INCLEAN January-February 2022 by The Intermedia Group

DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE HYGIENE INFORMATION

www.incleanmag.com.au

January / February 2022

www.centralcleaning.com.au

JOIN NOW!

TOGETHER WE CHANGE THE WAY THE WORLD VIEWS CLEANING!

ISSA OCEANIA MEMBER EVENTS & TRADE SHOWS Benefit from networking events and global trade shows, including the Australian ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo. COMPLIMENTARY RESOURCES FOR YOUR BUSINESS Enjoy complimentary tools like Product Cost & Usage Calculator, Workloading & Bidding Tool, The Value of Clean Toolkit to take your business to the next level. INDUSTRY NEWS Be on the front foot with INCLEAN and INCLEAN New Zealand magazines, international publications like ISSA Today and Cleanfax, online news and ISSA TV.

BENEFITS EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION & STANDARDS Take your operation to the next level with industry-leading training, education programs and accreditation, customised to the needs of Australian and New Zealand businesses. LOCAL MEMBER BENEFITS The ISSA Oceania team is working with a number of local service providers to provide members with exclusive discounts to relevant services.

FOUNDATION OF EXPERTISE Share in our vision, mission, values and goals. Together we can change the way the world views cleaning.

TRENDS & INSIGHTS Gain valuable market analysis both regionally and globally.

MEMBER DIRECTORY Get featured in the online listing of all members which attracts over 15,000 clicks per month and provides access to all company profiles.

GLOBAL NETWORK Expose your business to the ISSA Group, international office networks and alliances.

issa.com/oceania

oceania@issa.com

ww w.issa.com/oceania issa.com/oceania

1800 621 872 Search ISSA Oceania JOIN TODAY! oceania@issa.com

1800 621 872 Search ISSA Oceania

EDITOR’S LETTER

INCLEAN is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd on behalf of ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Australia MANAGING DIRECTOR: Simon Grover PUBLISHER: Simon Cooper MANAGING EDITOR Claire Hibbit Email: chibbit@intermedia.com.au Phone: 02 8586 6140 NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER: Samantha Ewart Email: sewart@intermedia.com.au Phone: 02 8586 6106 PRODUCTION MANAGER: Jacqui Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Natasha Jara GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Sanja Spuzanic Print Post Approved Publication No. PP: 255003/09765 AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTION RATE 12 months (6 issues) - $66 (inc. GST) To subscribe call 1800 651 422 subscriptions@intermedia.com.au

INCLEAN is owned by ISSA ABN: 44 617 407 020 P: +61 2 9890 4951 A: Suite 1, Level 1, 52 O’Connell Street, Parramatta, NSW, 2150 W: www.issa.com DISCLAIMER: This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the Publisher). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisherís endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication. Copyright © 2022 - The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd.

Editor’s letter

elcome to the first issue of 2022 and our Industry Leaders Forum. In our third annual report we have spoken exclusively to a number of industry leaders who have candidly shared their highs and lows of 2021, along with their insights on the challenges and opportunities they anticipate will shape the sector in 2022. 2021 was a challenging year for most. But despite the challenges there were also many highlights shared by leaders, such as the resilience of the industry throughout the past 12 months and the critical role cleaning has once again played in keeping people and facilities safe. It is still evolving as to the long-term impact COVID will have on business, and the industry, following another year of lockdowns and disruption, however, what is clear is that the pandemic has placed cleaning and hygiene at the forefront of people’s minds and increased visibility for the industry as a whole. The public is now much more aware that visibly clean does not always mean it is clean, and they are far more educated about the risks associated with hand hygiene in the fight against viruses and bacteria. Outside of COVID, there are still issues in the industry that need to be addressed. Many leaders agreed in this year’s report that training needs to continually improve and be formalised, and the significant labour shortages across the cleaning industry, and country generally, because of the fewer overseas students entering the country must be addressed in 2022. In addition, whilst the pandemic has sat in the foreground of the news for a long time now, in the background the issues of climate change and the environment more broadly haven’t gone away. There’s an opportunity for the broader cleaning industry to make a greater contribution, by playing an important role in reducing carbon footprint, managing waste streams, and improving the sustainability of their operations. Thank you to all who participated in our Leaders Forum. It is always a personal highlight for our team putting this issue together and I hope there are some valuable insights that will help you, your staff, and your business in 2022.

Happy reading,

Claire Hibbit Managing Editor

FOR MORE INDUSTRY NEWS FOLLOW US ON

CHECK OUT WWW.INCLEANMAG.COM.AU

The Intermedia Group takes its corporate and social responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities. As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers. This magazine has been printed on paper produced from sustainably sourced wood and pulp fibre and is accredited under PEFC chain of custody. PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests. The wrapping used in the delivery process of this magazine is 100 per cent biodegradable.

www.incleanmag.com.au 5

What’s on 2022

Wed 15 - Thu 16 September 2021

Clean Newmarket NZ Room, Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, New Zealand 1-2 March 2022

Clean NZ is New Zealand’s only dedicated trade event for the cleaning industry. www.cleannzexpo.co.nz

ISSA Pavilion at China Clean Expo 29 March - 1 April 2022

MOST CLICKED

Asia’s flagship cleaning industry event will be hosted in Shanghai. www.chinacleanexpo.com

ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo 16-17 March 2022 The cleaning industry’s premier event will be held at ICC Sydney. www.issacleaninghygieneexpo.com

Interclean Amsterdam 10-13 May 2022 Europe’s leading exhibition for the professional cleaning industry. www.intercleanshow.com

RIA Australasian Restoration Conference and Tradeshow 25-27 May 2022 The event will take place at Novotel Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast. www.restorationindustry.org.au

ISSA Show Canada 8-9 June 2022 Canada’s leading trade show for facility managers and facility service providers. www.canadashow.issa.com

2023 CMS 19-22 September 2023 The international conference and trade show will take place in Berlin. www.cms-berlin.de 6 INCLEAN January / February 2022

www.incleanmag.com.au

AFL legend to kick-start education program at 2022 ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo

ServiceFM partners with Airofresh to eliminate contaminants

Former Sydney Swans AFL star to headline a stellar list of speakers.

Service appointed national distributor of Airofresh units, aims to work with schools, childcare, health, airports and other facilities across Australia.

New study investigates risks of bacterial and viral transmission in public bathrooms

NXP seeks new CEO

Public washrooms are flush with germs but there are simple ways to reduce your risk of infections, study finds.

NXP, NZ’s largest distributor of business supplies to corporate and government agencies, seeks new CEO.

Tennant Australia appoints new national sales manager

Hotel industry to develop global framework for sustainability

Tennant Australia names new national sales manager for Australia and New Zealand.

Initiative involves leading hotel groups and World Travel and Tourism Council.

DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE HYGIENE INFORMATION

www.incleanmag.com.au

January / February 2022

ON THE COVER Research Products have an extensive range of products to suit every need. Whatever the requirement, from pre-sprays and spotting, to deodorants and speciality products, the Research Products range has you covered. Find out more about Research Products in this issue’s cover story on page 16.

IN THIS ISSUE JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022

ISSUE #1 VOLUME 35

08 L essons for all at ISSA

Cleaning & Hygiene Expo What’s on at the 2022 Cleaning & Hygiene Expo

25 A nnual Industry

Leaders Forum

26 Accord Australasia 28 Agar Cleaning Systems 30 Australian Pump Industries

32 BIC Services 34 BizCover 36 Building Service Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA) 38 Central Cleaning Supplies 40 Cleanstar

42 Daniels Associates 43 Dettol Pro Solutions/Reckitt 44 Diversey ANZ 45 Ecofy 46 Godfreys 48 HPC Solutions

50 i-team ANZ 52 ISSA Oceania 54 Kärcher Australia 56 Killara Services 58 Makita Australia 60 Motorscrubber Australia

62 Oates (Freudenberg) 63 Polivac International 64 Quayclean Australia 66 RapidClean 68 Sebastian Property Services 70 ServiceFM

72 UKG/Challenger Services 74 Whiteley Corporation

Regulars 03 Editor’s letter 14 Industry news 16 Cover story

75 Products

www.incleanmag.com.au 7

FEATURE

LESSONS FOR ALL AT

ISSA

Cleaning & Hygiene Expo After being postponed last year, the upcoming ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo is set to inform cleaning industry representatives on how to work smarter, safer, and more successfully in a world where COVID-19 just won’t go away.

ome of the leading minds in the Australian cleaning sector will join forces in March to outline how education and training can further enhance and future-proof the industry as the COVID-19 crisis continues. In what will be one of the first occasions that cleaning sector mentors and attendees can gather at an in-person event since the 8 INCLEAN November / December 2021

start of the pandemic, the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo will be held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Sydney on 16-17 March. The expo was originally scheduled to be held in October 2021, but COVID-19 forced its postponement. Lauren Micallef, Oceania Manager for ISSA, the worldwide trade association for the cleaning industry, says it is exciting to host

FEATURE

a live event where people can learn about commercial cleaning trends, cutting-edge technology and the latest education insights across the sector. “It’s a great chance to network and learn at Australia’s only dedicated cleaning and hygiene expo,” she says. A key element of the expo will be a comprehensive education program, which will feature more than 40 speakers and consist of two types of events – expert discussion panels and in-depth workshops.

ON THE AGENDA The education program will deliver practical advice from industry experts on a wide range of important topics, including corporate social responsibility; technology and innovation; aged care cleaning and hygiene; the risk of working with chemicals; the importance of collaboration; coping with change; and delivering successful tenders and quotes. Workshops will be held on: • LinkedIn: Boost your brand awareness • Differentiate and elevate your business in a hyper-intensive market • The Packaging Challenge: Towards packaging waste circularity solutions for the cleaning and hygiene industry. Sean Matthews, Managing Director of the Banksia Consulting Group, will participate in a couple of the workshops, where he will encourage attendees to engage in better business preparation and always consider “what if?”

“COVID-19 has taught us that we can’t take things for granted like we used to,” he says. With regulation around cleaning and hygiene escalating during the pandemic, Matthews says we are witnessing the emergence of “the cleaning specialist” in the health and agedcare spaces, where it is crucial to understand regulations and standards and how they centre around dignity and respect for aged care consumers and, most importantly, how they differ from typical cleaning clients. “It’s an area that cleaning companies must get their heads wrapped around.” In this environment, education, and training will take on increasing importance.

“

The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo is free to attend and provides access to the show floor and a chance to meet with more than 70 exhibitors, plus attendance to the speaker theatre and networking events.

”

www.incleanmag.com.au 9

FEATURE

ADVOCATING FOR THE SECTOR

“

A key element of the expo will be a comprehensive education program, which will feature more than 40 speakers and consist of two types of events – expert discussion panels and in-depth workshops.

”

10 INCLEAN November / December 2021

“The problem with events such as COVID-19 is that we typically don’t do anything until it happens. Instead of planning for the worst, we plan for the best. The key learnings out of this and which we will discuss at the expo is the need to mitigate risk, especially in the aged care sector. There are huge opportunities if cleaning companies get the right education and training and understand what they’re getting into.” Matthews will also run the LinkedIn workshop with Michelle J. Raymond, the Chief LinkedIn Strategist at Good Trading Co. They will provide tips to create effective company content on the social media platform that informs readers and builds the business’s brand at the same time. “If you understand how to use Linkedin and do it right, the sky’s the limit.”

