. www.lionsbot.com

Lavor

Stand 02.203

Lavor will be exhibiting its new Moving series of compact scrubber dryers. Designed for environments where space is at a premium, these models

are designed to be particularly suitable for use in car showrooms, shops, gyms, healthcare facilities etc.

All offer a maximum working capacity of 2,200 square metres along with a scrubbing width of 55 cm. There are eight options including electrical and batterydriven versions with either mechanical or automatic traction. Moving machines come either with or without standard batteries and battery charger and other features include a user-friendly control panel and a 55-litre tank.

www.lavor.com

• LionsBot, un spécialiste de la robotique, propose la machine compacte R3 Scrub Pro, son dernier modèle.

• Conçue pour les petites surfaces, la gamme Moving réunit les dernière autolaveuses compactes de la société Lavor.

• Beim neuesten Modell des Robotik-Spezialisten LionsBot handelt es sich um die Kompaktmaschine R3 Scrub Pro.

• Bei der Produktreihe Moving handelt es sich um das neueste Modell einer kompakten Scheuersaugmaschine von Lavor für den Einsatz in kleineren Räumen.

• L’ultimissimo modello dello specialista di robotica LionsBot è la macchina compatta R3 Scrub Pro.

• La gamma Moving è rappresentata dal nuovo modello di lavasciuga pavimenti compatta di Lavor per l’utilizzo in spazi più piccoli.

Interclean Amsterdam

• Malish présentera une gamme de brosses industrielles pour les machines commerciales de nettoyage des sols.

• Green Care Professional a introduit le Switch, un système de dosage et de recharge de produits chimiques assurant durabilité et réduction des coûts.

• Malish wird eine Reihe von Industriebürsten für gewerbliche Bodenreinigungsmaschinen ausstellen.

• Neu im Sortiment von Green Care Professional ist Switch, ein Chemikaliendosier- und Nachfüllsystem, das sich durch Nachhaltigkeit und Kosteneffizienz auszeichnet.

• Malish esporrà una gamma di spazzole industriali per macchine lavapavimenti commerciali.

• Una novità di Green Care Professional è Switch, un sistema di dosaggio e ricarica di prodotti chimici che vanta sostenibilità ed efficienza dei costi.

Malish Europe

Stand 02.413

Malish will be displaying a range of industrial brushes for commercial floor cleaning machines.

Among the products on show will be rotary brushes, bristled floor pads, grit brushes, pad drivers and restoration and polishing systems for concrete and terrazzo floors.

Delivering a high level of gloss is the three-in-one Diamond Devil Concrete and Terrazzo Restoration and Polishing System. This chemical-free solution eliminates the need for routine stripping and waxing.

The Mastic Demon Coating Removal Tool facilitates the speedy removal of the toughest of coatings from concrete floors such as mastic, glue, adhesive and epoxy.

Flex Scrub Ultimate Bristled Floor Pads are suitable for all hard floors and offer the cleaning power of a deep brush alongside the benefits of a pad.

Easy to install and use, the pads have bristles that enable them to penetrate grout lines for superior cleaning. They will fit most traditional 175-350 rpm single disc, auto scrubber, rideon and orbital machines and are said to be able to last up to 50 times longer than a traditional pad. Also designed for cleaning textured surfaces and grout lines is the Sonic Scrub Bristled floor pad. This features self-cleaning bristles and can be used in rectangular oscillating machines.

Finally, Malish’s Grit Rotary Brushes feature silicone carbide-impregnated nylon bristles.

www.malish.com

Werner & Mertz

Stand 05.311

Werner & Mertz will be demonstrating its Switch dosing and refill system. This consists of a range of ultra-concentrated cleaning formulations housed in a one-litre bottle with an integrated dosing cap and a refill pouch.

Switch is described as being both cost-effective and sustainable since all components contribute to the circular economy. The bottle is reusable and refillable and all components are recyclable, with the bottle and cap both being made of 100 per cent recyclate.

The ultra-concentrated formulations used with the system serve to reduce the quantity of cleaning agents required and cut the frequency of reordering. And the pouch contributes to savings of up to 85 per cent in packaging volume and 65 per cent in packaging weight compared with a litre bottle.

www.green-care-professional.com

INTRODUCING THE REVOLUTIONARY SYNBIOTIC RANGE THAT NOT ONLY DELIVERS IMMEDIATE CLEANING PERFORMANCE BUT CONTINUES CLEANING ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND

SCAN FOR A FREE SAMPLE AT INTERCLEAN

Find out about Ecolab’s new Synbiotic range at Hall 7, Stand 402 & 404.

Interclean Amsterdam

• DiBO continue d’appuyer son initiative écologique en poussant toujours plus loin l’électrication de ses nettoyeurs haute pression.

• Papernet, le spécialiste des papiers de soie, a lancé sa gamme Simplify de papiers décarbonisés.

• Sanimaid est spécialisé dans les brosses de toilettes hygiéniques et les outils de nettoyage des toilettes.

• JDS Products, un spécialiste des distributeurs pour toilettes collectives, aligne sa gamme en plastique Halo ABS et sa gamme Synergise.

• Splast expose ses chariots polyvalents ainsi qu’un certain nombre d’accessoires nouveaux.

• Santa Gemma, un spécialiste des papiers de soie, présente une nouvelle gamme de papiers hygiéniques et d’essuyeurs de cuisine.

• DiBO setzt seine umweltfreundliche Initiative mit der weiteren Elektrifizierung seiner Hochdruckreiniger fort.

• Papernet, Spezialist für TissueProdukte, hat seine CO2-neutrale Produktreihe Simplify eingeführt.

• Sanimaid ist auf hygienische Toilettenbürsten und Reinigungswerkzeuge für Waschräume spezialisiert.

• JDS Products, Spezialist für Waschraumspender, zeigt seine Produktreihe Halo aus ABSKunststoffe und die Produktfamilie Synergise.

• Splast präsentiert seine Mehrzweckwagen mit neuem Zubehör.

• Der Tissue-Spezialist Santa Gemma bietet eine neue Produktfamilie mit Toilettenrollen und Küchentüchern.

DiBO

Stand 01.323

The new DiBO JMB-ME is a battery-powered hot water high-pressure cleaner mounted on a trailer. It has a watercooled electric motor that runs on a 25 kWh Li-ion battery with noise levels below 75 decibels. The battery management system boasts long life and consistent performance.

The DiBO JMB-ME-C is the company’s latest fully batterypowered cold water highpressure trailer. With a variation in working pressure from 150 to 500 bar, this has a quiet operation and is capable of tackling tough cleaning tasks.

The company is also adding battery-powered versions to its standard range. The DiBO CPU-SB and the mobile DiBO ECN-MB variant are both cold water high-pressure units for tackling cleaning tasks where no power supply is available. www.dibo.com

Sofidel

Stand 10.201

• DiBO continua a promuovere la sua iniziativa “verde” con un’ulteriore elettrificazione delle sue idropulitrici.

• Lo specialista di prodotti cartacei Papernet ha lanciato la sua gamma a zero emissioni di carbonio: Simplify.

• Sanimaid è specializzato in spazzole igieniche per WC e strumenti per la pulizia dei bagni.

• JDS Products, specialista nell’erogazione per servizi igienici, presenta la sua gamma in plastica ABS Halo e la linea Synergise.

• Splast presenta i suoi carrelli multiuso con alcuni nuovi accessori.

• Santa Gemma presenta una nuova linea di rotoli igienici e asciugatutto da cucina.

Sofidel will be displaying its new range of carbon neutral products under the Papernet brand. Together with ClimatePartner the company has calculated the environmental footprint of its new Simplify products. And it has offset the C02 emissions of the entire range by investing in internationally-recognised climate protection projects.

The business will be supporting the virgin forest of Lábrea, which is in the Amazon region. This area has had the fourth highest deforestation rate in Brazil between 2008 and 2020.

