October 2020

The pan-European magazine for the professional cleaning sector

OCTOBER 2020

SUSTAINABILITY

BUSINESS

SPECIAL REPORT

The balance with hygiene

Have our cities changed forever?

The role of air fresheners

Page 29

Page 76

Page 82

Interclean Online preview, including Innovation Award winners Starts page 49

CONTENTS

October 2020 | Vol.28, No.4

BUSINESS

SPECIAL REPORTS

76 End of the city as we know it?

29 Sustainability/hygiene balance

Hartley Milner asks if city centres will ever be the same after the pandemic.

The use of plastic PPE and disposable products has increased during Covid.

38 Change in attitude Attitudes to public toilets are altering in the wake of the pandemic.

03 News

41 How to keep a floor virus-free?

How important is floor cleaning in the prevention of virus transmission?

14 EFCI news

49 Amsterdam Online knowledge focus Your guide to the Interclean Amsterdam Online event starts here.

16 European reports

79 Inspiring confidence How a UK cleaning services helped to keep trains running during lockdown.

88 Product review

82 The value of fragrance What function does air freshener fulfil in a range of environments?

84 Transforming cleaning Cobotics, and how they could improve performance and staff retention.

86 Community ritual In Japan, everybody takes responsibility for keeping their environment clean.

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

Editor Michelle Marshall Features Writer Ann Laffeaty Advertisement director Chris Godman Advertisement sales executive Laura Bell

Circulation Marie Payne

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

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

ISSN 0968-901X ©Criterion Publishing 2020

NEWS & EVENTS

Latest News & Events from ECJ

Hygiene specialist warns against hot-desking in offices

ECJ has published a special supplement focusing on the issues surrounding sustainability.

Key issues discussed include the Extinction Rebellion effect, the flip side of sustainability, single use plastics, and the role of robotics and technology.

Read it at the ECJ website (www. europeancleaningjournal.com) or download via the app.

EVENTS

Hot-desking in the office “makes no sense” in the age of coronavirus, according to a hygiene specialist.

And this claim came in the wake of many governments’ “back to work” drive after several months spent working from home by many employees.

“If people are using a desk, they should be made aware of what has happened there before them,” said research and development manager of Inivos Tautvydas Karitonas.

“They should know who was using it and what cleaning measures have taken place in the meantime.”

He claims that hot-desking - a practice whereby desk spaces are interchangeable and may be used by any worker - will “ruin” the ability of employers to track the spread of coronavirus.

“People need to be more self-aware and should be asking questions to ensure that hygiene is kept to a good level,” he said.

“If there is an issue, the whole premises will need to be deepcleaned - and that is obviously something most companies want to avoid.”

Clean between uses Hygiene and cleaning firm Inivos works with health authorities to prevent the spread of infections in workplaces. The company has seen a huge surge in demand for deep cleaning and infection control services over recent months, according to Karitonas.

Current UK government guidance on making workplaces Covid-19 secure, for example, advises against hot-desking but the practice has not actually been outlawed. According to the Business Department’s Working Safely during Coronavirus document the use of hot desks and spaces should be avoided.

But where this is not possible each shared desk space should be cleaned and sanitised between occupants.

La pratique du bureau partagé dans les administrations « n’a aucun sens » par les temps du coronavirus, affirme un spécialiste de l’hygiène.

November 3-6

March 23-24 2021

Interclean Amsterdam Online

ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo

Online www.intercleanshow.com

Syndney, Australia www.issa.com

November 16-19

April 14-15 2021

ISSA North America Virtual

Budapest Cleaning Show

Online www.issa.com

Budapest, Hungary budapestcleaningshow.hu

November 17-19

May 18-20 2021

Clean Expo Pulire

ISSA Pulire

Moscow, Russia www.cleanexpo-moscow.ru

Verona, Italy www.pulire-it.com

January 7-10 2021

September 21-24 2021

Global Clean Expo

CMS

Istanbul, Turkey globalcleanexpo.com

Berlin, Germany www.cms-berlin.de

March 16-18 2021

September 28-30 2021

The Cleaning Show

Middle East Cleaning Tech Week

London, UK cleaningshow.co.uk

Dubai, UAE www.mectw.com

March 20-22 2021

November 4 2021

Clean Expo Greece

European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards

Athens, Greece cleanexpo.eu

Brussels, Belgium www.echawards.com

March 20-April 1 2021

Europropre Paris, France www.europropre.com

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

Ein Hygienespezialist vertritt die Meinung, dass Hotdesking im Büro zu Zeiten des Coronavirus „keinen Sinn ergibt“.

A quanto rivela uno specialista in igiene, la condivisione di scrivania negli uffici in questo periodo di coronavirus “non ha senso”.

October 2020 | ECJ | 3

NEWS

Coronavirus washroom fears keeping people away from bars

Concerns about catching Covid-19 in the toilets is putting people off returning to pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants, according to a new UK poll.

Worries about washroom cleanliness have deterred 52 per cent of people from visiting

hospitality venues since they have reopened, while 51 per cent fear they could catch the coronavirus from a business or public washroom.

The survey, by Initial Washroom Hygiene, polled 2,013 people of whom 35 per

La crainte de contracter le Covid-19 dans les toilettes retient de nombreux Britanniques de retourner aux pubs, bars, cafés et restaurants, indique un sondage.

4 | October 2020 | ECJ

cent felt pubs, bars and cafes had implemented insufficient hygiene measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In fact, half of those who had returned to hospitality venues claimed their enjoyment of these places had been impacted by concerns about the availability and cleanliness of washrooms.

A general reluctance to use the toilets was noted with 48 per cent claiming they were more likely to wait until they could use a private washroom than visit a public facility. And 22 per cent said they had been forced to urinate in a public space because facilities had been closed or because they felt them to be unsafe to use.

Menschen werden von einer Rückkehr zu Kneipen, Bars, Cafés und Restaurants durch Bedenken, sich in Toiletten mit Covid-19 anzustecken, abgeschreckt.

Dies geht aus einer britischen Umfrage hervor.

“It’s clear that washroom anxiety is affecting people’s confidence and experiences when visiting hospitality businesses post-lockdown,” said Initial Washroom Hygiene’s technical and innovation manager Jamie Woodhall. “But there are some easy steps businesses can take to eliminate fear around using washrooms.”

Initial is encouraging businesses to advertise the cleanliness of their facilities; inform customers of the steps they are taking to reduce contamination risks; install no-touch soap dispensers; reduce the number of shared touchpoints and ensure hand sanitisers are always available.

A quanto emerge da un sondaggio eseguito nel Regno Unito, la paura di contrarre il COVID-19 nelle sale da toilette scoraggia le persone a ritornare nei pub, bar, caffè e ristoranti.

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NEWS

Clean Hospitals Day 2020 highlights healthcare hygiene

Clean Hospitals, the Global Healthcare Environmental Hygiene Network, launched Clean Hospitals Day for 2020 last month. It took place on October 10 and aimed to highlight the importance of

healthcare environmental hygiene - while also empowering the workforce in the sector.

The purpose of Clean Hospitals Day is to ensure recognition of the importance of cleaning, disinfection and hygiene

Au début du mois, la Journée de l’Hôpital Propre a rappelé l’importance de l’hygiène dans les établissements de santé.

6 | October 2020 | ECJ

standards in the healthcare environment and making healthcare facilities a cleaner and safer place.

It also provided evidencebased guidance and best practice to decision makers and relevant stakeholders ensuring healthcare systems across the world are unilaterally better equipped to protect patients, visitors and staff.

And the ongoing global awareness programme will address all the components of healthcare environmental hygiene - surfaces, air, medical waste, fabrics and fittings, water, IT and digitalisation.

Clean Hospitals is an organisation that connects

Mit dem in diesem Monat stattgefundenen Clean Hospitals Day wurde hervorgehoben, wie wichtig die Hygiene im Gesundheitswesen ist.

stakeholders from all over the world and enables them to improve healthcare environmental hygiene together.

Its role is to increase awareness and consequently lead to a change in environmental hygiene culture, by providing guidance and knowledge and support in adoption of proven innovations. This will enable the implementation of global standards for environmental hygiene, to protect the lives of patients, healthcare workers, visitors with the aim to reduce healthcare associated infections (HAI) and associated deaths.

For more information visit cleanhospitals.com/cleanhospitals-day

All’inizio di questo mese, la Clean Hospitals Day ha sottolineato l’importanza dell’igiene ambientale nel settore sanitario

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NEWS

New awards to celebrate marketing excellence

New to EFCI

A new awards programme has been launched to celebrate strategic excellence, collaboration and creative thinking within marketing and PR teams in the cleaning, hygiene and FM sectors. The Technology & Marketing Awards, organised by LaCerta, are now open for entries.

Categories include Best Digital Campaign, Best Use of Video, Best Use of Social Media, Brand of the Year, Best PR & Communications Campaign and Technology Leader of the Year.

Finalists and winners will be

The contract cleaning association in Portugal, Associação Portuguesa de Facility Services (APFS), has joined EFCI - the umbrella organisation representing the sector across Europe.

Formerly known as AEPSLAS, APFS was one of the original founding EFCI members and now covers all aspects of facilities services. apfs.pt, www.efci.eu

announced online through a combination of email, social media and news releases.

Carly Bishop, awards director explained: “Marketing and technology are two exciting areas of our industry that are evolving and developing, and we thought it was time we had a dedicated awards programme to show the world how professionals in our industry can be creative with cleaning.”

The Technology & Marketing Awards are sponsored by Vectair Systems and feature a line-up

• Les nouveaux prix Technologie et Marketing célébreront l’excellence au sein d’équipes de marketing et de RP dans les secteurs propreté, hygiène et services d’installation.

• L’association portugaise des entreprises de propreté, l’Associação Portuguesa de Facility Services (APFS), a adhéré à l’EFCI, l’organisation faîtière du secteur sur le continent européen.

8 | October 2020 | ECJ

of high-profile judges from top companies. Free to enter, they are open to individuals, teams or organisations worldwide.

Visit www.lacertapr.com/ teamawards to find out more.

• Die neuen Technology & Marketing Awards feiern Spitzenleistungen im Rahmen von Marketing- und PR-Kampagnen in den Reinigungs-, Hygiene- und FM-Branchen.

• Der Vertragsreinigungsverband Portugals, Associação Portuguesa de Facility Services (APFS), ist der EFCI, der Organisation, die die Reinigungsbranchen auf EU-Ebene repräsentiert, beigetreten.

Special sustainability report - page 29

• Il nuovo evento Technology & Marketing Awards celebrerà l’eccellenza all’interno dei team di marketing e PR nei settori del cleaning, igiene e dei servizi alle strutture.

• In Portogallo, l’associazione di categoria per le pulizie professionali Associação Portuguesa de Facility Services (APFS), è entrata a far parte dell’organizzaione ombrello EFCI che rappresenta il settore in tutta Europa.

Caring for the environment.

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NEWS

Interclean Amsterdam goes virtual in November

ECH Awards

Interclean Amsterdam Online, which takes place from November 3-6, will focus on personal matchmaking, demonstrations and knowledge transfer. That’s according to the organiser RAI Amsterdam.

The Healthcare Cleaning Forum is back and will host two sessions with Professor Didier Pittet, Professor Pierre Parneix and Alexandra Peters. These sessions will address topics like Covid-19 and fake news.

There will also be a series of sessions focusing on topics around facility management (FM). Trendwatcher Richard van Hooijdonk will talk about the future of FM, while two cleaning service providers will share best practice for retail and warehouse cleaning.

Following the postponement of this year’s European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards because of the Covid-19 pandemic, European Cleaning Journal (ECJ), founder and host, has announced the date for next year’s event. The 2021 ceremony will take place at Le Plaza Hotel in Brussels on November 4.

ECJ editor Michelle Marshall said: “As many of our colleagues across the cleaning and hygiene sector continue to face challenging times, as they adapt to new ways of living and working, we made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event in Brussels.

“Many of our sponsors and supporters have been working on the frontline, delivering vital services to keep our communities clean and safe.

Whilst we are keen to give our industry the recognition it deserves, we felt that hosting a large scale event this year was not the right thing to do.

“We would like to thank our sponsors, media partners and entrants for their support to date and look forward to celebrating when we return in November 2021.” www.echawards.com

New initiative There will be a conference on laundry along with a demonstration of proper cleaning of a hospital isolation room.

Interclean Amsterdam Online will also mark the introduction of a new initiative in cooperation with Clean Hospitals on methods of measuring cleanliness.

The organisers have also

developed an advanced matchmaking service whereby all registered visitors will get recommendations on interesting companies and individuals (exhibitors and visitors) as an extensive AI system matches the interest and field of expertise.

Matchmaking Matches will receive an invitation to connect, however only after both persons accept the invitations can people chat and make appointments.

In tandem with automated matches, you can also browse the system yourself for connections and companies based on interests or simply go through the list of companies represented online.

To simulate the onsite experience, all exhibitors are

• Interclean Amsterdam Online, qui aura lieu du 3 au 6 novembre, traitera notamment de la mise en relation de personnes, de la démonstration de produits et du transfert de connaissances..

• Prévus en novembre à Bruxelles, les Prix européens de propreté et d’hygiène ont été reportés à 2021 en raison de la pandémie du covid-19.

10 | October 2020 | ECJ

given the opportunity to give online and live presentations and demonstrations that can be visited 24/7.

Live chat There is the opportunity for a live chat with the experts during these demonstrations and the ability to meet with the company representative virtually. The innovations and new products that match your profile will be proposed and shown first to make your selection and schedule more efficient.

Full details of the programme can be found on the website.

Visit www.intercleanshow.com • The ECJ preview of Interclean Online starts on page 49 of this edition.

ECJ is media partner for Interclean Amsterdam Online

• Die Interclean Amsterdam Online, die vom 3. bis 6. November stattfindet, wird sich auf persönliche Vermittlung, Demonstrationen und Wissenstransfer konzentrieren.

• Die European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards, die im November in Brüssel stattfinden sollten, wurden aufgrund der Covid-19-Pandemie auf 2021 verschoben.

• La Interclean Amsterdam Online, che si terrà dal 3 al 6 novembre, si concentrerà sul matchmaking personale, sulle dimostrazione e sul trasferimento della conoscenza.

• L’evento European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards, che si sarebbe dovuto tenere a novembre a Bruxelles, è stato posticipato al 2021 a causa della pandemia di Covid-19.

NEWS

Let’s now give our cleaners the recognition they deserve Louise Cullen, coo at Irelandbased services provider CCS Cleaning, looks back at lockdown and the slow return to work as buildings across Europe reopen.

She explains how the company is taking care of its workforce, and how vital it is for cleaning businesses to offer staff the support they need.

It’s safe to say that 2020 is not the year that most of us imagined as we welcomed in a new decade on New Years’ Eve! The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted our sense of normality and created widespread social and economic unrest.

As we learn to live alongside Covid-19, it’s imperative to remain optimistic, united, and to look out for one another.

One of the lingering effects of the pandemic has been a collective mood of anxiety and uncertainty. When the crisis began, many of our clients’ sites shut, meaning that for much of our cleaning team, their work stopped.

Reassurance For CCS, it was crucial that our team members felt supported during this precarious time. We knew that many of our cleaning team would be worried about

• Louise Cullen families, bills, and their jobs.

Ensuring our people were safe, had an income while there was no work, and had jobs to return to when the restrictions eased became our sole focus.

CCS is privileged to work across Europe. This meant our first port of call was to enter government schemes in each country we operate in to ensure that our people received the correct benefits.

Key to our response was having the management expertise in place to deal with the crisis. Our HR teams are adept in the complexities of EU labour law, and so we were able to look after our people

Louise Cullen, COO chez le fournisseur de services irlandais CCS Cleaning, revient sur le verrouillage et la lenteur du retour au travail alors que les bâtiments à travers l’Europe rouvrent. Elle explique comment l’entreprise prend soin de sa main-d’œuvre et à quel point il est vital pour les entreprises de nettoyage d’offrir aux employés le soutien dont ils ont besoin.

12 | October 2020 | ECJ

promptly and diligently.

It was also essential to us that our teams were kept in the loop - we kept in touch regularly with updates, newsletters, and through our social media.

We also made sure that we answered any questions from our teams promptly.

Communication is vital in troubling situations such as the pandemic and plays a huge role in alleviating stress and building trust.

While many of our cleaning team were unable to work during the Covid-19 restrictions, some of our outstanding frontline team members continued to work throughout the crisis. This was a challenging time for them.

Full training For these people, we ensured they received full training and support and wore the correct PPE at all times.

It is common knowledge that rigorous cleaning and hygiene are one of the only current defences against the virus.

As we all adjust to a changing world, cleaning companies can play an essential role in helping to restore trust between businesses and customers and to create safe, managed environments.

Louise Cullen, COO des in Irland ansässigen Dienstleisters CCS Cleaning, blickt auf die Sperrung und die langsame Rückkehr zur Arbeit zurück, wenn Gebäude in ganz Europa wiedereröffnet werden.

Sie erklärt, wie sich das Unternehmen um seine Belegschaft kümmert und wie wichtig es für die Reinigungsunternehmen ist, den Mitarbeitern die Unterstützung zu bieten, die sie benötigen.

When the time came to remobilise our staff, we were delighted over 95 per cent of them were ready and wanted to return to work. We developed an extensive training programme to ensure our people knew what to do when they were back on site, and how to keep themselves, our clients, and our communities safe.

For CCS, ensuring our clients, people, and communities feel protected is a significant motivation for us. We understand the responsibility that has been placed upon our shoulders and recognise our role in ensuring cleanliness is maintained and risk is mitigated across the sites we clean.

We must remember that we are still living alongside the virus and be willing and ready to adapt to changing public health protocols and advice.

In the meantime, as cleaning companies we should be proud of the crucial role we play in providing reassurance to the public and helping protect the health of our communities.

Here’s hoping that one lasting effect of the pandemic is that cleaners finally get the recognition and praise they deserve!

Louise Cullen, COO presso il fornitore di servizi con sede in Irlanda CCS Cleaning, guarda indietro al blocco e al lento ritorno al lavoro con la riapertura degli edifici in tutta Europa. Spiega come l’azienda si prende cura della sua forza lavoro e quanto sia vitale per le imprese di pulizia offrire al personale il supporto di cui ha bisogno.

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EFCI NEWS EFCI promotes good procurement and contracting practices The value of public procurement, from over 250,000 public authorities in the EU, is 14 per cent of European Union GDP, or two trillion Euro a year, according to the European Commission.

Public procurement contracts are evidently very important in the economy of most business services sectors, such as cleaning, contract catering and security, which are also often labour-intensive industries.

The European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry (EFCI) strongly engages at all political levels, together with its member organisations, to promote good contracting practices in cleaning and facility services.

EFCI’s thorough work on the topic of public procurement focuses on informing, raising awareness and advocating for public buyers to choose quality services and use strategic procurement to address common goals including social responsibility, employment, environmental protection, public health and other social and environmental considerations.

This work is done before the European Institutions (European Commission; Parliament) and other stakeholders (business associations, national and regional players) and often in collaboration with the European Business Services Alliance (EBSA) - of which the EFCI is an active member with its director, Isabel Yglesias, being its vice-chair.

Social Partners for the promotion of quality-based purchase of cleaning services The fruitful collaboration with UNI Europa (European confederation of trade unions in the services sector) resulted in 2016 in the jointly developed Guide to Selecting Best Value with the financial support of the

European Commission. The guide covers all aspects of cleaning services’ tender procedures. It aims at assisting buyers in their tendering process by highlighting the benefits of choosing quality services and raising awareness about the consequences of selecting lowest bids. Whereas quality of cleaning services is determined by technical merit and professional ability, social aspects include the respect for collective agreements and good employment conditions.

The quality and social aspects represent two sides of the same coin.

The Best Value Guide is therefore an advocacy tool but also a technical guide to accompany private and public buyers in their tendering processes. It provides technical advice on how to better design tenders and how to evaluate the relevant criteria, helping to understand how to include and measure quality and social aspects in their procurement process.

To achieve its role as a reference tool for selecting the best value, the guide first acts as an introduction to the concept of ‘best value’ and explains the latest EU public procurement rules. It then outlines social partners’ views on how to use the most economically advantageous tender (‘MEAT’) and quality criteria provided for in the EU legislation in order to refrain from using the price as key indicator for procurement.

Finally the guide breaks down into three key factors personnel, management and equipment - the determinants of the quality of cleaning services while offering a user friendly Excel tool for buyers to define the quality criteria which are of particular relevance to their needs through a six step procedure.

Les travaux de l’EFCI dans le domaine des marchés publics portent sur l’information, la sensibilisation et une action de plaidoyer à l’intention des acheteurs pour qu’ils choisissent des services de qualité et recourent à l’approvisionnement stratégique en vue de remplir différents objectifs, concernant notamment la RSE, l’emploi, la protection de l’environnement et la santé publique.

14 | October 2020 | ECJ

Contracting practices during Covid-19 crisis In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, many providers of business services – including professional cleaning, private security and food services – have actively helped to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus and played a crucial role in supporting the maintenance of healthcare, business activities and supply chains.

The economic impact of lockdowns on business services was severely aggravated by increasing bad contracting practices both from public and private buyers, including unilaterally scaled-down and cancelled services due to wrongly invoked force majeure clauses. Some examples of good contracting practices were adopted in member states such as Italy and Slovenia. Among others, not suspending or terminating contracts during the lockdowns or, in case of suspension, assuming the labour costs related to the contracts during their suspension.

However, further action is still required in the current phase and lessons need to be learnt from the past. In this regard EBSA members developed a joint statement calling the European Commission to provide guidance and encourage member states to

Die Arbeit des EFCI im Bereich der öffentlichen Auftragsvergabe konzentriert sich darauf, Kunden informativ, bewusstseinsbildend und befürwortend zur Auswahl von qualitativ hochwertigen Dienstleistungen zu bewegen und durch die strategische Auftragsvergabe Ziele einschließlich unternehmerische Gesellschaftsverantwortung, Erwerbstätigkeit, Umweltschutz und öffentliche Gesundheit anzugehen.

follow important quality criteria and approaches when buying business services. An exclusive focus on lower pricing often incentivises unfair competition, impacts working conditions, leads to the recruitment of inadequately trained and unqualified staff, and may even contradict collective agreements.

Today, more than ever, such procurement practices can have severe consequences on the safety of workers and put a safe return to economic activity at risk. Business services’ role will continue to be essential in the recovery phase but needs to be supported by quality-based approaches before and during the execution of contracts.

EFCI and EBSA’s road forward in EU public procurement Our work on public procurement recently led to the organisation of a forwardlooking online seminar under the title Public Procurement in the EU: the Road Forward. The event was a unique occasion to present and reflect upon the main issues at stake around the application of the 2014 Public Procurement Package across business services sectors with representatives of the European institutions, specialised lawyers and practitioners from our sectors. Find more about it on http://servicealliance.eu/

Il lavoro della EFCI sul tema degli appalti pubblici si concentra sull’informare, aumentare la consapevolezza e sostenere gli acquirenti nel scegliere i servizi di alta qualità e usare appalti strategici per raggiungere i traguardi che includono la responsabilità sociale d’impresa, l’occupazione, la protezione dell’ambiente e la salute pubblica.