As part of the expo’s education program, Dr Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, senior director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA in the United States, will explain why cleaners must receive long overdue government endorsement as essential front-line workers. “The cleaning industry was not invited to the table to save the world during COVID-19 and that is wrong,” he says. An infectious disease expert, Dr MacgregorSkinner recalls an incident early after the pandemic started in Washington DC when police confronted him and cleaning and janitorial staff just 15 minutes after a curfew had begun in the city. He was the only person in the group with relevant essential-worker ID. “These people had been assisting COVID-19 patients or cleaning hospitals, yet none of them were considered essential employees,” Dr Macgregor-Skinner says. “None of them had ID and yet they were expected to come to work the next day despite all the roadblocks around Washington DC.” To this day, representatives of the cleaning industry still do not have such ID. Dr Macgregor-Skinner is also an advocate for additional structured training and education for cleaners to advance the sector and give all cleaners the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours to do their job to the highest standards.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Greg Crisp, Bunzl Sector Manager – Facility Management, Australia & New Zealand, is another one of the education program speakers. He says the expo gives distributors, such as Bunzl, a chance to bring their own teams together to consider the latest education and innovation trends and to also host existing and potential customers. “These events also really challenge manufacturers to turn up and to bring something new and innovative,” says Crisp, who adds that presence of major international exhibitors such as Clorox, Kärcher, and Diversey at the expo underlines the event’s importance. In one of his panels, Crisp will discuss the value of supply chains at a time when the pandemic has caused significant global disruptions. One of the messages he will be conveying to attendees is to ensure they have strong lines of communications with their supply-chain partners on three levels. “There are people who can help you on the ground, there are people who can help you closely in your region, and there are senior people within those organisations who make decisions on products,” Crisp says. “If you miss out on one of those you’ll find yourself under supply stress.” A trade event, the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo is free to attend and provides access to the show floor and a chance to meet with more than 70 exhibitors, plus attendance to the speaker theatre and networking events. The only charge for attendees is for attendance at workshops. Micallef says the education program will cater to those working in contract cleaning, facility management, government, education, and hospitals and aged care, among others. “We have assembled an outstanding line-up of speakers and presenters who will provide insights across a range of sectors,” she says. “It really is a must-attend event for anyone in the cleaning and hygiene space.” The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo is an approved event under the Australian Government’s Business Events Grants program. ■

www.polivac.com.au www.incleanmag.com.au 11

16-17

FREE TO ATTEND REGISTER NOW! ww w.issacleaninghygieneexpo.com issacleaninghygieneexpo.com 1300 789 845 info@interpoint.com.au

NETWORK

LEARN

GROW

Don’t miss this unique opportunity for people in the cleaning sector to COME TOGETHER AND RECONNECT in the aftermath of COVID-19

FORMER SYDNEY SWANS AFL STAR MICHAEL O’LOUGHLIN will headline a stellar list of speakers as part of the Education Program

An exclusive opportunity for companies to bring their teams – FROM SALES, PROCUREMENT AND OPERATIONS TO TOP MANAGEMENT - to update industry knowledge and support personal development

Visit MORE THAN 70 EXHIBITORS showcasing their new products, services and innovations

The comprehensive Expo Education Program will run over two full days and will feature EXPERT DISCUSSION PANELS AND IN-DEPTH WORKSHOPS

Network with industry MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND WHOLESALERS at the exhibition hall or during informal networking events

Hear from MORE THAN 40 SPEAKERS discussing the postpandemic road to recovery, technology & innovation, supply chain & procurement, business resilience and much more

Owned by

Silver Sponsor:

Media Partner:

Platinum Sponsor:

Silver Sponsor:

Gold Sponsor:

Silver Sponsor:

Education Seminar Sponsor:

Gold Sponsor:

Learn the best industry practices at the INCLEAN EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Improve the look and feel of your online presence with the exclusive PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHER

Silver Premium Sponsor:

Silver Sponsor:

Coffee Cart Sponsor:

Silver Sponsor:

INDUSTRY NEWS

Motorscrubber Australia transition complete The end of 2021 saw the completion of the transition of all operations from Freudenberg Household product to Motorscrubber Australia. “The first six months of business for the new Motorscrubber subsidiary had its challenges, the global supply chain was lumpy at best, the ability to determine and bank on lead times for international freight became almost a best guess scenario,” said Lucas Paris, managing director of Motorscrubber Australia. “However, Motorscrubber was able to navigate this with the support of its UK and USA businesses to minimise local impact to customers.” With the transition complete Motorscrubber Australia is poised to tackle 2022 in a strategic targeted way to substantially grow the M3M Motorscrubber, in conjunction launching the globally success stories that are the JET3, STORM, and DMT systems. According to Paris, Motorscrubber Australia will bring some never seen before products to Australia in 2022. “The timing couldn’t be better as the nation slowly returns to normal and the demand for flexible easy to use equipment increases,” said Paris.

“Motorscrubber Australia’s big bang innovation for 2022 will revolutionise the way the small scrubber markets looks, the need for a mop and bucket in any area may be a thing of the past.” For those interested in becoming a Motorscrubber Australia partner, please send an enquiry to: www.motorscrubberclean. com/becomeadistributor.

ServiceFM partners with Airofresh to eliminate contaminants ServiceFM has been appointed the national distributor of Airofresh air purification units, aiming to work with schools, childcare, health, airports, and other facilities across Australia. According to Airofresh, university testing has found the Australian-first technology used by Airofresh in its full-circle air purification systems can reduce 99.99999 per cent of airborne viruses. Testing undertaken by Australian universities found the carbon neutral Airofresh unit was able to remove virus particles, ensuring workplaces, health and aged care services, schools and other public and commercial buildings could be better protected from pathogens including MS2, a surrogate test for SARS Cov-2, along with fungi, mould, bacteria and gasses. Jon Taylor, managing director of Airofresh, said the air purification units were designed to clean an environment by generating single oxygen hydrons and hydroxyl ions, which destroy airborne viruses, bacteria and atmospheric contaminants. James Pollock, CEO of ServiceFM, said with COVID-19 and concerns about the highly contagious Delta strain shutting borders, closing schools and sparking a mass exodus from offices and forcing people to work from home, the past two years had shown the need to remove contaminants from ambient air was more important than ever.

14 INCLEAN January / February 2022

“The filterless system means contaminants aren’t stored and the full-circle air purification ensures the entire environment is continually safe for workers, clients and staff,” said Pollock. “There has never been a greater need for pure, safe air in the spaces we live, work, and play. This Australian-made technology has come along at just the right time.” Airofresh requires maintenance once every two years and its filterless system doesn’t require PPE when it is being serviced, nor the disposal of dirty, contaminated HEPA filters. ServiceFM is also currently working with a national supermarket chain with widespread plans to install Airofresh units. An audit of ventilation is also underway across thousands of schools in NSW and in South Australia, coinciding with the return of students in both NSW and Victoria. ServiceFM has also been working with several schools nationally, including Somerset College on the Gold Coast. “We’ve been working with schools in several states, with food producers, office building owners, health and aged care service providers and airports, and they understand the need to provide the highest possible air quality to keep their premises and their people safe,” said Pollock. Airofresh is also being used in the Riverland in South Australia by the Costa Group, Australia’s largest citrus grower, to purify air within its storage facilities.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Avidbots expands Neo’s capabilities with Disinfection Add-On for autonomous sanitation of high-touch surfaces, leading the industry with multi-application robots Avidbots, one of the world’s leading robotics companies, has launched its Disinfection Add-On, expanding the functionality of the company’s fully autonomous floor-scrubbing robot, Neo. With the Disinfection Add-On, customers can now autonomously disinfect high-touch, 3-D surfaces with Neo 2, in addition to floor care, delivering an even more efficient, consistent and measurable clean. “The days of having single-purpose robots for specific tasks are behind us. A robot must be multi-functional to meet the ever-evolving needs of customers” said Pablo Molina, CTO, VP of product, chairman, and co-founder, Avidbots. “With the Disinfection Add-On, our customers can disinfect surfaces for a few hundred dollars per month – this is more than 10x savings when compared to having a separate robot or human completing the same task. The Disinfection Add-On truly multiplies the value of the Neo platform. As facilities across the globe reopen and welcome back their employees, customers, and visitors, Neo provides disinfection at a low cost to help our customers keep up with the new normal, creating a safe and healthy environment.”

www.ecofy.net.au

Spraying touch surfaces with a disinfectant is widely used, but not all operators are cleaning properly or consistently. Facility managers are working hard to meet increased cleaning protocols and show proof that facilities are safe, but it can be a significant time commitment to disinfect high-touch surfaces like seating, work surfaces, garbage cans, doors and kiosks, to name a few. The Disinfection Add-On reallocates labour to value-add activities and, most importantly, creates a healthier and safer environment for customers.

indo@ecofy.net.au

www.incleanmag.com.au 15

www.oateslaboratories.com.au

INDUSTRY NEWS

ACCO Brands gets ready for back to school with TruSens Air Purification

Quayclean bolsters education portfolio Quayclean Australia has been awarded the cleaning, hygiene, and waste management contract for Trinity Grammar College in Kew, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. It is the first time in the college’s 119-year history that it has outsourced its cleaning, hygiene and waste management services. Quayclean’s contract win adds to its education portfolio in Victoria and across Australia. Quayclean manages contracts at leading private schools including Aquinas College, Brighton Grammar, St Catherine’s School, Fintona Girls’ School, and Peninsula Grammar to name a few. Quayclean CEO Mark Piwkowski, said the new agreement represents a great opportunity for both Trinity Grammar and Quayclean staff. “Throughout the COVID pandemic we have upgraded our contract services to health standard cleaning level. We will be elevating Trinity Grammar from being aesthetically clean to being hygienically clean,” said Piwkowski. “We will also be supercharging the college’s waste management and sustainability systems and diverting the high majority of waste away from landfill. We aim to achieve a recycling rate of more than 80 per cent over the next 12 months which represents a significant cost saving for Trinity,” he said. Piwkowski said the introduction of new online systems and technologies at Trinity Grammar will allow Quayclean staff to further their skills and offer career advancement opportunities. “All staff will receive expert training in using new technologies as well as training in areas such as the safe use of cleaning agents and chemicals,” said Piwkowski. “The upskilling of our staff will open the door for career progression within Quayclean to supervisor and manager roles. As a company, we are focused on creating positive cultural behaviours and are keen to promote staff from within.”

18 INCLEAN January / February 2022

As a trusted supplier, the ACCO Brands portfolio of academic, consumer, and business products have made their way into schools, offices, and homes all around Australia. ACCO Brands now extends its diverse and well recognised portfolio into TruSens Air Purifiers. With more time being spent indoors, TruSens Air Purifiers are focused on purifying the air you, your family, and friends are breathing. Since the air inside a home or classroom can be contained, an air purifier provides a solution to help reduce indoor airborne pollutants. TruSens Air Purifiers come in small (Z1000), medium (Z2000), and large (Z3000) sizes to cover a wide variety of room sizes and shared spaces. At the heart of the TruSens Air Purifiers is the DuPont HEPA filtration system combined with the power of ultraviolet (UV-C) light. The filter helps capture airborne viruses, allergens, and certain VOC gases from all directions. The UV-C light kills germs and bacteria trapped in the filter. TruSens sets itself apart from other brands with PureDirect Technology and the SensorPod. PureDirect technology utilises bidirectional airflow and is proven to be up to 24% per cent more efficient than traditional air purifiers with a vertical stream. The remote SensorPod, when placed away from the main air purifier, can detect common pollutants in the air more accurately, improving coverage of cleaner air. TruSens Air Purifiers eliminates 99.99 per cent of airborne coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) in your indoor space. Results from independent third-party testing using aerosolized airborne concentration of human coronavirus 229E over a two-hour period in a sealed 30m3 test chamber. HCoV-229e is a well-established surrogate for SARS-Cov-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). The complete TruSens range is available now through B2B suppliers and major retailers. With the impending return of children back into classrooms for 2022, ensuring cleaner air in shared spaces has never been more important.

• • • •

www.oateslaboratories.com.au

INDUSTRY NEWS

Tennant Australia appoints new national sales manager Tennant Australia has appointed Conrad Pearson as national sales manager for Australia and New Zealand. Pearson, who started with Tennant in January 2012 brings many years of experience through different aspects of the business. Beginning as territory manager in eastern Melbourne by mid-2015 he assumed the role of business development manager, responsible for major account management and business development. In late 2018, Pearson was promoted to regional sales manager of the southern region. The new national role now sees him accountable for all sales through ANZ’s direct, dealer, and strategic channels. “With the support of a very strong and experienced ANZ leadership team, it gives me added confidence that under Conrad’s leadership, the ANZ sales business will continue to perform at a high level in 2021 and beyond,” said Tennant ANZ general manager, Markus Haefeli. Pearson said he is excited to take on the challenges and opportunities that this role brings. “With a highly professional sales team across our direct and strategic business we are well positioned to continue to grow and provide industry leading products, service and support”.

Polivac International launches redesigned Mitchell series Polivac International has launched its redesigned Mitchell series and added a number of new machines to the range’s line-up. “Following the latest trends in the floorcare industry and working with industry experts, we have re-designed the existing Mitchell series. These machines are thoughtfully designed to reflect the potential and quality of Australian standards,” the company said. Polivac has also added new machines to the range, including the Colt walk behind scrubber; the Brumby ride on scrubber/ dryer; the GS-13 rotary scrubber; and the KVG-17F multipurpose scrubber/ grinder. The Colt walk behind scrubber has a compact body and is designed to deliver smooth and quiet operations. The batterypowered scrubber cleans areas quickly and collects wastewater in a separate tank, leaving the floors clean and dry in a single pass. 20 INCLEAN January / February 2022

The Brumby ride on scrubber/dryer features a 56cm cleaning path, which helps clean large areas quickly and effortlessly. It has a compact body for easy manoeuvrability. The GS-13 rotary scrubber is ideal for daily floor cleaning and scrubbing. It is simple to use and is ergonomically designed for maximum operator comfort. Its rugged all-metal housing provides the durability to last through the most demanding jobs. The KVG-17F multipurpose scrubber/grinder with tank is a versatile commercial floor machine capable of handling scrubbing, polishing, stripping, sanding, and grinding. “We are proud to introduce the triple planetary gear system at an economical price point never seen before,” the company said. “The G-13 rotary scrubber and KVG multipurpose scrubber/ grinder are equipped with this superior quality gear system that has proved itself to be the strongest for most challenging jobs.”