As an additional commitment,

Sofidel will also be planting a tree in Germany for every tonne of CO2 offset via the scheme. www.papernet.com

Sanimaid

Stand 07.115

Hygienic toilet brushes specialist Sanimaid has been nominated in two categories of the US Global Innovation Award - for the best new cleaning product and best new bathroom accessory.

Its new bathroom accessory is Stockholm, a wall-mounted toilet brush. By eliminating water drips and paper residue in the holder, it minimises the spread of bacteria, elevating both image and hygiene standards says Sanimaid. It’s made using recycled materials.

The Stainremover series of tools - also made using recycled materials - comprises three tools targeting sanitation of the

toilet bowl and shower area in washrooms. Using washable Ecoscrub cleaning pads made from natural fibres, this range is designed to swiftly remove limescale without the use of harsh chemicals.

www.sanimaid.com

JDS Products

Stand 11.207

Visitors to the JDS Products stand will be invited to explore the company’s HALO ABS plastic washroom hygiene range.

Products include black HALO models which are described as having a striking aesthetic.

The company will also be showcasing its flagship Synergise range which includes a selection of stainless steel products. And it will be highlighting its FourFront partnership programme, which aims to promote collaboration and sustainability across its supply chain for a greener future. www.jdsproducts.co.uk

Splast

Stand 03.209

Splast will be displaying its multifunctional trolleys equipped with a range of accessories.

These will include the new PRAS-0036 flat wringer which wrings out wet mops efficiently. With a lightweight construction, the wringer is compatible with all Splast trolleys that feature a jaw press and can be used with any type of mop.

Also on show will be equipment from the AquaSplast,

ComfortSplast and AssepticoSplast lines. AquaSplast trolleys have a modular construction

and are designed to optimise wet cleaning. Each trolley can be equipped with additional buckets, containers or trays. ComfortSplast trolleys are aimed at the hospitality industry and can be customised. And AssepticoSplast trolleys feature antibacterial technology. splast.com.pl

Santa Gemma

Stand 10.104

A new line of spiral core toilet paper rolls – said to save space and reduce consumption - has been launched by Santa Gemma. Also from the company comes single-wrapped kitchen rolls and other products for the professional cleaning, industrial, catering and wellness sectors.

Most products are made using a double embossing synchronised lamination system for extra absorbency and high tensile strength.

The rolls are manufactured using a range of raw materials from pure to mixed cellulose to high quality recycled paper. www.santagemmatco.com

Northwood Hygiene

Stand11.201

The Whisper range of toilet rolls, facial tissues and air-laid hand towels will be taking centre stage on the Northwood Hygiene stand.

Making its debut will be Whisper Eco, a premium, environmentallyfriendly two-ply toilet tissue in a plastic-free packaging.

Made from sustainably-sourced 100 per cent recycled paper, all packaging including the core, paper, wrapping and box come from FSC certified sources.

Northwood’s flagship Raphael and North Shore brands will also be on show. Designed for use in washrooms of all sizes and footfalls, Raphael products are claimed to deliver improved hygiene standards while saving money and reducing waste.

The company will also be introducing its new line of Whisper facial tissues.

V Brøndum

Stand03.100

V Brøndum will be presenting a powerful new heavy-duty vacuum cleaner designed for use in construction and other heavy industries. The Ronda 1800H Twin is a class H machine suitable for picking up large volumes of fine or hazardous particles including quartz and plaster dust.

Equipped with two 1350W by-pass motors, it may be used

www.northwood.co.uk for regular vacuuming and cleaning tasks and can also be connected to a dust-generating tool such as a floor grinding ma-

chine. It has a soft-start function to ensure a gentle start-up and put less strain both on the motors and on the electrical installations. It can be operated using either one or both motors.

The RONDA 1800H is available in two versions with collection being achieved either in recycling bags or in a metal container. broendum.com

ISSA

Stand06.206

ISSA is hosting some events. Themes will include The Value of Clean and Enhancing Quality Assurance in Cleaning Services. Others will highlight the voices of women in the industry and explain how all businesses can maximise their efficiency and profits. Visitors to the stand can find information on ISSA’s education programmes, plus the international company certification CIMS Advanced by GBAC. www.issa.com

• On trouvera sur le stand Northwood la gamme Whisper de rouleaux de papier hygiénique, de tissus pour le visage et de serviettes à débitage par courant d’air.

• Le Ronda 1800H Twin proposé par V Brøndum est un aspirateur puissant, de service sévère, pour l’industrie et le bâtiment.

• L’association professionnelle ISSA tiendra plusieurs rencontres d’information et de prise de contact.

• Die Produktfamilie Whisper mit Toilettenrollen, Kosmetiktüchern und Airlaid-Handtüchern ist auf dem Stand von Northwood zu sehen.

• Der Ronda 1800H Twin von V Brøndum ist ein leistungsstarker Hochleistungsstaubsauger für Baugewerbe und Industrie.

• Der Branchenverband ISSA veranstaltet eine Reihe von Bildungsund Networking-Veranstaltungen.

• La linea Whisper di rotoli di carta igienica, veline per il viso e asciugamani airlaid è in esposizione presso lo stand Northwood.

• Ronda 1800H Twin di V Brøndum è un potente aspirapolvere per servizio pesante per l’industria e l’edilizia.

• L’associazione di settore ISSA ospita una serie di eventi formativi e di networking.

•Pacvac est spécialisé dans les aspirateurs dorsaux, dont le Velo.

• Prodifa a lancé la gamme Nebulibox de diffuseurs d’ambiance programmables.

• Les outils ECO et de nettoyage durable de la société Hillbrush visent à minimiser les impacts environnementaux.

• Pacvac ist auf Rucksackstaubsauger spezialisiert, darunter auch den Velo.

• Neu von Prodifa sind die programmierbaren Duftspender Nebulibox.

• Die nachhaltigen Reinigungswerkzeuge der Produktreihe ECO von Hillbrush wurden entwickelt, um die Umweltbelastung zu reduzieren.

• Pacvac è specializzato in aspirapolvere a zaino, incluso il Velo.

• Una novità di Prodifa è la gamma Nebulibox di deodoranti programmabili.

• Gli strumenti di pulizia ECO e sostenibili di Hillbrush sono progettati per ridurre l’impatto ambientale.

Pacvac

Stand03.112

Amongst the machines on display at backpack vacuum specialist Pacvac’s stand will be the Velo range - which the company says is compact and lightweight yet powerful enough to clean thoroughly while getting into tight spaces.

Recently launched is the corded Velo backpack vacuum cleaner, delivering strong suction power driven by a 900 W motor and weighing 3.9 kg.

Pacvac is also showcasing new versions of its Superpro model:

the corded Superpro and the battery powered Superpro Go.

All backpacks now come with the Ecoharness, made from at least 50 per cent rPET. pacvac.com

Prodifa

Stand05.423

Prodifa’s new Nebulibox line of air fresheners will be making its debut. They’re available in various sizes to suit spaces ranging from 200 cubic metres in size to more than 5,000 cubic metres.

Fully programmable to adapt to various uses, the systems spray fragrance in a dry, diffused mist. Programming is carried out either manually, directly on the device or achieved via a dedicated smartphone app. Nebulibox air fresheners are said to be intuitive and easy to learn.

Once empty the 200ml fragrance refills may be replaced either with a ready-to-use refill or by topping up the container from

a one litre bottle.

Nebulibox air fresheners can either be wall-mounted or freestanding and are supplied with a flexible hose that allows fragrance diffusion to be transferred to an air-conditioning system. prodifa.com

Hillbrush

Stand01.223

Hillbrush will be showcasing its range of cleaning equipment while also announcing new product launches. On display will be the company’s sustainable offerings which are designed to reduce environmental impact.

Visitors will have the chance to watch live demonstrations and gain hands-on experience of Hillbrush’s products in action. www.hillbrush.com

SENSORS, DIGITAL SYSTEMS and cleaning robots have all entered the market over recent years with the aim of taking the hard graft out of cleaning. However, all these solutions need to be correctly installed and set up if they are to work properly. And of course, cleaning operatives need to be taught how to use them.