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LATEST: UK A new way of learning From the UK, ECJ’s Lynn Webster on how new ways of training have emerged during the pandemic.

During this strange year we have all experienced some major changes in both our personal as well as business life. We experienced Zoom fatigue; having to make more emotional effort to appear engaged and show interest; the mental exhaustion associated with sustained eye contact during an online video conference; having the constant vision on a screen of colleagues’ faces frozen in time without the benefit of real social interaction.

One key aspect is the way in which we have managed our learning and development. Education has changed dramatically with learning undertaken remotely and significant utilisation of the various digital platforms, and the business world is no exception. Many during ‘furlough’ or ‘working from home’ have had the opportunities and advantage of online and e-learning. The enforced lockdown allowed us to try things we were previously apprehensive of doing.

Now perhaps everyone is more willing to embrace this medium and comfortable with the new normal format going forward.

Research suggests online learning typically requires 40-60 per cent less employee time than learning the same material in the traditional classroom setting and e-learning can increase retention rates by 25-65 per cent compared to eight to 10 per cent during face to face training. (Research Institute of America). Participants can learn up to five times more material without increasing time spent in direct delivery training.

Our own industry has seen substantial increases online with webinar overload covering a Dans son compte rendu du Royaume-Uni, Lynn Webster étudie l’essor des programmes d’apprentissage en ligne au sein du secteur de la propreté dans le contexte de la pandémie, et note la manière dont les ressources d’apprentissage y ont été adaptées.

16 | October 2020 | ECJ

multitude of topics but also with the advantage over face to face sessions without the associated time and travel costs. From personal experience the current situation gave me the opportunity to deliver programmes to a global audience across Asia, Africa the Middle East and Europe from my home base. For the attendees the bonus was sharing experience on a worldwide scale. Access is also more readily available as the participants do not need to incur travel and accommodation costs to attend. However, I do still miss the social interaction of being part of a group in person and the debate that comes with that.

How are the cleaning and facilities industries adapting to this? Over recent months we have seen the growth of online programmes and adapting of course materials from many of our industry colleagues with great success. Both ISSA and the BICSc have provided a summer of excellent learning opportunities which will no doubt continue as we remain in this ‘new normal’ situation.

The cancellation of exhibitions and conferences this year has created inevitable disruption to many of our manufacturers and supplier partners with repeated “it’s on” and “it’s off” scenarios to contend with. This has led to a new platform of virtual events. It is very sad that we will not have the opportunities to meet in person and gather together this year but these new platforms will enable those essential insights to innovation and developments we all need.

Again, the fact there is no need to travel will hopefully bring a whole new audience.

Lynn Webster berichtet aus Großbritannien über das branchenweite Wachstum bei OnlineLernprogrammen während der Pandemie, und sie betrachtet, wie die Lernmaterialien angepasst wurden.

Dal Regno Unito, la corrispondente Lynn Webster ci informa sull’aumento dei programmi di apprendimento online in tutto il settore durante la pandemia, prendendo in esame come è stato adattato il materiale di insegnamento.

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LATEST: ITALY Hygiene critical as schools reopen As schools across Italy reopen, there is a heightened awareness of hygiene - explains Anna Garbagna.

The long-awaited day of school reopening has finally arrived but this event, even though families, teachers and students were wishing for it, it still a cause for concern.

As far as hygiene and safety are concerned, Afidamp, the association representing producers and distributors of products and machines for the professional cleaning sector, has given its advice consisting of some simple basic rules which will help the community to safeguard everyone’s health and above all to contain the virus.

Primarily it is necessary that schools have implemented standardised good practices for cleaning and sanitising their rooms. As already highlighted

by Afidamp in the case of other facilities, for venues where there was total absence of workers during phase one of the emergency, it is sufficient to deep clean without using disinfectants. This is because the virus does not remain on surfaces for a long time. However, deep cleaning must be flanked by disinfestation of the rooms because other infesting agents could be present.

Schools however must follow special procedures because they are a different kind of community which can become an involuntary vehicle for spreading the virus. Social media and notice boards are useful platforms to post details of the measures that have been implemented in every educational institution. The absolutely recommended practices include: at the entrance of the school premises, the availability of dispensers of alcohol based cleaning solution containing a minimum of 70 per cent alcohol for hand sanitising and the option of cleaning shoes En Italie, les établissements scolaires ont rouvert leurs portes par suite du déconfinement et mettent un accent accru sur l’hygiène. Anna Garbagna en donne des précisions.

18 | October 2020 | ECJ

on sanitised mats or runners.

It is also advisable to limit as much as possible the duration of stay of other people within the school buildings and dedicated areas/pathways should be provided for them.

For daily cleaning, it should be noted the required procedures must be carried out once a day, with increased frequency and better attention to the cleansing and disinfection of all high-risk surfaces which are more in contact with the hands of students and members of staff. Once again, it is vital to use professional cleaning products specifically designed to tackle the more complex kinds of dirt and contamination than found in domestic situations.

Professional products also have technical and safety data sheets indicating clearly the dilution rate and area of use. Another precious piece of advice is to always use disinfecting agents indicating PMC (Medical Surgical Device), which guarantee the antibacterial and antiviral effectiveness according to regulation EN 14476.

Last but not least, it is good practice to guarantee adequate ventilation and change of air at all times, by opening windows in the morning before the start of activities and then periodically opening them for about 15 minutes at a time, depending on weather conditions.

In the case of use of aeraulic systems (from air vent systems to splits) it is necessary to ensure the correct maintenance of their hygiene via regular technical inspections to verify contamination levels. It is vital to use suppliers with the required standards for this type of procedure and never leave anything to chance.

In Italien wurden die Schulen nach dem durch die Pandemie verursachten Lockdown wieder geöffnet, wobei ein neuer Schwerpunkt auf Hygiene liegt. Anna Garbagna geht näher darauf ein.

In Italia le scuole hanno riaperto dopo il lockdown pandemico e c’è ora una maggiore attenzione per quanto riguarda l’igiene. Ce ne parla Anna Garbagna.

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LATEST: GERMANY Non-stop nursery cleaning German correspondent Katja Scholz gives us an insight into cleaning protocols at nursery schools.

Playing together, learning together, eating together: a nursery school is place of great variety, a community enterprise with kitchen, dining room, playrooms and sanitary facilities.

If lunch is provided, a nursery school then also becomes – according to German law – a food business.

Bacteria and viruses also feel at home in these places.

To prevent flu viruses and gastro-intestinal infections from spreading quickly, consistent hygiene rules have to be followed - and all this through the entire building.

“A 20-page hygiene plan, hand washing 15 times a day and reaching for a cleaning cloth 30 times a day - this is part of normal everyday life for us,” says Daniela Scholz, head of a nursery school in northern Baden-Württemberg.

Let’s take a look at everyday life in the nursery, in relation to cleaning: all 35 children have breakfast in two shifts between 9am and 10am. Between and after shifts the breakfast room floor has to be swept, the tables wiped down and the kitchen thoroughly cleaned, including all surfaces. “Scrupulous hygiene is essential in a nursery - everything has to be meticulously clean, since children are particularly susceptible to food-related illnesses. Whether at breakfast, at lunch or on a day when we all cook together - all regulations have to be complied with. We are very strictly monitored - the health authority can carry out spot checks, unannounced.”

The kitchen is a particularly labour-intensive place. In addition to floor and surfaces, microwave, fridge, oven and cupboards are all on the daily cleaning list.

Lunch is from noon onwards Rapportant de l’Allemagne, Katja Scholz nous donne un aperçu des activités constantes de nettoyage qu’exigent les écoles maternelles.

20 | October 2020 | ECJ

and afterwards teachers begin cleaning round number two.

The tables in the dining room are wiped down and the floor cleaned. It’s a bit like Groundhog Day, since all the children have another snack in the afternoon, followed by round three of the cleaning process.

That deals with the planned, foreseeable aspects of the work.

However, with 35 children things do not always go according to plan – there are often little mishaps that cause teachers to reach for the bucket, such as when a paint pot spills over or a beaker falls from the table on to the floor. And the need for toilet cleaning in a nursery is generally never-ending.

Only in the evening, when the lights go out in the nursery, does the official part of the contract cleaning process begin.

Contract cleaning staff also operate in strict accordance with the hygiene plan. This lays down exactly what cleaning is to be done when, how often, with what and by whom! Doors, chairs, surfaces, floors and the entire sanitary facilities have to be cleaned every evening.

There are separate cloths and dedicated cleaning products designated for each room and each surface. Window cleaning is also part of the cleaners’ (almost) daily work – at least to a height at which children can leave their finger marks.

When the cleaners have closed the door behind them, the day ends with an overview of all the cleaning carried out during the day. And this shows that teachers, as well as being educators, psychologists and playmates, are also to some extent cleaners. And this everyday activity doesn’t even take into account the additional hygiene measures imposed since March!

In ihrem Bericht aus Deutschland bietet die ECJ-Reporterin Katja Scholz einen Einblick in den kontinuierlichen Reinigungsbetrieb, der in Kindergärten erforderlich ist.

Dalla Germania, la corrispondente Katja Scholz ci offre una panoramica sulle continue operazioni di pulizia necessarie nei nidi d’infanzia.

LATEST: DENMARK Early retirement for cleaners?

ECJ’s Lotte Printz on the Danish government’s plan for early retirement for worn-out workers.

Prior to the general election last year, the Danes got on first-name terms with Arne Juhl, a 59-yearold brewery worker who became the personification of one of the Social Democratic party’s election pledges: to allow people in physically demanding jobs to retire early.

Now, after nearly a year-anda-half in government - and a Covid-19 crisis and recovery plans in the meantime - the governing Social Democratic party has finally unveiled how its proposal will become reality.

The right to early pension applies to people who have been on the labour market at least 42 years by the time they reach the age of 61. In which case, such individuals are allowed to retire one year early (the current retirement age in Denmark being 66, currently going towards 67 and by 2030 changed to 68 due to increasing life expectancies). In addition, the proposed staircase model gives a right to retire two years early after 43 years on the labour market and three years early after 44 years.

“You should be able to stop working before you are worn out,” prime minister Mette Frederiksen said at a recent press conference, repeating the underlying argument in her party’s promise and the right for everyone to enjoy some good years of comfortable retirement, pursuing interests and spending time with family.

This could be good news for a number of cleaners. Like Sanne the chambermaid who the Danish public are also becoming familiar with through a new campaign launched by 3F, one of two major unions in Denmark representing cleaning and facilities workers.

“Sanne cleans 99,000 rooms in her lifetime,” one 3F campaign ad read in the wake of the government’s press conference.

Notre correspondante en Scandinavie Lotte Printz explique le programme du gouvernement danois prévoyant d’instituer la retraite anticipée pour des travailleurs fatigués.

3F is in line with the government when stating that those with the most physically demanding jobs are often those who have worked the longest and believes, not surprisingly, that the government’s plan is a giant step in the right direction - for Sanne, Arne and other named workers.

However, with the campaign the union is working on making more workers eligible for the early pension scheme.

FOA, the other main union for cleaners in Denmark, also takes a positive view of the government’s plan. “The proposal is better than we expected. But there’s still some room for improvement.

Either by lowering the 42 years or by increasing the 61-year age limit that applies at the time of making up the number of working years,” FOA writes in an official announcement.

As FOA largely represents female workers, the union is particularly pleased with periods of part-time employment as well as time spent on maternity leave being fully included in working years. The same goes for apprenticeships and periods of unemployment, by the way.

FOA questions, however, whether the plan fully accounts for worn-out workers: you can be worn-out without having been on the labour market for 42 years, FOA points out.

Whether Sanne the chambermaid becomes a household name like Arne and whether a considerable number of cleaners will actually benefit from the plan are yet to be seen. A parliamentary majority reached agreement on the early retirement plan on October 10. And the first workers, roughly 38,000 Danes in total, can look forward to early retirement and grandchildren gamboling at their feet by January 1 2022.

Lotte Printz, die ECJ-Korrespondentin für Skandinavien, berichtet über den Plan der dänischen Regierung, aufgeriebenen Arbeitnehmern den vorzeitigen Ruhestand anzubieten.

Dalla Danimarca, la corrispondente di ECJ Lotte Printz ci informa su piano del governo danese di offrire il pensionamento anticipato ai lavoratori stremati e logorati dalla fatica.

October 2020 | ECJ |21

LATEST: FRANCE Bacteria that breed in hotel rooms In order to reassure guests, hotels have put additional hygiene measures in place, reports Christian Bouzols in France.

In order to encourage clients to resume their use of hotels at a time when travelling has dropped so badly, many hotel groups have established health protocols to stem the spread of the Covid-19 virus. However, a study has shown that your average hotel room is far from being free of bacteria.

In their eagerness to ensure the safety of their clients, some hotel groups have put in place health measures that vary from the closure of minibars to the removal of the second pillow and to the enhanced cleaning of every touchable surface.

In France, some hotels go even further, but the other way round, by cleaning their rooms only once the client has checked out.

But despite these protocols, much remains to be done, stresses the UpgradedPoints website, which has recently conducted a survey by analysing the presence of bacteria on the jointly used equipment of a series of hotels ranging from two stars to five stars. Its results are rather worrying. “Even if your house isn’t immaculately clean, you’ll find that items in a hotel are probably far dirtier that those of your own home,” said Alex Miller, the founder and director of the site.

Here are some examples that appear in the study. On average, there are 737 times more germs on a hotel lift button than on a home toilet seat. There are 918 times more germs on a hotel door handle than on the seat of your toilet at home.

It also turns out that paying more for your hotel room won’t give you added protection. On the contrary, the study showed Soucieux d’assurer la sécurité de leurs clients, des hôtels en France ont mis en place des protocoles de nettoyage plus serrés, explique notre correspondant Christian Bouzols.

22 | October 2020 | ECJ

that in three-star and lower rated hotels there are far fewer germs on lift buttons and door handles than in top-of-therange establishments. Additionally, lift buttons in five-star hotels contain seven times more germs that lift buttons in four-star hotels. Why is that?

Because top-of-the-range hotels register higher occupancy rates - even though that may not be the case in the current pandemic. As a result, more people use the lifts, press lift buttons, and turn door handles.

Hotbed of germs Also, any traveller will know that the remote control in his or her hotel room may be a hotbed of germs, but here are other surprisingly dirty items you need to be aware of in a hotel.

• The chairs of your room are covered in difficult-to-clean material and are certainly not cleaned as often as towels and bed sheets. Stains on upholstery fabric are usually soaped and scrubbed but that treatment leaves lots of invisible germs in place.

• The desk - respiratory viruses car remain active on desk surfaces for up to four days.

• The curtains. Don’t think that the curtains in your hotel room are clean. Remember that work is required to remove them, to clean them and to put them back in place. This can’t be done on a daily basis.

In these times of Covid-19 it is therefore recommended to give preference to hotels that have instituted enhanced cleaning protocols, and to take disinfecting wipes with you.

In ihrem Eifer, die Sicherheit der Gäste sicherzustellen, haben Hotels strengere Reinigungsprotokolle eingeführt, erläutert der FrankreichKorrespondent des ECJ, Christian Bouzols.

Nel loro entusiasmo di assicurare la sicurezza degli ospiti, gli hotel hanno stabilito dei protocolli ancora più severi, come ci spiega il corrispondente francese di ECJ Christian Bouzols.

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LATEST: NETHERLANDS How different meetings have been since March this year. So it was with our annual VSR summer event. Known for years for its eye-catching speakers and drinks on the terrace (somehow, it’s always nice weather). Only this year, not a meeting but a webinar.

Instead of touching up the lipstick or straightening the tie, participants probably just got in from mowing the grass or hanging out the laundry. The theme was - how appropriate - ‘The world changes, but people don’t...’

Angelique Schuitemaker was our guest. She is the director of the Institute for Positive Health (IPH). Positive health is not only linked to physical health. Because, as she explains, you can feel good - and maybe even work - while you’re ill. Or feel ill when you’re (physically) healthy but suffering from stress.

The most important pillar of positive health is a sense of meaning and the way you influence that yourself. In other words, control. Angelique refers to the definition: ‘health is the ability to adapt and be in control in the light of life’s social, physical and emotional challenges’.

This is a task for employers.

Because the healthier employees are, the more sustainably they can work. Schuitemaker: “Talk to employees: how can you keep doing your job well with everything that’s going on? Or - if you’re restricted by illness - what can you still do? What would you want? Look at possibilities. Then you’ll be contributing to positive health and a positive self-image.

As an employer, there are cost benefits to this approach too.”

The Institute for Positive Health developed what it called a spider’s

John Griep, qui travaille pour l’organisation néerlandaise VSR, fait rapport sur un récent webinaire VSR consacré à la « santé positive », laquelle concerne notre aptitude d’adaptation et maîtrise face aux défis sociaux, physiques et affectifs de la vie.

Control in a time of crisis VSR’s John Griep with news from The Netherlands. web and wrote a manual for employers called How Positive Health Fits into the Working Environment. “When you fill in the spider’s web, people discover where their quality lies. This can be an eye-opener, especially for people in ill health.” It is available in several languages.

You can also ask clients to make a positive contribution. Schuitemaker herself once organised a meeting for a group of external cleaners. At the time she was a client herself through her work in the healthcare sector. “I told the cleaning staff how important their work is. And we’d noticed that, for our clients, it was the contact with

John Griep (VSR) berichtet aus den Niederlanden über ein vor Kurzem stattgefundenes Webinar zum Thema positive Gesundheit – unsere Fähigkeit zur Anpassung und die Lage unter Kontrolle zu haben, angesichts von sozialen, körperlichen und emotionalen Herausforderungen, mit denen uns das Leben konfrontiert.

them that stuck in their minds the most. That was a very emotional meeting. A cleaner will begin to see themselves differently that way. They’ll think: I’m important.”

The conclusion is that the coronavirus crisis will not be the last crisis that befalls us. How do you prepare yourself and your employees for the next one?

Schuitemaker says: “Everything keeps changing; innovations, the labour market. After the coronavirus crisis, there will be another one. You, as a human being, have to go through that all the time.

For me, it’s all about the common thread: creating your own control and being willing to grasp it.”

Dal VSR in Olanda, John Griep ci informa sul recente seminario web sulla salute positiva, la nostra abilità di adattamento e di essere in controllo in base alle sfide sociali, fisiche ed emotive della vita.

October 2020 | ECJ |25

Do|le|phant [dɑləˌfənt] noun from Lat. delphīnus1 + elephantus2 1 communicative creature that seldom occurs alone 2 long-lived pachyderm that remembers everything

hy|brid [ˈhaɪbrɪd] adjective from Lat. hybrida0 0 combining two different things

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SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability/hygiene balance The use of disposable products and plastic PPE has been dramatically stepped up during the pandemic. But can such methods be sustainable? Or should we be prepared to compromise on sustainability while our health is at risk?

The sustainability movement has gathered momentum over recent years – in the cleaning industry along with everywhere else. Manufacturers of cleaning products now place a high priority on ensuring that their chemicals, machines and packaging are eco-friendly and have a minimal effect on the environment.

But Covid-19 has created a huge demand for disposable products, single-use wipers and plastic PPE – all items previously frowned upon by ethical groups.

Staying safe during a global pandemic is of paramount importance, so should we abandon our sustainability ideals for now?

Or is it possible to strike a balance between optimum hygiene and environmental concerns during these troubled times?

The answer is yes, according to Ecolab’s western Europe president Sam de Boo. “The pandemic and climate crisis have together highlighted the importance of sustainable hygiene for a cleaner and healthier future,” he said. “And there are highly effective solutions available that prioritise both hygiene and sustainability.”

Companies everywhere are adopting more visible hygiene practices to reassure the public, he says. “This has resulted in some customers using convenient front-of-house solutions such as wipes,” he says. “However, by combining the right chemistry, technology and services, a manufacturer can help to protect vital resources such as food, water and energy.

So there are no compromises to be made.”

Ecolab’s hand disinfection solutions have been in particularly high demand

during the pandemic, says de Boo. The company offers a Covid-19 product range available in a 20 litre canister. “This helps to reduce plastic waste by 64 per cent compared with single-use 100 ml bottles.”

He believes dosing technologies to be as important as using the proper chemistry. “Our solutions focus on dosing, packaging and applications that reduce waste,” he said.

According to services provider Incentive QAS managing director Jamie Wright there has been a growing preference for chemical solutions among some customers as a result of the pandemic. “This is understandable and of course we can meet that demand,” he said. “But our default is to provide sustainable solutions and as we come out of the pandemic, we hope to see a shift back towards the norm.”

Free of chemical Touchpoint cleaning can still be carried out using chemical-free products, according to Wright. “However, when it comes to electrostatic spraying or ‘fogging’, the chemicals used are generally not derived from sustainable sources,” he said.

Wright has also noted a shift towards the use of disposable products. “Sanitising wipes have been flying off our suppliers’ shelves and this is concerning, because they end up in the general waste stream,” he said. “Our clients have good reason to bolster their hygiene efforts at this time, but the flip side is a detrimental effect on the environment.”

Sustainability should not be compromised in the long term, according to Wright. “The professional cleaning sector is well aware of the urgent need to protect our environment by using sustainable solutions, and it’s not an issue on which we can compromise for an extended period.”

Greenspeed’s marketing manager Floor Loos has noted an increased demand for disinfection and hand hygiene products during the pandemic. “People disinfect more than they did before, but the use of daily cleaners also remains important,” she said. “Good daily cleaning – particularly

with sustainable products - will improve the effectivity of disinfection so there doesn’t need to be a compromise.”

According to Loos, most customers require solutions that combine efficacy with sustainability. “The main rule is to have a proper daily cleaning regime plus a disinfection protocol on critical contact points,” she said.

Disposable products have been in high demand since the start of the pandemic, says Loos. “However for daily cleaning and disinfection it is still best to use microfibre cloths because they have a higher cleaning and absorption capacity which allows you to clean more thoroughly,” she claims.

Besides a range of microfibre products, Greenspeed offers a plant-based readyto-use disinfectant spray. Lacto Des is said to be effective against 99.99 per cent of bacteria, yeasts and enveloped viruses.

Airdri marketing manager Trudi Osborne believes the use of disposable hand towels has been heavily promoted during the pandemic. “Public health must always come first, but we cannot put sustainability to one side whilst we battle against the coronavirus,” she said. “The two do not have to be mutually exclusive and we can find a balance between hygiene and sustainability. Indeed, there are products on the market that achieve this.”

According to Osborne, sustainability is one of the most pressing issues facing the industry. “The cleaning sector has taken major strides to become more eco-friendly and we shouldn’t reverse our efforts now,” she said. Airdri’s Quantum and Quazar hand dryers have achieved GreenSpec status for using fewer than 1,000 watts.