INDUSTRY NEWS

Whiteley calls for broader COVID-19 assistance for Pacific neighbours Whiteley, an Australian manufacturer of infection prevention products including a range of surface disinfectants and hand sanitisers, is calling on government and businesses to provide more support in the fight against COVID-19 to Australia’s pacific partners. Whiteley has donated more than $350,000 of infection prevention products including V-Wipes, Surfex, and Viraclean to Australia’s neighbouring Pacific nations since the pandemic started. “COVID is having a significant social and economic impact within our neighbouring nations. In Papua New Guinea for instance, infection rates are soaring and the products they need to prevent infection are in very short supply,” said Dr Greg Whiteley, executive chairman at Whiteley. “Our company first engaged with Papua New Guinea in the early days of independence,

and we have continued to supply products and educational support into the Papua New Guinea health care system over the many decades.” Darran Leyden, managing director of Whiteley, said more needs to be done to support our neighbours, with Whiteley urging Australian businesses to join the fight against COVID-19 in the Pacific Region.

“We would also like to see government support, specifically enabling initiatives such as freight cost relief for donated products to enable businesses like ours to further increase the scale of our donation program’’. Tracking data highlights that Papua New Guinea has administered 290,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to date. This equates to a vaccination rate of 1.7 per cent of their population, based on 2 doses*. “With Australia’s vaccination rate now over 80 per cent, and places like NSW over 90 per cent it is easy to forget our neighbours and the struggles they are facing everyday trying to keep their people safe,” said Leyden. “In PNG there have been more than 32,000 infections and 430 reported coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began but we know the problem is on a much broader scale due to many infections and related deaths going unreported in developing Nations.’ “As a company, we remain fully committed to supporting our many friends and colleagues in our region, as any good neighbour should be doing,” said Dr Whiteley. *Source: Our World in data

INDUSTRY NEWS

Reckitt introduces Dettol Pro Solutions to help businesses protect people outside the home

RapidClean Coffs Harbour

RapidClean hosts annual general meeting, outlines company’s future business plans RapidClean has hosted its annual general meeting (AGM) online, reviewing the year and outlaying the company’s future business plan. Rapid Group general manager, Bruce Lees, said the 2020-21 year had been another strong result in terms of growth, with a collective increase in turnover of more than 13 per cent in Australia and exceeding 20 per cent in New Zealand, which was a continuance of the previous 10 years of consecutive double-digit development. Lees said that the pandemic had presented challenges for the group and its members to overcome, and the success was a result of their team’s positive attitude to finding solutions and meeting customer’s needs. He added that the key account team, now headed by Donna Willmette, was also continuing to grow, with new customers being attracted to the RapidNet portal. “The offering of a platform with national pricing combined with excellent local service levels from 56 stores throughout Australia has proven very popular with customers who have multiple delivery points,” Lees said. At the AGM, in a continuance of employing women in senior professional positions, Lee-Ann Kemp was appointed to the Rapid Group board. Kemp holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Post Graduate Diploma in Business and will assist with RapidClean’s continued development. Rapid Group accountant, Natalia Varlamov, said RapidClean is in “a sound financial position to fund growth and continues to pay all suppliers in full, on time, every time”. Each year after the AGM, RapidClean awards are announced for their members that have performed exceptionally. This year, the winner of the RapidClean Member of the Year in Australia was named as RapidClean Coffs Harbour with RapidClean Tasmania the runner up and RapidClean South Coast NSW & RapidClean Gold Coast the finalists. 22 INCLEAN January / February 2022

Reckitt has launched Dettol Pro Solutions in Australia — a B2B program that helps companies to protect people with Dettol’s current range of products as well as B2B-specific solutions such as hand sanitiser dispensers, and customer signage to help stop the spread of germs. Given recent global events, people are demanding higher standards than ever of hygiene and cleaning outside the home, and businesses are expected to do their part. According to Reckitt, 78 per cent* of Australian consumers are still concerned about germs. However, research demonstrates that 85 per cent of businesses overseas believe that having the right products and processes for cleaning and disinfection is one of their most important job responsibilities, yet 70 per cent do not have any specific expertise in this area.** Dettol Pro Solutions addresses these needs by empowering businesses to take the appropriate hygiene measures to protect their staff and customers by providing highly targeted hygiene solutions for high-traffic and high-touch areas. Speaking to INCLEAN, Rahul Kadyan, executive vice president at Reckitt’s New Growth Platforms said, “We recognise the increasing need to restore consumer confidence in workplaces — as well as travel, hospitality and leisure spaces. We will be harnessing our expertise across four key areas: tailored training and protocols for businesses; effective products that help to kill germs; innovative global logistics and servicing; and leveraging our brand power to help businesses clearly communicate the steps they’re taking to help make their spaces and teams clean and hygienic.” To date, Dettol Pro Solutions has partnered with Cricket Australia, the MCG, Hilton Hotels, Sydney Opera House, and Mirvac where Dettol germ protection products and hygiene education signage have been installed to help stop the spread of germs. *Reckitt Toluna Tracker, Wave 16 (6/7/2021-6/13/2021) **B2B SME U&A Study, December 2020

INDUSTRY NEWS

New products, sustainability, and AI headline 2021 i-gathering Eindhoven, the Netherlands, played host to the 2021 i-gathering event which saw the release of new products and insightful conversations surrounding the commercial cleaning industry, facilitated by i-team Global. The 2021 i-gathering saw the launch of two new products from the company’s research and development pipeline, led by significant updates for the original i-mop, and the unveiling of the second-generation i-mop.

It also saw the launch of the all-new and autonomous co-botic 65 for the European market, which is set to arrive in Australia later in 2022. The technical showcase was strengthened by discussions from highprofile keynote speakers. These included Chair of Systems and Control at Eindhoven University of Technology, Maarten Steinbuch, who led a conversation on the growth of computing power for the commercial cleaning industry. A feature piece of this conversation centred on developments in sensor technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI), and how the smart devices we use will re-shape human behaviour. The event then pivoted to how organisations should, in the wake of the pandemic, embrace both transparency and sustainability as key goals in their development, led by Leen Zevenbergen, co-founder of the influential BCorp group. He pressed the importance of balancing purpose with profits in a transparent manner, while becoming more environmentally sustainable. Sales expert, Viola Markus, discussed a unique approach to creating hot leads and creating a sales engine in your organisation, which was followed by the director of the Zandvoort Formula 1 race, Jans Lammers, who discussed the power of team building as you stick to your vision. “The success of the 2021 i-gathering sets the tone for i-team ANZ’s mission moving forward, which emphasises new product with smart technologies and sustainability within the commercial cleaning industry,” i-team ANZ said.

Training & HR Solutions RTO, LMS, Onboarding, Inductions, Document Tracking, Workforce Management Daniels Associates provide the Cleaning and FM Services industries an ever-expanding range of training and HR solutions. • Certificate III and IV in Cleaning. Government funding and cost effective RPL solutions for industry. • Cleaning Industry infection control courses as nonaccredited and accredited HLTINFCOV001. Fully online or classroom based. • Corporate Learning Management system with 50+ courses specifically designed for the cleaning industry. • Industry leading recruitment,

induction and onboarding software integrated with our LMS and National Police Checks (provided by CTW) • Document control and tracking of licenses and certifications such as police and working with children, security licensing etc. • Solutions for Aged Care and Health care including Certificate III in Health Support Services. • Tailored solutions for Accommodation and Hospitality industries.

1300 783 757 | www.danielsassociates.com.au

Daniels Associates RTO ID No: 30957

Daniels Associates is the cleaning industries most respected Training Organisation since 2003. Provider of non-accredited training in conjunction with the BSCAA since 2011. Visit www.bscaa.com for more information

www.incleanmag.com.au 23

INDUSTRY NEWS

1662-1668 Sydney Road, Campbellfield VIC

Central Cleaning Supplies opens new store Central Cleaning Supplies has opened one of its largest stores to date at 1662-1668 Sydney Road, Campbellfield, Victoria. The store’s launch follows the opening of two other stores in Victoria: Footscray and Ballarat. “We are excited to open our new store in Campbellfield and offer our extensive range of cleaning products and equipment to more customers in Victoria,” said Joe Camilleri, Managing Director of Central Cleaning Supplies. Located on Sydney Road in the northern suburbs, the 2000sqm store features a wide range of products and has ample space to showcase a selection of Camill Electric Utility Vehicles and robotic cleaning machines. “What sets the Camill fleet apart is the extensiveness of the range, from transport vehicles, to sweepers, to garbage trucks and pressure washers,” said Camilleri. “Within the Camill range, we have introduced purpose-built units, which include add-ons such as pressure washers, and we have more sustainable innovations coming out soon.” The store also features a large areas for demonstrations and offers a wide range of bulk sized cleaning products. Central Cleaning Supplies plans to continue its store expansion in 2022, with new sites earmarked for Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia. “Since opening, our Campbellfield store has been highly successful and we’re excited to expand our network and offer more service, assistance, and the latest products to customers across the country in 2022,” said Camilleri.

24 INCLEAN January / February 2022

2022

Industry Leaders Forum Report

www.incleanmag.com.au 25

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Bronwyn Capanna Executive Director, Accord Australasia How was 2021 for Accord? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? The sheer busyness of 2021 was a major challenge. When the 2021 pandemic lockdowns hit, we mobilised to provide critical information to help our member businesses. Additional to interpreting and sharing details regarding the ever-evolving restrictions were new concerns about heavily disrupted supply chains. The Accord team quickly came to grips with an array of new topics too, from rapid antigen testing, vaccination requirements, and state roadmaps. Another challenge was navigating the transition of the industrial chemicals’ regulator from NICNAS to AICIS. One highlight was an interactive workshop with AICIS. We engaged in the development of the forthcoming Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS), seeing these fees for industry delayed by 12+ months. Disinfectants, hygiene claims, and TGA requirements remained an advocacy focus too. Of course, the absence of face-to-face contact imposed across the industry was felt by all. To fill the void and maintain networking, Accord hosted a record number of online events – more than 25 – on many topics, including packaging sustainability, economic updates, and emerging markets.

What will be the key areas of focus for Accord in 2022? Helping our industry address key sustainability issues such as packaging waste and plastics. In 2021 we laid the groundwork, completing two extensive industry-wide packaging-use surveys and established our Packaging and Waste Steering Group. Our particular focus for the commercial hygiene sector is HDPE 26 INCLEAN January / February 2022

drums as these have been identified as an area ripe for an industry-led solution. We will also build on the supply chain optimisation work commenced in 2020/21 to help our members address supply challenges, reliably source imports of packaging and raw materials and hopefully gain greater flexibility and certainty in shipping times and costs. With so many regulatory changes impacting the industry, we will continue our member training and interface with key agencies such as AICIS and the TGA, plus assist member companies with further expert guidance as needed. And for those in the food hygiene space, look out for our ‘food safe’ auditor guidance to support companies in demonstrating that their products are suitable for food use.

What challenges and opportunities do you see for the industry in 2022? Our industry has many strengths. Our products and services provide a hygienic environment to protect human health and wellbeing. And our resilient local manufacturing base makes us a major contributor to the Australian economy and employment whilst enabling us to provide tailored, innovative solutions for local needs. But with these strengths come some challenges. The pandemic has highlighted Australia’s supply chain vulnerabilities. Companies that are informed, agile, and prepared stand in good stead to weather whatever challenges lie ahead – and the information, connections, and support provided by Accord have proved vital. There is also a major opportunity for companies to stand out in sustainability by effectively implementing and communicating their initiatives in this space – Accord promotes examples from members whether in packaging, recycling, climate impacts, or other areas.

What sustainability trends will have the biggest impact on the cleaning industry in 2022? Packaging! Particularly plastics. The focus in this area from governments will only intensify as the 2025 date for the National Packaging Targets draws nearer. This issue is also squarely on the global agenda, where a new UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter is under discussion. This could have significant impacts. And there is the ever-present reality of climate change. Considerations around greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint will increasingly impact and Accord is exploring further options to support our members to build capacity in these areas. Our connectivity with global cleaning product organisations, such as AISE (Europe), ACI (North America) and the International Network of Cleaning Products Associations (INCPA), will be instrumental.

What steps can companies in the cleaning industry take to be more sustainable in 2022? Wherever your company is at, aim for small steps forward. Sustainability is so broad that it can be daunting. But if you prioritise one or two key areas, map out what progress would look like and implement the first steps, tangible outcomes will be achieved. As mentioned above, key areas could be packaging, recycling, the circular economy, and climate impacts. And our members often raise the issue of unsubstantiated ‘greenwashing’ claims. We’ve got this covered via our Recognised ecolabel – the Australian ecolabel specifically developed to cover the material impacts of commercial cleaning and hygiene products and endorsed by an expert panel of toxicologists. Whatever you do, don’t forget to promote your actions as this is great for your business, your customers and motivates others. ■

www.incleanmag.com.au

Keep up to date with the latest industry news direct to your inbox Sign up to INCLEAN’s weekly newsletter at www.incleanmag.com.au/register-for-e-news

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Steve Agar Joint Managing Director, Agar Cleaning Systems

How was 2021 for Agar? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? A highlight for me has been the commitment and loyalty of our team right through the pandemic. As a manufacturer of essential goods, we have remained open throughout, and our production, operations, technical, sales, and admin teams have worked tirelessly through some very busy periods. They’ve been cooperative in observing our COVID-safe plans, and flexible when demand has surged and eased. Sales remained strong across our range from the beginning of the year, however, with simultaneous lockdowns in Victoria and NSW starting in July, sales were subdued during the third quarter of 2021. Our disinfectants remained strong sellers, but other product categories suffered at times with the reduced economic activity around Australia. Whilst we’re obviously Australian familyowned, and continue to manufacture in Australia, we can’t escape the global supply chain issues which have become even more challenging in 2021. The sourcing of some key raw materials which are no longer manufactured locally was affected by supply/demand issues and impacted our costs. Despite these challenges, highlights also include expanding our range of products licensed by GECA and releasing some other new products and improvements across several categories.

Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? Firstly, we managed to navigate our way through the peaks and troughs in demand and logistical challenges to 28 INCLEAN January / February 2022

provide stable employment for our team while maintaining consistent supply to the market. We also reconfigured our Preston manufacturing and warehousing facility early in 2021 to improve operations and again, did so without any interruption to supply. Finally, our customers have continued to demonstrate their trust in our products, and we remain ever appreciative of that support.

What will be the immediate focus for Agar in 2022? We’re still working our way through the pandemic, so we’ll be working to raise awareness of our developments with our range of disinfectants. CounterFlu has been very successful, and we have now provided an alternative form of chemistry with Virattack, which utilises hydrogen peroxide. With states having different ‘roadmaps’ out of the pandemic and COVID yet to infect the community to any significant degree in some states, COVID safety protocols and infection control will continue to be very relevant, and so the supply of our disinfectants will remain a key focus, along with further R&D in this area. We have several other new and improved products that were released during the pandemic which we’ll be promoting over the coming months now that lockdowns and restricted operations are easing. We will also focus on promoting our expanded range of green products licensed by GECA as the market reenergises post-COVID.

What are the opportunities and challenges you see for the industry in 2022? We’re entering the vaccination booster phase, and the high vaccination rates should allow our economies to remain open and for life to return to something more normal, including staff in offices, shoppers in retail centres, crowds at sporting events, patrons in venues, and so on.

There will be ongoing demand for antiviral disinfectants as the campaign against SARS-CoV-2 continues while we go about our daily life. The presence of the virus provides the ideal climate in which to reinforce the value of an effective hygiene program incorporating cleaning and disinfection, with achievable productivity rates and adequate hours in the specification. Whilst the pandemic has sat in the foreground of the news for a long time now, in the background the issues of climate change and the environment more broadly haven’t gone away. The leaders in the cleaning industry have already been very savvy in tapping into this movement. There’s an opportunity for the broader cleaning industry to make a greater contribution, by playing an important role in reducing carbon footprint, managing waste streams, and improving the sustainability of their operations. The facility management sector has a strong interest in this area. For all that, the ever-present challenge of competitive price pressure will be there, especially for those property managers who are recovering from lean times during the pandemic. A major challenge arising during the pandemic is the shortage of cleaning labour, due to among other things workers moving to other industries, a shortage of international students available to work part-time and the curtailing of immigration which has long been a source of cleaning labour. Perhaps the difficulty in finding labour will prevent operators from quoting sharply for growth, and instead will maintain higher pricing to cover the labour resourcing issues. Even as labour does become more available as these factors ease, it’s likely that new people will enter the industry and will lack the required skills and knowledge. So, there’ll be a significant need for training, especially online, as well as products, equipment and methods of application which are user-friendly and simple to learn and use.

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM How has the public’s expectations of ‘clean’ changed as a result of the pandemic? There’s an expectation that, when there is COVID-19 out in the community, commonly used surfaces will be regularly disinfected as well, not just cleaned. There is now more of an awareness on the difference between cleaning and disinfecting, with the expectation that a cleaned surface also means a disinfected one. Cleaning was previously judged on visible soil, but now the public better understand the risk of the invisible; bacteria and viruses which can be life-threatening. This means the public will rely on brands, products, and service providers they can trust to deliver an outcome they can’t actually see for themselves.

What impact will these new expectations have on the industry in 2022? Cleaning standards will prioritise infection prevention while the processes will focus on efficiency and outcomes. Cleaning schedules must allow sufficient time to carry out thorough and frequent surface cleaning and disinfection of

all ‘touchpoints’ and other risk areas. Given the current scarcity of labour, together with the requirement for regular ‘manual’ touchpoint disinfection, cleaning service providers will need to explore every viable labour-saving technology so that their labour resource can be deployed where it’s most needed and/or irreplaceable. Efficacy, efficiency, and outcomes will be stronger considerations when selecting processes and purchasing products and equipment.

Is there a message you would like to share with the industry? Firstly, congratulations to the cleaning industry in general on a great effort in demanding and uncertain times. And secondly, I sincerely thank those organisations and individuals who’ve chosen to rely on Agar’s chemical products to provide the cleaning power, disinfection, and hygiene they required. High quality chemicals, machines, hardware, and consumables will help to deliver the best hygiene and productivity outcomes. ■

“

Cleaning was previously judged on visible soil, but now the public better understand the risk of the invisible; bacteria and viruses which can be life-threatening. This means the public will rely on brands, products, and service providers they can trust to deliver an outcome they can’t actually see for themselves.

”

LOCALLY OWNED AUSTRALIAN MADE INDUSTRY EXPERTS Proudly Australian owned and operated, Agar has grown with the industry and the companies within it since 1968. Catering to industry needs across Australia, we strive to provide high quality, consistent and reliable chemicals for great value that won’t disappoint. OUT CHECKTENSIVE X OUR E E TODAY! RANG

The Chemistry of Cleaning

wwww.agar.com.au ww.agar.com.a u

For technical advice from local experts and solutions to suit your needs, we have you covered.

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Warwick R. Lorenz Owner, Australian Pump Industries How was 2021 for Australian Pump Industries? Australian Pump Industries is a relatively young but dynamic Australian company that is both innovative and adventurous. When we started making pressure cleaners, we knew we’d be up against companies that had been in the business for decades. We knew the only way we could claim a share of what we guessed was a growing market for pressure cleaners and wet/ dry vacs, was by building in real features for the user’s benefit. After 25 years of product development, and with constant inspiration from the industry, we had a head start when it came to the virus outbreak. Here’s how we handled it. First, we protected our staff. With a team of only 50 people, and an ambition to grow that’s typically Australian, we knew the first thing was to make sure our staff stayed safe. Being the kind of operation we are, working from home wasn’t an attractive option so we imposed the regime of those precautions designed to protect ourselves, our families and those we do business with. 1. We went into lockdown with doors locked, admitting only those who had approved appointments. 2. We temperature checked all staff every morning and we all were masked through the day, including fitters, engineers, admin staff and salespeople. 3. We monitored closely anyone who showed any signs of illness and sent them home immediately. It’s a great tribute to the staff that nobody complained, and everybody reported for work every day just like normal. Nobody got the bug! Secondly, we offered help for those in trouble. We quickly realised that thanks to the World Health Organization the demand for our product would go through the roof. Our production team moved into high gear working with both domestic and overseas suppliers to make sure we were able to accommodate what amounted to being a major increase in production for pressure cleaners in both petrol and diesel drive configuration. That meant making major commitments for containers of Honda petrol engines, Yanmar 30 INCLEAN January / February 2022

diesels and to get priority in Bertolini’s triplex pump factory in Italy. We did this by making sure we forward ordered far enough ahead – a practice that we’re now continuing with orders placed on suppliers out to the end of 2022 and in some cases early 2023.

How did Aussie Pumps help customers in response to the pandemic? It was simple really. We knew that steam and hot washes are capable of killing germs and pressure cleaners are capable of making workplaces cleaner, particularly with the high-pressure accessories where we specialise. We found users were attracted to our stainlesssteel frames because of their surgical design. The pandemic sharpened up the cleaning industry’s view of just what equipment should be like. Many cleaning contractors moved towards quality and OH&S, recognising their importance over low price. For example, local government became very quality conscious and even schools, hospitals, and aged care homes suddenly started taking an interest in using steam or for exterior work, Aussie cold water pressure cleaners. When we launched the Aussie Sizzler, a 240v hot wash that delivers 80°C at 1800psi, we had the perfect machine for fast food, aged care homes, and a huge range of customers that we never imagined would buy a hot wash machine. The Sizzler’s compact design and attractive price made it a big hit. Our big steam cleaners, both in single and three phase, with pressures up to 4,000 psi also experienced a surge, because of their 130° stream capability.

What have been some of the lessons learnt in 2021? The market was ready for Australian organic designs and equipment built for our market. We have a typically Australian perspective, designing and building machines that are built to last! In 12 months, we doubled our pressure cleaners’ production. This stretched supply lines and key vendors like Honda engines and Bertolini pumps were stretched to keep up with us. We saw major gains with our heavy duty wet/dry vacs, manufactured in northern Italy but equipped especially for the Australian cleaning industry

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

with Microweb filters and rotationally moulded polypropylene barrels that simply won’t quit. Again, we stuck with European motors, in spite of the local prices available for third world product!

like restaurants or theatres, as if they were all virtually ‘hospital grade’. Where we Australians are lucky is obvious. We have the ability to control incoming and outgoing visitors, a much easier situation than almost any Is there a message that you have for the other big land mass in the world. cleaning industry? Here at Australian Pump, we will keep We would all like to believe that the virus is our R&D work going and continue to build Product manager: under control. If you look at the events in new machines that are more advanced than Europe, the US, South Africa, and even right Date competitors, marketing them at fair prices. here in Australia, we can clearly see there is an We love working with key partners like Central element of the population in all these countriesGeneral Cleaning and Cleaners Supermarket. These manager: that don’t’ want to be vaccinated. We doubt the outlets understand the power of quality and Date know there is a massive shift from third world virus will be under control completely next year. Maybe not for decades. consumable cleaning equipment towards high That’s a great challenge for the cleaning quality products that will get the job done and go industry. It means we have to rise to the occasion the distance. They also save time. and promote a level of quality in cleaning that It’s a brave new world and one that Aussie has not previously been required by the market. Pumps will be measured by in our ability We will have to start treating the cleaning tasks to match the market’s higher standard of we do around offices, factories or even venues requirements. We’re up for it! ■

2021 for feature)

Copy Approved

“

Here at Australian Pump, we will keep our R&D work going and continue to build Date for that next review new machines are more advanced than competitors, marketing them at fair prices.

”

AUSSIE’S WAR ON CORONA

We salute you! You’re our inspiration FASTER | SMARTER | SAFER Aussie high pressure cleaners, Aussie Eco-Clean vacs, hot wash & steam cleaners, huge range of accessories

Aussie Pumps www.aussiepumps.com.au 02 8865 3500

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Tony Gorgovski CEO, BIC Services

“

Our people are the foundation of our entire business, and we owe it to them to give them every opportunity to upskill and prosper.

”

How was 2021 for BIC Services? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? 2021 was a watershed year for BIC. It showed us that we must be prepared for virtually anything whilst simultaneously doubling down on our commitment to our purpose, values, and mission, if we are to remain resilient and thrive, regardless of any challenges we might face. We took the opportunity early in 2021, while lockdowns were eased, to undertake a major strategic review of our entire business in the face of the global shocks affecting us all. Our executive team set about developing a clear pathway for our organisation that would take everything we have learned over 30+ years of operation and position ourselves not just for commercial success but to make sure we took our people and our clients with us. We reconnected strongly with why we all get up every day and do what we do. 2021 has reignited our passion and drive. We are more committed than ever to take our business to the next level and use everything we have at our disposal to do that.

How did BIC Services respond and adapt to the impact of the pandemic in 2021? We had already set up a Pandemic Action Committee during 2020 and continue to hold weekly meetings to stay agile and responsive to the rapidly changing realities we all faced. Being a national company, we had the complex challenges of the lack of harmony between states around rules and 32 INCLEAN January / February 2022

restrictions, compounded with increased confusion as specific LGAs became hotspots. We faced the real impacts of our workers confronting heavy restrictions of movement just to get to work. We soldiered on the best way we knew how – to trust our business instincts, stick to best practice and stay streets ahead of government policy. Keeping our people safe and delivering the highest level of service to our clients became paramount. We embraced the national immunisation effort with our own very successful voluntary Employee COVID Vaccination Incentive Program. At the time of writing this, our staff have achieved 100 per cent double vax rate in NSW and Victoria and 98 per cent double vax across the entire country. This demonstrates how business can get things done despite the politics. It also shows how strong our company culture is, that we were able to engage our entire workforce in this way.

What will be the immediate focus for in 2022? Regroup, refocus, and reinvigorate. The last two years have been one big rollercoaster ride and 2022 is the year to emerge stronger, wiser, and more committed to our purpose. We have become so much more than a cleaning company. We will continue to evolve our proprietary technology platforms, including our ICXP, double down on our sustainability, reconciliation, and CSR goals. We will pull together as a national force to acquire new business, retain, and expand existing client services, develop new and exciting partnerships and bring it all together under our strong BIC brand, with exciting new marketing initiatives.