So, how far does the set-up, training and troubleshooting involved eat away at the potential time-saving gains?

Most smart cleaning systems save a significant amount of time, according to LionsBot branding and marketing manager Sherilyn Quek. “By automating routine tasks they allow staff to focus on value-added jobs that require more attention, thus optimising the cleaning process,” she said.

However, time-savings gained will vary according to the product, application and environment in question, she says. “Our own robotic cleaners are designed to significantly reduce the time spent on routine tasks because they operate autonomously over large floor areas without supervision,” she said. “They can clean up to 4000 square metres an hour while cleaners work on other areas such as railings, table tops and door knobs. And this results in monthly savings of between 40 and 120 man hours.”

Time must be invested in these solutions, she admits. “There could be a need for staff training, for instance, while some technology-related issues could also arise,” she said. “However, our machines have a user-friendly interface and require only 30 minutes’ training. And we offer customer training and support to ensure a smooth integration into existing routines.”

LionsBot’s robotic vacuums and floor scrubbers are said to offer advanced navigation and cleaning capabilities, while cleaners can control the entire robot fleet and access cleaning reports via their mobile phones.

Sensor technology is a game-changer in commercial cleaning according to Cleanology CEO Dominic Ponniah. “By

Truly time-saving?

determining which floors of a building are occupied and which are not, companies can significantly reduce the hours required for cleaning,” he said.

“Digital systems also allow staff to record their work so that clients can see what has been done and what hasn’t. And smartphones offer real-time feedback on anything that needs doing on site.

“We also rely heavily on tablets and software to monitor cleanliness and flag up potential issues as well as scheduling in reminders for periodic deep cleans.”

Planning critical

He adds smart systems can actually cost companies time in some cases, however. “Technology is great when it works but when it goes down it can cause significant disruption,” he said. “So planning for that scenario is a critical part of implementing technology in the first place.”

Problems could also occur due to bugs in the system or internet connectivity issues, he says. “Such problems could require lengthy troubleshooting, while in an industry known for its high staff turnover the training of personnel in using the technology also needs to be considered,” said Ponniah.

“However, many people now believe that technology helps to reduce staff turnover while also making roles easier and more interesting for operatives.”

Cleanology is increasingly using technology in its day-to-day operations, he says. “We will soon be rolling out a sensor technology trial that will enable us to track office occupancy and determine which spaces require cleaning,” he said. “We also use a central software platform to schedule our team hours. Employees need to sign a job card as proof of service delivery and upload ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos.”

Cleanology’s IT team has also developed a custom app featuring facial recognition technology to protect lone shift workers and resolve attendance issues.

Smart cleaning solutions can provide efficient route planning, remote monitoring capabilities, predictive maintenance

Robots, digital systems and smart solutions have all been developed to improve cleaning efficiency. But how much time does technology actually save the cleaner, asks ECJ?

and data-driven insights, says Gausium’s global business development director Peter Kwestro. “They also minimise manual labour and increase productivity by automating routine tasks,” he said,

“Remote monitoring allows cleaners to address issues from a central location, reducing the need for a physical presence. And predictive maintenance helps to prevent equipment breakdowns, minimising downtime and maximising efficiency.”

However, he says challenges can arise when employees are reluctant to adopt the technology. “Addressing resistance to change requires encouragement, training and support,” he said. “But our robots have user-friendly interfaces that allow staff to easily navigate and programme them without any special technical skills.”

The Gausium range includes Phantas, Vacuum 40, Scrubber 50 and Scrubber 75 which are said to offer high-accuracy environmental perception along with the ability to make advanced operating decisions according to real-time situations.

Shortage of staff

The shortage of skilled staff in many countries has made technology crucial to reducing time-consuming activities such as floor cleaning says Kärcher’s robotics product manager Alina Seitter.

“Robots are becoming more important in a range of environments including supermarkets, hospitals and airports,” she says. “Floor cleaning is a time-intensive activity that is also strenuous for cleaners. So the aim of robots is to minimise the need for human intervention.”

Many robots will now take themselves

Smart technology

Truly time-saving? (continued from page 97)

to the docking station, she says. “Once there they will recharge and take on more cleaning solution without the operators having to do anything,” she said. “And scrubber dryer robots can now clean right up to edges of surfaces without the need for any additional manual work.”

The use of autonomous machines allows cleaners to perform more complex tasks for which they previously had little time, she says. “Web portals also provide cleaning records so there is no need to manually initiate or check the cleaning process on site,” she said.

She adds some cleaners have inhibitions about operating robots, however, despite the fact they have become easier to use. “Every user can now create, correct or combine routes without technical support thanks to improved sensors, higher data quality and modern operating concepts,” she said. “And animations are available with clear instructions to make maintenance as user-friendly as possible.”

However, smart systems require attention and expertise in some situations, according to Seitter. “For instance, setting up a robot requires a certain level of knowledge – but this will be explained to the operative during the deployment process,” she said. “And there might be a need for an occasional intervention if cleaning has not been completed due to unexpected obstacles in the robot’s way such as closed doors or blocked pathways.”

Kärcher’s KIRA B 50 autonomous scrubber dryer features an optional docking station. The company also offers a web portal that provides status information, cleaning reports, mobile notifications and other remote functionalities.

Reduce cleaning hours

Data-driven operations can help to reduce cleaning hours by at least 20 per cent according to Essity’s communications director Jenny Turner. “It has also been demonstrated to eliminate an average of 24 per cent of rounds while improving cleaning quality,” she said.

Essity’s Tork Vision Cleaning combines software with connected devices to provide real-time data on visitor traffic and dispenser refill levels. This enables staff to anticipate cleaning needs and reduce dis-

Est-il vrai que les robots de nettoyage, les systèmes numériques et les solutions intelligentes économisent un temps précieux aux agents de nettoyage? Se pourrait-il qu’au contraire, ces derniers perdent du temps quand les machines ne tournent pas rond ou quand ils peinent à les faire fonctioner? ECJ interroge des fabricants et entreprises de propreté sur les avantages et les pièges de la technologie du point de vue de la productivité.

penser checks by up to 91 per cent, says Turner. “This equates to time savings of hundreds of hours a year, freeing up cleaners’ time to carry out more critical tasks.

“The technology also helps staff to optimise their time by eliminating unnecessary over-cleaning.”

Sensor technology also enables Principle Cleaning Services to deploy its teams more efficiently according to commercial director Matt Kuwertz. “We are now servicing areas at frequencies that reflect real time usage rather than simply following a pre-set routine,” he said. “As a result, we avoid making unnecessary journeys to washrooms that don’t need servicing and instead focus on those that do. And this means we can deliver consistent service levels throughout the building at all times of the day.”

However, he believes sensor technology is not suitable for every environment. “Scale is needed to create meaningful opportunities, which means larger sites will see a greater benefit,” he said “Cobotic machinery can also save time in the right environment. “But it’s only when we are able to utilise them multiple times a day that the real benefit is realised.”

He says cleaning robots do occasionally require human intervention, however. “There’s always the possibility of technical issues, while time also needs to be invested in training. And malfunctions can sometimes occur due to a robot’s inability to react to changing circumstances. Our teams offer real value here by dealing with the unexpected.”

No-one can afford to ignore the advantages that available technologies now offer in Kuwertz’s opinion. “Sensors have improved the available solutions and they are now discreet and don’t require hardwiring or access to WiFi – both barriers that have been overcome in recent years,” he said. “And cobotic machines have also come a long way in terms of functionality and price.”

Principle uses a range of automated machinery and sensors designed to monitor footfall. The company’s 3D mapping platform enables it to manage its vertical cleaning operations and report building defects and facade condition.