Covid-19 has increased public awareness of the value of plastics - both for packaging and for PPE according to Cromwell Polythene’s managing director James Lee. “Plastic has played an important role and we’re seeing an increased demand for face masks, aprons and disposable gloves as well as our plastic screens, refuse Continued page 30

October 2020 | ECJ | 29

SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability/hygiene balance (continued) sacks, recycling bags and bin liners,” he said. “These items are all helping to reduce the infection risk.”

He believes sustainability can go hand in hand with hygiene and infection control.

“For example, responsibly-produced plastic can have a recycled content of up to 100 per cent and be reprocessed many times, not only saving virgin material but energy as well.”

According to Lee, the term ‘single-use’ is open to interpretation when applied to plastics. “Water bottles, plastic containers and bags are often labelled ‘single-use’ when they are actually sufficiently robust to be used again and again,” he said. “However for the time being, it would be unwise to promote reuse over recycling or disposal due to health and hygiene concerns.”

Hygiene can be achieved sustainably with the aid of both disposable and reusable products, according to Essity’s communications director Renée Remijnse.

“There shouldn’t have to be a trade-off between the two,” she said. “Provided customers keep a check on ecolabels and third-party certificates they will find a range of good disposable options that still support a sustainable hygiene solution.”

Essity offers hygiene paper and soap products that are said to reduce waste and that use life cycle assessments to analyse their environmental impact.

According to Remijnse, hygiene and sustainability are inextricably linked.

“Hygiene is actually an element of sustainability because wellbeing is part of the overall sustainability agenda,” she said.

“We believe Covid-19 will create a more urgent and long-term focus on building a sustainable future, enabling companies and customers to motivate each other to create sustainable hygiene products and assortments.”

people are still opting for sustainable options when given a choice.”

In March 2020, Metsä noted an increase in tissue demand across all markets.

“This slowed during lockdown except in healthcare, food manufacturing and those schools supporting key workers,” said Dewick. “But as facilities began to reopen there has been an increased demand for disposable tissue, both for traditional uses and in a newer context as a barrier in high throughput areas and at touchpoints.”

Single use

The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted a change of focus for the customer according to Metsä’s sales and marketing vicepresident UK and Ireland Mark Dewick. “It’s hard to think about all our priorities all at once,” he says. “However, from conversations we are having it appears that no-one is ignoring the sustainability issue and that

Metsä offers Katrin Easy Picks and Katrin Easy1 for this purpose. Katrin Easy Picks are portable hand towels in a sleeve that protect them from dirt and germs, while Katrin Easy1 contains self-presenting towels in a solid dispenser that can be cleaned and sterilised.

“In the Covid environment, customers are using these products in washroom and workplace settings and placing them by lifts, doors, coffee machines and other high-touchpoint areas,” said Dewick.

He argues that single-use paper from sustainable sources can be environmentally-friendly. “Washable cloths for mopping up spills often have plastic constituents and even if they can be reused multiple times, they still have to be disposed of,” he said. “In a landfill environment they will not break down for hundreds of years whereas tissue will always break down, wherever it ends up.”

Customers are still seeking sustainable solutions – but ones that also guarantee hygiene according to Kärcher’s corporate communications manager Linda Schroedter. “Hygiene and sustainability are not contrasting disciplines, though there has definitely been a heightened awareness of the importance of cleaning, disinfection and hygiene in everyday environments as a result of the pandemic,” she said.

Demand for disinfection solutions has significantly increased, she adds. “New hygiene standards have been established in industries such as hospitality, education and public transport and these can only be achieved by more frequent cleaning and disinfection protocols.”

However she believes disinfection is not

La pandémie du Covid-19 a conduit à un usage plus fréquent de produits chimiques forts dans le secteur du nettoyage. On constate ainsi le recours accru aux serviettes en papier dans les toilettes collectives et de produits jetables dans les cuisines.

En outre, les agents de nettoyage sont de plus ne plus fréquemment munis d’équipements de protection personnelle à usage unique. ECJ se penche sur les difficultés qu’entraîne le souci de combiner la durabilité et la sécurité hygiénique.

Im Gefolge der Covid-19-Pandemie ist zu beobachten, dass in der Reinigungsbranche stärkere chemische Reinigungsmittel eingesetzt werden. Außerdem ist eine erhöhte Verwendung von Papierhandtüchern in Waschräumen und von Einwegprodukten in Küchen festzustellen. Und eine zunehmende Zahl von Reinigungskräften erhalten Einweg-PSA. Das ECJ wirft einen Blick auf die Schwierigkeiten, die entstehen, wenn Nachhaltigkeit mit sicheren Hygienepraktiken zu kombinieren sind.

Change of focus

30 | October 2020 | ECJ

always necessary – and is sometimes not even useful. “Good cleaning practices using modern equipment will in themselves reduce the risk of spreading the virus by more than 98 per cent,” she said. “However, customers often ask about aggressive chemicals for disinfection purposes, and they are not always aware about the impact these may have on human health or the environment.”

According to Schroedter, mechanical floor cleaning achieves an effective clean while also saving water and detergent.

“Similarly, steam cleaning and hot water high pressure cleaning are both sustainable methods of deactivating viruses since they work without chemical agents,” she said.

Kärcher offers a range of scrubber dryers, steam cleaners, high pressure cleaners and vacuums that are said to offer sustainability benefits.

Like other commentators, Schroedter has noted an increased demand for disposable products. “These are particularly suitable for public-facing situations such as retail and hospitality environments - and when used in the right way and disposed of properly they are a good alternative to reusable textiles,” she said.

According to Schroedter, the sustainability of disposables should be compared with the life cycle of reusable textiles including the chemicals and energy required for washing, collecting and transporting them plus the materials and techniques used to make them.

While demand for hygienic cleaning processes has currently become dominant, she says there are other factors to consider beyond the current pandemic.

“Covid-19 is only one kind of virus and there are many others that can cause harm to humans and that need to be deactivated through hygienic cleaning,” she said. “And at the end of the day, it is those people carrying out the work who are allimportant in achieving a sustainable and effective clean.

“It is therefore key to employ motivated staff who are thoroughly trained in good practices and who can operate the cleaning tools they are equipped with in a hygienic and sustainable way.”

A causa della pandemia di COVID-19, siamo testimoni dell’uso di prodotti chimici sempre più forti nel settore del cleaning. Assistiamo inoltre all’incremento dell’uso di asciugamani in carta nelle sale da toilette e di prodotti monouso in cucina, in più un numero sempre maggiore di addetti alle pulizia viene dotato di equipaggiamenti monouso per la protezioni personale.

ECJ prende in esame le difficoltà legate ad abbinare la sostenibilità con la sicurezza delle pratiche di igiene.

PRODUCTS: SUSTAINABILITY

Probotic solution

bacteria could turn into foul odours. And they are completely safe to use, being free of hazard symbols. www.greenspeed.eu

Natural airflow

Greenspeed developed a line of probiotic cleaning products called Probio. These comprise benign micro-organisms of organic origin which battle organic dirt and odours.

Once the products have been used they re-enter the environment where they actively contribute to water purification and maintain a natural microbial balance.

Said to remove organic grime deep down in surfaces these cleaners offer a lifelong cleaning result. The bacteria can absorb odour molecules, as well as removing substances that bad

The V-Sir Solid Evolution air freshener from Vectair Systems has been certified as carbon neutral. With no batteries, liquids or harmful propellants or solvents, the recyclable dispenser and refill system works with just natural airflow.

Carbon offsetting can help to reduce carbon emissions by funding solutions. Projects associated with carbon offsetting help tackle global climate change. As a result of Vectair’s programme, it received a certificate to confirm the amount of carbon dioxide it had offset. www.vectairsystems.com

Renewable European Tissue Symposium (ETS) is an organisation which has as its members producers of tissue. It says paper is the original sustainable material, being naturally recyclable and coming from a renewable resource.

Every company associated to ETS – about 90 per cent of European tissue capacity – is committed to use only fibres from sustainable forests or recycled fibres. ETS members use Forest Certification as a part of sustainable forest management. www.europeantissue.com

• Probio est une nouvelle gamme de produits de nettoyage probiotiques de la société Greenspeed.

• Le diffuseur d’ambiance V-Air Solid Evolution de Vectair System a été certifié comme étant neutre en carbone.

• L’European Tissue Symposium ETS considère que les produits en papier offrent des solutions de nettoyage à la fois durables et hygiéniques.

• Probio ist eine neue Produktfamilie mit probiotischen Reinigungsprodukten von Greenspeed.

• Der Lufterfrischer V-Air Solid Evolution von Vectair Systems wurde als CO2-neutral zertifiziert.

• Das European Tissue Symposium (ETS) sagt, dass Papierprodukte eine Reinigungslösung bieten, die sowohl nachhaltig als auch hygienisch ist.

• Probio è una nuova linea di prodotti probiotici per le pulizie della Greenspeed.

• Il deodorante per ambienti V-Air Solid Evolution della Vectair Systems è stato certificato a emissioni zero.

• L’associazione European Tissue Symposium (ETS) afferma che i prodotti in carta offrono una soluzione di pulizia sostenibile e igienica.

October 2020 | ECJ | 31

PRODUCTS: SUSTAINABILITY

• Filmop a obtenu l’écolabellisation UE pour plusieurs de ses produits textiles.

• La gamme Holistique Verte de Holchem comprend des nettoyants polyvalents, des dégraissants, ainsi que des produits de nettoyage pour toilettes collectives et privées.

• Hako affirme que son carter Dust Stop pour brosses dures, à montage sur machines de nettoyage, peut faire tomber l’émission de poussières fines de 90 pour cent.

• Mehrere Textilerzeugnisse von Filmop wurden mit dem Europäische Umweltzeichen ausgezeichnet.

• Die Produktreihe Holistic Green von Holchem umfasst Allzweckreiniger, Entfetter, Waschraum- und Toilettenreiniger.

• Laut Hako kann die Dust Stop Ummantelung für Seitenbesen an Reinigungsmaschinen die Feinstaubentwicklung um bis zu 90 % reduzieren.

• La Filmop ha ottenuto la certificazione Ecolabel UE per molti dei suoi prodotti tessili.

• La gamma Holistic Green della Holchem include detergenti multiuso, sgrassatori e detergenti per sale da bagno e wc.

• La Hako afferma che Dust Stop, la sua copertura montata sulle spazzole a disco delle macchine per pavimenti riesce a ridurre la polvere sottile del 90 per cento.

32 | October 2020 | ECJ

Certified mops Mopping specialist Filmop has achieved Ecolabel UE certification for several of its textile products. Rapido Super and Rapido Super Extra ultramicrofibre mops, for example, are suitable for floor washing and disinfection: their extra fine fibres penetrate deep into grooves and pores of the floor collecting and retaining dirt.

An open-end cotton mop with 8 cm support is recommended for wet mopping of floors with medium/high levels of dirt. And for small areas there is Master Lux, a thick yarn made with regenerated cotton waste - natural fibre with high absorbency.

The newest addition to the range is the Twist Tuft microfibre

mop, boasting high absorbency, effective dirt collection and effortless glide.

The thickly interwoven fabric allows optimum distribution of cleaning solution on the fibre structure while the closed-ring tufting system makes for longer mop life. www.filmop.com

Green solution

Holchem’s Holistic Green line of cleaning formulas is said to have a low impact on aquatic life, reduce the use of hazardous raw materials substances and lower packaging waste. The range has achieved European Ecolabel certification and includes washing-up liquid, all-purpose cleaner, degreaser,

washroom cleaner and toilet cleaner - all concentrates. www.holchem.co.uk

Removes dust Dust Stop is a new jacket for disc brushes on Hako vacuum sweepers designed to reduce the generation of fine dust by up to 90 per cent. This easy-to-install addition prevents dust from rising to enable dustfree sweeping.

All sweepers equipped with disc brushes can be retrofitted easily with Dust Stop. It works dry - no use of water is required which means no streaky floors.

And there is no risk of marking or damaging the floor when using the jacket. www.hako.com

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PRODUCTS: SUSTAINABILITY

• Plus de la moitié de la population a adopté des pratiques plus durables pendant le confinement, indique une étude effectuée par Essity.

• L’entreprise de propreté Cleanology a distribué des uniformes en matière plastique recyclée à ses collaborateurs.

•Ready Set Go! (RSG), la gamme des produits de nettoyage écolabellisés de la société InnuScience, comporte un système de dilution portable à boucle fermée.

• Les machines de nettoyage Tennant sont dotées de la technologie ec-H2O NanoClean, qui convertit de l’eau en une solution de nettoyage.

• TTS affirme que ses chariots de nettoyage Magic sont entièrement recyclables parce qu’ils sont fabriqués en polypropylène

• Aus einer von Essity durchgeführten Studie geht hervor, dass die Hälfte von uns während des kürzlichen Lockdowns nachhaltigere Praktiken angenommen hat.

• Reinigungsdienstleister Cleanology hat für seine Mitarbeiter Uniformen aus Recyclingkunststoff eingeführt.

• Ready Set Go! (RSG), Reinigungslösungen von InnuScience, die dem Europäische Umweltzeichen entsprechen, bieten ein Verdünnungssystem in geschlossener Schleife.

• Reinigungsmaschinen von Tennant sind mit der ecH2O NanoClean-Technologie ausgestattet, die Wasser in eine Reinigungslösung umwandelt.

• Laut TTS sind die Magic Reinigungswagen vollständig wiederverwertbar, da sie aus Polypropylen hergestellt sind.

• Da un sondaggio effettuato dalla Essity, la metà di noi ha adottato delle pratiche più sostenibili durante il recente lockdown.

• La Cleanology, specializzata in servizi di pulizia, ha lanciato le nuove divise per i suoi dipendenti prodotte utilizzando plastica riciclata • Ready Set Go! (RSG), le soluzioni di pulizia conformi al marchio Ecolabel prodotte dalla InnuScience sono dotate di un sistema di diluizione portatile a circuito chiuso.

• Le macchine di pulizia prodotte dalla Tennant sono dotate di tecnologia ec-H2O NanoClean che converte l’acqua in una soluzioni di pulizia.

• La TTS afferma che i suoi carrelli di pulizia Magic sono completamente riciclabili in quanto sono prodotti in polipropilene.

34 | October 2020 | ECJ

Behaviour Half of us have adopted more sustainable practices during the Covid-19 lockdown, according to a survey by Tork manufacturer Essity.

Forty-six per cent of people questioned claimed to be recycling more while 28 per cent have cut down on their use of single-use items. And eight out of 10 intend to stick to their sustainable behaviours.

The study, which polled 2,000 UK adults online in June 2020, also revealed that six out of 10 respondents have developed a greater appreciation for sustainability and nature since the lockdown. A third had become more aware of our impact on the planet, while 72 per cent claimed their community had become more important to them in the wake of the pandemic.

Fifty-one per cent of respondents admitted they still found sustainability to be confusing, while 64 per cent believed that some large corporations had been slow to expand their range of sustainable products. And 45 per cent wanted to see more options for recycling and reusing products to help them become more sustainable. www.tork.co.uk/sustainability

Green uniforms Cleaning services business Cleanology has rolled out uniforms made from recycled plastic to its staff, which it says will cut the need for 7,000 plastic bottles.

The company considers the life cycle of every product and material it uses. Dominic Ponniah, ceo, also explained that it introduced portion-controlled biological cleaning sachets. “This helps us to save 16,092 litres of cleaning solution a year and cut

plastic bottle use from 21,600 to 600 every year. In just one year, our scheme to reduce excess use of cleaning solution, combined with our recycled uniform project, will save 28,000 bottles from landfill.”

Switching to e-invoices for clients has also seen a dramatic fall of 33,000 sheets of paper - after already introducing e-payslips for staff.

The all-hybrid fleet has led to a reduction in fuel usage of 25.6 per cent. However vehicle charging at head office has led to a rise in wider electricity usage so that is being monitored in order to find improvements.

Staff are very much involved in new initiatives and this is key in improving environmental performance, the company says. www.cleanology.com

The November edition of ECJ will feature a special report about hand hygiene

Closed loop

Nanobubbles

The proprietary ec-H2O technology was first launched by Tennant in 2008, when it was commercialised in its range of floor scrubbing machines. Advances in nano bubble technology have led to ec-H2O NanoClean.

The name NanoClean refers to the creation of nano-scale bubbles that are an important part of the cleaning mechanism. The technology electrically converts water into a cleaning solution claimed to clean effectively while reducing environmental impact compared to floor cleaning chemicals.

This converted water is created by an onboard e-cell that generates millions of microscopic bubbles - nanobubbles - per millilitre of solution. www.tennantco.com

Recyclable

InnuScience’s latest development is the RSG (Ready Set Go) range of cleaning solutions, featuring a portable closed loop dilution system.

RSG products can be used wherever there is a water source and include a simple integration with the closed loop system. A diluting nozzle is also built into the container, while a lockout feature stops unauthorised use or mixing errors. This, says Innuscience, reduces purchase costs and the need for staff training time compared to wall dilution systems.

There are seven products in the range, which features super degreasers and cleaners, cleaners for soap scum and scale residues, odour purifiers with cleaning action and anti-slip floor cleaners. www.innuscience.com

Magic is the line of multipurpose trolleys from TTS that are made from polypropylene - which makes them resistant, long lasting and completely recyclable at end-of-life.

Several of the components are manufactured using high percentages of recycled polypropylene, certified PSV - Plastic Second Life by the Institute for the Promotion of Recycling Plastics (IPPR). TTS uses exclusively premium-recycled polypropylene. Polypropylene is a low impact material that generates fewer CO2 emissions than aluminium, stainless steel and chromed iron, halving them further if it is recycled. www.ttsystem.com

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As the probiotics continue to function for days after cleaning, the effect of these products is long-lasting.

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addition to the standard versions, the cleaning trolley can be custom-tailored to a specific task or application such as healthcare, offices and public buildings, schools,.... In addition to being practical, this also prolongs the life of the cleaning trolley because it can be used in a flexible manner. To add a personal touch contribute to water purification and maintain a natural the door panels can be customised with your own microbial balance.

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HAND DRYING

Change in attitude “The public needs to have confidence in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and gyms if they are to return to these facilities - and the same applies to away-fromhome washrooms”, says Essity’s Stuart Hands. However according to the company’s latest survey, attitudes to public toilets are changing as people demand new Covid-19 protocols.

38 | October 2020 | ECJ

The issue of hygiene – and hand hygiene in particular - has moved very much to the fore during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We now understand that the coronavirus lingers on surfaces after we have touched them where they can be picked up by the hands of others. So rigorous surface cleaning coupled with thorough hand washing is being heavily promoted – and with good reason.

According to governments, scientists and health experts, we should wash our hands more frequently and for longer than we are used to doing in order to help eradicate the virus. After the hands have been meticulously washed with soap and water they need to be thoroughly dried since germs breed more readily in moist conditions. And hand drying should be carried out either with a paper towel or a warm air dryer, claims the World Health Organisation (WHO).

And this of course has sparked a return to the age-old debate: which hand drying system is preferable, air or paper?

The arguments have been raging for years with various studies examining the benefits of paper hand towels compared with those of warm air dryers. These discussions have historically taken into account a range of factors such as cost, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability.

However in today’s pandemic-stricken world it is the issue of hygiene that carries the most weight.

There has been much speculation in the press as to whether or not warm air dryers could serve to blow the virus around the washroom – an occurrence that could potentially lead to other washroom users being infected. Various studies claiming to both prove and disprove this theory have made headlines over the past few months, making members of the public anxious and confused as to what they should do for the best.

Meanwhile there has also been a radical assertion that hand dryers used alone without hand washing could actually kill Covid-19 – a myth that has been de-

bunked on the WHO website along with other, equally false claims.(1) It is understandable that such topics should be closely examined and then widely reported at a time when we are all living with so much uncertainty. For it has become a matter of great importance to all of us that we should adopt the right systems – ones that will help keep ourselves and others safe.

But what is also critically important is the way people actually feel about the premises and systems they use.

Washroom visitors, for example, want to feel safe and reassured when using these facilities.

And an anxious visitor to a washroom where social distancing is impossible might skimp on his or her hand hygiene in order to swiftly remove themselves from an uncomfortable situation. This could result in the visitor leaving the premises with unwashed hands with which they could go on to contaminate surfaces outside the washroom.

Unhygienic washrooms Essity and the Tork brand have recently carried out research into people’s attitudes concerning washrooms. We commissioned United Minds in cooperation with CINT to question more than 4,000 people in April this year with the view to ascertaining how public perceptions have changed in the wake of Covid.

Washroom users from the EU countries of Spain, Sweden, France and Germany were included in the study.

According to the results, 66 per cent of the survey respondents said the pandemic had made them feel less safe when using facilities with unhygienic washrooms, while 79 per cent had higher expectations of washrooms in terms of providing a safe and hygienic environment than they did before Covid-19.

When asked specifically about hand drying, 62 per cent of the survey respondents said they preferred paper towels over alternative methods. And nearly 37 per cent of the respondents expressed a new

HAND DRYING preference for hand towels in the wake of the pandemic.

Around 61 per cent of respondents who preferred hand towels said they did so because they felt they were a more hygienic option for the user. When asked about the public places in which respondents said they preferred to see paper hand towels versus air dryers, 53 per cent cited restaurants while other top responses included workplaces (46 per cent); hospitals (45 per cent) and shopping centres (44 per cent).

Another key point that emerged from the study was the fact that hand towels are no longer considered to be simply a hand drying option but are also being put to other uses.

A total of 72 per cent of the survey respondents said they now routinely used paper hand towels to act as a barrier between their hands and frequently-touched surfaces in public washrooms such as taps, door handles and light switches. And 75 per cent said they wished more washroom facilities offered paper hand towels as an alternative to air dryers.

Clearly, members of the public want to feel safe when they venture out to places to eat, drink, shop and be entertained.

They expect the facilities they visit to be clean, hygienic and equipped with the right products. And when this is not the case,

« Il faut que le public reprenne confiance vis-à-vis de restaurants, bars, hôtels, magasins et gymnases avant de réintégrer ces établissements, et cela est vrai également des toilettes publiques, » explique Stuart Hands, de la société Essity. Cependant, selon la dernière enquête de cette entreprise, l’attitude à l’égard des toilettes publiques a évolué dans la mesure où les gens exigent de nouveaux protocoles de prévention contre le Covid-19.

those businesses will potentially suffer because people might simply stay away.

According to the study, 50 per cent of respondents said they were less likely to go to places where paper hand towels were unavailable as a hand drying alternative.

So failing to provide hand towels in the washrooms - both for hand drying purposes and as a barrier when touching surfaces and fixtures - could have a significant impact on the profitability of businesses Essity believes.

Speed of drying There is also the question of speed when using the washroom. We are now being faced with a situation in which fewer people are allowed to use the washroom at once to facilitate social distancing. But we are also expected to wash and dry our hands longer and more thoroughly to keep ourselves Covid-safe.

It is possible to extract hand towels from the dispenser and use them on the go, whereas warm air dryers require the visitor to remain in situ while the air does the work for them. And this could lead to queues, logjams and more risk.