What long-term changes do you think will be implemented to business processes because of the pandemic? Everything needs to be ratcheted up a few notches. Clients are looking at us to instill trust and rebuild everything that the pandemic undermined. Our BIC Training Academy will continue to see increased focus on upskilling around infection

control and enhancing the quality of the personal interactions between our team members and the people they encounter each day. We must continue to see our clients more as partners in the same enterprise of creating engaging, safe, and inspiring spaces.

What trends do you expect to see in 2022? With cleaning so much in the spotlight now, it is becoming more and more important to deliver far beyond expectations, in order to instill confidence in our clients and their tenants, customers, and general public. This will drive innovation across the industry and may see some less capable operators weeded out, as the bar gets increasingly higher. Investment in technology, training, sustainability, and communications must expand in line with client demands.

What is one issue you think the industry should urgently address in 2022? Standards, standards, standards. BIC recently celebrated having our ISO certifications renewed. In an industry that deals with issues like waste, hygiene, and public safety it is critical that we continue lifting our game, driving the industry forward and making best practice even better – across all aspects of our operations, especially when it comes to staff training. Our people are the foundation of our entire business, and we owe it to them to give them every opportunity to upskill and prosper.

What additional advice do you have for the cleaning community? The pandemic clearly established that cleaners are frontline workers and cleaning is an essential service. We need to own it as an honour and a blessing, to play the role that we do in the world. We are creating the future we want to see materialise in this post-pandemic world; sustainable, prosperous, healthy, and clean, where all workers, clients and partners can experience the quality of life we deserve. Let’s continue this journey together. ■

best in clas

Premium Cleaning Services | Waste Management | Hygiene Services | Window Cleaning

LEADING THE WAY BIC Services has spent the last 30+ years evolving into a national force in the industry, transforming commercial cleaning services into a state-of-the-art, multi-layered undertaking, pushing the boundaries of service delivery, client/partnership engagement and innovation – with our people at the centre of it all. Our recent validated commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative and reinvigorated focus on ESG/carbon offsets position us as a champion of change in the business world. We are creating the future that we all want to see – we invite you to embark on this journey together.

ICXP - Interactive Customer Experience Platform

Waste Management Programs

Rapid Response Vehicles

Staff Training

Talk to our friendly team: best in class

1800 683 863 www.bic-services.com.au best in class

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Sharon Kenny Head of Marketing, BizCover How was 2021 for BizCover? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? Last year was a challenging period for most Australian businesses and indeed the world. Like most businesses in Australia, we were impacted by lockdowns and the uncertainty that surrounded the pandemic. But in all its adversity, 2021 also had significant highlights. It was great to see just how resilient our customers truly are. Whilst we saw a cancellation rate the previous year, in 2021 a lot of them stayed the course and we saw less cancellations. And while it’s not business as usual yet Australian businesses are adapting to this new normal with fortitude and flare – BizCover included.

What will be the immediate focus for BizCover in 2022? As Australia comes out of lockdown and small businesses are busy reopening, our immediate focus is to ensure we are helping them with their insurance. At BizCover we understand there is no “one size fits all” solution for small business insurance. Each business is unique. This is why we provide different cover options for more than 6,000 occupations across Australia – including the cleaning industry. This year we want to continue to focus on our customer experience and innovation, making it easier for small businesses to access 34 INCLEAN January / February 2022

insurance on their terms. We have an extensive community of Australian small business customers – 160,000 strong and we want to continue to give these SME’s a transparent way to compare their options and has empowered them to cover the risks they want to cover with the insurers they choose.

How will BizCover engage with the cleaning industry in 2022? Our previous engagement with the cleaning industry has allowed us to understand the challenges small business owners face and the risks they are exposed to in their dayto-day operations. This allows us to provide the right cover to protect them from these risks so they can get back to more important things like running a business. We already provide insurance to more than 4600 cleaners in Australia, so we feel like we understand these businesses. However, we also know that the cleaning industry is not one to stay static. Change comes fast and we want our fingers on the pulse to ensure we are ready. Engaging with cleaning industry publications and building relationships with our new and existing cleaning industry customers is what we are doing this year to ensure we continue to deepen our knowledge about the industry.

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

What long term changes do you think will need to be implemented to business processes in the cleaning industry as a result of the pandemic? At BizCover, we know business insurance. We are experts in providing the small business owners in the cleaning industry with competitive products that protect them in their time of need. It’s not for us to influence change in any particular industry other than our own. Rather we want to help those in the industry to prepare and be protected from change. What we’ve noticed is that cleaning and sanitation have become bigger issues throughout the pandemic. This is trend likely to continue and has the potential to influence business processes in the cleaning industry. If business circumstances have changed or you’ve got new employees or equipment, your business insurance may be outdated. Many small businesses in the cleaning industry are now in a vastly different position than they were at the start of the pandemic. So now is a good time to take stock and review your insurance

Life is already

cover, to ensure you have adequate cover for your business.

Is there a message that you would like to share with the cleaning industry? We want business owners in the cleaning industry to know that BizCover is here to help protect your business. Whether they’re new or well established; whether they just need public liability or whether they’re a business that needs to cover portable tools and equipment; BizCover is here to make business insurance simple. The second point that we want to get across is the importance of reviewing your insurance. Cleaning looks to be a growth industry, and with growth comes change. As your business grows, ensure your risk protection grows with the new circumstances. Otherwise, you could be left in a sticky situation without the right cover. Lastly, we would like to thank all the small business owners from the bottom of our hearts. It has been a tough couple of years but together we have seen that light at the end of the tunnel and emerged on the other side. ■

“

Cleaning looks to be a growth industry, and with growth comes change. As your business grows, ensure your risk protection grows with the new circumstances. Otherwise, you could be left in a sticky situation without the right cover.

”

Business insurance doesn’t have to be

Compare multiple quotes online in minutes Instant online cover – no paperwork required Save yourself time and money Compare with Australia’s Small Business Insurance Specialist

www.bizcover.com.au bizcover.com.au 1300 805 821

EARN QANTAS POINTS

for every dollar spent on a new small business insurance policy*

*Must be a Qantas Business Rewards member. Maximum of 10,000 Qantas Points earned per policy. Available to new BizCover policy purchase only and not available with any other offer. See Terms & Conditions at bizcover.com.au/qbr. The information provided is general only and should not be relied upon as advice. BizCover Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975; AFSL 501769) © 2021 BizCover. BC2059

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Kim Puxty National President, Building Service Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA) How was 2021 for the BSCAA? One of the main highlights throughout this year was keeping members informed and updated on the ever-changing rules and laws that kept coming into place. Mainly, this related to COVID-19 and public health orders, with regulations changing all the time depending on lockdowns, etc and was complicated by the fact that changes differed by state and territory. We strived to educate our members in the best way possible, introducing a range of informative webinars throughout the year. Another highlight for us was our rebranding, unveiling a new brand logo and improved website that offers more resources for BSCAA members. We really focused the rebrand on helping us deliver more consistent messaging and being able to provide the latest information as and when required. As far as challenges go, getting our message across to both federal and state government departments in relation to issues affecting the cleaning industry was a big struggle. It was difficult trying to persuade various governments that cleaning was an essential service to be maintained during COVID-19 lockdowns, as well as petitioning the government to increase visa working hours for cleaners within the industry, many of whom were struggling because they did not have access to schemes such as JobKeeper. We felt our industry was not being valued by governments as much as it should and needed to be, which was a difficult pill to swallow and something we worked hard to correct. We made great progress as an association with a number of initiatives gaining traction - such as our brand evolution and what this embodied. We strived to remain at the forefront of all COVID-related challenges throughout the year, working hard to ensure our members were always informed and constantly updated. This meant considerable time was spent analysing, reviewing, and deciphering some of the complex and 36 INCLEAN January / February 2022

contradictory government directions handed out.

What will be the immediate focus for the BSCAA in 2022? Compliance will be a major priority for us in the next 12 months. We are working on developing a compliance program and cleaning performance standard. This will go alongside a new affordable membership structure where members have the option to become compliant, allowing themselves to become accredited by our compliance program. It is our intention that these members are then recognised as certified by property owners and facilities managers, helping them find more contracts on a more consistent basis. We understand that there is a need for government funded courses within our industry. It is important in the development of a specific skill sets and a career pathway within the industry. BSCAA’s focus will be to collaborate with government bodies that help drive that message. We are also working towards the consolidation of resources to provide better support and a more effective association for our members. To do this, we will start appointing new salaried roles within our organisation as a way of driving better advocacy and growth. In turn, this should help us improve on the support and efficiency mentioned earlier. As a member driven organisation our overall strategy is about improving and delivering better results for our members in 2022. We are also looking to centralise and standardise back of house systems and functions from state to the national level, enabling us to strategise better than ever before. Put it this way, it is going to be an exciting year for BSCAA members in 2022.

What will be the BSCAA’s advocacy priorities in 2022? Visa working hours for sure. This is really hurting many businesses as the current visa conditions limit how many

hours some workers can work within the cleaning industry. We have campaigned all year for this to change, really trying to get those hours extended so cleaners are not leaving our industry for other sectors with more relaxed rules. Furthermore, the focus is definitely on the availability of staff. Changing the visa rules will be one step we take to make more staff available, but we are also lobbying government to open the international borders to international students. Again, we hope this drives more people into the cleaning industry, helping our members find employees that allow them to conduct their work more efficiently.

What challenges and opportunities do you see for the industry in 2022? Looking back on this year, we think there will be four main challenges for the industry in 2022: • Recruiting quality cleaning staff • Staffing shortages leading to increased costs through higher wages • Adjusting to changes in the new post pandemic environment • Working alongside governments on required policy and legislative changes It is getting harder than ever to find cleaners or those seeking to become cleaners because there simply are not sufficient workers available. Therefore, one of our top priorities is to lower the barriers and encourage more cleaners to come forward. It is an issue now and we can see it being an issue for the time being. What is more, we find that - because of the shortage of cleaners – there is increased pressure on wages, well above the award. Many businesses are struggling to meet contract budgets because the payment demands for cleaners are so high. We also see 2022 as an opportunity to create an affordable compliance/ accreditation model that cleaning contractors of all sizes can obtain to enhance the professionalism and authenticity of their companies.

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

With the submission of a Cleaning Performance Standards with Australian Standards, the development of this standard will commence in 2022. The Cleaning Performance Standards will give the industry consistent terminology, definitions, measuring and a foundation on which licensing and auditor qualifications can be built. BSCAA sees this as an opportunity to further raise the professionalism of the industry and will continue work on this project in 2022 with Standards Australia. Ironically, the pandemic has given us a significant window of opportunity. It has certainly raised the importance of hygiene and cleaning to everyone enabling us to capitalise upon it through the promotion of new services and technological enhancements.

Is there a message you would like to share with the industry? Overall, our main message is just a massive well done to everyone within the industry throughout 2021.

We know it has been such a difficult year, and we are incredibly proud of the exceptional job everyone within the sector has done during the pandemic. Cleaners and contractors have been on the frontlines, protecting millions of fellow Australians from this deadly virus by providing expert cleaning services. It is a shame the industry does not always get the recognition it deserves for this, but just know that you have made an enormous difference and Australia wouldn’t have been able to cope without you. We would also like to add that it has been so impressive seeing how everyone has adapted to the ever-changing environment over the last 12 months. We have proved that we are essential and that without cleaners, no business or organisation can function. As we move into the future, do not forget that the value of the services you provide is recognised and is under the spotlight more than it was 12 months ago. It is up to us, as an industry, to keep this momentum going and to remind the broader property industry that cleaning well is both an art and science that cannot be ignored. ■

“

As we move into the future, do not forget that the value of the services you provide is recognised and is under the spotlight more than it was 12 months ago. It is up to us, as an industry, to keep this momentum going and to remind the broader property industry that cleaning well is both an art and science that cannot be ignored.

”

www.bscaa.com

national@bscaa.com www.incleanmag.com.au 37

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Joe Camilleri Managing Director, Central Cleaning Supplies

How was 2021 for Central Cleaning Supplies? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? 2021 was a great year for Central Cleaning Supplies, despite the pandemic and the subsequent challenges of lockdowns in Victoria and New South Wales. We reported strong growth and expanded our network of outlets across the country – opening three new sites in Victoria including Footscray, Ballarat and Campbellfield. We made several key appointments of senior managers, and also grew our sales and support team in response to customer demand. Some of the highlights of 2021 were further expansion of leading brands, including the addition of Rex to the LionsBot range of cleaning robots and introduction of more models of Camill Electric Utility Vehicles to the Australian market.

work hard and deliver exceptional service to our customers throughout lockdowns. I’m also appreciative of the support our customers have shown us over the past years.