Fluctuating office occupancies have presented new challenges for cleaning teams,

Sparen Reinigungskräfte durch Reinigungsroboter, Digitalsysteme und intelligente Lösungen wertvolle Zeit? Oder kann tatsächlich Zeit verschwendet werden, wenn Maschinen nicht richtig funktionieren oder wenn Reinigungskräfte mit der Bedienung nicht zurechtkommen? Das ECJ fragt Hersteller und Reinigungsunternehmen nach den Vorteilen und Tücken der Technologie aus der Sicht der Produktivität.

says SoftBank Robotic’s head of marketing Louise Goldsmith. “Cobots can be used in meeting rooms and common areas on lower occupancy days without the need for cleaning teams to come in and complete a full inspection or an unnecessary clean,” she said.

“Smart sensors installed in washrooms, meeting rooms and other high footfall spaces can also collect occupancy data to inform teams on when or how a cleaner needs to be deployed. And manual checks take time, so having live data means staff can be allocated to higher-priority or more specialist tasks.”

Opportunities to upskill

Some training might be required before a cleaner deploys a cobot or understands the data from smart sensors, she says. “However, these upskilling opportunities are long-term investments in improving the overall quality of service,” she said.

New from SoftBank is SmartBX which integrates robotics, artificial intelligence and automation. It aims to help providers leverage data collection and analysis to enhance cleaning levels.

So, do the time-saving benefits of smart cleaning systems generally outweigh the disadvantages in terms of training requirements, technological glitches and malfunctions?

Gausium’s global business development director Peter Kwestro says they do. “When routine tasks are automated it boosts productivity and frees up valuable time for more meaningful work,” he said. “While there may be some teething issues such as training and technological glitches, the long-term advantages make embracing smart cleaning a smart move.”

Kärcher’s Alina Seitter also believes the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. “Autonomous machines are a great relief for cleaners, particularly when carrying out time-intensive and monotonous tasks,” she said.

And LionsBot’s Sherilyn Quek concurs. “The efficiency gains, long-term cost savings and improved cleaning standards they provide offer significant value, making the initial investment in time and training well worth it for both cleaning staff and the organisation,” she said.

I robot, i sistemi digitali e le soluzioni intelligenti per la pulizia fanno risparmiare tempo prezioso agli addetti alle pulizie? Oppure è possibile perdere tempo quando le macchine si guastano o quando l’addetto alle pulizie fatica a farle funzionare? ECJ interroga i produttori e le imprese di pulizia sui vantaggi e sulle insidie della tecnologia dal punto di vista della produttività.

Saving time

Companies can cut cleaning hours by 20 per cent when they implement Tork Vision Cleaning, claims manufacturer Essity. The digital system can also reduce the number of dispenser checks that staff need to make by 91 per cent it says.

The system uses people-counters and connected dispensers to provide real-time data on cleaning requirements. Staff can then check remotely via a computer, tablet or smartphone on which washroom cubicles are particularly busy and which dispensers are running out of essential supplies.

This means they can streamline cleaning rounds and top up units at their own convenience – as the data collected enables them to anticipate when enhanced cleaning and extra checks might be required. Which means hand hygiene supplies are always available.

Training built into the software incorporates intuitive icons and information fields that clarify which jobs need to be carried out when. And also part of the contract is a 24/7 Resource Centre for continued postonboarding training reference and support.

www.tork.co.uk/visioncleaning

Real-time

Specialising in software solutions for the cleaning and facilities management industry is Leviy, which enables service providers to digitise paperbased processes.

Designed to make everyday tasks more easily manageable for the cleaning operative, management and clienteverybody involved has realtime insight into all aspects of the cleaning process. This includes tasks, issues, statuses, activities and reports, all available in any language.

The company says digitising these elements improves efficiency, minimises errors, eliminates language barriers and improves quality. leviy.com

Cloud solution

Avista Time (AT) offers a scalable, integrated, mobile cloud solution that optimises human logistics in cleaning operations. Designed to meet the needs of buyers, clients, service providers and cleaning operatives, there are overlapping functionalities with full transparency of shared operational data.

All parties are empowered to execute the agreed tasks efficiently and transparently while adhering to agreements and schedules and providing real-time access to shared operational data, quality status and adjustments.

Leveraging shared capabilities and AI, operations and contracts can be optimised in line with any ad hoc requirements and seasonal fluctuations.

www.avistatime.com

New functions

Vigilant has been developing new functionalities into its systems, applications and hardware associated with control of cleaning operatives’ attendance and tasks.

The people counter, for

example, is designed to control the flow of people entering and exiting a premises or area to be cleaned. It can be configured to send an alert and create a request to attend to a service task on demand.

To eliminate paperwork on the premises cleaned, a QR code can be used to direct the client to a landing page where information on tasks completed can be accessed. Customers can then also rate the service and report any event, incident or opinion.

Finally, Vigilant has updated its Easy Reader, the alternative to the mobile phone for keeping track of employees through NFC tags placed at customer sites. vigilant.es

Next edition of ECJ will feature a special report about robotics

Direct access

MaintMobile from it-neX Software is a maintenance app designed to work alongside MaintMan software for direct access via smartphone and tablet.

The app offers control over all aspects of maintenance, servicing, reports and faults with live reporting and alerts. All work can be carried out, progress of repairs tracked and plant maintenance managed.

User-friendly interface and intuitive navigation make the app easy to use, says it-NeX, Users can create work orders, assign resources, create incidents and check task status.

Integration with MaintMan keeps data synchronised.

MaintMan software is available in many languages and can be used worldwide.

www.it-nex.com

• Essity a développé le système Tork Vision pour réduire les heures de nettoyage ainsi que les contrôles de distributeurs par le personnel.

• La plateforme Leviy offre une vue d’ensemble en temps réel des tâches, problèmes, états, activités et rapports de nettoyage.

• Avista Time propose une solution extensible, intégrée et mobile basée sur le cloud pour optimier la logistique humaine dans les opérations de propreté.

• Vigilant a intégré de nouvelles fonctionnalités dans son logiciel, ses applications et ses matériels.

• Le logiciel MaintMan est conçu pour la gestion de l’entretien, des interventions de service, des réparations, du dépannage, etc.

• Essity hat das Tork Vision System entwickelt, um Reinigungszeiten zu verkürzen und die Spenderkontrollen durch Mitarbeiter zu reduzieren.

• Die Leviy Plattform bietet Echtzeiteinblicke in Reinigungsaufgaben, Probleme, Status, Aktivitäten und Berichte.

• Avista Time bietet eine skalierbare, integrierte, mobile Cloud-Lösung zur Optimierung der menschlichen Logistik bei Reinigungsvorgängen.

• Vigilant hat neue Funktionen für Software, Anwendungen und Hardware entwickelt.

• Die MaintMan-Software dient der Verwaltung von Wartung, Instandhaltung, Reparaturen, Fehlern usw.

• Essity ha sviluppato il sistema Tork Vision per ridurre le ore di pulizia e i controlli sui dispenser da parte del personale.

• La piattaforma Leviy offre informazioni in tempo reale in merito a lavori di pulizia, problemi, condizioni, attività e report.

• Avista Time offre una soluzione cloud mobile, scalabile e integrate per ottimizzare la logistica nelle operazioni di pulizia.

• Vigilant ha sviluppato nuove funzionalità nel suo software, nelle sue applicazioni e nel suo hardware.

• Il software MaintMan è progettato per gestire manutenzione, assistenza, riparazioni, guasti, ecc.

AI and its impact on Brand Loyalty & Profitability

Ceris Burns, managing director of PR and communications agency, Ceris Burns International shares insights.

AI is here and it’s moving fast! Its rapid advancement is reshaping industries worldwide, including how businesses communicate with their customers. In fact, according to Gartner’s 2023 research, customer experience is the most common primary focus of AI investments, cited by 38% of respondents. The technology equips businesses with tools to make informed decisions, deliver personalised content, and achieve better results, driving profitability and success.

With AI’s ability to simulate human intelligence, behaviours and processes, there are a rapidly evolving number of tools available to help us work smarter. It can help foster brand loyalty and accelerate revenue growth, by providing invaluable insights into customer preferences and behaviour. If you haven’t yet embraced AI in your communications strategy, now is the time. In this article, I delve deeper into how it can help you communicate your business strengths more effectively and enhance profitability.