According to our study, 64 per cent of respondents felt air dryers took too long to dry their hands and admitted to often leaving the washroom before their hands

„Die Öffentlichkeit muss Vertrauen in Restaurants, Bars, Hotels, Geschäfte und Sportstudios haben können, wenn sie zu diesen Einrichtungen zurückkehren sollen – und das gleiche gilt auch für aushäusige Waschräume“, sagt der bei Essity tätige Stuart Hands. Aus der letzten Umfrage des Unternehmens geht jedoch hervor, dass sich die Einstellungen zu öffentlichen Toiletten ändern und Menschen neue Covid-19-Verfahren verlangen.

were completely dry.

Everywhere we go in the public arena we see cleaning being carried out more openly. Bar and restaurant staff work around the clock to disinfect tables between guests, while shop and hotel employees ensure that the hand sanitiser dispensers provided are constantly topped up and are always made freely available to the public.

Such overt cleaning and hygiene practices serve to reassure us that our safety is being considered and that our patronage is valued.

Washrooms are an integral part of any facility visited by the public, and it is clear from the study that the provision of paper hand towels – either in place of air dryers or as an alternative - is a reassuring sight for many. We predict that businesses everywhere will take note of this emerging data and will increasingly equip their washrooms with paper towels in a bid to inspire customers to return.

1. https://www.who.int/emergencies/ diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-forpublic/myth-busters#hand-dryers • About the survey: 2020 Survey conducted by United Minds in cooperation with CINT in April 2020. The survey covered four markets: Germany, France, Spain and Sweden.

In total, 4035 answered the survey.

“Il pubblico ha bisogno di avere fiducia nei ristoranti, bar, hotel, negozi e palestre per ritornare in queste strutture e lo stesso vale per le sale da toilette pubbliche”, afferma Stuart Hands della Essity.

Purtroppo, a quanto rivela il sordaggio più recente dell’azienda, l’atteggiamento nei confronti dei bagni pubblici sta cambiando perchè le persone pretendono nuovi protocolli COVID-19

October 2020 | ECJ | 39

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CARE OF HARD FLOORS

How to keep a floor virus-free?

During the global pandemic, ECJ finds out how important it is to clean hard floors safely to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

The advent of Covid-19 has had a major impact on every aspect of cleaning. Hands and surfaces have been at the forefront of urgent new moves to improve cleanliness in a bid to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

But how important is it to ensure that hard floors are kept clean and virus-free as well? Are floors a flash-point for germs and if so, are cleaning companies seeing a greater demand for solutions that can remove viruses from floors?

The answer to the second question is a definite yes according to IPC communications manager Gabriella Bianco. “Cleaning has become a crucial factor in the fight against the pandemic and we’re experiencing a larger demand than ever for our cleaning and sanitising systems,” she said.

A combination of chemicals, machines and manual accessories will help to eliminate pathogens from floors, she says. “The mechanical action created by a scrubber dryer coupled with the chemical action of a detergent will ensure a fast and accurate clean, while a powerful vacuum will leave the surface dry,” she said.

“However for specific applications where speed and accuracy of detail are essential, manual mopping is still a good option.”

IPC offers a range of scrubber dryers and mopping systems.

Special care needs to be taken when cleaning the hard floors of a hospital, care home or clinic, she says. “People living in these areas are potentially at greater risk which means that all floor cleaning and sanitisation here needs to be targeted and thorough.”

The type of flooring used in these areas is generally porous and therefore more susceptible to contaminants, according to

Bianco. “It is crucial to clean floors in the healthcare sector frequently and deeply to prevent them from absorbing permanent dirt, particularly in high-traffic environments,” she said.

New from IPC is the 4-in-1 Spraying System that may be retrofitted to IPC’s scrubber dryers and can also be used as a backpack sprayer. “This enables our ride-on scrubber dryers to wash, dry and sanitise in a single pass, while small to medium-sized areas can be sanitised using the backpack sprayer,” she said.

Filmop has received increased customer demand for its mopping systems over the past few months according to export area manager Paolo Scapinello.

Rise in demand “The world is facing an emergency – one that requires us to keep environments strictly clean and disinfected,” he said.

“As a result we have seen a rise in demand for disposable mops that facilitate effective floor cleaning while also reducing cross-contamination.”

He says it is now more crucial than ever to maximise hygiene by sanitising and disinfecting all environments – floors included. And he believes commercial floors should be cleaned every day and sanitised frequently. “Additional cleaning operations must be put in place promptly in case of specific needs,” he adds.

According to Scapinello, virus transmission may be prevented with the use of a new cloth for each area. “Disposable cloths will help to maintain high standards of hygiene,” he said. New from Filmop are Mono-Micro cloths designed for use on smooth interior floors. These are said to effectively remove germs and bacteria and may be used with the Unilav for spot cleaning and the ErgoSwing for deeper cleaning.

Healthcare facilities, nursing homes, schools and nurseries need to be cleaned particularly thoroughly to avoid the risk of contamination, he says. “In this delicate phase of the pandemic it is essential to rely on professional equipment that will

ensure an efficient clean coupled with maximum hygiene,” said Scapinello.

During these challenging times, customers feel more confident when hygiene levels are increased across the board according to Kärcher’s floorcare product manager Christian Mrowka. He believes floor sanitisation to be particularly advisable in areas where closer contact with the surface is likely to take place such as in gyms, kindergardens and areas where people may walk barefoot.

A scrubber dryer will achieve a more effective clean than a mop in Mrowka’s view. “A machine will also save time, water and detergent while avoiding crosscontamination,” he said.

He adds that floors should always be cleaned before sanitisation takes place.

“If the floor is not free of dirt, this could impede the disinfection process,” he said.

Kärcher offers a sanitising kit that can be mounted on to B 150 R + B 200 R ride-on scrubber dryers. This incorporates a spray bar that applies a disinfection solution via spray nozzles.

When used in tandem with machines, microfibre mops can also achieve an effective floor clean according to Kärcher’s product manager for manual tools Kamila Dobler. “Microfibre will remove bacteria and offer a sustainable manual solution,” she said.

However, the type of floor in question will have an impact on the cleaning method, she adds. “Porous floors provide a more favourable environment for germs, while a non-porous hard floor that is well maintained will make cleaning easier and will therefore be more hygienic,” she said.

“And the use of the room in question will also be relevant: for example, hard floors in a kindergarten or daycare facility may pose a risk since children often play on floors.”

Like other companies, Prochem has noted an increased demand for hygienic floor-cleaning solutions since premises have re-opened, says sales and training Continued page 42

October 2020 | ECJ | 41

CARE OF HARD FLOORS How to keep a floor virus-free? (continued)

manager Phil Jones. “Pubs, restaurants, cafes and other public venues need to carry out cleaning and disinfecting procedures far more frequently than they did before Covid-19,” he said. “And cinemas and gyms have been requiring sanitising products for all hard surfaces and upholstery.”

Prochem offers a range of viricidal cleaners including D500 Microsan, a multisurface biocidal cleaner and B125 Clensan, a biocidal sanitiser.

Hard floors are among the chief transmission points for dirt and soil entering a building, according to Jones. “The main coronavirus risk is from cross-contamination from person to person or surface to surface, but the cleanliness of the floors is still an important factor in the hygiene of any building,” he adds. “This means the floors should be cleaned with a suitable product that will kill the virus in conjunction with normal cleaning practices.”

The type of business and the level of traffic will dictate the cleaning regime, he says. “For example, food production premises should be constantly sanitised whereas busy retailers may only be able to clean their floors at the end of the day.

“And we at Prochem have been advising one of Europe’s largest gym chains which has opted to clean and sanitise their changing room and shower floors three times a day to protect their clients.”

The gym chain has been using Prochem’s REB15 battery-powered back-pack sprayers for this purpose.

Cleanliness is of paramount importance in hospitals and care homes, he says.

“Other high-risk environments include schools, colleges, coffee bars and large Quel est le moyen le plus hygiénique de nettoyer un plancher tout en le protégeant du coronavirus ? Faut-il songer à des produits chimiques et désinfectants spécialisés ? Importe-t-il d’utiliser une machine de nettoyage professionnelle ? ECJ interroge des fabricants de produits chimiques et machines sur les moyens de nettoyer des planchers durs en toute sécurité et en minimisant le risque de transmission virale.

42 | October 2020 | ECJ

fast-food restaurants - and we have also received many requests from mosques and churches as they allow worshippers back into their buildings,” he said.

Rawlins is another company that has witnessed high demand for virus-busting floor-cleaning solutions, says managing director James White.

“We have learnt that Covid-19 can survive on hard surfaces for hours or even days, so we must take that risk seriously,” he said. “With people walking across floor surfaces constantly the spread of bacteria is inevitable. And the fact that it is possible for the virus to spread from floors to other surfaces means it will remain in circulation.

“We must therefore adopt cleaning processes that not only kill the virus at source, but will also protect the area with a long-lasting barrier that reduces the risk of re-infection.”

Areas of risk Rawlins uses a ‘remove, improve and protect’ system that involves the use of chemicals, machine cleaning and fluid extraction followed by an adenosine triphosphate test to ensure that the floors are germ-free. They are then treated with an antimicrobial protection product such as Zoono Z-71 Microbe Shield, said to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses for 30 days.

According to White, any environment that sees a high footfall constitutes a potential risk. “People automatically think of hospitals and cares home as requiring extra attention because they house the most vulnerable but in reality, bars and restaurants are just as risky,” he said. “In these establishments, cleaning is often carried out by staff as an additional task Was ist die hygienischste Art, um einen Boden zu reinigen und sicherzustellen, dass er frei von Covid-19 ist? Sind spezielle chemische Reinigungsmittel und Desinfektionsmittel erforderlich, und wie wichtig ist der Einsatz von professionellen Reinigungsmaschinen? Das ECJ fragt Hersteller von chemischen Reinigungsmitteln und Reinigungsmaschinen, wie Hartböden mit minimalem Risiko einer Virusübertragung sicher gereinigt werden können.

alongside their main duties, and they often face pressure to turn the tables around quickly to accommodate more guests.

“These premises are also far less likely to have stringent cleaning methods in place whereas hospitals employ trained cleaning operatives dedicated to infection control. In fact the need to adopt a robust cleaning regime has never been more important - regardless of the setting - because hygiene remains one of our first lines of defence against Covid-19.”

So should virus removal now become an integral part of any floorcare regime?

Cleaning sufficient According to Prochem’s Phil Jones, many of the company’s initial inquiries concerning hygienic floor-cleaning solutions were seemingly the result of a knee-jerk reaction. But that has since changed. “Obviously there hasn’t been a pandemic like this in living memory and as time has moved on, it has become clear that this isn’t a short-term issue,” he said.

“Businesses now realise that cleanliness is going to be paramount in defeating the virus which means they need support and advice from the cleaning industry to help them move forward.”

The events of the past few months have prompted a need for psychological reassurance, adds IPC’s Gabriella Bianco.

“Fear is a natural reaction to an evil one can’t see, and scientists agree that rooms and floors should be regularly cleaned and disinfected in order to reduce the risks.”

The current crisis has been a wake-up call for us all, according to Rawlins’ James White. “It shouldn’t take a global pandemic for people to step up their cleaning efforts - but the fact that it has prompted such a reaction is a good thing,” he says.

However Kärcher’s Christian Mrowka feels that floors represent a relatively low infection risk in terms of Covid-19.

“Nobody wants to make a mistake in the current climate, so it is important that we all react in the right way,” he said. “But floors generally pose a low risk of infection because there is no direct contact between the hands and the floor which means that in most cases, a thorough clean is sufficient.”

Qual è il metodo più igienico di lavare un pavimento a di assicurarsi che non sia contaminato da COVID-19?

C’è la necessità di prodotti chimici e disinfettanti specifici, e quanto è importante l’utilizzo di una macchina professionale per le pulizie? ECJ chiede ai produttori di macchine e prodotti chimici come si possono pulire in modo sicuro e con un rischio minimo di trasmissione del virus i pavimenti duri.

Clean, Dry, Hygienic & Safe Floors TTB1840NX Powered by NX300 36V Lithium Equipped with new NX300 36V battery technology, the 1840NX Battery Scrubber Dryer offers compact, cordless and convenient cleaning with the performance of a much bigger machine.

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2. Open the App and scan the QR Code on your machine 3. Access a wide range of help and support, right at your fingertips

Find out more at numatic.com/apps/nu-assist Numatic International Limited, Chard, Somerset, TA20 2GB Tel: 01460 68600 © Numatic International Limited 2020. Specification subject to change without prior notice. www.numatic.co.uk

www.numatic.de

www.numatic.ch

www.numatic.fr

www.numatic.nl

www.numatic.co.za

www.numatic.pt

www.numatic.es

PRODUCTS: CARE OF HARD FLOORS

• Comme produit nouveau, Greenspeed propose le système à tampon plat magnétique Click’M C, conçu pour un nettoyage confortable et efficace.

• La gamme de soins de plancher en céramique de Pioneer Eclipse réunit tous les produits chimiques et procédés convenant pour ce type de sol.

• La dernière autolaveuse accompagnée de Kärcher est la BD 70/75 W Classic Bp.

• Neu von Greenspeed ist das magnetische Flachmoppsystem Click’M C, das im Hinblick auf komfortables und wirkungsvolles Reinigen konzipiert wurde.

• Die Produktfamilie Ceramic Floor Care für Keramikböden von Pioneer Eclipse bietet genau die richtigen chemischen Reinigungsmittel und -verfahren für diese Bodenart.

• Bei der BD 70/75 W Classic Bp handelt es sich um die neueste, handgeführte Scheuersaugmaschine von Kärcher.

• La novità della Greenspeed è il sistema mop piatto e magnetico Click’M C, progettato per le pulizie efficienti e comode.

• La linea Ceramic Floor Care della Pioneer Eclipse offre tutti i corretti prodotti chimici e trattamenti per questo tipo di pavimenti.

• BD 70/75 W Classic Bp è la più nuova lavasciuga pavimenti con operatore a terra della Kärcher.

44 | October 2020 | ECJ

Easy clicks The Click’M C flat mop system is the latest addition to Greenspeed’s range. Said to make floor cleaning as easy and hygienic as possible, the operator only needs to slip the frame into the pocket of the mop, press the handle down and the magnetic fastening immediately locks the mop into place.

After cleaning the operator presses the green button with his foot to release the frame and slide the used mop into the laundry bag without touching it.

The frame itself has a smooth surface which prevents dirt from

adhering to it, making it easier to clean.

The mop system is supplied separately but also as part of a ready-to-use package. www.greenspeed.eu

Ceramic care Pioneer Eclipse offers a Ceramic Floor Care system incorporating chemicals and processes for all aspects of ceramic floor care.

Eclipse Ceramic HD Cleaner removes tough dirt build-up, grease, oil, hard water deposits and soap scum from grout lines and the micropores of ceramic tile. This product is also recommended for periodic cleaning.

Meanwhile Eclipse Ceramic Restorer is a high performance penetrating sealer that fills micro-pores in the tile and grout, protecting the surfaces from staining and restoring gloss to the glazed ceramic surface.

Eclipse Ceramic Daily Cleaner removes soil and dirt without

degrading the grout sealer. Daily dust mopping and cleaning with this neutral cleaner will help minimise scratches, wear patterns and soiling. And for slip protection Eclipse Anti-Slip Treatment micro-etches a fine texture into the ceramic surface. pioneereclipse.com

Classic scrubber The newest addition to the Classic range of scrubber dryers from Kärcher is the BD 70/75 W Classic Bp - a walk-behind model boasting robust design and simple operation.

The brush head is made of durable aluminium, guaranteeing long service life. The compact design makes this model suitable for use in restricted of heavily furnished areas - it can turn in a passage width of 1.55 metres. The only switch is the on/off button, and operators can make all other settings. www.karcher.com

NX300 Pro Cordless RSB150NX

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Numatic International Limited, Chard, Somerset, TA20 2GB Tel: 01460 68600 © Numatic International Limited 2020. Specification subject to change without prior notice. www.numatic.co.uk

www.numatic.de

www.numatic.ch

www.numatic.fr

www.numatic.nl

www.numatic.co.za

www.numatic.pt

www.numatic.es

PRODUCTS: CARE OF HARD FLOORS

• Polivac propose une gamme de lustreuses à aspiration capable de lustrer et aspirer en passes uniques.

• RCM a lancé la balayeuse embarquée Atom.3 et l’autolabeuse Icon.

• Polivac bietet eine Produktreihe mit Saugpolierern, die in einem Durchgang polieren und saugen können.

• Bei den neuesten Modellen von RCM handelt es sich um die Aufsitz-Kehrmaschine Atom.3 und die Scheuersaugmaschine Icon.

• La Polivac offre una gamma di lucidatrici con aspirazione che lucidano e aspirano in una sola passata.

• I modelli più recenti della RCM sono la spazzatrice con operatore a bordo Atom.3 e la lavasciuga pavimenti Icon.

46 | October 2020 | ECJ

Polish and vac Among the suction polisher machines produced by Polivac is the PV25 with bypass motor: 100-watt max and 375 RPM is fit for the job it says. This model is equipped with an offset motor that provides counter balanced starting and is claimed to reduce operator fatigue.

For extra speed and power in high-traffic areas the company offers the ultra high speed self-propelled suction burnisher Polivac Dominator and Polivac Stingray. The Polivac Dominator is equipped with 1500 RPM pad

speed and 40 cm pad and is specially designed for smaller areas.

The Polivac Stingray, meanwhile, has 1500 RPM pad speed and 50 cm pad, making it suitable for large area operations.

Both machines are designed with Total dust control vacuum system for a fast set and efficient dust removal in one pass.

Other features include fully height-adjustable handles with ergonomic design. www.polivac.com.au

Brand new RCM has launched two new models: the ATOM.3 sweeper and the ICON scrubber.

ATOM.3 is a ride-on model boasting optimum ergonomics that allow the operator to work longer shifts comfortably. Maintenance is said to be simple, with brushes adjustable and replaceable without tools.

The machine has better visibility thanks to the rear load, plus the

Energy Saver system increases the range.

ICON is the ride-on scrubber designed for medium and large environments, with a 200-litre tank and greater autonomy thanks to the Energy Saver system and the possibility of mounting batteries with different capacities. Features include the My customisation system for cleaning operations; Gogreen for saving money and ecological cleaning; quiet operation; and fast running. www.rcm.it

Keep up to date with news at the ECJ website

You can find more CWS concepts covering all aspects of perfect hygiene at the virtual Interclean: www.cws.com/interclean2020

Clean.

Well.

Safe.

CWS.COM

PREVIEW: INTERCLEAN ONLINE

Amsterdam Online knowledge focus Interclean Amsterdam Online, which takes place from November 3-6, will focus on personal matchmaking, demonstrations and knowledge transfer - says organiser RAI Amsterdam. It has compiled a comprehensive programme of content over the four days. There will also be a virtual exhibition and opportunities for networking by industry professionals.

WASH solutions for lasting health change in Africa 16:30-17:00 - Contributing to the EU Green Deal and the global UN Sustainable Development Goals: A.I.S.E.’s Charter for Sustainable Cleaning by Sascha Nissen, director of sustainability, A.I.S.E. 17:00-17:30 - Professional Users and Safe Use Mixture Information (SUMIs)

by Giulia Sebastio. Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager, A.I.S.E.

November 3

November 4

09:30-11:00 - The Future of Facility Management, by Richard van Hooijdonk, trendwatcher and futurist 10:30-11:30 - Demonstration: Hospital Isolation Room by Charles Scholte, (SVS) 11:30-12:00 - Can VR make hospitals safer? by Jenny Logenius, global brand innovation manager Tork at Essity.

12:00-12:30 -Developments in China by Simon Ding, managing director RAI China 13:00-14:30 How to secure the new hygiene standard in the new normal? by Anna Königson Koopmans, marketing director commercial, Essity Hygiene 14:30-15:30 FIE Segment Offices: Case Topdesk by Renske van der Heide, Facility Evangelist, TOPdesk 15:30-16:30 Introduction + Sustainable

09:30-11:00 - Healthcare Cleaning Forum Dr. Didier Pittet will give insight on the burden of disease & current issues in the hospital 10:30-11:30 - Doing business in India

by Mohana M, editor, Clean India Journal 11:30-12:00 How can data-driven cleaning secure the new hygiene standard? by Anna Königson Koopmans, Essity Hygiene and Health.

12:00-13:00 - FIE Segment Warehouses 13:00-13:30 - What will hand hygiene look like in the new normal?

13:30-14:30 - FIE: Consumatics Neuromarketing by Anna Casemier, managing partner, Consumatics 14:00-14:30 - The Recycle Factory: This is how we close the loop by Laurens Met-

Interclean Amsterdam Online, qui aura lieu du 3 au 6 novembre, traitera notamment de la mise en relation de personnes, de la démonstration de produits et du transfert de connaissances.

Die Interclean Amsterdam Online, die vom 3. bis 6. November stattfindet, wird sich auf persönliche Vermittlung, Demonstrationen und Wissenstransfer konzentrieren.

ternich, ceo, Spectro BV 14:30-15:00 - ATP testing 15:00-15:30 - Selecting hygiene products in a pandemic by Dr Jim Arbogast, Hygiene Sciences and Public Health Advancements vice president, GOJO Industries, Inc. 15:00-17:00 - CINET Global Best Practices Award: Case Pitches

November 5 09:30-11:00 - Amsterdam Innovation Award: Visitor Choice 11:00-12:00 - FIE Segment Retail 11:00-11:30 - PolVita, Probiotic cleaning that protects 11:30-12:00 - Are your cleaning staff prepared to secure safe care environments?

12:30-13:30 - FIE: Startup Pitches 13:00-13:30 - Is there a sustainability business case in our industry?

15:00-17:00 - CINET Global Best Practices Award: Award Show 15:00-15:30 - Connected Cleaning - 2020 State of the Industry by Alexander Manafi, CEO & Co-Founder, ToolSense

November 6 09.30-11.00 - CINET Laundry Conference Visit intercleanshow.com to register.

• ECJ is the official media partner for Interclean Amsterdam La Interclean Amsterdam Online, che si terrà dal 3 al 6 novembre, si concentrerà sul matchmaking personale, sulle dimostrazione e sul trasferimento della conoscenza.

October 2020 | ECJ | 49

JOIN US AT VIRTUAL INTERCLEAN EXHIBITION (www.intercleanshow.com) FROM 3 - 6 NOVEMBER 2020

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LETÕS DISCOVER OUR NEW PRODUCTS

PREVIEW: INTERCLEAN ONLINE

Essity

Essity aims to help businesses attain new standards of hygiene via its “Secure the new hygiene standard” website.

Described as a one-stop resource hub, the site provides insights into how businesses can adapt during the global coronavirus pandemic. A free downloadable Back to Business toolkit is available via the site which includes posters, checklists and prompts to remind people about the importance of carrying out good hand hygiene, adhering to one-way systems and meeting social distancing requirements.

Other resources for businesses include a white paper, infographics and educational videos detailing how hygienic solutions such as paper towels, skincare products and tissue systems can help to contribute to a cleaner and safer facility.

Website visitors can also access Safe at Work toolkits containing tips, guides and information aimed at a variety of businesses including colleges, healthcare, and hospitality and commercial venues.