What will be the immediate focus for Central Cleaning Supplies in 2022? The immediate focus for Central Cleaning Supplies is to continue to meet and exceed our customers’ expectation. This includes more store expansion, more sites and team members on the ground means we can be closer to our customers to deliver more services and innovative products faster. We opened three new sites in 2021 and we plan to open more sites across the country in 2022, including Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia. Another focus for us this year will also be our online presence. We’re currently in the process of updating our online ordering platform.

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months?

What are the major opportunities you foresee for Central Cleaning Supplies in 2022?

I am particularly proud of our staff and their resilience shown during these challenging periods. They continued to

We have a few acquisitions in the pipeline that we believe will help further strengthen the Central Cleaning Supplies

38 INCLEAN January / February 2022

brand. We also have a suite of new and innovative products that we’re excited to bring to the market in 2022. In 2021, we further expanded the deployment of the LionsBot range. Each cleaning robot in the range is made to perform a specific task so as to achieve maximum efficiency in its cleaning operation: LeoScrub for floor scrubbing, LeoMop for mopping, LeoVac for vacuuming, and LeoPull which pulls a 450kg bin, suitable for rubbish collection. The LionsBot machines have all been really well received by the industry and we are extending the range. We will be presenting LionsBot’s first autonomous cleaning robot for large commercial spaces, Rex. Rex has been engineered specifically for commercial and industrial settings like airports, shopping centres, warehouses, convention centres, and carparks. It delivers incredibly accurate cleaning and localisation while being able to effectively avoid dangers with advanced active obstacle tracking. We will also continue to expand our range of Camill Electric Utility Vehicles. Facilities are increasingly seeking more environmentally friendly options, which is why our fleet has become such a strong market performer. Within the Camill range, we have introduced purpose-built units, which include add-ons such as pressure washers and we have more sustainable innovations coming out soon. I think what also sets the Camill fleet apart is the extensiveness of the range, from transport vehicles, to sweepers, to garbage trucks and pressure washers. Continuing our focus on sustainability, Central Cleaning Supplies has the vision to become an environmentally sustainable business. Our organisation is taking effective measures to ensure environmental responsibility remains at the core of our business approach.

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM What role will innovation play for Central Cleaning Supplies in 2022? Innovation will continue to play a key role for Central Cleaning Supplies this year. From the products that we offer through to our online ordering platform, we are always looking at new ways to enhance our product offering and provide our customers with market leading cleaning solutions.

What challenges and opportunities do you see for the market in 2022? While the pandemic has presented challenges, it has also presented a lot of opportunities for the industry. The last couple of years has put a spotlight on the cleaning industry and cleaning practices. Because of this, there’s now a greater need for contactless cleaning as well as data-driven cleaning. We believe at Central that we are well positioned to help cleaning companies tackle these challenges with the LionsBot range. The LionsBot range offers not ai1638941883122_2795 CCS Inclean Juma January HP only autonomous cleaning reducing

foot traffic on-site, but also provides measurable cleaning results.

only attract staff to the cleaning industry but also retain them.

What is one issue in the cleaning industry that you would like to see addressed?

What advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry?

There’s a major staff shortage around the country at the moment and I believe that this will continue throughout 2022. The Ad Final FA.pdf 1 8/12/21 4:38 pm industry needs to look at new ways to not

Be willing to embrace innovation. We remain a market leader because of the innovative cleaning technologies that we offer our customers. ■

www.centralcleaning.com.au

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Garth Michalson Managing Director, Cleanstar How was 2021 for Cleanstar? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? 2021 was an interesting year for Cleanstar balancing normal everyday business with the challenges of trading in a COVIDenvironment. That said, 2021 was the best year on record for Cleanstar/XPOWER. The main challenge has been keeping up with product demand. Over the past year there has been a massive increase in costs of raw materials. When you couple that with extraordinary increases in shipping costs, the likes of which have never been seen before, together with shipping capacity shortages, the pressures on price as well as on supply lines has been a massive challenge. Given the nature of the pandemic and associated lockdowns, the way in which cleaning was normally carried out had to change which brought with it some challenges, especially in terms of finding alternative products that allowed new levels of cleanliness to be achieved. Therefore, finding new products when you are strapped to your desk can be quite challenging. Amongst many new products we released, the introduction of what we believe to be the best air purifier in the world, Rensair, has bought on a lot of exposure and credibility for us.

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? There have been many moments in 2021 that have made me proud. The challenges imposed on everyone running a business in these times have been plentiful. I am proud of my staff who have helped our great result achieved having to adapt quickly to the new trading environment, new products, and at the same time maintaining our excellent service levels for which we are known. It was wonderful to be able to help our customers through their challenges as well where together we were all able to achieve great outcomes. 40 INCLEAN January / February 2022

What will be the immediate focus for Cleanstar in 2022?

How do you see the cleaning and hygiene market evolving in 2022?

HEPA air purification is our immediate focus with our hospital-grade Rensair unit and our XPOWER Air Purifier Scrubber. We strive to offer all of Australia and NZ better air indoor quality. Never before has the spotlight shone so brightly on the importance of good indoor quality. Not only is it a key part of the risk mitigation strategy, but it also makes for more productive environments too.

There will be more focus on personal health, hygiene, and air purification in environments such as office buildings, schools, aged care facilities, hospitals, retail centres, hospitality venues, transport, as well as and general work and living spaces.

Are there any new brands or products to be launched in 2022?

The main challenges is product availability and the rising cost of goods, without a doubt. Unfortunately, everybody in the supply chain right through to the end user is going to have to become accustomed to paying more for their products when they can get them. Plenty of opportunities abound for us. With our large range of products and a significant investment in stockholdings, in times like this where supply of stock is challenging, we are cementing Cleanstar as a major and trusted Australian brand, with great products, continuity of supply and service.

Bonnie Bio, which is our new compostable range of bin liners, council bags, dog poop bags straws, gloves, and cutlery, is an exciting new product for us. Our focus is to help in the elimination of plastic product in Australia. Of course, we have a few other new initiatives on the go which we will release and announce to the market in due course. We’re never sitting still at Cleanstar!

“

The pandemic should be a message to all industries that hygiene (whether it’s air or surface) is of utmost importance, and we need to be consistent with our standards and keep them high.

”

What the opportunities and challenges you see for the wider market in 2022?

What is one issue in the cleaning industry that you would like to see addressed? Better standards of cleaning in general. The pandemic should be a message to all industries that hygiene (whether it’s air or surface) is of utmost importance, and we need to be consistent with our standards and keep them high.

What are the major opportunities you foresee for Cleanstar in 2022?

Do you have a message for the cleaning community?

Dealing more with industries such as the healthcare sector, education, government, transport, and hospitality when it comes with categories like air purification and general hygiene, with cleaning equipment and products of all types. The pandemic has helped open new doors for us which is exciting.

Now more than any other time the importance of being more professional through good work practices, work ethics, and the use of quality cleaning equipment and product is paramount. This will lead to better productivity and greater revenue streams through more effective cleaning. Investment is key. ■

www.bonniebio.com.au

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Bruce Whiteley Operations Director, Daniels Associates How did Daniels Associates fare in 2021? The lockdowns as a result of COVID-19 have presented a challenging environment for us and many other companies in the cleaning space. As an education and training company that has been focused on supporting facility managers and cleaning contractors for many years, we have in the past operated mostly on the back of government funding for qualifications such as a Certificate III in Cleaning Operations and a Certificate IV in Cleaning Management. The pandemic has put pressure on that traditional business model, so over the past two years we’ve been reinventing the way we do business. We are more agile and focussed on delivering ‘on-demand training’. With an eye to the future, we’re gathering momentum to move away from the old model into an online fee-for-service model.

Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? There has been a gap in the industry for a cost-effective and easy-to-use system to onboard new staff and manage current employees. As part of our transformation, we have been developing recruitment software and updating our learning management systems, including integrations and application programming interfaces (APIs), that will allow us to develop innovative solutions in the HR, onboarding, and online training space. We have two fulltime IT developers on board who are integrating software to streamline our learning management systems, recruitment support, and other offerings such as police checks for workers. This will help cleaning companies tick all their compliance boxes. The key for us is to deliver technology that helps companies with their pre-employment and onboarding processes so that their workers have basically completed most of their training before they start work. The software development is going well, and the imperative now is to set a price point that works for the cleaning industry. We’re 42 INCLEAN January / February 2022

aiming to release our software at the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo in March.

What will be the major focus for Daniels Associates in 2022? The truth is that English is a second language for most cleaners in Australia and many struggle with IT and have very limited access to computers, especially in the workforce. So, our priority is to continue to develop education and onboarding systems that work simply and which can be accessed via a mobile phone. That’s the electronic track we’re going down. We can send workers a link to education and information sources, they can access it on their phone and away they go. This approach cuts down on paperwork and makes it much easier for cleaning companies to coordinate their training. For example, we have some clients who may have trainees spread across WA, SA and the NT. Conventional ways of handling such training are a nightmare, but with our new systems the trainees will be able to open their smart phone, click on a link, and access information with a level of simplicity that would not have been possible in the past.

What challenges do you anticipate for the industry in 2022? HR and succession planning have gone out the door. The cleaning industry is facing staff shortages because the bulk of the labour force isn’t coming from Australian citizens and residents. It’s coming from overseas students and immigrants who are on visas, and COVID-19 has disrupted that model. Therefore, we need to come up with new ways to educate and train new workers. The other big issue is when government facilities and property owners start to tighten their purse strings again. When COVID-19 first broke out, cleaners were getting a lot of extra money because of the need for higher hygiene standards and greater frequency of cleaning. During the more recent outbreaks, however, clients have been saying they can’t pay anything extra for cleaning,

even though they want all the high-touch surfaces cleaned regularly. I worry that, in 2022, clients may start asking cleaning companies to cut costs – and margins will be very tight in such an environment. And how will cleaners cut costs? Well, they will reduce their costs where they can, including through the purchase of supplies, reduced overheads and training. Fortunately, our new software will support a streamlined recruitment and onboarding process for many companies.

What advice do you have for fellow leaders in the cleaning industry? There is no doubt that the way we do business has permanently changed. The old way of doing things no longer yield the results we seek. COVID-19 has shown us that we still need to pay special attention to workforce planning as part of our strategic growth. The cleaning industry in Australia has a labour problem because there is a certain percentage of Australians who have removed themselves from the labour market for various reasons and will not work in certain jobs. The only option at the moment is to open the national borders to more overseas students and immigrants, but they’re not going to completely fill the gap in the local labour supply. We need a different way and I’ve long hoped that more cleaning companies would overhaul their employment practices and employ people properly and permanently, rather than relying too heavily on subcontractors. Maybe there is now a great opportunity for cleaning companies to work with their clients and provide more sustainable labour practices. We need to start thinking outside the box and look at different ways of doing things. For example, maybe it’s time to discuss more day cleaning with property owners and managers. The equipment technology in battery-operated equipment is now readily available to support such practices. I think there are great opportunities in this space brought on by the labour shortages. ■

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Jonathan Weiss Commercial Director of B2B for Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, Reckitt How was 2021 for Dettol Pro Solutions/Reckitt? The year 2021 was a very exciting time for Dettol Pro Solutions as it was the first full year of the program. We started Dettol Pro Solutions to help businesses protect their spaces in the new normal. It combines Reckitt’s expertise in hygiene, the same trusted Dettol products, and the power of the 100+ year-old brand to equip businesses to protect customers and staff from germs to a higher standard with the aim of renewing consumer confidence. Since launching, we’ve been focusing on bringing the program to life with a series of great partners and expanding our footprint across markets. In Australia we’ve had a tough time trying to track the many reopenings and then shutdowns, however, our trusted products and relationships with our partners has helped us go from strength to strength. We picked up a number of partners such as Hilton Hotels, and Cricket Australia. More recently, we have partnered with the Sydney Opera House. In mid-2021, we found ourselves needing to respond to a scenario in Australia where everyone thought the challenges of 2020 were over. People started going back to old habits and didn’t understand the importance of targeted hygiene and the need to keep up with newly established good hygiene practices. As a result, many businesses and people in Australia were caught by surprise when it became apparent that this wasn’t over. We are very proud of the resilience of our supply-chain during that time as we were able to ramp up production to cope with some significant spikes. When things heated up again in 2021, we were well equipped to remain in full supply and were able to support all our business partners for their needs amid a demand for higher standards of hygiene outside the home.

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? The crowning achievement to showcase what Dettol Pro Solutions is capable of is the work we did in Glasgow with Her Majesty’s government for COP26. As the UN Climate Conference’s official hygiene partner, we were responsible for protecting 26,000 people from germs with a series of targeted hygiene interventions. We provided 8,000 litres of Dettol hand sanitiser and more than 600 sanitising stations. Rigorous measures at the conference demonstrated that people can get back together for important business such as addressing climate change when an environment is protected with the right protocols in place and products in use. I’m also proud of the team in Australia as they have galvanised around our partners to help protect their spaces. We rolled out the Hilton partnership in Australia in January 2021 reaching all of their hotels nationwide. Our distributor partners also deserve some recognition too. We are partners with Winc who are the leading office supplies provider. They have done a great job of providing information to those interested in learning more about the Dettol Pro Solutions program as well as granting access to the same Dettol products which are now available to businesses.