What’s the value of AI for your business?

The real value of AI for your business is significant. PwC’s Global Artificial Intelligence Study: Exploiting the AI Revolution’ predicts a potential $15.7 trillion contribution to the global economy by 2030. It can significantly enhance customer relationships through datadriven decision-making, personalised content delivery, and automating repetitive tasks. Key areas where AI adds value to communications teams and enhances company profitability include:

Data Analytics: AI-powered analytics tools, such as Microsoft CoPilot and Machine Learning Google Sheets, can sift through vast amounts of data to extract insights about consumer behaviour, preferences, and trends. This allows businesses to make data-driven decisions and to target specific audiences more effectively.

Personalisation: AI analyses customer data to deliver customised content and recommendations. By delivering messages that are relevant and personalised, brands can increase engagement and forge deeper connections with their audience.

Automation: Repetitive tasks, such as scheduling social media posts, data management and optimising ad campaigns can be automated using AI. This allows teams to focus on strategic initiatives and creative tasks, thereby increasing efficiency and productivity.

Content Creation: AI-powered tools, such as ChatGPT, can assist in content generation, enriching creative ideas. These tools can help teams produce high-quality content more efficiently and maintain consistency in messaging.

Predictive Analytics: AI can forecast future trends, identify opportunities, and anticipate customer needs. Using predictive analytics, you can stay ahead of the competition and adjust your strategies to maximise return on investment.

Audience Segmentation: Algorithms segment audiences based on various factors such as demographics, interests, and behaviours. This enables targeted messaging, higher engagement and conversion rates.

Reputation Management: AI-powered sentiment analysis tools can monitor online conversations and social media mentions to gauge public sentiment toward a brand or product. This enables proactive brand reputation management.

Balancing AI advancements with human expertise

Alongside these advantages, AI poses challenges such as copyright issues, bias, and privacy concerns. Individuals will continue to be tasked with assessing the accuracy of outputs generated and applying creative and critical thinking. Careful management is necessary to maintain trust and credibility. While AI can enhance productivity, it is not a remedy for flawed decision-making. It requires proper training, ethical considerations, and adherence to rigorous standards.

Google’s ‘Helpful Content Update’ means that information that is largely generated by AI may be penalised and could potentially be removed from search results. Google has indicated that heavy reliance on automation to produce content could indicate unhelpful or unsatisfactory information. High quality content that puts people first is essential.

You may already use some AI tools in-house. According to ‘The AI Marketing Benchmark Report 2023,’ published on the Influencer Marketing Hub, 61.4% of marketers have used AI in their marketing activities. However, careful management of these tools is essential. This is where PR professionals play a key role in advising clients on the reputational implications of AI usage.

Ultimately, all communications activities should align with your overall business strategy, goals, and objectives. If you’d like guidance on using the transformative power of AI technology while upholding ethical principles and delivering value to customers and stakeholders, our team is here to assist you. Meet us in person at Interclean Amsterdam to start a conversation. We can be contacted on +44 (0) 330 004 0844, email info@cbipr.com, www.cbipr.com

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT programmes are one of the most powerful things we can offer employees. Stats compiled by HR Exchange Network state 68 per cent of employees say training and development is a company’s most important policy, while 76 per cent are looking for career growth opportunities.

There’s a strong business case as well. The Huffington Post reports companies offering comprehensive training programmes have 218 per cent higher income per employee than those with less comprehensive training and enjoy a 24 per cent higher profit margin than those who spend less on training.

We’re all passionate about supporting cleaning operatives by creating valuable career paths and making the industry attractive to the next generation of the workforce. Yet many training methods still often involve spending hours in a room or online reading manuals and guides.

It’s time to revamp how we deliver training, and virtual reality (VR) is one of the ways forward. There are numerous stats that highlight the benefits of VR training. VR-focused training company Virtual Speech says:

• VR training drives a 76 per cent increase in learning effectiveness compared to traditional methods

• Employees can be trained four times faster in VR courses than in classrooms

• Learners who undergo VR training demonstrate up to a 275 per cent increase in confidence to apply what they’ve learned, far higher than classroom (40 per cent) and e-learning (35 per cent)

• VR learners report feeling 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the training content than those in traditional classrooms and 2.3 times more connected than e-learners

• VR-trained employees are up to four times more focused during training compared e-learners and 1.5 times more focused than classroom learners.

The same study notes the positive impact that VR training has had in a va-

The future of training

riety of fields, from healthcare to mining. There’s no reason that it can’t be adapted for the cleaning sector – and that’s exactly what we did at Churchill Group.

Our VR programme was designed for cleaning operatives who work on our rail contracts. Specifically, the turnaround cleans when a train has reached its final destination. The beauty of VR is that you can create a scenario for any situation, so there’s no reason why it can’t be used for an office setting, hospital or a school. You can even recreate the exact setting in VR so that operatives can practice as if they were there.

VR is also a much more inclusive option as it touches on all of the visual, aural, reading/writing and kinesthetic (VARK) styles of learning to some extent. It can be delivered in different languages so that all employees can take part, and the engaging experience is much more impactful for people with neurodiverse conditions, such as ADHD, than traditional methods.

Starting the VR journey

The first step is to form a small inhouse project team comprised of key stakeholders - such as HR, operations and account leads from the relevant business divisions. Define your goal early on and be clear about what you want to achieve. We didn’t have the in-house expertise to design the VR system, so we identified a partner and worked closely with them throughout the process.

Create a project plan that includes timeliness and meeting schedules. We found it best to meet weekly, but others may want to meet more or less frequently depending on availability and the progress of the platform. The meetings must be inperson as you’ll want to test the software each time. Make sure to precisely define the programme’s scope to cover essential topics relevant to your operations.

You can also think about other elements you could incorporate into the training. For example, we integrated security protocols, such as suspicious packages, to enhance the security awareness of

Debbie Jamieson, HR projects manager at building services provider Churchill Group explores why training is so important in our sector, the benefits of using VR and how every business can create and implement a VR training programme for their workforce.

our cleaning operatives to meet rail industry requirements.

Delivering the training

VR headsets such as the Oculus Quest 2 come with handheld controllers, are affordable and easy to transport between sites. You can deliver training to as many people at one time as you have headsets, across various locations. This flexibility is crucial in addressing the disparate nature of the workforce and mitigating the hidden costs associated with training, such as inconsistent messaging and time-consuming training methods.

The headset, a laptop and a chair are the key bits of physical kit you need to get started. You’ll also want to make sure you have a suitable room, and perhaps a big screen as well so that others in the room can watch as the user goes through the programme.

We noticed that users often find it hard to resist the temptation to move around if their chair has wheels, even though programmes can be completed sitting still. The controllers are used to ‘move’ around inside the VR platform, while the user just needs to move their head to look around.

It’s worthwhile having the user start inside some sort of training centre where they can receive an introduction to the programme and can get used to using the headset and controls. Though VR headsets are becoming more popular, lots of people still haven’t used them before so

The future of training (continued from page 103)

you’ll want to make sure they are comfortable before the actual training programme starts. We had users pick up and throw a basketball to get them used to how the controls work.

Then you can have them go through the training you have devised. In our platform, we have users take part in a timed turnaround clean of a train carriage as the final part of the programme. They have to collect rubbish, check toilets, spot graffiti, and

make it off the train before time elapses. Users receive a score at the end and can see which things they may have missed.

You can record the training so that any designated person can watch it back. This allows a manager to live through a user’s journey and see where they performed well and where they struggled.

You can even utilise technology to track users’ eye movements, providing invaluable insights into their performance and

learning patterns. You may notice that someone frequently struggles with the left side of their vision, for example, which will help you address the problem and support that person. This type of insight is simply not possible in a classroom and helps to truly tailor the learning experience to each individual.

Fantastic feedback

More than 200 cleaning operatives have completed our VR training course so far and the feedback from trainees has been overwhelmingly positive. One hundred per cent of participants said that they enjoyed the experience, and 95 per cent said they would recommend it.