Tork will be hosting a series of virtual stage sessions and panel discussions at Interclean 2020. Products in the spotlight will include the Tork PeakServe Continuous Hand Towel System, Tork skincare solutions, the Tork PaperCircle recycling service and Tork EasyCube.

Tork EasyCube is said to aid social distancing because the software allows cleaners to monitor washrooms remotely via a smartphone or tablet. Sensors in dispensers enable staff

members to check when supplies of soap and paper are running out, while sensors placed in the washroom itself provide insights into which facilities are attracting the heaviest usage – a potential indication that extra cleaning might be needed.

Tork Foam Soap is claimed to facilitate hand washing because the dispenser is operated via a button with a particularly low push-force. This makes it easy to use even for people with low hand strength, according to Essity. Each refill contains 2,500 shots of soap to ensure a longlasting supply.

Tork PeakServe caters for more than 1,000 guests between refills and has a low pull-force to facilitate towel removal, claims the company. It is said to take just three seconds for a user to take out a towel and move on, freeing up washroom space swiftly and aiding socialdistancing requirements as a result. And hand towels have the added advantage of providing washroom visitors with the option of using a towel as a barrier when touching door handles and light switches. www.tork.co.uk

OspreyDeepclean New from OspreyDeepclean is the DeCon Fogging attachment for the company’s SteamCare cleaning range.

This allows frequent touchpoints to be disinfected quickly and easily to help combat viruses such as Covid-19.

The fog disinfects the area to be cleaned and provides the operator with a safe environment in which to work prior to deep cleaning. Once the deep clean has been completed, the area can then be decontaminated by means of a second fogging process.

Osprey Deepclean describes itself as a steam technology pioneer and claims to have been

the first company to introduce street-wide gum removal technology with its battery-powered Gum Busters Range. The company also produces commercial steam cleaners and industrialscale conveyor belt cleaners. www.ospreydc.com

Seko A mains-powered sanitiser dispenser said to offer up to 50 times the capacity of a traditional unit is available from Seko.

The DispenserOne is aimed at high-traffic environments such as airports, conference centres, shopping precincts and rail stations. It comes in various models that contain between 3,000 and 50,000 doses.

An innovative pump design is said to achieve smooth, consistent and reliable dosing and the unit is claimed to require minimal maintenance.

The mains-powered connection eliminates the need for disposable pouches, cartridges and batteries to be used while the automatic touch-free dispensing system is said to enhance infection control protocols. Rechargeable battery versions of the DispenserOne are also available if required.

An integrated Wi-Fi hotspot allows the operator to remotely view sanitiser level data on multiple units across different sites via an online dashboard.

This allows for refilling visits to be targeted as required.

The metal housing of the DispenserOne is said to be sufficiently robust and durable to withstand the wear and tear associated with high-traffic areas.

Most models are fitted with an optional screen which enables customers to unlock revenue by selling advertising space or offering promotions, while personalised audio and video messages can be used. www.dispenserone.com

The November edition of ECJ will feature a special report on hand hygiene. Visit the website to reserve your regular copy • Tork, l’une des marques Essity, s’emploie à la promotion de son site « garantir la nouvelle norme d’hygiène ».

• OspreyDeeplean, spécialiste du nettoyage à la vapeur, a développé l’accessoire de brumisation DeCon pour sa gamme SteamCare.

• DispenserOne est un nouveau système, signé Seko, de désinfection des mains.

• Die Essity-Marke Tork bewirbt ihre neue Website „Secure the new hygiene standard“.

• Dampfreinigungsspezialist OspreyDeepclean hat den Zerstäuberaufsatz DeCon für seine Produktreihe SteamCare entwickelt.

• Bei DispenserOne handelt es sich um ein neues Händedesinfektionssystem von Seko.

• La marca Tork della Essity sta promuovendo il suo sito web ‘secure the new hygiene standard’ (garantire il nuovo standard di igiene).

• La OspreyDeepclean, specializzata nella pulizia a vapore, ha sviluppato l’accessorio per nebulizzare DeCon per la sua gamma SteamCare.

• DispenserOne è un nuovo sistema per disinfettare le mani prodotto dalla Seko.

October 2020 | ECJ | 51

PREVIEW: INTERCLEAN ONLINE

• Vileda propose le logiciel de gestion de la propreté iQonnect, qui contrôle l’ensemble des processus de travail.

• La moppe plate Wecoline à microfibre 45 cm de Wecovi convient pour le nettoyage humide de planchers de tous types.

• Bei iQonnect von Vileda handelt es sich um eine Reinigungsmanagementsoftware, die alle Arbeitsprozesse kontrolliert.

• Der 45 cm Microfaser Flachmopp Wecoline von Wecovi ist zur Feuchtreinigung aller Böden geeignet.

• iQonnect della Vileda è un software di gestione delle pulizie che controlla tutte le fasi di lavoro.

• Il mop piatto in microfibra Wecoline 45 cm prodotto dalla Wecovi è adatto per la pulizia a umido di tutti i pavimenti.

52 | October 2020 | ECJ

Vileda

Brosserie Thomas

Claimed to remove more than 99 per cent of bacteria and viruses from surfaces are MicronSolo and MicronQuick from Vileda.

Both products feature microfibre bristles that are said to be able to pick up even micronsized particles and penetrate all cracks and crevices. According to Vileda it is impossible to achieve a similar result using paper, polyester, cotton or viscose because these all tend to re-release bacteria back on to the surface.

Also from Vileda is iQonnect cleaning management software which is designed to allow customers to manage, monitor and control all work processes. These include billing, managing invoices, producing quality reports and planning cleaning tasks.

The company’s new Origo 2 trolley has been designed to work with digitalised processes

Suitable for the damp-cleaning of floors, walls, doors and other hard surfaces is Wecovi’s Wecoline 45 cm microfibre flat mop.

This has coloured labels to allow it to be used in colourcoded cleaning regimes. The product consists of a layer of microfibre, an intermediate layer and a hook-and-loop layer.

Designed for the removal of unexpected spots and stains are Wecoline Clean ‘n Easy Superior Single Use ready-to-use cloths.

These may be used dry or impregnated with a cleaning agent and are designed for use by nurses, carers and therapists.

Also from Wecovi are Wecoline Bright ‘n Water pads for cleaning polished concrete, terrazzo, natural stone, VCT and overlays.

Available in five colours and in a range of sizes, they are said to be suitable for shops, schools, airports and warehouses. www.wecoline.com

to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The modular trolley acts as a central hub for cleaning tools and connected devices such as tablets, e-drives and RFID tracking equipment. Other features include lockable doors and lids to keep all cleaning products secure while softtouch bumpers help to protect the client’s walls and doorways.

The hands-free lid-opening is said to ensure a hygienic operation while the clearly defined sections keep waste products away from clean materials. The trolley also features colourcoded elements to improve cleaning efficiency. www.vileda-professional.com

PREVIEW: INTERCLEAN ONLINE Cleanfix

Mosmatic

An autonomous docking station for scrubber dryer robots is the latest offering from Cleanfix.

The company’s RA660 Navi XL is said to be able to work around the clock without the need for any human interaction.

New from Mosmatic is the Aqua surface cleaner for use on large and small surfaces both indoors and outdoors.

This uses an integrated suction device to discharge the waste water via a standard hose. The water can be collected in a tank without the need for electricity or an industrial vacuum cleaner.

The company’s Hurricane Pro

underbody cleaner is now available in a low pressure option which means chemicals can be used to enhance the cleaning effect. Suitable for use on cars, trucks, fire engines, construction machinery and municipal vehicles, Hurricane Pro can be used to clean the sides of the vehicle as well as the underbody.

Mosmatic offers a range of high pressure car-wash cleaning products as well as high quality precision swivel joints. www.mosmatic.com

The patented automated docking station allows the machine to autonomously recharge its batteries and replenish its own fresh water supply. And thanks to new charging technology and a supercharging capability, the RA660 Navi XL is said to be able to recharge itself for a three-hour cycle in the space of 35 minutes.

When equipped with a CCS standard based charging connector, the customer is also able to charge other electric vehicles in the fleet. Other features of the machine include remote mission control, real-time information and high quality reports, according to Cleanfix. www.cleanfix.com • Grâce à son nouveau poste de raccordement, la machine de nettoyage RA660 Navi XL de la société Cleanfix possède une autonomie totale.

• Le nettoyant de surface Aqua, proposé par Mosmatic, nettoie sous forte pression sans l’aide de produits chimiques.

• Dank der neuen Dockingstation ist die Bodenreinigungsmaschine RA660 Navi XL von Cleanfix jetzt völlig autonom.

• Der Oberflächenreiniger Aqua von Mosmatic reinigt mithilfe von Hochdruckwasser ohne Einsatz von Chemikalien.

• Grazie alla nuova base di ricarica, la macchina lavapavimenti RA660 Navi XL prodotta dalla Cleanfix è ora completamente autonoma.

• La macchina per il lavaggio delle superfici Aqua prodotta dalla Mosmatic pulisce ad alta pressione senza utilizzare alcun prodotto chimico.

October 2020 | ECJ | 53

PREVIEW: INTERCLEAN ONLINE

• Kärcher vient de lancer un système complet pour le nettoyage de façades et de panneaux solaires.

• Brosserie Thomas propose un large assortiment de brosses d’hygiène professionnelle.

• Neu von Kärcher ist ein Komplettsystem zur Reinigung von Fassaden und Solaranlagen.

• Brosserie Thomas ist auf Bürsten für den Einsatz in der professionellen Hygiene spezialisiert.

• La novità della Kärcher è un sistema completo per la pulizia delle facciate e dei pannelli solari.

• La Brosserie Thomas è specializzata in spazzole per l’igiene professionale.

54 | October 2020 | ECJ

Kärcher Kärcher is launching a cleaning system for use on façades and solar power installations.

The range includes rotating roller heads and brushes; various multipurpose telescopic lances; adapter sets and an ergonomic carrier system.

Besides being suitable for use with high pressure cleaners, the accessories can also be connected to a hose for clean water applications or to a vacuum for clearing away loose dirt.

They are particularly useful on horizontal, vertical and hard-toaccess surfaces.

A rotating roller brush head connected to a high pressure cleaner is designed to wet-clean stubborn dirt from surfaces using an optional telescopic lance. Various brushes are available in soft, medium and hard options, all of which can be fitted without the need for tools.

The soft rollers with spliced

connected either to a telescopic lance or directly to a high pressure lance. This attachment is compatible with all Kärcher high pressure cleaners. www.karcher.com

bristles are designed to gently clean glass façades and solar power installations, while the medium and hard rollers are suitable for use on stone, plaster and industrial façades.

The angled arrangement of the side and inner bristles are said to facilitate streak-free cleaning while also protecting the surface and ensuring that all corners and edges can be reached. A Vario joint facilitates control of the sloping surface when cleaning solar power installations and the splash-guard helps with façade cleaning applications.

For cleaning windows and façades, a brush attachment with integral high- and low-pressure nozzles can be

Brosserie Thomas Brosserie Thomas has added a new colour to its range of brushes. The addition of black is said to provide a key contrast with the lighter colours in the company’s range. Brushes are available in various shades to facilitate colour-coding systems.

Designed for use in a range of industries, brushes have a non-porous polypropylene frame impervious to water and detergents. The tightly-packed PBT bristles are secured with staple-wire and offer resistance against chemicals.

The brushes are lightweight, easy to handle, tough, durable and rust-proof. www.brosseriethomas.com

PREVIEW: INTERCLEAN ONLINE

Wetrok

Designed to ensure streak-free results on acrylic glass panels is Wetrok Plexistar Pro. Acrylic panels are becoming increasingly widely used as dividers in restaurants, bars and offices during the Covid-19 pandemic to protect customers and employees from droplet infection. But care needs to be taken when cleaning these screens because stress cracks and clouding could occur when

a conventional glass cleaner is used, according to Wetrok.

The Wetrok Plexistar Pro has been specifically developed for use on acrylic glass and comes in a spray that is said to be powerful, easy to use and gentle on surfaces. It is claimed to be able to completely remove dust, fingerprints and greasy dirt from acrylic glass panels to leave a streak-free finish. www.wetrok.com

Filmop New from Filmop is an ergonomic tank handle for mops that is claimed to reduce the level of effort required on the part of the operator.

The ErgoDrop has a patented tank-closing system plus two rotating hand grips described as being both stable and comfortable to hold. The 360° rotating grips facilitate an ‘S’ movement on the part of the operator which is said to allow them to

maintain a good posture while reducing wrist flexion and extension movements, preventing fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders.

Lightweight and easy to use, the ErgoDrop is equipped with a device that has been designed to prevent any accidental leakage of the cleaning solution by allowing the closing flap to be blocked with a hermetic gasket.

The ErgoDrop enables the cleaner to access hard-to-reach areas while also saving time and protecting the operator’s health, according to Filmop. The cleaning fluid is dispensed by means of a push-button operation which is said to ensure accurate dosing and avoid unnecessary waste. And when used in combination with Filmop mops, ErgoDrop is claimed to produce high standards in any small to medium-sized environment where a quick clean-up might be required. www.filmop.com

• Wetrok a développé le Pexistar Pro, un nettoyant pour vitres en acyclique qui a trouvé un usage élargi sur des vitres de protection contre le coronavirus.

• ErgoDrop est la nouvelle poignée ergonomique de réservoir mise au point par Filmop pour usage sur ses balais humides.

• Ein von Wetrok entwickelter Spezialreiniger für Acrylglas – Plexistar Pro – wird jetzt vielerorts zur Reinigung von CoronaSchutzwänden eingesetzt.

• Bei ErgoDrop handelt es sich um den neuen ergonomischen Dosiergriff, der von Filmop zur Verwendung mit seinen Mopps entwickelt wurde.

• La Wetrok ha sviluppato il detergente Pexistar Pro per il vetro acrilico che viene ora largamente utilizzato sulle barriere di sicurezza contro il coronavirus.

• ErgoDrop è il nuovo manico ergonomico con serbatoio sviluppato dalla Filmop per essere utilizzato con i suoi mop.

October 2020 | ECJ | 55

PREVIEW: INTERCLEAN ONLINE

• Face aux toilettes collectives, CWS privilégie les solutions numériques pour garantir l’hygiène et optimiser les procédés.

• LeoBots est une famille de robots de nettoyage de planchers qui ont été développés par LionsBot et qui sont désormais utilisés à travers le monde.

• Introduit par TTS, Uni Junior est un système de niveau d’entrée composé d’un cadre plat muni d’un tampon de balayage humide en microfibre.

• Proposée par Grass Tech Solutions, SuperSUB est une alternative aux brosses dures traditionnelles.

• CWS legt den Schwerpunkt auf Digitallösungen im Waschraum, um die Hygiene zu erhalten und Prozesse zu optimieren.

• Bei LeoBots handelt es sich um eine Produktfamilie mit Bodenreinigungsrobotern, die von LionsBot entwickelt wurden und rund um die Welt eingesetzt werden.

• Uni Junior ist das neue Einsteigersystem von TTS, das einen flachen Halter zusammen mit einem Mikrofasermopp umfasst.

• SuperSUB ist eine Alternative zu herkömmlichen Scheuerbürsten von Grass Tech Solutions.

• La CWS si sta concentrando sulle soluzioni digitali per le sale da toilette per mantenere l’igiene e ottimizzare le procedure.

• I LeoBots sono una gamma di robot per la pulizia dei pavimenti sviluppati della LionsBot e che sono ora utilizzati in tutto il mondo.

• I dischi SuperSUB della Grass Tech Solutions sono una alternativa alle spazzole tradizionali.

56 | October 2020 | ECJ

CWS CWS says its mixing technology for hand washing units makes it almost impossible for visitors to leave a washroom with inadequately washed hands.

Soap, water and air are automatically mixed inside the unit via an intelligent system while a digital mirror guides the user through the hand washing process. Soap and water delivery is continuously synchronised to match the instructions in the mirror-based guide.

CWS’s patented mixing technology is claimed to result in water savings of up to 90 per cent and soap savings of up to 60 per cent compared with other hand washing systems. Data collected from CWS washroom dispensers allows cleaners to plan their rounds more efficiently and adapt more readily to changes in visitor frequency.

Also due to be introduced by CWS is a range of sustainablymanufactured dust control mats made from recycled materials.

And the company has recently replaced microplastics in many of its products with natural substances such as cornmeal. www.cws.com

LionsBot Four cleaning robots designed for scrubbing, vacuuming and mopping floors and for taking out the refuse are available from LionsBot. The four LeoBots - named LeoScrub, LeoVac, LeoMop and LeoPull respectively are claimed to revolutionise cleaning practices in environments where manpower shortages are an issue.

Using an app called LionsClean,

a single human operator is able to control an unlimited number of robots remotely while receiving real-time cleaning reports.

The machines are said to be able to operate in narrow alleys and glide through crowds both safely and efficiently. This is achieved by means of integrated multiple sensors that enable them to avoid obstacles.

According to LionsBot, LeoBots are eco-friendly because they consume less energy and use lower levels of water than conventional cleaning machines.

And the company claims its robots help to improve workforce efficiency because they free up time for humans to perform higher value tasks such as cleaning high-touchpoint areas.

The LeoPull robot for refuse removal is said to be capable of pulling a bin weighing up to 450 kg. Also from LionsBot is LeoRay, described as a fully autonomous UVC disinfection robot. www.lionsbot.com

TTS Claimed to offer the performance quality of the Uni System in an inexpensive format of an accessible size is the Uni Junior floorcare system from TTS. This consists of a flat frame and a microfibre flat mop said

to be able to pick up more than 95 per cent of bacteria. The cleaning surface covers the entire width of the frame which enables it to easily clean stairs, skirting boards and in corners.

A touch-free hook-and-release system allows the mop to be attached to the frame and removed again without the cleaner needing to touch it.

The fact that the frame remains partially open to allow for quick set-up and release is said to make wringing easy while avoiding any excessive strain on the operator’s back. The product requires no bending during use and also provides the optimum degree of dampness on the floor to prevent the issue of halos forming, according to TTS. Suitable for use with a 14-litre Uni Bucket, the Uni Junior has built-in rails to facilitate wringing; a wide opening to make the machine easier to fill, and a front handle said to allow the contents of the unit to be emptied effortlessly once cleaning has been completed. www.ttsystem.com

Grass Tech

Claimed to improve floor cleaning performance on joints and structured floors are SuperSUB pads from Grass Tech Solutions.

These provide an alternative solution to traditional scrubber brushes and are said to have a unique structure and design.

SuperSUB pads can be used in conjunction with rotating, oscillating, orbital, ride-on floor scrubbers and scrubber dryers. They are suitable for a range of smooth surfaces including ceramic, natural or artificial stone flooring, marble, structured epoxy, anti-slip and safety floors.

Said to improve the ease and efficiency of floor cleaning, the product can simply be attached under the pad-driver before cleaning takes place. www.supersubpad.com

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www.fimap.com

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SED SED manufactures software solutions for use in the control panels of cleaning machines.

The fact cleaning equipment is used in crowded spaces and in areas where children are present means all electronic components need to be safe. Machine controls also need to be able to respond quickly to operator input whatever the conditions, adds SED. Working in conjunction with machine producers and users, the company has spent two years developing safer electronics using automotivegrade components. info@sedgroup.it

is said to offer a larger-thanaverage changing surface and comes in a trolley version with four braked castors.

Easy to clean and maintain, no tools are required for loading the liner roll or for inserting or extracting the nappy bin.

The table moulding is made from polypropylene and has an antibacterial Steritouch coating.

And the unit comes in a range of colours with A4 sticker-slots. www.thebabypoint.com

Greenspeed Baby Point An integrated liner dispenser, built-in bag hooks and a nappy bin are among the features of the Baby Point all-in-one commercial baby-changing table.

Available for either short-term or long-term lease, the table • SED est un spécialise de l’électronique des machines de nettoyage.

• La Baby Point est une table de changement de couches commerciale, montée sur pied et n’exigeant aucune installation.

• Greenspeed propose une nouvelle gamme de chariots de nettoyage C-Shuttle, caractérisée par une modularité et une durabilité améliorées par rapport aux versions précédentes.

• SED ist auf Elektronik, die in Reinigungsmaschinen eingesetzt wird, spezialisiert.

• Baby Point ist ein freistehender, gewerblicher Wickeltisch, der keine Montage erfordert.

• Greenspeed bietet eine neue Produktfamilie seiner Reinigungswagen C-Shuttle, die modularer und nachhaltiger sind als zuvor.

• La SED è specializzata nell’elettronica utilizzata nelle macchine per le pulizie.

• Il Baby Point è un fasciatoio commerciale indipendente che non richiede installazione.

• La Greenspeed ha aggiunto una nuova linea di carrelli di pulizia C-Shuttle, più modulari e sostenibili dei precedenti.

60 | October 2020 | ECJ

The C-Shuttle cleaning trolley can be tailored to suit any application in healthcare, commercial environments, public buildings or schools according to manufacturer Greenspeed.

The modular trolley is said to be sustainable, comfortable and flexible and can be used with a choice of mop systems. These are: a top-down system with pre-impregnated mops; a twobucket system with a vertical press, and mop heads that are impregnated within the drawers of the trolley.

The C-Shuttle’s door panels can be personalised with a customer’s own design or logo and the trolley is 100 per cent recyclable and is made from 90 per cent recycled materials.

Claimed to be easy to use, the C-Shuttle is key-lockable to keep all products and documents safe. And its sturdy base, aluminium structure, double-walled panels and solid doors make the trolley both agile and manoeuvrable even when carrying loads of up to 200 kg. www.greenspeed.eu

NEW

PRODUCT

VALET BATTERY BACKPACK 55 minute runtime Interchangable battery for longer run times 4-stage filtration system Specially designed Aircomfort System from Deuter keeps a layer of air between the operator and the machine

VALET BATTERY UPRIGHT II Quick interchangable battery 50 minute runtime 7 litre capacity Lightweight at 5.5kg

MULTIWASH II 340/PUMP BATTERY A simple to operate scrubber dryer that will wash, scrub and dry both hard and soft floors.

Global Floorcare Solutions

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• SCI-Services a introduit un distributeur de désinfectant des mains que l’on peut monter sur un mur, placer sur un support au sol ou mettre sur un bureau.

• Le brumisateur manuel ST-83 de RM Suttner peut s’utiliser pour appliquer des désinfectants et des neutralisants d’odeurs.

• SCI-Services hat einen berührungslosen Spender für Händedesinfektionsmittel vorgestellt, der an der Wand montiert oder auf einem Bodenstativ oder einem Tisch platziert werden kann.

• Das Kalt-Nebel-Handgerät ST-83 von RM Suttner ist für die Desinfektion und Geruchsneutralisierung geeignet.

• La SCI-Services ha lanciato un dispenser no-touch per disinfettante per le mani che può essere montato su una parete oppure sistemato su un supporto da pavimento o su una scrivania.

• L’attrezzo manuale per la nebbia fredda ST-83 prodotto dalla RM Suttner può essere utilizzato per erogare disinfettanti e neutralizzanti di odori.