What changes in customer behaviour did you see in 2021? The biggest shift we’ve seen is the desire to find the balance for good hygiene but also to ensure that sustainable solutions are being put in place. It is possible to do good by your employees, your patrons, and to also keep sustainability in mind. At Dettol Pro Solutions, we are addressing this by ensuring our cleaning protocols don’t involve broad brush stroke cleaning for full site cleans in the morning and the evening. Rather our expert-developed protocols encourage businesses to use products sparingly but in places that need it most such as on elevator buttons

and door handles at regular intervals to ensure people stay protected. This means you are using less products, but still protecting people. While we know there is still more work to do, we are focusing a lot on sustainability within our products at Dettol. For example, our biodegradable disinfectant wipes use plant-based substrates and are tested against biodegradability standards.

What is one issue you would like to see addressed? The hygiene product industry needs to do better than just expect that providing product is enough, because it isn’t. At Dettol Pro Solutions we are a 360 solution. Our partners have access to the same trusted Dettol products which are efficacious in killing 99.9 per cent of germs, as well as cleaning protocols and guides to better protect their space. We encourage good hand hygiene at point of sale when we activate with our partners and encourage people to get back to business by ensuring people understand that the space has been sanitised and disinfected by Dettol, so they feel confident to re-engage with the space. Knowing how important it is that good hygiene habits are taught from a young age, we also invest heavily in good hygiene behaviour and education programs at schools. We recently launched our Catch a Habit campaign and announced our Hygiene Quest program to teach children the importance of hygiene in a fun and engaging way. Hygiene Quest will be available to classrooms across Australia in 2022 and will be accessible to parents from home.

What advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry? As an industry, we need to move away from finding it acceptable to just provide products and leave it at that. Businesses and consumers expect more so we need to ensure we are supporting organisations with more comprehensive solutions to meet their needs. ■ www.incleanmag.com.au 43

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Wayne Hill Managing Director, Diversey ANZ How was 2021 for Diversey ANZ? As with everyone 2021 remained a challenge for various reasons. Our top priority was the health and safety of our team and customers as we supplied products to protect Australia against COVID-19. We also, (like so many) laboured through the internal disruption of remote working and global supply/ freight shortages and delays. Nevertheless, in response to these challenges we worked hard to strategically acquire Tasman Chemicals to protect our future and open the door to local manufacturing, offering our customers best in class, Australian made products. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our dedicated Diversey ANZ team who rose at every challenge throughout the year.

What were the highlights? Three areas stand out as highlights during 2021. 1. It was rewarding to have 20 disinfectants approved by ARTG to kill SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) enabling us to provide solutions for not only the healthcare industry but many other sectors. 2. Positive customer feedback. One example was from a well-known quick food restaurant with more than 690 stores, who named Diversey Supplier of the Year. Given the challenges of supply in the last two years this was a major achievement. 3. Finally, we were thrilled to announce the acquisition of Tasman Chemicals. This allows us to determine our own destiny as we move into the future. A strategic decision, implemented in response to the ongoing global supply and freight challenges. Owning our own local manufacturing site will assist in safeguarding supply of our products and therefore customers, which is our goal.

What were the challenges? There were quite a few challenges in 2021, one which was addressed frequently was forecasting customer demand. Orders were erratic due to stockpiled products 44 INCLEAN January / February 2022

in 2020. In terms of hand sanitisers and disinfectants it become difficult to forecast exact requirements, as even our valued customers had no way of predicting the length or level of shutdowns. Another challenge was navigating and supporting the ups and downs of our customers in the hospitality sector, as many states either remain in lockdown or are moving in and out of lockdown.

Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of? Our COVID-19 taskforce team worked hard to stabilise supply through multiple channels. In addition, the acquisition and integration of Tasman Chemicals in September 2021, which provides the ability to manufacture inhouse, aiding in the stability of supply for many products should demand escalate again.

What are the major opportunities you foresee for Diversey ANZ in 2022? We are hoping to see ongoing demand of infection prevention products such as hand sanitisers and disinfectants as customers deplete their stockpiled products, update processes, and acknowledge the increased requirements of hygiene levels for facilities and businesses. This demand will provide opportunity for us to develop innovative solutions to meet these increased needs. As part of these new solutions, we will be developing and integrating our legacy Tasman product offering to expand the Diversey portfolio even further.

How has the public’s expectations of ‘clean’ changed because of the pandemic? The COVID pandemic has proven to the public how critical cleaning and disinfection are in stopping the spread of disease. That said, the public now want to ‘see’ what was once an ‘invisible’ resource – cleaning. Their expectation of ‘clean’ has heightened and opinions differ from person to person on what is important. It is our role to not only educate the public

on best practices of cleaning/hygiene and high touch disinfection, but we also need to provide products in facilities. For their own peace of mind, the public require products available to undertake their own personal cleaning/hygiene themselves (should they feel so inclined). That way they can confidently stay or play and feel ‘safe’ in terms of cleaning, hygiene, social distancing and meeting all COVID requirements.

What impact will these new expectations have on industry? The second COVID wave has bought with it a greater appreciation of how important good cleaning practices are to a facility, business image, and the safety of people. In the past infection prevention was only considered when a breakout occurred, however, now we understand how easily viruses spread and therefore just how important infection prevention is for all sectors. Many facilities have now introduced new cleaning processes and systems which our industry must continue to embrace and follow to meet customer satisfaction.

What is one issue that you would like to see addressed? With so many sectors opening up around us, our industry needs to plan carefully and intentionally how we will provide guidelines for infection prevention as we learn to live with the virus. Despite dramatic improvements in cleaning practices over the last two years there remains a lack of understanding about the right kind of disinfection and approved practices. As an industry, we can work together to educate customers on the correct grade of disinfectants (with required approvals) for individual facilities and the increased disinfection required. I recognise the new standards will come at an added cost to our customers, however, if we do not continue to educate, we are in danger of slipping back into old habits and being exposed to what could be fatal risks. ■

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Nora Potter Founder, Ecofy How was 2021 for Ecofy What were the highlights? What were the challenges?

What will be the immediate focus for Ecofy in 2022?

2021 was an interesting year to say the least. In years past we spent majority of our time travelling between states, New Zealand and international trade shows. 2021 saw us working from home or the office as travel was out of the question. One of the main highlights of 2021 was formalising our already strong partnership with Greenspeed International by the way of a longterm contract as their exclusive distribution partner for Australia and New Zealand. We were very excited and honoured to be trusted to grow such a reputable brand in Australia and New Zealand. Another highlight was seeing our customers and partners get through the pandemic as many industries struggled, as well as moving into our new Ecofy office. The pandemic had us working out of home as we no longer had the luxury of working out of hotel lounges and we needed to separate our home/work life. The forecasting of stock was challenging and making sure we had enough supply to keep our existing customers happy. Dealing with freight delays and exorbitant shipping costs was also challenging. Shifting our face-to-fatce training to online live training. It’s not ideal building relationships over the internet but we made it work.

Raising the standard of cleaning has always been our focus – and doing it in the safest most environmentally friendly way. Ecofy’s focus for 2022 will be to bring awareness to the cleaning industry that quality products are essential and will save you money. We will also introduce new products that will assist companies reach their carbon neutral goals.

Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? I’m proud of the fact that we were able to support our customers through the pandemic, not increasing prices, and reassuring them we had enough stock to keep them going. I leant on my networks to source products that were hard to come by and assist people whose suppliers let them down. Partnerships played a very important role for Ecofy as we pride ourselves on our service and being the go-to people in our industry.

What opportunities and challenges do you see for the wider market in 2022? There is a growing trend towards quality cleaning products and companies presenting new ideas and offering a point of difference based on safety, sustainability, and best practice in cleaning will do well in 2022. The challenge for the wider market will be supply of products due to the lack of resources and material, shipping costs, and delays in transport.

“

Ecofy’s focus for 2022 will be to bring awareness to the cleaning industry that quality products are essential and will save you money.

”

What do you expect to be the big sustainability trends of 2022? The big sustainability trend for 2022 in my opinion will be working toward carbon neutral goals, as well as recycled and recyclable microfibre. Hopefully we will start to see a lot less chemicals and a shift to chemical-free.

What is one issue you would like to see urgently addressed? The overuse and misuse of cleaning chemicals. In particular during the pandemic the misuse of disinfectants has been a concern. I would love to see cleaners get back to basics with their cleaning protocols and reduce the amount of chemicals in use.

Looking forward to 2022, what advice would you give to fellow industry leaders? Don’t do what we have always done. Look to improve and work together to raise industry standards. ■ www.incleanmag.com.au 45

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Daniel Pisaniello General Manager Commercial, Godfreys How was 2021 for Godfreys? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? What an interesting year! With COVID-19 presenting various challenges, we continued to offer our support, expertise, and ongoing commitment to our customers. Like most businesses we navigated a continuously changing landscape. We embraced remote working, implemented new business processes and procedures, and developed innovative methods to showcase our range of products to our customers. Store closures and regularly changing restrictions added an additional layer of complexity to operations. We continued to identify opportunities, despite these challenges and moved forward with our business strategy. Investment in infrastructure, innovative new products, and passionate employees ensured strong foundations for 2022 were developed. We are excited to build on these with our team members and customers to ensure the strategic growth of Godfreys. Our growing commercial division secured the exclusive distribution rights to Comac floorcare equipment in Australia and New Zealand, and the Rosemor brand of escalator cleaning machines for the Asia-Pacific region.

What will be the immediate focus for Godfreys in 2022? Our immediate focus is to continue investing in and supporting our people. Building a motivated and passionate team, excited to contribute to improving the cleaning industry, will result in the retention and attraction of customers, enabling us to achieve our anticipated growth in 2022. Developing and manufacturing key product lines for the industry will also remain a key focus. Ongoing conversations with our trusted vendors 46 INCLEAN January / February 2022

throughout 2020/2021 have allowed us to commit to our new product development pipeline and reduce delays in the value chain. A great result for our customers!

What are the opportunities and challenges you see for the wider market in 2022? Embrace change. Encourage your teams to seek out and pursue new initiatives created by the dynamic changes in the market. It’s also a great time to consider new verticals, target growth industries and provide on-going education or training to existing customers. The needs of customers are likely to change in 2022. Listening and providing new technologies and innovations to meet their evolving needs will build strong, long term, and mutually beneficial relationships.

“

The pandemic has transformed the way we operate and many facets of our business. At Godfreys, we see this as an opportunity to lead the way for the industry through the years to come.

”

How will the impact of the pandemic re-shape the cleaning industry in 2022? The ‘new normal’ is a phenomenon all businesses are adapting to. From ongoing conversations with our customers, we believe there will be an increased focus on preventative cleaning and comprehensive sanitation. The level and type of product education will become a key differentiator in the market, providing a competitive edge

for those within the cleaning industry, that have and continue to invest in its development. The pandemic has transformed the way we operate and many facets of our business. At Godfreys, we see this as an opportunity to lead the way for the industry through the years to come.

What do you expect to be the big floorcare trends of 2022? More and more robotic cleaning manufacturers will continue to develop their fleets and technologies within this space. We will see more of these companies rising in Australia, those that truly specialise in this area will secure a larger market share.

What is one issue in the cleaning industry that you would like to see addressed? Certification and education. Our market continues to see many low-end and noncompliant machines being imported and sold. This can increase the safety risk for customers and damage the reputation of the industry. Investment in machinery that has undergone proper testing and certification, according to Australian standards, must continue to be supported. These assurances build trust with customers and the confidence they are investing in quality, sustainable and risk-free products. A timely reminder to always check if your equipment provider has been tested and certified to meet Australian standards.

What advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry? There is no doubt that 2022 will be a year of continued transition. Set and build the foundations to respond to the changing needs and wants of your customers. Test and learn, identify on new opportunities to gain momentum and build success as you head into 2023. ■

Commercial Service & Repairs

Why do you need planned maintenance?

1. Improves equipment efficiency

2. Saves you money

3. Boosts productivity

Services we offer: • Central, national contact point for all enquiries A full range of Australian-stocked OEM parts available.

• Convenient digital portal for logging requests • A full range of Australian-stocked OEM parts • Service level agreements • Ongoing training • Test and tagging • Planned maintenance at agreed rates

Planned maintenance at agreed rates.

• Expert customer service and technical support • Comprehensive asset and service reporting

For more information or to book in a service

call 1800 314 580 or email commercialsupport@godfreys.com.au

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Bridget Gardner Principal Director, HPC Solutions How was 2021 for HPC Solutions? What were the highlights? What were the challenges?

“

With labour shortages biting, staff training is more than an investment in safety, skills and performance, it is an opportunity to keep them motivated and employed.