Feedback from trainees includes:

• “I like the fact it was immersive and an interesting way to learn as opposed to our current way of learning.”

• “The environment was very realistic; the start of training was great, and we had a lot of time to complete and learn.”

• “If you apply for a cleaning job, I think individuals will be excited to go through this experience.”

When asked if they would recommend the programme, respondents said:

• “I definitely would - we can develop scenarios that cause the most common problems. It definitely makes you feel you are there and in the moment.”

• “Yes - this brings it to life in a different way as it’s not just visual, but it hits all of your senses instead of just reading something.”

• “I’m really, really impressed by it. The whole process from beginning to end encompasses what we do in the role.”

Trainees appreciate the immersive and interactive nature of the training, and also recognise our commitment to their development and value as team members.

One of our rail clients tried the programme and responded enthusiastically. They highlighted the programme’s

Debbie Jamieson, qui travaille pour le prestataire de services britannique Churchill Group, examine les raisons de l’importance de la formation, les avantages de la vidéo et la manière dont les entreprises de propreté peuvent créer des programmes de formation à l’aide de vidéos pour leurs employés. Il ressort de recherches sur la question que les employés formés à l’aide de vidéos se concentrent quatre fois mieux sur leur apprentissage que les apprenants par ordinateur et 1,5 fois mieux que les apprenants en salle de classe.

innovative and engaging nature and were thrilled to see how we are supporting our colleagues to better support them.

Business case and future plans

While we developed this for the benefit of our colleagues and clients, it does of course need to be commercially viable. We expect our investment to be returned within a year through cost savings and enhanced business opportunities. The programme will cut costs by reducing training time, increasing employee retention and easing the burden on account managers responsible for training.

The beauty of this software lies in its adaptability and scalability. As technology continues to advance, you can continue to

Debbie Jamieson vom Dienstleister Churchill Group im Vereinigten Königreich sondiert, warum Schulung so wichtig ist, welche Vorteile VR bietet und wie Reinigungsunternehmen ein VR-Schulungsprogramm für ihre Mitarbeiter erstellen und implementieren können. Forschungen zeigen, dass Mitarbeiter mit VR-Schulung während der Schulung bis zu viermal so konzentriert sind wie Teilnehmer von e-Learnings und eineinhalbmal so konzentriert wie Teilnehmer beim Anwesenheitsunterricht.

improve the programme and explore new possibilities. This may be creating different settings and making improvements based on user feedback.

For example, we’re planning to design a more universal experience that accommodates individuals with neurodiverse conditions and to introduce more language options to ensure the platform is as inclusive as possible.

Our VR training programme represents a pioneering innovation in the FM sector, and I’d encourage others to follow suit. It will showcase your commitment to your employees and clients, and there are simply too many reasons not to adopt VR for at least part of your training portfolio.

Debbie Jamieson, presso il fornitore di servizi Churchill Group nel Regno Unito, esamina l’importanza della formazione, i vantaggi della realtà virtuale e in che modo le aziende operanti nel settore della pulizia possono creare e implementare un programma di formazione in VR per la propria forza lavoro. Secondo le ricerche condotte, i dipendenti formati tramite VR sono fino a quattro volte più concentrati durante la formazione rispetto agli e-learner e 1 volta e mezza più concentrati rispetto agli studenti in aula.

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Sustainable cleaning

Claims must pass the test

‘The most sustainable solution’. ‘Better for the environment’.

‘Made with recycled plastic’.

Our industry has no shortage of sustainability-related product claims. But do they hold water? And do they benefit customers?

Let’s work together to get our industry’s green claims rightsays Malene Thiele, global VP, ESG & sustainability at Nilfisk.

A STUDY CONDUCTED BY the European Commission in 2020 showed that more than half of green claims were vague, misleading and without justification. What’s more, 40 per cent had no documentation. Clearly, there’s room for improvement in our industry and others.

New regulations call for crucial new collaboration

Within roughly the last year, the EU has initiated new measures to protect consumers from misleading green claims. For example, new rules will forbid the use of unproven generic product claims such as ‘environmentally friendly’ or ‘climate neutral’ and the marketing of products as having a reduced environmental impact based on emissions offsetting schemes.

While the European Commission focuses on claims in a B2C (business-toconsumer) context, the principles can be directly transferred to B2B (business-tobusiness) marketing. When companies claim that certain products have positive environmental and climate-related attributes, such claims must be scientifically proven and documented. Furthermore, companies should apply standards that have been agreed on and published throughout the industry.

Our industry has an urgent new responsibility to work together to provide the best possible basis of comparison for customers. We must agree upon common standards for how to measure product environmental impacts – for the sake of good planetary stewardship and good business.

More transparency enables more impact

When you browse various companies’ product portfolios, you need to be able to identify the most sustainable option. That is, the most sustainable option for the planet and not just the most sustainable option in one company’s product portfolio. This requires shared, standardised industry calculation methods.

Instead of creating a jungle of green

claims for customers to manoeuvre, our industry needs to collaborate to improve transparency. This can be done by having environmental claims verified by a third party or it can be done by applying correct, agreed-upon industry standards. The latter is not only more cost-effective; it may prove more impactful too.

Documentation for green claims is key from a legal perspective, of course. But equally important is creating a shared basis of comparison that allows customers to objectively compare all products. In the long run, claims based on our own product portfolios can lead to arbitrary recommendations seen from the viewpoint of the environment and climate.

From the planet’s perspective, we need comparisons based on a uniformly agreed standard. We need shared principles for calculating environmental benefits such as energy efficiency or greenhouse gas emissions during the entire lifecycle of the product.

Are you comparing apples and oranges?

Nilfisk works with an internal target to make all our new product platforms 25 per cent more energy efficient than previous ones. If you also work with the energy efficiency of your products, you know what makes that tricky - more energy efficient than what?

We have industry performance standards on commercial dry vacuum cleaners, oil-heated pressure washers and floorcare. But in many other cases, we don’t have specific industry standards to compare against. And that makes it hard to express energy improvements in a reliable way. For this reason, we’re working on a European level to introduce these types of performance standards.

All recycled plastics are not created equal

Labelling of recycled plastics in cleaning equipment also needs to improve to help both customers and the planet.

Recycled content in a vacuum cleaner,

for example, may contain a percentage of materials collected from recycling programmes. These materials may once have been used by a consumer, disposed of, and then diverted from landfills or incineration. This is called post-consumer recycled material.

However, the recycled content may also consist of recycled materials harvested from industrial scrap, rejects, and trimming. This is called post-industrial or preconsumer recycled material.

Logically, my first example - the postconsumer recycled materials - is the better option for the environment. This material would otherwise have been disposed of rather than used to manufacture a vacuum cleaner. Post-consumer plastic products close the loop by diverting waste from landfills and allowing it to be recycled into something else.

But don’t get me wrong – both types of recycled plastics are of course better than zero recycled content. I suggest, however, that you ask for post-consumer recycled content when purchasing cleaning equipment.

New EU mandates may require such transparency. And customers deserve that the environmental impact of a product’s design choices are clear. Our industry must label the percentage of postconsumer plastic when claiming percentages of recycled plastic in products. This must be done clearly and by using shared criteria. Otherwise the customer compares apples and oranges. And no one wins. Neither the companies that invest in manufacturing with post-consumer recycled material nor the customers who wish to purchase the better option from an environmental standpoint. There’s a hole in the sustainability bucket

Life cycle assessments are another area where our industry needs to come together. A life cycle assessment (LCA) provides a framework for measuring the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifetime.

The analysis can be done in numerous ways. But the cleaning industry has not yet

« La solution la plus appropriée ». « Meilleur pour l’environnement ». « Fabriqué à partir de matières plastiques recyclées ». Notre secteur ne manque pas de raisons pour se targuer de l’usage de produits et services favorables à la durabilité. Cependant, sontelles bien argumentées? Et sont-elles à l’avantage des clients? Collaborons pour corriger nos prétentions écologiques! déclare Malene Thiele, vice-présidente de Nilfisk, responsable pour les questions ESG et Durabilité.

agreed on a standard to conduct harmonised life cycle assessments.