62 | October 2020 | ECJ

SCI-Services Hand-cleansing is no longer confined to the washroom, according to SCI-Services SA. The company has launched a flexible soap dispenser that can be used both inside and outside the washroom.

The automatic unit can be mounted on a wall or placed in a floorstand or desk-stand.

The floorstand has a plexiglass top where bespoke instructions and messages can be displayed.

Standing at a height of 1,170 mm, it comes in a white steel or stainless steel housing and has a stainless steel drip plate.

The desk-stand has been designed to be drip-free and measures 120 x 450 x 310 mm.

It is said to be particularly suitable for use on reception desks.

Both the floorstand and the desk-stand are easy to move and position. The dispenser can either be refilled with hand

cleanser or used with a cartridge system and comes with either a spray pump or a liquid pump depending on the product. www.sci-services.ch

R+M/Suttner Claimed to be able to hygienically clean vehicle interiors and leave them germ-free is R+M / Suttner’s dry-fogging system.

The company’s ST-83 cold fog hand tool is suitable for applying disinfectants, odour neutralisers and insecticides.

It can be operated with the aid of any compressed air connection with an effective air volume

of around 200 litres per minute and at least three bar of pressure. After the container has been filled with the cleansing agent it can be placed in the designated area and connected to the compressed air supply.

The space is then filled with a fine nebulisation of mist containing active ingredients. This mist permeates every corner of the vehicle.

No contact takes place between the user and the fogging agent and the cold fog decontaminates the vehicle via the air conditioner unit. www.rm-suttner.com

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Hako New from Hako is a scrubber dryer described as being a “mobile ergonomic workplace”.

The Scrubmaster B260 R has a large tank with a 260-litre capacity and offers an area performance of up to 8,600 square metres per hour. All Hako’s Scrubmaster models can be equipped with additional disinfection tools capable of sanitising everything from a large floor space to a small enclosed area, claims the company. And the Hako-AntiBac antibacterial feature is said to enhance hygiene in the machines’ tanks.

Claimed to reduce the development of fine dust during dry sweeping by up to 90 per cent

compared with conventional side brooms is the company’s Dust Stop feature. This takes the form of an elastic jacket that covers the side brooms of all Sweepmaster and Scrubmaster models that are equipped with a pre-sweep unit.

Also from Hako is the Scrubmaster B45i autonomous cleaning machine which is said to have an innovative drive, sensors and Hako’s in-house navigation software.

The web-based Hako-FleetManagement Tool provides fleet managers with an overview of all relevant data which is claimed to improve the efficiency of the machine fleet. www.hako.com

MotorScrubber Designed to kill viruses on the go is a patent-pending backpack system from MotorScrubber.

The company’s STORM product is said to be able to deliver

3D touch-point disinfection on a range of surfaces.

Developed to facilitate fast, targeted disinfection, STORM’s spray-on-demand feature is quick and efficient. The on-board non-absorbent M-Wipes ensure its Liquid Layer is applied to the reverse side of all touch-points which reduces cross-infection.

Also new is the company’s patented two-in-one BLADE ultra microfibre mopping system. This has been engineered to exert up to 80 times more surface pressure than traditional systems.

Said to offer extreme precision, a powerful performance and 360° cleaning capabilities, BLADE has an omnidirectional power squeegee that directs dirty liquid into a floor drain. www.motorscrubberclean.com

• Hako affirme que son carter Dust Stop pour brosses dures, à montage sur machines de nettoyage, peut faire tomber l’émission de poussières fines de 90 pour cent.

• Le Storm, un appareil dorsal proposé par MotorScrubber, assure la désinfection ciblée de points de contact.

• Laut Hako kann die Dust Stop Ummantelung für Seitenbesen an Reinigungsmaschinen die Feinstaubentwicklung um bis zu 90 % reduzieren.

• Der Storm Rucksack von MotorScrubber bietet gezielte Desinfektion von Berührungspunkten.

• La Hako afferma che Dust Stop, la sua copertura montata sulle spazzole a disco delle macchine per pavimenti riesce a ridurre la polvere sottile del 90 per cento.

• Il sistema dorsale Storm della MotorScrubber fornisce disinfezione mirata dei punti di contatto.

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• Le système hybride Xibu Towel de distribution de serviettes de Hagleitner est proposé en sept styles distincts.

• Parmi les modèles ICE Robotics figurent un aspirateur autonome et une autolaveuse.

• Lucart fait valoir les caractéristiques d’autonomie circulaire de sa gamme EcoNaturel de papiers hygiéniques et distributeurs.

• Das XIBU TOWEL hybrid System von Hagleitner ist in sieben Stilen erhältlich.

• Unter den Modellen von ICE Robotics befinden sich ein autonomer Staubsauger und eine Scheuersaugmaschine.

• Lucart teilt mit, dass die Produktfamilie EcoNatural mit Papier und Spendern ein kreislaufwirtschaftliches Modell bietet.

• Il sistema ibrido Xibu Towel della Hagleitner è disponibile in sette stili.

• Fra i modelli della ICE Robotics c’è un aspirapolvere autonomo e una lavasciuga pavimenti.

• La Lucart afferma che la sua linea di dispenser e di prodotti in carta EcoNatural fornisce un modello di economia circolare.

64 | October 2020 | ECJ

Hagleitner Designed to coordinate with any washroom is the XIBU TOWEL hybrid system from Hagleitner.

Available in seven different styles, the dispenser has a two-roller system that allows it to automatically switch to the second towel roll when the first has been used up. The time interval for replenishing the towels can be selected by staff and an electrical fill level indicator read-out informs the cleaner when the paper needs to be topped up. The dispenser is opened using a XIBU key for added security, while a touch version is also available.

Hagleitner offers a complete range of dispensers for the washroom, kitchen, laundry and cleaning sectors along with drum pumps and dosing equipment. The products can be used for dispensing chemicals, hand cleansers and sanitisers. www.hagleitner.com

ICE Robotics

of auto scrubbers feature an aluminium-cast brush base, an arched pick-up tool and a tank capacity of 60 litres – all factors designed to improve efficiency. www.icerobo.com

Lucart A fully autonomous vacuum cleaner is among the latest products from ICE Robotics.

Whiz can navigate complex environments with the aid of its intelligent self-driving technology. It is claimed to improve the productivity of cleaners by freeing up time to allow them to focus on higher-value work.

Also from ICE is I18B, a battery-powered auto scrubber. It comes with an on-board charger and maintenance-free batteries which prolong working time. The I18C is a cable version for use in larger areas.

The company’s 120 series

Lucart says its EcoNatural line of paper and dispensers provides a circular economy model.

All EcoNatural products are made from recycled drinks cartons. The company separates out the various components of cartons, creating Fiberpack from the cellulose fibres and AlPe from the aluminium and polyethylene elements.

Lucart then produces paper from the Fiberpack and dispensers from AlPe. Also from the company is the AirTech line of air-laid paper products which provide a high level of wet strength. They are suitable for food contact use. www.lucartprofessional.com

P

E

Specifically designed for fast, targeted touch point disinfection, STORM™ creates a Perfect Liquid Layer of disinfectant on the front of touch points and flat surfaces. Now with the onboard, Non-Absorbent M-Wipes System, you can quickly apply a Perfect Liquid Layer of disinfectant to the reverse side of touch points, vastly reducing the risk of cross infection.

STORM™ - AS SEEN ON THE CNN NEWS NETWORK.

G

P

E AT NT

NDIN

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• Le générateur de vapeur électrique GV Vesuvio est nouveau de Lavorwash.

• Sous l’appellation ERA PRO, Sprintus propose un aspirateur à commande par microprocesseur et affichage interactif.

• Neu bei Lavorwash ist der elektrische Dampferzeuger GV Vesuvio.

• Beim ERA PRO von Sprintus handelt es sich um einen digitalisierten Trockensauger mit interaktivem Display.

• Novità da Lavorwash è il generatore di vapore elettrico GV Vesuvio.

• ERA PRO della Sprintus è un aspirapolvere a secco digitalizzato con display interattivo.

68 | October 2020 | ECJ

Lavorwash New from Lavorwash is the GV Vesuvio electric steam generator. Available in 18 kW and 30 kW power versions, the machine is said to provide an alternative to traditional cleaning systems by producing saturated steam.

It is claimed to be suitable for use in both indoor and outdoor environments and uses a minimal amount of water while dramatically reducing the need for chemicals, according to Lavorwash. The fact that steam is non-abrasive means it can be used on delicate surfaces and is also suitable for use in difficult-to-reach areas, claims the company.

Steam cleaning produces a ‘thermal shock’ which is said to be effective against pathogens.

It is also claimed to be capable of dissolving oily and greasy dirt and facilitating its removal.

The non-stop boiler refilling function of the generator is said

to allow the tank to be topped up with water without having to stop the machine and interrupt the work session.

The GV Vesuvio generator is designed for use in a range of environments including the healthcare, educational, leisure and hotel sectors as well as the food, beverage, automotive and transport industries. www.lavorwash.com

Sprintus Sprintus claims its recentlyintroduced ERA PRO dry vacuum cleaner sets a new benchmark in cleaning.

The machine has an interactive touch display that can be personalised with the customer’s own logo using the Sprintus app.

This is said to allow businesses to share their corporate identity while also potentially acquiring new customers.

The touch display provides access to instructions in a choice

of four languages, and troubleshooting suggestions are offered in the event of a fault.

Data on parameters such as operating hours, daily run-time and locations in which the machine is used is gathered via the integrated Bluetooth interface and transferred into a cloud-based fleet management system.

And run-times can be checked at the touch of a button, while the user can call up spare-part drawings, user manuals and data sheets at any time. www.era.sprintus.eu

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Delta-Q The latest addition to Delta-Q’s sealed battery-charging portfolio is the compact RQ350.

This is designed for use in floorcare machines such as scrubbers, battery-powered sweepers and burnishers.

Described as the company’s first-ever low power industrial battery charger, the 350-watt RQ350 features an IP66-sealed diecast enclosure that provides protection from damage due to vibration, water, dirt and chemical fluids. This allows it to be used in harsh environments The RQ350 uses CAN bus communication for telematics and system integrations, which is said to offer enhanced design flexibility for both on- and off-board applications. It also features over-voltage protection from the AC line and is said to comply to a raft of global emissions regulations.

OEMs and end-users have

the facility to download charger cycle data and update new charging profiles to meet their operational needs. The RQ350 has been designed to meet demanding automotive levels of product reliability. www.delta-q.com

eral deposits, rust, stains and limescale from sinks, baths and showers. It uses a gentle abrasive action to remove unsightly toilet rings as well as baked-on food, grease and carbon buildups from ovens, grills and iron cookware. The product is said to be safe on the skin and will not damage hard surfaces.

Also from US Pumice is the Pumie Toilet Bowl Ring remover which is said to be able to rapidly erase the rings around toilet bowls. www.uspumice.com

• Le RQ350 est le premier chargeur de faible puissance pour batteries industrielles de la société Delta-Q. • US Pumice affirme que ses produits abrasifs en ponce naturelle peuvent nettoyer sans produits chimiques.

• Das RQ350 ist das erste industrielle Batterieladegerät mit geringerem Stromverbrauch von Delta-Q. • Laut Angaben von US Pumice eignen sich seine abrasiven Produkte aus natürlichem Bimsstein zur Reinigung ohne Chemikalien.

US Pumice US Pumice offers a range of abrasive cleaning products for professional and industrial use.

The products are made from natural pumice which is said to be able to remove tough stains without the need for chemicals.

The Pumie Scouring Stick is designed to scour away min-

Next edition of ECJ - November

• 350 è il primo carica batterie industriale a bassa potenza della Delta-Q. • La US Pumice afferma che i suoi articoli abrasivi prodotti con pomice naturale sono in grado di pulire senza utilizzare prodotti chimici.

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• Star Tissue propose une gamme de produits en papier à usage hors foyer.

• Le diffuseur d’ambiance V-Air Solid Evolution de Vectair System a été certifié comme étant neutre en carbone.

• L’autolaveuse à batterie Henry Twintec HGB3045 est le dernier modèle de Numatic.

• Im Angebot von Star Tissue ist eine Produktreihe mit gewerblichen Papierprodukten.

• Der Lufterfrischer V-Air Solid Evolution von Vectair Systems wurde als CO2-neutral zertifiziert.

• Bei der akkubetriebenen Scheuersaugmaschine Henry Twintec HGB3045 handelt es sich um das neueste Modell von Numatic.

• La Star Tissue offre una gamma di prodotti in carta per il settore industriale.

• Il deodorante per ambienti V-Air Solid Evolution della Vectair Systems è stato certificato a emissioni zero.

• La lavasciuga pavimenti alimentata a batteria Henry Twintec HGB3045 è il più recente modello della Numatic.

70 | October 2020 | ECJ

Star Tissue A complete range of away-fromhome paper products is available from Star Tissue. The company manufactures toilet tissue, hand towels, kitchen towels, wipers and centrefeed rolls along with dispensers. Star Tissue products are marketed under the Sirius, Ecoroll, Evotex, Kleenall, Bliss and Softelle brands.

Aimed at away-from-home washrooms as well as healthcare, food service and industrial environments are products in the Sirius range. These include toilet paper, centrefeed rolls, industrial wiper rolls, paper towels, hygiene rolls and dispenser toilet rolls. Also from Star Tissue are Evotex products which are said to offer superior absorbency, strength and softness Other products offered by the company include autocut roll towels and facial tissues. www.startissue.co.uk

Vectair Systems

which can be either wallmounted or freestanding. This requires no batteries, liquids or propellants and accommodates V-Air SOLID Air Freshener Multi-Phasing Refill Cartridges.

These contain carrageenan, an organic powder extracted from red seaweed. www.vectairsystems.com

Numatic An automatic ozone generator from Vectair is claimed to be able to kill up to 99.5 per cent of airborne viruses. Prozone contains no VOCs and is quick and easy to install. It can be portable or fixed.

The generator uses ozone to destroy harmful micro-organisms in the atmosphere and break down odour-causing compounds. This allows it to neutralise any unpleasant smells.

The company also offers the V-Air SOLID MVP dispenser

New from Numatic is the Henry Twintec HGB3045 battery-powered scrubber dryer. This offers a powerful level of wet pick-up due to the machine’s heavy-duty Polyform tanks and TwinFlo vacuum motor.

With a 30-litre capacity plus a 450 mm scrub width, the model is equipped with long-life GelTec batteries plus user-friendly controls that incorporate a clear battery meter indicator. Other features include a tough construction, colour-coded controls and a Structofoam chassis. www.numatic.co.uk

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Hovicon

InnuScience

Hovicon offers dispensers for hand cleansers and chemicals.

These include a soap dispenser with a solid hand pump which is said to be particularly suitable for use with granulate products. These tend to be used in environments such as garages where operatives have particularly heavily-soiled hands.

The company also offers drum pumps for cleansers and chemicals plus mixing equipment for use with concentrates and water.

Hovicon’s products are aimed at the hotel, restaurant, catering, industrial, commercial cleaning and hygiene sectors. The soap dispensers have a push-button control and come in different colours, sizes and dosages.

Available with an optional wall bracket, they are said to provide accurate dosing and ensure ease of use. www.hovicon.com

InnuScience offers a range of biotechnological solutions for the food service, hospitality, cleaning, transport and water treatment industries.

Products include Nu-Bio Scrub, a concentrated cleaner designed for removing soap scum and scale residues from surfaces.

Nu-Bio Scrub contains an active ingredient produced via a biotechnological process involving lactic acid fermenting bacteria.

Also from the company is Nu-Karpet Kare, a concentrated biotechnological all-in-one product for spot-cleaning and stain removal. Designed for degreasing engine parts is Nu-

Fuzion Concentrate, a ready-touse engine and mechanical parts degreaser. It has been developed to meet the needs of garage workshops and heavy industry.

InnuScience offers a range of products for floorcare, carpet care, kitchen, washroom, automotive and warewashing. www.innuscience.com

Werner & Mertz Werner & Mertz says its 100 per cent recyclable refill pouch is a world first. The flexible stand-up pouch can reduce plastic packaging waste by up to 80 per cent and reused multiple times.

Also from the company is the green-Effective Performance Calculator digital marketing solution. This aims to convert circular product design into a business advantage for cleaning professionals, certifying individual resource savings for tender offers and promotional use. www.werner-mertz.de

• Hovicon produit des distributeurs s’utilisant avec des produits chimiques et d’hygiène des mains.

• InnuScience propose des liquides de nettoyage biotechnologiques aux secteurs alimentaire, de propreté et de santé.

• Afin de réduire les pertes d’emballage de jusqu’à 80 pour cent, Werner & Mertz propose une pochette de recharge recyclable.

• Hovicon produziert Spender für Handhygieneprodukte und Reinigungschemikalien.

• InnuScience bietet biotechnologische Reinigungsprodukte für die Gastronomie, die Reinigungsbranche und das Gastgewerbe.

• Werner & Mertz teilt mir, dass der recycelbare Nachfüllbeutel für Reinigungschemikalien den Verpackungsabfall um bis zu 80 Prozent reduziert.

• La Hovicon produce dispenser per essere utilizzati con prodotti per l’igiene dele mani e per detergenti chimici.

• La InnuScience propone delle formulazioni biotecnologiche di pulizia per i settori della preparazione alimentare, pulizia e ospitalità.

• La Werner & Mertz afferma che il suo sacchetto riempibile e riciclabile per i detergenti chimici riduce lo spreco di imballaggi fino all’80 per cento.

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Truvox

Described as a versatile scrubber dryer that works particularly well on tiled floors and grouting is the Multiwash from Truvox.

Multiwash machines comes with a choice of brushes for everyday use, maintenance cleaning and intensive scrubbing. These can be removed without the use of tools and are claimed to be able to scrub grout lines clean.

The Multiwash 340/PUMP battery-powered multipurpose machine offers a continuous battery run-time of up to 50 minutes. A quick-change battery system allows for longer run times using the second battery.

The model has a 34 cm cleaning width and a four-litre solution tank that is easy to clean and removable for fast filling and emptying.

Truvox also offers a range of carpet cleaning systems, rotary machines and vacuums. www.truvox.com

a brush head with two disc brushes or cylindrical brushes and both versions are available in Basic, Pro and Plus versions.

The Fimap Fleet Management system is designed to collect fleet data and keep managers fully informed about the status of the machines. Said to help reduce the total cost of ownership, the FFM highlights information on usage and consumption for each machine while also providing environmental impact data.

The technology is said to reduce downtime due to misuse while also ruling out unauthorised use and preventing thefts via a satellite anti-theft system.

A complete overview of the service provided by each machine can be accessed through the My.Machine app or via the FFM website. www.fimap.com

Lindhaus says its LB3 L-ion Digital Pro is the first ever multifunctional battery-powered dual-motor upright vacuum cleaner that has been designed specifically for professional use.

The model is equipped with a Rotafil brushless motor said to offer high power, a silent operation and good results. The motor weighs just 450 g but is capable of achieving high performances using a maximum power consumption of 340 W, according to the company.

The four-level filtration system incorporates a three-litre microfibre bag and a Hepa H11 filter which produces a 99.96 per cent net filtration efficiency at 0.3 micron. An optional Hepa H14 filter is also available.

Brightwell Chemical dilution systems, washroom dispensers and electronic dosing pumps for dishwashers and laundry machines are among the products on offer from Brightwell Dispensers.

Strong and durable, the company’s Mercury washroom dispensers have a stainless steel finish and are designed for highend washrooms.

Fimap Fimap offers a range of scrubber dryers, sweepers and vacuum cleaners. New from the company is the Performance range of machines which are said to produce good results while also reducing environmental impact.

The Performance line includes the MxL scrubbing machine, claimed to suit demanding conditions in environments such as supermarkets, warehouses, production sites, car showrooms and workshops. It comes with

Lindhaus

Brightwell’s Modular dispensers are made from ABS plastic and are claimed to be easy to use and maintain. They can be installed in any type of washroom and personalised with a company’s own branding.

All Mercury and Modular dispensers feature viewing window to allow staff to check refill levels without opening the units.

They can be used to accommodate soaps and sanitisers in liquid, foam or spray format.

Also from Brightwell is the modular BrightLogic laundry chemical dosing system, suitable for machines of all sizes. www.brightwell.co.uk

The LB3 Digital Pro is equipped with a full set of tools including a stretch hose with handle and swivel connectors, telescopic crevice tool and a swivel dusting brush. The machine is designed for use in a range of environments including hotels, restaurants, offices and healthcare facilities and may be converted into a professional two-motor upright vacuum. The M30e and M38e power nozzles are both 36V and have an adjustable height plus an electronic speed and overload control. This is said to enable the machine to adapt to any carpet or rug. And the 4000 RPM brush speed plus the integrated dry cleaning system offer a highly effective deepclean, according to Lindhaus.

The machine is claimed to provide almost double the productivity of corded upright vacuums or electric brooms, which is said to offset the extra cost of the battery and charger. www.lindhaus.it

Register at the ECJ website to receive your free email newsletter • L’autolaveuse Multiwash de Truvox fonctionne particulièrement bien sur les carrelages et scellements.

• Le système de gestion de parc Fimap recueille des données de machine de nettoyage, donnant un tableau complet aux responsables.

• Les systèmes de dilution chimique, distributeurs pour toilettes collectives et pompes de dosage sont la spécialité de Brightwell Dispensers.

• Se signalant par sa faible consommation énergétique, l’aspirateur balai léger LB3 L-ion Digital Pro vient d’être lancé par Lindhaus.

• Laut Angaben von Truvox arbeitet die Scheuersaugmaschine Multiwash auf Fliesenböden und Verfugungen besonders gut.

• Das Flottenmanagementsystem von Fimap sammelt die Daten von Reinigungsmaschinen und sorgt dafür, dass Manager immer bestens informiert sind.

• Brightwell Dispensers ist auf Dosiersysteme für Chemikalien, Waschraumspender und Dosierpumpen spezialisiert.

• Der neue Handstaubsauger LB3 L-ion Digital Pro von Lindhaus bietet einen niedrigen Stromverbrauch.

• La Truvox afferma che la sua lavasciuga pavimenti Multiwash funziona particolarmente bene su pavimenti piastrellati e sulle fughe delle piastrelle.

• Il sistema di gestione della flotta della Fimap rileva i dati delle macchine per le pulizie e tiene perfettamente informati i manager.

• I sistemi di diluizione di prodotti chimici, i dispenser per sale da toilette e le pompe per il dosaggio sono le specialità della Brightwell Dispensers.

• Il nuovo aspirapolvere verticale LB3 L-ion Digital Pro della Lindhaus vanta un consumo molto basso di energia.

October 2020 | ECJ | 73

INTERCLEAN AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam Innovation Awards - the winners The category winners of the 2020 Amsterdam Innovation Awards were announced in May. In each of the four categories there is a winner, with one of them soon to be named the overall winner of the Amsterdam Innovation Award. ECJ takes a look at the winning products.

Machines, Accessories and Components LionsBot for LeoBot LeoBots is a family of commercial floor cleaning robots with lovable personality – designed, engineered and manufactured

by LionsBot in Singapore.