This is a weakness for our industry – a hole in our bucket to be patched. Without a shared standard for how to measure energy usage, emissions, or resource use, our ability to prove environmental benefits from individual products is insufficient.

So where do we go from here? How can our industry patch up the holes in our sustainability bucket?

To standardise and enable comparison between products, the European Commission proposes that businesses substantiate their environmental claims by using product environmental footprint methods for comparable products. One way forward for the cleaning industry is therefore initiating an industry-wide project to define common rules for well-defined product categories. This could help us all substantiate sustainability claims.

Such a project could even proactively feed into the legislative process in line with the Product Environmental Footprint methodology as defined by the European Commission. Nilfisk is proactively working with the European manufacturers’ association EUnited and its members to generate such a framework. In the meantime, be sure to check ESG data

Admittedly, industry-wide shared standards will not come easily. Despite being a beautiful destination, it is a difficult road to travel. And shared standards will take time to develop.

While we’re all waiting, I suggest taking a closer look at cleaning product providers’ respective sustainability reports.

The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) are starting this year. The US Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) has climate disclosure rules coming soon. And the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) reporting space is quickly maturing into a credible, comparable, and third-party audited source of information on the companies behind cleaning products.

For my part, I encourage anyone interested in Nilfisk’s products to use the data presented in Nilfisk’s Sustainability Report 2023. There you can evaluate the credibility of and progress made towards our sustainability targets. In addition to presenting the sustainability credentials of individual cleaning products, ESG data is blossoming into a significant corporate qualifier.

While we wait for shared industry standards, let’s make sure we use these data as well. And let’s not wait longer than absolutely necessary to develop shared standards. For all our sakes.

„Die nachhaltigste Lösung“. „Besser für die Umwelt“. „Hergestellt aus recyceltem Kunststoff“. In unserer Branche mangelt es nicht an Aussagen über Produkte, die auf Nachhaltigkeit ausgerichtet sind. Aber sind sie stichhaltig? Und bringen sie den Kunden einen Vorteil? Lasst uns zusammenarbeiten, um die umweltftreudlichen Ansprüche unserer Branche gut hinzubekommen, sagt Malene Thiele, Global Vice President, ESG & Sustainability bei Nilfisk.

“La soluzione più sostenibile”. “Migliore per l’ambiente”. “Realizzato in plastica riciclata”. Nella nostra industria abbondano le dichiarazioni sui prodotti legate alla sostenibilità. Ma sono veritiere? E portano dei benefici ai clienti? Lavoriamo insieme per mettere in pratica le dichiarazioni ecologiche del nostro settore, dice Malene Thiele, Vice-Presidente globale, ESG & Sustainability per Nilfisk.

Floor polishing

Shining in the face of adversity

What makes a consistent high shine on a hard floor so difficult to achieve? ECJ looks at issues such as wear and tear, water damage and wheeled traffic and finds out about the factors that can prevent a hard floor from fulfilling its potential.

and other furniture items will all increase the risk of wear and tear on a hard floor, he says. “Large spillages of water or acid on wooden floors can also irreversibly damage the surface, while loose dirt such as stones or sand will cause sandpaperlike scratches. And if the floor is not cleaned over time, the build-up of dirt layers can result in permanent damage.”

this case, a crystallisation agent in liquid or powder form would be applied in sections and machined until the desired shine is achieved,” said Prasser. “Although this requires more time, it will make the floor more resilient.

A HARD FLOOR WITH a glossy, uniform shine can be pleasing on the eye. It will reflect the light while also projecting an image of cleanliness and care. But a high shine can be hard to achieve – and even harder to maintain.

Factors such as a high footfall, stiletto heels and trolley cases criss-crossing the floor can all lead to scuffs, scratches and a dulling of the surface. So, what can be done to ensure that a shiny floor reaches its full potential?

The ability to achieve and sustain a high level of gloss will depend on the type of floor in question, says Kärcher’s scrubber dryer application specialist Patrick Prasser.

“For example, it is relatively easy to create a shine on a polymer dispersion that can be polished using a high speed or ultra-high speed machine,” he said. “If, however, you are dealing with a hard granite floor covering it will need to be sanded down with heavy machines and diamond tools.”

He says effort is required to maintain a high shine over the long term. “Public traffic can bring in a great deal of street dirt in the form of sand and small stones, and this can negatively affect the appearance of the floor,” he said. “Preserving the shine begins in the entrance with large dirt collection zones and entrance matting systems that will also need to be cleaned regularly with the right equipment such as a brush vacuum cleaner.”

Mechanical loads such as chairs, tables

Other challenges to cleaning involve cost, time and personnel, he adds. “The optimal cleaning machine should be able to be operated as efficiently as possible within the available budget and personnel,” he said. “Robotic solutions in particular can support staff members and free up time for them to care for other surfaces.”

Regular cleaning is essential, he says. “Scrubber dryers equipped with diamond pads are particularly suitable for daily use because they clean and polish the floor at the same time, minimising the effort required to maintain the shine,” he said.

The appearance of the floor could suffer if the wrong equipment is used or if the cleaning intervals are inadequate, says Prasser. “Staff members also need to be regularly trained in how to use the cleaning equipment to achieve the best possible result,” he adds

All equipment should be easy to use and maintain, he says. Kärcher offers a range of scrubber dryers with diamond pads plus single-disc machines for polishing as well as spray cleaners, crystallisation agents and floor coatings.

A scrubber dryer equipped with diamond pads will provide a high shine during regular maintenance and with minimal effort, according to Prasser. “This is often achieved in three steps,” he adds. “In the first step, a relatively coarse diamond pad is used to prepare the floor and to remove small scratches. In the next step, a silky matt appearance is achieved with the aid of a finer pad. And finally, a fine diamond pad is used to achieve and maintain a high shine.”

The surface can also be crystallised if a higher level of gloss is desired, he says. “In

“And on a wooden floor, a spray cleaner would be applied to the surface and polished using a single-disc machine to remove the dirt and heel marks while polishing the floor at the same time.”

Improper treatment will lead to a hard floor being permanently damaged over time, says Filmop’s Italy area manager Jimmy Vardanega. “This can occur when the floor is treated with hard waxes, for example, or when maintenance is carried out with the wrong cleaning agents,” he said. “Damage can also result when overly abrasive mops are used because these have a scrubbing action that will risk damage to the surface over time.”

High traffic can also be a problem, he adds. “This can be managed with the use of carpets, which will reduce the impact of continuous passage on the floor.”

The presence of furniture is a common challenge during floor maintenance procedures, he says. “This will hinder the passage of equipment, while high foot traffic concentrated on focal points will cause wear and tear and make maintenance more difficult,” he said.

Neutral detergent

Filmop’s Unilav system for cleaning and waxing features a dosing system and a refillable bottle designed to prevent the wax from drying out. It can be used with the Smart-Fur microfibre mop which is said to spread the wax evenly.

The use of metallised waxes facilitates waxing and provides better results, he says. “In addition, the floor should be cleaned using neutral detergents combined with microfibre mops because they will remove dirt without damaging the surface,” he said.

According to Vardanega, waxing is the easiest method of polishing a floor. “This creates a real barrier on the surface,” he

said. “However, the hardness of the floor and the intensity of the traffic it receives will determine how long the wax shine will last. These variables therefore need to be considered when planning the treatment.”

Achieving a high gloss finish on a hard stone floor is not particularly difficult, according to Principle Cleaning’s specialist services director Juan Camara.

“However, it can be time-consuming if the gloss has not been well maintained,” he said. “A stone floor in a poor condition would require diamond floor pads of 200, 400, 800 1500, 3000 and 8000 grits, for example, and this would mean the floor would have to undergo six treatments.”

The floor would then need to be burnished quarterly depending on traffic levels, he said. “Less well-used floors might only require this treatment twice a year,” says Camara.

A flat mop and a natural floor cleaner is all that is required for daily cleaning of most floors, he says. “This will make the floor easier to maintain and can reduce up to 50 per cent of labour,” said Camara. “Untreated floors will be particularly sensitive to stains, water marks and dust which will penetrate the porous surface of a stone floor, making it look patchy.”

He claims the use of a grinder with diamond floor pads, grits and polish will keep the floor looking good for months.

The condition of the floor before applying the finish is crucially important to the end result, says Cleanology’s marketing director Kate Lovell. “Any scratches or unevenness of the surface can actually appear worse after a glossy finish,” she said. “The quality of the products also plays an important role in achieving a high gloss finish. And cutting corners by using low-quality products or skipping essential steps in the application process could result in disappointing results such as streaks, bubbles or other blemishes.”

A high gloss finish can be hard to maintain since it might show scratches, scuffs and dirt more prominently than a matt finish, she adds. “This means keeping a glossy floor in a good condition is likely to require more regular cleaning and maintenance.”

Heavy foot traffic in well-trodden environments such as reception areas will

Tous aiment la vue d’un parquet d’un brillant uniforme. Mais quels sont les facteurs qui rendent un tel parquet si attrayant? Et quelles sont les difficultés à surmonter? ECJ examine les problèmes qui se posent: usure normale, dommages par eau, marques laissées par le fort passage de pieds, de hauts-talons et d’engins à roue. Nous cherchons à connaître ce qui empêche un tel parquet de réaliser son potentiel.

always be prone to more wear and tear, according to Lovell. “The use of trolleys and wheeled furniture can also create friction, resulting in scratches that will affect a glossy appearance,” she says. “And the pointed nature of sharp objects such as stiletto heels will intensify the pressure on small areas, creating yet another factor that is likely to impact on a glossy finish.” Floor protectors such as rugs or mats in high-traffic areas can help to protect the floor from damage from heavy furniture or sharp objects, she says.

Proper cleaning crucial

Failing to properly prepare the floor before applying treatments or finishes could lead to poor adhesion and a dull appearance, according to Lovell. “Proper cleaning and sanding - while also addressing any imperfections in the surface - are crucial for a successful treatment application,” she said. “Daily wear and tear including scuff marks and scratches will develop over time and probably give the floor a duller appearance. These issues are often caused by heavy foot traffic, moving furniture without protection or abrasive tools.”

Frequent liquid spills if left unattended can result in staining, warping, swelling or other damage to the floor, she says. “Spills

of acids or harsh chemicals should be attended to promptly in order to avoid causing lasting damage,” said Lovell. “And some finishes could be prone to UV damage, leading to discoloration or fading over time if the floor is exposed to direct sunlight without proper protection.”

Customers should choose a suitable high-quality finish or sealing agent and follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the recommended number of coats and drying times, she says. “Each coat needs to be given sufficient time to dry thoroughly before applying the next one,” adds Lovell. “It is also wise to place felt pads or protective caps on furniture legs to minimise the risk of scratches. Stable humidity levels help to prevent wood floors from expanding or contracting.”

Cleanology uses advanced buffer systems and specialised high gloss floor polishes for areas with heavy foot traffic plus stripping and sealing solutions.

Customers should consider using window treatments to limit direct sunlight exposure and reduce the risk of UV damage, according to Lovell. “They should also give serious thought to professional maintenance services such as buffing or polishing to rejuvenate the shine as and when it is needed,” she adds.

Jeder sieht gern einen Boden mit strahlendem einheitlichem Glanz. Aber warum ist ein glänzender Boden so attraktiv? Und warum ist das schwer zu erzielen? Das ECJ befasst sich mit Problemen wie Verschleiß, Wasserschäden und Flecken, die durch hohe Passantenfrequenz, Pfennigabsätze und Radverkehr verursacht werden, und findet heraus, was verhindern kann, dass ein harter Boden sein volles Potenzial entwickelt.

A tutti piace vedere un pavimento dalla lucentezza brillante e uniforme. Ma perché un pavimento lucido è così attraente? E come mai è così difficile raggiungere questo risultato? ECJ esamina questioni quali l’usura, i danni causati dall’acqua e i segni causati dal calpestio elevato, dai tacchi a spillo e dal traffico su ruote e scopre cosa può impedire a un pavimento duro di realizzare il suo pieno potenziale.

Hospital grade

The EvaClean Infection Prevention Solution, previously used only in healthcare settings, is now available to non-medical facilities. The bleach-free cleaner and disinfectant PurOne from EarthSafe comes in tubs of 50 tablets. EPA registered, it kills almost all harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi says the company. It is also said to penetrate biofilms. The concentrated tablets can be diluted to various strengths. There is also a new PurOne Everyday Kit comprising tablets, spray bottle and microfibre cloth. www.earthsafeca.com

Smells fresh

New from Jangro is a range of air freshener aerosols designed for

use in offices, hotels, reception areas and washrooms. Fragrances include Fresh Linen, Forest Berries, Wildflower and Citrus and the 270 ml cans are compatible with the company’s Aircare programmable dispensers.

The highly perfumed formulations also neutralise unpleasant odours and remain suspended in the air for longlasting freshness.

www.jangro.net

Pro hand wash

Reckitt Pro Solutions has launched Dettol Pro Cleanse Liquid Hand Wash, its first hand wash product for professional use. Available as a five-litre unit or 500 ml pump, the antibacterial formula also contains a skin moisturiser to make it suitable for frequent use.

The Pro Cleanse Liquid Hand

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Wash five-litre refill units are compatible with wall mount dispensers, manual open systems and automatic hand soap dispensers. reckitt.com/ professional-solutions

Switch dosing

For easy and environmentally conscious dosing and dispensing of cleaning chemicals, Green Care Professional has developed the Switch System. Each Switch bottle is equipped with a dosing cap that dispenses five ml of cleaning agent. When the bottle is empty it can be refilled using the material-conserving, spacesaving refill pouch.

Eight hundred litres of cleaning solution can be produced with a single Switch dosing bottle. www.green-care-professional.com

• Le produit PurOne Cleaner and Disinfectant, qui fait partie du système EvaClean de prévention des infections, est désormais disponible sur le marché non-sanitaire.

• Jangro a lancé une nouvelle gamme de diffuseurs d’ambiance à aérosol capable de fonctionner pendant des heures.

• Reckitt Pro Solutions a lancé le lavage des mains liquide Dettol Pro Cleanse, conditionné en bidons de 5 litres ou en flacons à pompe manuelle de 500 ml.

• Proposé par Green Care Professional, le Switch System comprend des formules concentrées qui sont conditionnées en bouteilles munies d’un capuchon de dosage et rechargeable à l’aide d’une pochette de remplissage.

• PurOne Reinigungsmittel und Desinfektionsmittel, Teil des Infektionspräventionssystems von EvaClean, sind nun auch für Anwender außerhalb des Gesundheitswesens verfügbar.

• Jangro hat eine neue Reihe von Lufterfrischer-Aerosolen eingeführt, die stundenlangen Duft bieten.

• Neu von Reckitt Pro Solutions ist der flüssige Handreiniger Dettol Pro Cleanse, der als 5-Liter-Einheit oder 500-mlHandpumpe erhältlich ist.

• Das Switch System von Green Care Professional bietet konzentrierte Formulierungen in einer Flasche mit einem Dosierdeckel und der Möglichkeit zum Nachfüllen aus einem Nachfüllbeutel.

• PurOne Cleaner and Disinfectant, parte del sistema di prevenzione delle infezioni della EvaClean, è ora disponibile per gli utenti non del settore sanitario.

• La Jangro ha lanciato una nuova gamma di profumatori aerosol per ambienti progettati per fornire molte ore di fragranza.

• La novità della Reckitt Pro Solutions è il detergente liquido per le mani Dettol Pro Cleanse Liquid Hand Wash disponibile in confezione da 5 litri o in dispenser a pompa da 500ml.

• Switch System della Green Care Professional è dotato di formulazioni concentrate in flaconi muniti di tappo dosatore e che possono essere riempiti da una sacca di ricarica.