Each is a cleaning specialist that produces a more superior cleaning result than similar cleaning machine. LeoBots can sing, rap, and tell jokes. www.lionsbot.com

Equipment/Tools for Cleaning, Care and Safety Hermes Fassadenreinigung for VacuTronic The Hermes VacuTronic – as a part of the Hermes waste water system – is a useful tool for all kinds of façade cleaning, eg. graffiti removal. It is a slat that is simply attached to the wall by creating vacuum. It catches waste water from the façade cleaning so that it does not seep into the ground – especially where there is little space in front of the façade due to scaffolding/vegetation. www.hermesfassadenreinigung.de

Management, Training Solutions and Related Products ToolSense IOT & ToolSense NOW by ToolSense Cleaning companies have unnecessary cost every day because of process inefficiencies, machine failure and sub-optimal machine usage. ToolSense makes it easy to digitise cleaning machines (for any brand). It Les gagnants des quatre catégories de l’Amsterdam Innovation Award de cette année ont été annoncés par les organisateurs lors d’une cérémonie en ligne. Le gagnant global sera annoncé en novembre au cours du salon Interclean Amsteram.

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Die Gewinner der vier Kategorien der diesjährigen Amsterdam Innovation Awards wurden vor Kurzem von den Organisatoren der Interclean im Rahmen einer OnlineZeremonie bekannt gegeben. Der Gesamtgewinner wird bei der Interclean Amsterdam im November bekannt gegeben.

can be installed in less than five minutes and captures location, runtime, brush and suction motor activity and battery data.

ToolSense costs one-tenth of existing OEM IoT solutions. www.toolsense.io

Related products/services Tork (Essity) for Tork Virtual Reality Clean Hands Training Tork Virtual Reality Clean Hands Training is an interactive hand hygiene training simulation. In a virtual world, the player takes on the role of a nurse or a physician on duty. The player takes care of patients and gets direct training feedback of their hand hygiene compliance depending on his or her level of success in complying with the World Health Organisation’s ‘Five Moments of Hand Hygiene’. www.torkglobal.com

Le quattro categorie vincitrici del premio Amsterdam Innovation Award di quest’anno sono state annunciate dagli organizzatori di Interclean durante una cerimonia online. Il vincitore assoluto verrà annunciato durante la Interclean Amsterdam questo novembre.

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Unfortunately, there will be no Interclean exhibition this year.

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BUSINESS: WORKING FROM HOME

The end of the city as we know it?

Covid restrictions are being tightened in the wake of a perilous ‘second wave’ sweeping the globe. The new tsunami of infections has forced governments to drop their not wholly successful efforts to coax city workers back to their desks, prompting Hartley Milner to ask…are we seeing the end of the city as we know it?

At the height of lockdown, our screens flashed dystopian images of once bustling commercial centres where nothing stirred but perhaps for a few plastic bags bowling like tumbleweed down canyons of empty office blocks. These stark scenes hinted at the cataclysmic impact the pandemic would go on to have on world economies in the coming months.

The financial cost of the crisis could be as high as $4.1 trillion, or almost five per cent of global gross domestic product, according to the Asian Development Bank.

The bank reports that one likely outcome will be accelerating food price inflation,

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even as lower commodity prices help mitigate any spikes, before easing in 2021, at the earliest.

So it is clear why governments have been pushing hard to get key financial hubs thriving again, especially with a world recession looking certain by the end of the year. In June Britain’s prime minister, Boris Johnson, reversed his formal advice to work from home if possible and urged people to get back to their workplaces to help the economy recover from its 20 per cent contraction in the April-June period, the largest fall among major developed economies. “What we are saying to people is…it is now safe for you to return to work,” he said.

The new ‘norm’ However, large numbers of commuters remained sceptical. According to the Centre for Cities think tank, only 17 per cent had returned to their city workplaces by early August. The data, based on mobile phone signals, showed no increase in the

footfall of workers going into city centres between late June and the week starting August 3. Statistics suggest that since then numbers increased only marginally.

London’s financial districts, which will be crucial for the UK’s economic recovery, saw a steady trickle of workers coming back rather than the torrent they had hoped for. Some of the biggest firms in the City - where more than 500,000 people work - showed little enthusiasm for welcoming back all their staff, citing difficulties social distancing large numbers of people and the success of home working. Workers had become comfortable with remote working and were increasingly seeing it as the new norm.

Research has found that nine out of 10 people in the UK who worked from home want to continue doing so. Before the start of the pandemic, just six per cent of employees in the UK worked this way. That rose to 43 per cent in April, with results indicating that productivity mostly

BUSINESS: WORKING FROM HOME

remained stable compared with the six months before.

In their report ‘Homeworking in the UK: before and during the 2020 lockdown’, academics at Cardiff and Southampton universities revealed that 88 per cent of employees who worked from home during lockdown would like to continue doing so in some capacity. And 47 per cent said they now want to work from home often or all the time. Forty-one per cent said they got as much work done as they did six months earlier when most people were in their offices. More than a quarter (29 per cent) said they got more done at home, while 30 per cent said their productivity had fallen.

“What is particularly striking is that many of those who have worked at home during lockdown would like to continue to work in this way, even when social distancing rules do not require them to,” said Research Professor Alan Felstead of Cardiff University. “These people are among the most productive, so preventing them from choosing how they work in the future does not make economic sense.” He said the results suggest there could be a major shift from the traditional workplace.

Rethink city centres Report co-author Dr Darja Reuschke, associate professor in human geography at the University of Southampton, said: “City centre high streets have been hard hit by the pandemic and are likely to remain quiet for some time to come as fewer people return to traditional places of work.

However, this also provides an opportunity for us to radically rethink our city centres as multi-use places that accommodate different kinds of economic uses and are not built around fast roads that connect workplaces with residences.”

So what will the city of tomorrow look like? Prize-winning international architect Amanda Levete acknowledges that cities need to change, but “not go into reverse”.

She said: “I think Covid has shown us that distance and remoteness threaten the cultural foundation of our lives and we have to create better connected cities. Cities must change. Change is the engine of progress. The success of cities Des restrictions liées au Covid-19 ont été mises en place par suite de l’apparition d’une « seconde vague » de l’épidémie à travers le globe. Ce nouveau tsunami d’infections a forcé les gouvernements à renoncer à leurs tentatives pour encourager les employés des villes à regagner leurs bureaux, poussant Hartley Milner à se demander « si nous n’observerions pas une disparition de la cité telle que nous l’avons connue jusqu’ici ? »

is the result of centuries of reuse and reappropriation, and that is what we are going through now in an accelerated way. And the high street has to change, housing has to change and the workplace has to change.

“For housing, we need better space standards; more area per person with everybody having shared access to private and shared outdoor space. We need to reappropriate the high street for the needs of the community and understand what the needs of these communities are. The workplace needs to move away from these monolithic, faceless blocks where you have no idea how many people work inside them or even what they do. What I am advocating is a shift to buildings that are expressive of what happens inside, because that way you can build trust.

It is very important that whatever we design and whatever the typology is, it responds to local needs, to the geography of the place.”

She continued: “We do need to connect in person if we are to maintain the culture of our places of work. We have understood though, that we do not need to be with each other all of the time…but we do need to come together, otherwise we are just teams working on projects and not an office. We have to see this as an opportunity for the renaissance of the high street and put more emphasis on the locals so that people’s daily needs can be accessed within a 15-minute walk.

We must ask what needs to change to improve the quality of life for everyone… so you don’t need to drive your children to school, you can shop for everything you need and access sporting facilities or a park within 15 minutes. You begin to break down cities into smaller communities where you really understand what the needs of those communities really are.

Then you repurpose the high street to meet those needs.”

Levete said the health emergency has highlighted the importance of the natural world in our lives and that we can get closer to nature even in our cities. “Space and nature are a need, not a luxury,” said the building design innovator, who has lately been looking at how organic Im Gefolge einer bedrohlichen „zweiten Welle“, die weltweit um sich greift, werden allerorten Covid-Einschränkungen verschärft. Der neue Tsunami von Infektionen hat Regierungen dazu gezwungen, ihre nicht gänzlich erfolgreichen Bemühungen aufzugeben, in Stadtzentren arbeitende Büroangestellte wieder zurück an ihre Schreibtische zu bewegen. Das veranlasste Hartley Milner zur Frage: Sehen wir das Ende der Innenstadt, so wie wir sie bisher kennen?

substances can be harnessed to provide more sustainable construction materials.

She believes that if nature and technology can be reconciled, we can find new ways to build that are positive both for environments and the wellbeing of people who occupy those spaces. “Opportunities to effect radical change are rare, so we have to act now,” she added.

The natural world City planners are broadly as one in agreeing actions required to create welcoming urban environments… more green and pedestrianised spaces, networks of cycle routes and a greater emphasis on play and recreation. With less reliance on carbon fuel vehicles a priority, we need public transport that is greener, runs efficiently, reliably and is better connected, both to the fringes of cities and within them. When visiting city centres, people have to feel they can enjoy the unique cultural attractions and entertainment safely, by day and night.

Social housing provision requires smarter planning to avoid areas of single ethnicity leading to spirals of inequality and ghettoisation. And to mitigate the impacts of climate change, infrastructures in urban areas, as elsewhere, must be made more resilient to extreme weather events such as tidal surges and flash flooding.

We have seen how communities tied to a thriving office culture in some way, perhaps by providing services to businesses or relying on the passing trade they generate, have suffered during Covid.

It is too early to say precisely how they will be go on to be affected by changing work patterns long-term. But what is clear is that these economies were pinning their recovery hopes post-lockdown on city workers returning in force.

However, the World Economic Forum stresses that the world of urban living and working has “deep and secure” foundations. “Contrary to some predictions made in the midst of this terrible pandemic, a dynamic and reimagined future is taking shape in which the world’s major cities will thrive, characterised by vibrant and distinctive office, cultural, retail and residential profiles,” it says.

Le restrizioni Covid sono in fase di inasprimento in seguito a una pericolosa “seconda ondata” che sta abbattendosi sul globo. Il nuovo tsunami di infezioni ha obbligato i governi a abbandonare i loro sforzi non interamente efficaci di convincere i lavoratori delle città a fare ritorno alle loro scrivanie, spingendo Hartley Milner a chiedere…stiamo vedendo la fine delle città come le conosciamo?

October 2020 | ECJ | 77

CASE STUDY

Inspiring confidence Facilities management services provider The Churchill Group in the UK has partnered with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) since 2017 on a cleaning contract that covers around 300 stations. In this case study for ECJ, regional manager Tonka Valkinova focuses on the last six months and the work undertaken in light of the pandemic. She explains how the teams quickly identified and mobilised solutions, and the importance of this work in maintaining passenger confidence in rail travel.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern services, as well as the Gatwick Express airport service to and from London Victoria. Govia is one of the UK’s busiest rail operators, currently providing about 25 per cent of all passenger journeys. The company has extensive experience running complex and challenging rail operations, managing significant change programmes, and it has introduced more new train fleets in the UK than any other operator. The Covid-19 pandemic brought about challenges not seen before. This case study summarises how Churchill worked with GTR to ensure station hygiene, employee safety and passenger confidence.

We started working with GTR in June 2017 on a comprehensive cleaning contract. Cleaning is a core part of our business but GTR has certainly been a unique challenge. The three lines that GTR runs – Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern – had different cleaning regimes and we wanted to merge the three lines together. That’s more than 300 stations including major hubs such as Brighton, Gatwick and East Croydon.

When the pandemic hit, just like the rest of the country, we had to react quickly and effectively. Even with much of the country in lockdown, trains were still being used by thousands of key workers so we had to make sure that stations were safe places. We also needed to ensure the safety of train drivers, as well as our cleaning teams.

We were fortunate in some respects that we had been in partnership for nearly three years by this point and so had a strong relationship with GTR. However, we also happened to have a new main contact at GTR right around this time which meant we had to jump straight in and establish trust from the outset. Despite being unable to meet face-to-face, we have developed a great relationship which is vital for any successful partnership, let alone one dealing with this situation.

Initial response We were able to take a leading role in our partnership with GTR with regards to planning and implementing the necessary response and cleaning regimes. The previous results of our work and our quick response were key in giving GTR the confidence in our ability to navigate the pandemic.

As soon as it became clear what a huge impact the pandemic was going to have on our country, the senior management team at Churchill established a Covid taskforce. As a result, we had processorientated resources and documents on sanitisation that we were able to share with our cleaning crews at the outset of the lockdown. We also had existing stock of certain hygiene products and thanks to the rapid response of our taskforce, we were able to purchase other virucidal products very early on and get them to all cleaning teams.

One of our first steps was to introduce additional cleaning teams. We mobilised 10 teams to cover all locations. Working in tandem with our existing daily and zonal teams, this not only helped to keep stations hygienic, but provided an ongoing visual presence that reassured passengers and employees alike.

All cleaning staff received a training toolkit to help understand the new products and procedures, as well as highvisibility vests with messaging on the back that reminds people to maintain social distance whenever possible.

We use our digital platform, Mo:dus, to keep in constant communication with all teams and also developed a symptom tracker on the app. Cleaning operatives are encouraged to check their symptoms daily and report if they are feeling unwell.

This helps to ensure the health of all our employees, as well as reducing the risk of infection spreading among our teams.

We worked with our cleaning teams and GTR to identify high-risk touchpoints Continued page 80

October 2020 | ECJ | 79

CASE STUDY Inspiring confidence (continued) such as door handles, stairway rails and lift buttons. These are now cleaned more frequently than other areas, and all cleaning operatives start their shifts focusing on touchpoints.

These steps have helped set a strong foundation for station hygiene, but of course more needs to be done to truly cut down on the risk of infection and contamination.

Advanced cleaning We have equipped our teams with the latest hygiene equipment so that they

can carry out their roles to the highest standard. The fogging machines we use can treat up to 30 square metres and work by delivering an antimicrobial mist that sanitises and protects all surfaces. The product our teams have been using stays active on surfaces for 30 days after use, but we agreed with GTR to reapply every 21 days to be extra safe.

We have also given our teams cordless backpack electrostatic sprayers.

Electrostatic delivers charged droplets that are actively attracted to surfaces which

ensures even coverage across all surfaces.

Furthermore, the droplets attach to the sides and crevices of surfaces regardless of the direction of spray.

The fogging and electrostatic spray, combined with the other cleaning methods our teams employ, ensures all surfaces are being treated in multiple ways. But we don’t take that for granted. We use ATP testing to test for live cells on a surface.

These tests don’t detect viruses, but they do detect the amount of organic matter on any given surface, which viruses need to survive. We test random stations and so far all results have come back within acceptable parameters.

Confidence to travel Train stations are going to keep getting busier as we ease our way out of the lockdown – especially now that the government is actively pushing for people to return to the office. One major barrier to this return is people’s potential reluctance to use public transport, so our priority is to keep stations hygienic and demonstrate that to the public.

One way we monitor traveller satisfaction is through the National Rail

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CASE STUDY Passenger Survey. The survey is carried out twice a year and consults more than 50,000 passengers, making it the largest published rail passenger satisfaction survey in the world. It measures all aspects of a station’s performance, including cleanliness.

Between the spring 2016 results and the most recent survey results in spring 2020, three of the four lines we work on with GTR have seen an increased score for customer satisfaction. We hope that the extensive cleaning methods and regimes we have carried out since March will be reflected in the latest survey results as we continue to strive for 100 per cent satisfaction.

We’ve had some wonderful feedback from passengers on Twitter who have commended our cleaners for the work they do, and clients have also been quick to praise our crews. Paul Wyborn, the area manager at High Weald, said: “The cleaner employed by Churchill has been very impressive and the feedback we received from staff is that he is amazing and doesn’t need guidance, helps passengers when required and is doing a lot more cleaning than he is meant to do.

The feedback was so impressive that as a management team we decided to award him our first ever employee of the month for the Sutton & Epsom Area.”

L’entreprise de propreté Churchill collabore avec un grand opérateur ferroviaire britannique dans le cadre d’un contrat de nettoyage couvrant quelque 300 gares depuis 2017. Dans la présente étude de cas, ECJ se penche sur les activités des six derniers mois à la lumière de la pandémie, observant notamment la manière dont les équipes n’ont pas tardé à identifier et appliquer les solutions. Il y est également question de souligner l’importance de ces activités pour la confiance des usagers des chemins de fer.

Seit 2017 hat Reinigungsdienstleister Churchill in Partnerschaft mit einem großen britischen Bahnbetreiber im Rahmen eines Reinigungsvertrags gearbeitet, der rund 300 Bahnhöfe abdeckt. Diese Fallstudie des ECJ konzentriert sich auf die letzten sechs Monate und die angesichts der Pandemie unternommene Arbeit, insbesondere die Art, in der Teams schnell Lösungen identifizierten und einsetzen.

Damit soll auch hervorgehoben werden, wie wichtig diese Arbeit ist, um das Vertrauen der Fahrgäste in Bahnreisen aufrechtzuerhalten.

Regardless of how quickly people return to their pre-Covid commutes, train stations remain crucial transport hubs. More people are using trains to visit friends and family for the first time since March, and of course as Christmas approaches the demand will likely be as high as any other year.

We’ll continue doing all we can to ensure station hygiene, which will include innovating and adapting as new methods become available and as Government advice changes. The goal is that the public will feel completely safe travelling by train, and consequently will be able to get back to their normal routines.

L’azienda fornitrice di servizi di pulizia Churchill collabora dal 2017 con uno dei maggiori operatori ferroviari del Regno Unito con un contratto di pulizie che copre circa 300 stazioni. Questo caso di studio per ECJ si concentra sugli ultimi sei mesi e sul lavoro svolto in seguito alla pandemia, specialmente i modi in cui i team hanno prontamente identificato e mobilitato le soluzioni e anche sull’importanza di questo lavoro nel mantenere la fiducia dei passeggeri verso il trasporto per ferrovia.

October 2020 | ECJ | 81

AIR FRESHENERS

The value of fragrance What function does an air freshener system fulfil in a washroom, hospital, restaurant or leisure facility? We ask manufacturers about the value that fragrancing systems can add to specific environments.

Most people would agree the main role of an air freshener system is to mask bad smells. And for obvious reasons, they are are most commonly used in the washroom. However, fragrancing systems are becoming increasingly widely used in other environments as well such as leisure centres, hotels, gyms, shops and spas.

And rather than simply being a means of covering up unpleasant aromas they are being deployed to add an ambiance and promote a sense of well-being among customers and guests.

But how far does this picture alter from facility to facility? And how important are air freshener systems in each environment?

The fragrance of a hotel, restaurant, café or spa is key in creating an atmosphere for customers according to Prodifa commercial director Rémi Peretti. “The smell is often the first thing we perceive, even before we notice the décor,” he said.

“It stimulates the memory and reminds us of pleasant moments, perhaps from our childhood. Marketing specialists understand this and focus heavily on olfactory marketing as a result.”

However in some environments, the number one objective is to hide bad smells, he says. “This may be the case in hospitals, retirement homes, washrooms and changing rooms for example,” he said.

“In retirement homes it may be necessary to destroy bad odours and create a pleasant olfactory atmosphere to prevent the facility from smelling like a hospital. So the choice of perfumes here is pivotal.”

According to Peretti the scope of fragrances is limitless. “Some are designed

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to encourage relaxation while others evoke an efficient working atmosphere,” he said. “There are even amusement parks that use different fragrances to reflect the ‘universes’ through which the visitor passes. And brochures and magazines are now sometimes scented to influence our buying decisions.”

Olfactory marketing can have a major impact on consumer behaviour, he says.

“The smell of warm bread or pizza might make our mouths water, but those fragrances that the customer doesn’t actually notice can have an even more powerful impact,” he said. “More and more retailers are contacting us to create personalised fragrances such as the scent of clean laundry or the smell of cinema popcorn.”

According to Peretti the presence of a fragrance creates the impression of cleanliness. “Most cleaning companies use effective products, but the smell of these will only linger for a few minutes after application,” he said. “Automatic fragrance delivery systems, on the other hand, will create a scent that remains in place throughout the day.”

Hyprom marketing and communications director Dorothee Dinner agrees that fragrances can have a major impact on customer behaviour. “Multiple sensory marketing studies have shown how businesses can create a particular atmosphere by means of music or a pleasant perfume,” she said. “The customer will then spend longer at the point of sale and be more inclined to buy.”

In a washroom scenario, air freshening should be the final step in any cleaning routine, she says. “Even though the premises may have been thoroughly cleaned there could be some residual malodours, as often happens with toilets,” she said.

“The cleanliness of the environment may therefore be called into question and complaints will ensue unless a fragrancing system is used.”

Aircare products also have an important role to play in hospitality and leisure

facilities, she says. “Fragrances can have a stimulating, calming, soothing or cocooning effect – one that has long been understood in aromatherapy,” she said.

“So a subtle fragrance will evoke a sense of well-being in environments such as a restaurant, hotel or spa.”

However, she says care must be taken when choosing a fragrance for a hospital or care home. “If you use a scent that has not been designed to treat malodours it could have a disastrous effect,” she explained. “Instead of being masked, the odour could become more present and embarrassing, so here it is not a question of being subtle and evocative but of being effective.”

Eliminate, not mask A bad odour creates a negative first impression of any facility according to Airdri marketing manager Trudi Osborne. “Fresh, clean air reaffirms the fact the premises are sanitary and safe, whereas a bad smell will leave visitors with a poor perception of the cleanliness of the environment,” she said. “And if a customer walks into a hotel or leisure facility and is met with an unpleasant smell, they may not return again,” However, it is vital the root cause of the odour is eliminated rather than simply masking it with a fragranced spray, she adds. “Air fresheners may hide bad smells but if the source isn’t fully removed, those smells may return at any point,” she said.

“The only way to prevent that from occurring is to kill the bacteria that has caused the odour in the first place.”

According to Osborne an air purifier will kill any surface or airborne bacteria and viruses along with the odours they create.

“Purifiers can deliver real health benefits by removing harmful bacteria and viruses from the air, reducing the risk of picking up an infection,” she said.

In a healthcare setting, the role of an air freshener is all about infection control, she says. “Anything that makes a healthcare setting more welcoming is a bonus - but ensuring the bacteria and viruses that cause unpleasant smells are eradicated

AIR FRESHENERS will also help to prevent the transmission of illnesses and keep staff, patients and visitors safe.”

Hagleitner’s junior washroom hygiene product manager Dominik Hadjiyski agrees air freshening systems play a significant role in improving customer experience.

“Satisfied clients are key to the success of any business and an attractive room with a pleasant fragrance can make all the difference,” he said. “Smells can trigger emotions and memories and a pleasantsmelling room will create a positive impression. And a smart air freshener will help to eliminate unpleasant odours.”

The role of a fragrancing system in leisure facilities such as hotels, restaurants and spas is to enhance the feelgood factor, he says. “Soothing scents can help a guest to relax in a spa, for instance.” Hagleitner’s Magicus system is an automated scent column that diffuses fragrances to create a pleasant ambiance in leisure settings.

According to Hadjiyski, healthcare settings present a greater challenge. “Creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere is particularly difficult in hospitals and care homes because these environments evoke a sensation of discomfort and even anxiety for many people,” he said. “Eliminating that

distinctive hospital or care home smell will definitely help to improve the customer’s sense of well-being.”

Marketing and purchasing manager of Insider Facility Services Thor Nielsen downplays the role of air freshening systems in facilities cleaning. “The most important factor is that cleaning is being carried out effectively - and that process itself should be enough to create a pleasant smell,” he said.

Lifestyle-based scents Most of his customers prefer fragrancefree systems in any case, he adds. “We particularly recommend using these in compact washrooms because strong smells could be an issue for migraine sufferers,” he said.

However according to Nielsen, fragrances form an important part of the marketing strategy for many businesses.

“This is particularly the case in retail centres, restaurants and coffee houses where fragrances are used to evoke positive memories or favourable impressions,” he said. “If a scent can be found to match the product on sale it can have a positive influence on the purchasing behaviour of the customer.”

Vectair’s managing director Paul Wonnacott backs up this view. “During one

study in a Las Vegas casino it emerged that a pleasant scent could be linked to a 45 per cent rise in slot machine revenue compared with an equivalent non-scented area,” he said. “And another study in a shoe shop revealed that 84 per cent of people were more likely to buy shoes when trying them on in a scented room.”

Air freshening systems have been an integral part of the washroom environment for many years – but they are now becoming increasingly important in other facilities as well, according to Wonnacott.

“Customers are seeking new fragrances beyond the usual citrus-associated washroom aromas and are beginning to understand they can connect with their audiences via scent,” he said. “As a result there has been a shift towards lifestylebased scents that conjure up memories and emotions in environments such as shops, lobbies, meeting rooms and spas.”

The sense of smell has a greater influence on behaviour than most people realise, according to Wonnacott. “The memory and scent are connected, so as an aircare company we are always looking at ways to utilise this for maximum impact,” he said.

“Companies are increasingly using scents to influence their customer’s decisions whether they are buying something in a shop or returning to a hotel.”

More sophisticated A fragrance can evoke a sense of nostalgia and transport the recipient to another time or place, he says. “Scents such as our Marine Musk and Ocean Spray take you to the seashore while fruit-based scents transport you to an exotic haven.” And according to Wonnacott, certain fragrances can help to increase alertness and reduce stress among staff in the workplace.

However, a fine balance needs to be struck when creating a fragrance, says Wonnacott. “A too-powerful scent could turn customers away from your brand, while a scent that is too weak would be unmemorable,” he said.

“But as air freshener systems become increasingly sophisticated and environmentally-friendly I believe they will continue to make a positive impact on the market.”

Dans certains environnements, tels que ceux d’un hôtel ou d’une station thermale, la diffusion d’une fragrance agréable rehaussera l’expérience des clients. Mais dans d’autres établissements, tels que toilettes publiques et maisons de retraite, l’emploi de diffuseurs d’ambiance visera le plus souvent à masquer des odeurs désagréables. Nous sondons des fabricants sur l’emploi de diffuseurs d’ambiance dans différents environnements, sur les établissements qui en font le plus grand usage, et sur l’évolution du marché.

In manchen Umgebungen, wie etwa einem Hotel oder Wellness-Center, verbessert ein angenehmer Duft das Erlebnis der Gäste. In anderen Einrichtungen jedoch, beispielsweise Waschräumen und Pflegeheimen, dienen Lufterfrischer eher dazu, unangenehme Gerüche zu überdecken. Wir befragen Hersteller zur Rolle von Lufterfrischern in verschiedenen Umgebungen: Welche Arten von Einrichtungen sind gegenwärtig die größten Kunden, und wie entwickelt sich der Markt?

In alcune strutture quali hotel e centri benessere, una fragranza piacevole accresce l’esperienza degli ospiti. Ma in altre strutture quali sale da toilette e case di riposo, l’obiettivo dei profumatori per ambienti è più probabile che nasconda degli odori sgradevoli.

Chiediamo ai produttori qual è il ruolo dei profumatori nei diversi tipi di ambienti e che tipologie di strutture sono oggi I clienti più importanti e come si sta evolvendo il mercato.

October 2020 | ECJ | 83

TECHNOLOGY: COBOTICS

Transforming cleaning?

Nils van der Zijl at Softbank Robotics EMEA writes for ECJ on the future of cobotics in the professional cleaning sector. He explains how this new technology could deliver greater efficiency, performance and staff retention.

The quest for greater efficiency and enhanced performance within the facility management (FM) industry becomes ever more pressing. Confronted with increasingly squeezed margins, growing competition and pressure from clients to demonstrate enhanced performance, business leaders in the FM sector are desperately in need of solutions, and fast.

Despite heavy focus and investment on innovation and digital transformation over the past five years, only limited progress has been made, with most of these programmes failing to deliver the expected returns. There are too many tales of business leaders having their fingers burnt, pinning a great deal of hope (and money) on new cleaning machinery, only to discover that what they have bought has little or no impact on their operations.

This is why the FM industry needs to take a more structured, strategic approach to innovation, one which acknowledges that cleaning is an industry which relies emphatically on the dedication and skill of cleaning teams. Technology and machines, no matter how powerful and intuitive, cannot transform operations without the right structures, skills and cultures in place. Only when deployed alongside engaged, motivated and productive cleaning teams can innovative technology start to deliver the game-changing efficiencies and performance that FM companies require to survive and grow. This is the very essence of cobotics.

Cobotics is the collaboration between front-line workers and machines or robots. Cobots are collaborative robots which carry out repetitive or strenuous

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tasks which would otherwise be performed by an employee, but they work alongside that individual or team, not in their place. Cobots are instructed and monitored by people on the ground and are there to support workers.

So within cleaning, a team of workers operates alongside a cobot or several cobots, with tasks assigned based on the relative strengths and capabilities of people and machines. That means cobots do heavy-duty vacuuming of large areas of floor, which frees up workers to focus on other tasks. In basic terms, cobots carry out the repetitive and time-consuming tasks (where they can deliver a higher and more consistent level of performance than human workers) and cleaning staff perform the tasks that make a real difference to overall service levels.

Human-cobot workforce For FM providers and cleaning contractors, the advantages of deploying a human-cobot workforce are immense.

Firstly, they are able to fulfil key parts of their servicing agreements with significantly increased efficiencies in terms of cost, performance and consistency. For tasks such as vacuuming, which has traditionally been a huge drain on resource, and subject to huge inconsistencies in performance, the introduction of cobots could be game-changing.

Secondly, because cobots are taking on these time-sapping activities, cleaning teams can dedicate time to high-value tasks which they simply wouldn’t be able to in a traditional operating model, the tasks which clients really notice and appreciate, but currently get overlooked.

The introduction of cobots allows FM providers to meet and exceed service levels without additional resource. Cobots also capture cleaning data as they go, and this data is shared and stored through the cloud so managers can measure performance, track improvements and continually optimise operations.

In fact, for the first time FM providers can demonstrate how innovation

within their operating model is delivering a cleaner, more hygienic building environment, and accelerating the wider smarter buildings agenda.

Early adopters of cobotics are positioning themselves as forward-thinking leaders within the FM and cleaning industries, and attracting property owners and tenants who are keen to align themselves with innovation-driven suppliers and cutting-edge technologies. For example we’re seeing FM leaders such as ISS and Sodexo introducing cobots into their cleaning operations and already developing plans to extend their use of cobotics, such has been the success of these programmes.

Importantly, however, adoption of cobotics is not just about technology; it also involves fresh thinking and new, innovative approaches to procurement.

Organisations benefit from flexible leasing models, deploying cobots ‘as a service’, instead of through traditional purchasing models. So rather than having to commit to large capital expenditure up front, contractors can pursue their innovation programmes and access the very latest technologies on a totally flexible and scalable basis, through a fixed monthly cost.

This cobotic leasing model provides business leaders with full visibility and control on costs, with all servicing and product upgrades included. What’s more, they can use the data collected by cobots to continually optimise cleaning operations and make informed decisions around resourcing structures.

The cleaning industry is facing huge challenges in finding and retaining high quality talent. Staff attrition rates of 200 per cent are the norm and many contractors face a constant struggle to recruit the people they need. Again cobotics can help, boosting engagement within teams and as a result, improving retention rates.

And when required, cobots can pick up the slack when problems arise due to staff churn or absenteeism.

The introduction of cobotics liberates cleaning professionals from the mental

TECHNOLOGY: COBOTICS drain of repetitive work. Cleaners can undertake more varied and fulfilling tasks, and see improvements in performance.

Not only this, but cleaning teams who work alongside cobots have the opportunity to engage with and manage the latest cutting-edge innovations, enabling them to develop new skills and competencies in some of the hottest areas of technology.

At a time when mental and physical health in the workplace is becoming an ever-more pressing concern for employers, and specifically within an industry where absenteeism rates hover around 25 per cent, any development that reduces the amount of physical and repetitive tasks workers are undertaking and provides a healthier, more fulfilling working environment has to be welcomed.

Over the coming years, we’ll see FM providers promoting their use of cobotics to position themselves as innovative

forward-thinking employers, with a strong commitment to employee well-being.

We’re also likely to see building owners and developers aligning themselves closely with cobotics in order to show their commitment to innovation and improved end user experience, and to accelerate their own smart building strategies.

In order for the cleaning industry to move towards this exciting, cobot-inspired future, we need to re-frame the narrative around automation. Rather than viewing automation with suspicion, based on doomsday reports of mass job displacement, business leaders and workers need to take a more considered view. Indeed, the World Economic Forum predicts AI and automation will actually lead to net job creation, with the introduction of millions of new specialist and highly skilled jobs.

More significantly within the cleaning industry however, McKinsey reports

Nils van der Zijl, collaborateur de Softbank Robotics EMEA, se penche sur l’avenir de la robotique dans le secteur de la propreté. Il explique les avantages de cette technologie sur les plans de l’efficacité, de la performance et de la rétention du personnel.

Nils van der Zijl (Softbank Robotics EMEA) behandelt in seinem Artikel für das ECJ die Zukunft der Kobotik in der Reinigungsbranche. Er erläutert, dass diese neue Technologie nicht nur die Effizienz und Leistung, sondern auch die Mitarbeiterbindung verbessern könnte.

that whilst less than five perc ent of all occupations can be automated entirely using current technologies, about 60 per cent of all occupations have at least 30 per cent of constituent activities that could be automated today. So the real impact of automation will not be in replacing people, but in changing the types of work that most people carry out on a daily basis.

Cobots will improve and enrich working lives within cleaning, rather than threatening them.

For FM providers, the benefits of cobotics are almost unlimited. Cost efficiencies, improved performance, greater staff engagement and retention, and a modern innovation-driven brand. Those organisations that can harness the power of cobots, integrating them into their operations in a seamless and harmonious way alongside cleaning staff, will thrive over the coming years.

Dalla Softbank Robotics EMEA, Nils van der Zijl scrive per ECJ sul futuro della cobotica nel settore delle pulizia professionali. Ci spiega come questa nuova tecnologia potrebbe dare maggiore efficienza, risultati e ritenzione del personale.

October 2020 | ECJ | 85

CLEANING IN JAPAN

Community ritual It’s something oddly Japanese: men and women in office attire roaming the streets looking for rubbish. Usually they won’t find anything as streets are spotless most of the time, but it serves more than just that purpose writes Bobbie van der List.

On a Monday afternoon in the Marunouchi district of Japan’s capital Tokyo most business men and women on the street return to their offices from a lunch break. Yet, there’s an interesting ritual unfolding right in front of me. A group of formally dressed white-collared workers roam the street looking for rubbish. With orange vests and armed with tong and polybag, they seem to enjoy the cleaning task.

Or is it more than just a cleaning task?

To get the answer to that question I talk with Shin Ohmori, a professor of Economics at the Nihon University College of Economics of Tokyo, who has studied company cleaning extensively, also in a corporate context.

He tells me cleaning is a crucial element in Japan’s business environment.

“Historically Japanese companies are very much concerned with the maintenance and cleaning of workspaces in general.

Japanese companies always placed great importance on the acts of souji – cleaning – and seiri seiton – sorting,” says Ohmori.

Already from a young age children get familiar with cleaning their classroom, as we illustrated in a previous article about classroom cleaning, but this practice seems to continue upon entering the cor-

86 | October 2020 | ECJ

porate world. “The result is that Japanese companies came to appreciate a clean and tidy working space,” says Omori.

Why does the professor think companies place such an emphasis on cleaning? “The first reason is because cleaning has an obvious and positive effect on business,” he tells me. “Companies who optimise their souji and seiri seiton often have a higher productivity and revenue, so that’s the obvious benefit.”

On top of that, Ohmori continues, there’s a trickle-down effect of staff involvement with cleaning that few people expect. “For example in factories, there’s a strong believe that good maintenance and cleaning can prevent accidents and mistakes from happening. If workers clean themselves they will notice potential malfunctions. Preventing small malfunctions can potentially prevent big problems for production in a factory.”

Staff morale According to Professor Ohmori this is also seen outside the building: security guards do several security checks a day checking everything from door locks to unattended bags or throwing away waste.

His job in a way has become obsolete because of the effort of local businesses partaking in such rituals.

There’s another reason for this cleaning effort, says Ohmori: “In many companies, motivation and morale of staff has improved due to such team work efforts.

There are several Japanese companies that experience many unexpected benefits by cleaning and organising themselves.”

Panasonic, a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in consumer electronics, is a perfect example of a firm that believes in the magic of cleaning up, but not in the sense of Japanese national Marie Kondo – author of the book about the life-changing magic of tidying up - the company sees cleaning as a way to connect people and communities, through cleaning activities, a spokesperson says.

For example, the company organises cleaning activities along the Tsurumi river basin. Participation is not obligatory but due to positive stories shared by colleagues, there is a lot of interest to take part in the collective cleaning activity.

“And we create a river environment where children can play and get acquainted with the river.”

Another example happens outside of the capital Tokyo, in the most southern island Kyushu. Panasonic’s Minoshima division has a cleaning routine as part of its broader community contribution activities. Panasonic staff are often seen in the area around their workplace to clean, “to contribute to the local community”, says the spokesperson. Then there is their Kamoi branch in Kanagawa where staff clean up the Kamoi river as part of ‘vegetation contribution activities.’

Last November, with the cooperation of each department, Panasonic cleaned the roads around the business sites in Tokyo as well. Workers were said to feel ‘refreshed’ mentally and physically, and started their day ‘pleasantly’. This is also part of Panasonic’s local community contribution activities.

People in charge of the social contribution committee at Pasona Group, a staffing solution provider in Tokyo, take great pride in contributing to challenges in society, and they have cleaning initiatives throughout the country.

Impact on society “Companies have a lot of effect on a great many things, not only for profit but also in terms of their impact on society.

With that in mind we started this committee, and cleaning is one field. People throughout the country want to do something in the neighbourhood where they live, what is it we can do first? Usually that’s cleaning. The question is what can we do right now to help society? For example, beach cleaning activities in places with plastic problems, we went there and cleaned the beaches,” the spokesperson tells me.

CLEANING IN JAPAN But that’s just one example, there are other activities that Pasona Group started a long time ago. “We decided to clean mountains close to our office, with all sorts of people participating - not only Pasona Group - but also soccer teams, and even locals in the neighbourhood. For 16 years now, we’ve been doing that and last time 150 people took part!”

Having fun Other regions do the same – for example in Kuba, Ibaraki district, a branch started doing the same. “Staff at Panasonic can bring family and friends, afterwards we provide a barbecue party that doesn’t produce waste. It’s about communicating with each other, having fun, bringing family, a great way to bond,” Pasona Group’s head of PR tells me. “Every time we come

C’est un spectacle qu’on ne voit probablement qu’au Japon : des hommes et femmes en tenue de bureau parcourant les rues à la recherche de détritus. Les plus souvent, ils ne trouvent rien parce que les rues sont immaculées. Cependant, ce nettoiement constitue un élément clé de l’environnement d’affaires. Bobbie van der List en rend compte pour ECJ.

back we see less and less rubbish, it’s great to see this impact.”

The recruitment company also has initiatives in Tokyo: “We have held activities in Otemachi, on Earth Day we all wear red t-shirts, with Pasona’s logo on it. If other companies see us, they might want to do the same, and we offer other organisations help on how to organise cleaning activities outside of their office. We can teach them our know-how, it can possibly create opportunities in the future. We come up with events such as: who picked up the most rubbish, it’s always good to add that competitive element’,” she says with a smile. “It’s about having fun and looking forward to participating the next time we have a similar event!” Another event is their annual Tsukuba Trail Cleaning Challenge, where 100-150 participants

Es ist etwas spezifisch Japanisches: Frauen und Männer in Bürobekleidung ziehen auf der Suche nach Müll durch die Straßen. In der Regel finden sie nichts, denn die Straßen sind blitzsauber, aber Reinigen ist ein wichtiges Element des betrieblichen Umfelds.

Bobbie van der List berichtet für das ECJ.

hike along a trail while cleaning up the surrounding area.

If you think these companies are exceptions, you are mistaken: a call to several big corporations tells us that a lot of companies are invested in this kind of clean-up activities.

Community-minded Cyberdyne, a technology start-up which is located near Tokyo, actively partook in clean-up activities after the typhoon Hagibis struck in Tokyo, but also during other natural disasters that happened in Japan. And Suntory, a beverages company, tells me it has cleaning initiatives near their production plants as part of its effort to contribute to a clean environment, and contribute to the local community is which its plant is located.

Questo fatto è tipicamente giapponese, uomini e donne in abbigliamento da ufficio che girano per le strade cercando rifiuti. Di solito non ne trovano in quanto le strade sono pulitissime ma la pulizia è un elemento molto importante dell’ambiente degli affari.

Il corrispondente di ECJ Bobbie van der List ci informa.

October 2020 | ECJ | 87

PRODUCT REVIEW

• Hydro Systems a lancé la famille RiteFlex d’appareils portables de distribution de produits chimiques.

• Northwood Hygiene Products a lancé la gamme « Raphael » de distributeurs puissants pour toilettes collectives.

• Hygiene Solutions propose un ensemble autoportant et sans contact de désinfection des mains, ainsi qu’un appareil de désinfection de poignées de porte.

• Tennant a introduit la S16, une balayeuse embarquée à batterie.

• Die Produktfamilie RiteFlex mit tragbaren Spendern für chemische Reinigungsmittel wurde von Hydro Systems vorgestellt.

• Northwood Hygiene Products hat unter dem Namen Raphael eine neue Produktfamilie mit Waschraumspendern mit großer Kapazität vorgestellt.

• Hygiene Solutions bietet eine freistehende, berührungslose Händedesinfektionsmitteleinheit und ein TürgriffDesinfektionsmittel.

• Neu von Tennant ist die batteriebetriebene AufsitzKehrmaschine S16.

• La Hydro Systems ha lanciato la gamma portatile di prodotti per l’erogazione di prodotti chimici RiteFlex.

• La Northwood Hygiene Products ha lanciato la nuova linea Raphael di dispenser ad alta capacità per sale da toilette.

• La Hygiene Solutions propone una unita’ autonoma e touch free di disinfettante per le mani e un disinfettante per le maniglie delle porte.

• Il nuovo articolo della Tennant è la spazzatrice con operatore a bordo e alimentata a batteria S16.

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On the move Chemical dispensing equipment specialist Hydro Systems has launched the RiteFlex line of portable dispensing products.

The patent pending product range features the RiteFlex Handheld Dispenser available in single and dual flow, and the RiteFlex Foamer/Sprayer.

The company says handheld dispensers offer a number of benefits, including versatility

and the convenience of being ready to use without installation, training or additional equipment. And they are a fitting solution for end users who don’t want the investment of a wall-mounted dispenser, or chemical suppliers who want to provide customers with convenience similar to ready-touse products.

The RiteFlex Handheld Dispenser offers a low-cost, portable means of accurately diluting concentrated cleaning products to fill mop buckets, sinks, auto scrubbers, tanks and other containers. The single flow version has a 2.2 gallons per minute (GPM) flow rate while the dual flow is available in both 1.0 and 3.0 GPM. The RiteFlex Foamer/Sprayer can be used to clean and sanitise large areas quickly and efficiently, with a flow rate of 2.2 GPM. The dispensers work with any bottle or insert and include a tether with a tube. www.hydrosystemsco.com

For washrooms The high capacity Raphael collection is the new proprietary washroom system from Northwood Hygiene Products.

Boasting hygiene, cost-in-use, performance and sustainability it comprises two toilet tissue and four hand towel dispensers, along with a soap dispenser.

At the centre of the range is

the twin high capacity toilet roll dispenser TwinJumbo which holds up to 800 metres of product. This means it does not need frequent replenishing, says the company.

The majority of dispensers are contactless and the others are treated with BioKleen technology, inhibiting the growth of bacteria. Incorporating a singlepiece shell, they are easy to wipe clean and all towels and rolls are enclosed.

An infinity paper system, allowing users to replenish one roll at a time, ensures waste is kept to a minimum. The units are free, with the exception of the Electronic Roll Towel Dispenser, which is subject to a loan agreement.

The units are made from durable ABS plastic which is scratchand impact-resistant. They are also lockable. The smoke and blue version is translucent, while the white unit features a transparent rear panel.

Northwood’s tissue products are pure pulp and 100 recycled - many of them Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. Roll inserts are made from recycled bottle tops and can be recycled after use. www.northwood.co.uk

Clean hands

From Hygiene Solutions comes a freestanding touch-free hand sanitising unit that can accommodate 20 or 30 litres of nonalcohol based sanitiser. Either battery-powered or directly plugged into a power source, the unit can also be wall mounted if required.

The unit features automatic sensor taps and is RFID capable for compliance/access control/ product use. There are branding options and screens available for advertisements or promotion.

An indicator shows when fluid is running low.

Hygiene Solutions also provides a door handle sanitiser, a device that can be placed above any door handle which operates mechanically when the door is closed. It uses a small clip to catch the door frame and sprays the handle - each cartridge holds around 4,000 sprays and is easily replaced in seconds. www.hygienesolutions.com

Battery ride-on The S16 is Tennant’s newest battery-powered ride-on sweeper. Suitable for a range of indoor and outdoor applications, this model features MaxPro technology that guarantees consistent brush power regardless of surface and debris changes.

The 1-Step start button simplifies operation. The operator pushes the large green button

to start cleaning using all of the most recent machine settings which are automatically remembered and engaged. The Eco-Mode helps to extend run time, lower energy consumption and reduce noise for anytime cleaning.

Other features include the FiberShield lint screen that captures fibres for maximum efficiency, and nonmarking skirts prevent damage when sweeping with machines configured for carpeted surfaces. Meanwhile the VarioHeight handle on the low dump model provides more ergonomic operation and increased safety.

A version of the machine with dual side sweeping brushes is available for an extended sweeping path. There is also a dry vacuum wand for cleaning off-aisle and in tight spaces along with a falling object protective structure (FOPS) certified overhead guard that protects against falling objects. www.tennantco.eu

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