”

48 INCLEAN January / February 2022

As for many in the cleaning industry, 2021 was another big, fast-paced year for HPC Solutions. It’s gratifying to pause as my 20th year in the cleaning industry draws to a close and acknowledge just how far this industry has grown and changed, along with my place within it. The biggest personal highlight for 2021 was the BSCAA’s and HPC Solutions joint submission to Standards Australia for a new Cleaning Performance Standard. Based on a model I first wrote about in INCLEAN magazine almost four years ago called the Cleaning Activity Levels (CAL) model, our submission proposes to standardise the definitions for specifying and measuring cleaning performance. A major highlight was what we achieved for the customised visual Cleaner’s Manuals we offer with our Clean for Success program. These manuals contain up to 50 cleaning task sheets, with step-by-step photos and simple instructions for cleaning every surface and soil level. We used to follow a cleaner around onsite taking photos, but this year we built a massive image library of task steps: 6000 images and counting. This allows us to customise each customer’s manual with their cleaning products, processes, and branding, in a cost-effective manner, with a far superior result. The key challenge I faced in 2021 was having demand for my high-performance cleaning expertise outpace my capacity to deliver. I’m looking forward to addressing this challenge in 2022.

When the WELL Health-Safety Rating was released in August 2021, I was really proud to see many of my suggestions had been adopted. This shows that WELL recognises the role cleaning plays in keeping buildings healthy – and that anyone can be a leader and make a difference.

What are the major opportunities you will focus on for HPC Solutions in 2022? While our online training portal project had to be sidelined during 2021, the build will start in January. We will start by converting existing High Performance Cleaning courses into a virtual Learner Management System (LMS), including short courses about how to support buildings to achieve ratings for the WELL Standard, Green Star-Performance, and NABERS. As with all HPC Solutions documents and programs, our online courses will use simple language and images to explain information and support you to implement what you learn with practical templates and resources. Stage two will see us move the Clean for Success courses onto the LMS platform. While feedback from current program participants has been overwhelmingly positive, I’m excited about the potential of the LMS to achieve two of the most requested improvements: • To allow for self-paced learning and program development, and • To build a community of business owners / manager who are passionate about high performance cleaning, to support and learn from each other.

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months?

How has the public’s expectations of ‘clean’ changed as a result of the pandemic and what impact will they have on the industry in 2022?

Apart from the Cleaning Performance Standard, another notable achievement was being a member of the International WELL Building Standard’s ‘Task Force on COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Infections’ and submitting a list of improvements to WELL criteria for cleaning services and products.

The pandemic has shone a light on the once invisible role of cleaning. But while a focus on cleaning skills, products, and processes may help to raise standards, there is a fear that this extra scrutiny will come at a cost; especially if raising quality and accountability is expected without raising the contract price.

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Reporting systems and requirements have steadily grown over the last decade, such as for workforce management and fair work compliance, and for sustainability and wellbeing via building rating systems. Therefore, the demand for greater transparency around cleaning processes should not be surprising, or even feared. Perhaps the underlying concern is that the loss of invisibility could mean a loss of autonomy? That would be missing the bigger opportunity.

What challenges and opportunities do you see in the wider market in 2022? In my opinion, competition from the gig economy with its self-managed workforce, and undercutting by opportunists, poses a far bigger threat to the bottom line, than customers demanding to know how their building is being cleaned and what their money is buying. In fact, the opposite is

true. Because it was a lack of awareness (and interest) about what it takes to operate a skilled, well-managed and well-resourced workforce, that helped fuel the competitive race to the bottom. So as the pandemic drags on, 2022 is an opportunity to switch the focus on reporting as a way of enforcing rules and holding companies to account, toward a proactive way of communicating the value and process of cleaning well. But to do so, you first need to be confident that your procedures can deliver a quality outcome and your cleaners are following them. That is the core reason I developed customisable Cleaning Manuals – so that managers can use it to train their cleaners in the most effective, consistent processes. According to recent research by Microsoft1 41per cent of workers worldwide are considering quitting their jobs. With labour shortages biting, staff

training is more than an investment in safety, skills and performance, it is an opportunity to keep them motivated and employed. Because when workers know exactly what they are meant to do, how to do it, and why it is important, it builds their confidence, and a sense of pride and purpose in their work.

What advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry? I have two pieces of advice for my fellow leaders: 1. Be loud and proud about the value of cleaning well and the need for skilled workers and supervision. 2. Share your knowledge and learnings instead of operating in competitive silos, and everyone will benefit. ■ 1

Microsoft research: www.microsoft.com/en-us/ worklab/work-trend-index

Australia’s High Performance Cleaning experts

We teach you how to train your cleaners to clean well: Safely. Efficiently. Consistently.

WITH FULLY CUSTOMISED, VISUAL CLEANER’S MANUALS

Contact Bridget to set up a 30minute video call to find out more. 1300 688 268 I solutions@hpcsolutions.com.au Bridget Gardner HPC Solutions Director

www.hpcsolutions.com.au www.incleanmag.com.au 49

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Steve Bagshaw CEO, i-team ANZ How was 2021 for i-team ANZ? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? 2021 was an exciting year for i-team ANZ. We expanded and solidified our i-partner network across ANZ, with now close to 30 active partners across Australia and a new master partner, Filta, in New Zealand. Highlights were many. We’ve launched several new and exciting products that continue to build on the i-team reputation for innovations that genuinely make a difference. We’ve also had some very exciting opportunities with end-users and our i-partners in various sectors. Of particular note are several instances where organisations have identified the value of presenting the complete i-team offering and led with this in successful offers for new contracts, as well of retention of existing contracts at re-tender phase. These are very rewarding opportunities for all parties. The major challenges were no doubt the lockdowns in New South Wales and Victoria, which had an impact on buyer confidence for a few months. However, this has bounced back quickly and strongly. Constraint in global supply chain affects every industry, and this looms as an ongoing challenge into 2022.

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? The way we’ve been able to quickly and effectively establish a network of likeminded and passionate i-team i-partners across the country over the last 12-18 months. The opportunity is not something that we lightly give partners, and this results in a closeness and alignment that we believe sets the i-team network up for long-term success. 50 INCLEAN January / February 2022

What will be the immediate focus for i-team ANZ in 2022? We have a host of exciting developments in the pipeline. Expansion of our marketing activities, new products soon to be launched, while pushing into new sectors are all very much on the radar. We’re also looking forward to getting back out into the market more as borders open up. The timing of the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo in March will be perfect for this, and we are really looking forward to an exciting show.

What opportunities and challenges do you see for the wider industry in 2022? Global supply chain constraints and delays will continue to be a challenge. There are so many moving parts to this that we expect there to be some impact at least until the middle of 2022. We are also definitely in an inflationary cycle. We see cost pressure on many components of the supply chain, and i-team is certainly not alone in this. While thankfully, within i-team’s global network, we have a lot of synergies and opportunities to streamline our supply chain to mitigate increases, this will certainly be a challenge for the wider industry. Businesses must be agile with pricing and alert as to costs.

What will be the big trends of 2022? We don’t pretend to have a crystal ball, but we believe some keys trends or topics will be around indoor air quality (IAQ) – not just purification, but also the monitoring of IAQ. Second, labour saving, and optimisation is always on the agenda, and with the continual development of robotics – albeit cautious – combined with more efficient cleaning equipment, labour efficiency improvement will be an ongoing trend. Third, data. Connected cleaning machines, integration of IAQ and

cleanliness monitoring with cleaning routines, and even data points that the industry isn’t thinking of yet, will inevitably continue to develop.

What role will innovation play for i-team ANZ in 2022? Innovation is always a priority one for i-team; it’s our DNA to enquire, innovate, and inspire. Innovation is not just a buzzword for i-team. Without sounding cliché, it’s not so much a matter of what role will it playit’s genuinely what we’re focussing on all the time. It’s more about what areas we innovate in, specifically. Three key areas we will be looking at is product, introducing the a la carte custom branding concept to Australia, and go to market strategies; expect to see some exciting developments.

What is one issue in the cleaning industry that you would like to see addressed? Focus on price. Cleaning is such an important part of the economy and our lives, yet so often from end users, there is a focus on cost, which forces service providers to cut corners and deliver suboptimal outcomes. Thankfully, there has been progress with many leaders in the industry who are choosing to move away from low-cost, low-capex methods to superior highercapex methods that improve outcomes and reduce total cost of ownership.

What advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry? Buy that special person in your life an i-mop lite for home – they’ll love it! On a serious note, what can you do to make your business better than it was yesterday? ■

i-air PRO Unique high-capacity air purifier uitilising medical-grade HEPA H14 filters, UV technology and photo-catalytic oxidisation that removes >99.999% of airborne contaminants.

LAN connected

Quiet, powerful fan

Connect multiple i-airs for seamless control

Four-speed fan for blowing purified air

Medical-grade filtration

Ultra low maintenance

HEPA H14 filtration with large surface area removes 99.999% of particulates at PM1.0

Up to 24-month life for H14 filter, 12-month for carbon pre-filter

UV kill chamber Dual UVC & UVA lamps destroy VOCs, microbes and viruses * i-air Pro has been found to kill 99.999% of viruses when independently tested on Coronavirus, influenza, and Staphylococcus

Carbon Pre-filter Active carbon removes large particles, odours and VOCs

Use in combination with the

i-sense air quality meter

Specialised combination of UVC + photocatalytic oxidation + HEPA H14 filtration + Carbon pre-filter for superior results Main filter offers up to 24-monhts lifespan with 24/7 use

Phone 1800 861 030

www.i-teamanz.com

ir/ -a

Combine with i-sense for complete IAQ monitoring

Scan the QR code or contact us to get in touch with an i-team partner near you.

i ts/

Effective on particulates, bacteria and VOCs

c du ro /p

Self-cleaning chamber extends filter life and eliminates bacteria

om z.c an am te /is:/ tp ht

What makes the i-air so unique?

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Lauren Micallef Oceania Manager, ISSA How was 2021 for ISSA Oceania? In a time when companies needed to remain agile what we saw was an increase in the number of people wanting to engage with industry news and information. As a result, this year ISSA Oceania focussed on education and training and developed a comprehensive range of webinars and online learning programs. These sessions grew in traction and attendance, with companies registering from not only across Oceania and Asia Pacific regions but also Canada, United States, South America, the Middle East, and Europe. In September and October we saw on average 200-250 registered attendees for each webinar. During the year companies were taking the opportunity to investigate ways to diversify and separate themselves. They were reassessing what their business would look like post COVID-19. Training and certification became a key focus for them, and as a result, ISSA ran multiple open workshops, as well private sessions with members. An increase desire to keep abreast of industry news and information also saw a rise with INCLEAN subscribers. The magazine experienced a 15 per cent increase in online subscriptions throughout 2021. A convergence formed within the market, there was an increase in public awareness of ‘clean’, mixed with more detailed requirements from clients, combined with tightening budgets. As a result, in 2021 the Value of Clean tools were updated, and the report launched with current data collected from all over the world. Our aim was to support members in making the business case that cleaning is a critical investment in better occupant health, a more confident society, and a better bottom line for facilities. We saw a resurgence locally with members accessing the information to utilise and help support the position 52 INCLEAN January / February 2022

that cleaning is economically efficient and, thus, how even a relatively modest investment in improved cleaning produces substantial returns. We also updated and localised related tools such as the metric version of the ISSA Calculator. Globally ISSA, in collaboration with RGX Cross Border Trade Experts, launched ISSA Market Consulting Services to help cleaning industry companies explore new customer networks and build partnerships globally. Lockdowns and border closures saw the unfortunate but necessary postponing of the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo. It was rescheduled for 16-17 March, 2022, where it will be held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney. In the last quarter of 2021, we launched the comprehensive education program for the show which will feature expert panel discussions and in-depth workshops. Throughout the two-day event, more than 40 speakers will use their education sessions to discuss the post-pandemic road to recovery. There is something for everyone from facility managers, business owners, cleaners, sales teams, you name it. This great line-up of industry leaders and senior executives will address a range of topics from elder care and cleaning, coping with change, the importance of collaboration between facilities and contract cleaners, air quality management, technology and innovation, corporate social responsibility, and more.

What will be the key areas of focus for ISSA Oceania in 2022? Our focus is to remain true to our association vision and values. Our association’s aim is to change the way the world views cleaning through increasing the appreciation for cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Our goal is to be a leading resource for information, education, networking, and commercial opportunities.

The beginning of the year we will have a focus on bringing the industry together again with the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo. The show floor is almost sold out with limited spots remaining and more than 70 exhibitors keen to showcase their latest products, services, solutions, and innovations to the market. In addition, the ISSA Excellence Awards will also mean that the market and attendees will have the opportunity see the leading and latest innovations. What is also exciting to see is that this year also marks the largest number of sponsors to date, with companies supporting the industry and getting behind the event. ISSA Oceania will continue to deliver on education, training and certification as we seek to support our members and the industry. This will be managed from many fronts from open sessions to private initiatives with our members. In 2022 we look forward to furthering our business tools. We understand that companies are reassessing their financials and economic positions and how this will look for 2022 and beyond. ISSA Oceania is excited to launch a new local member benefits program in 2022. The ISSA Member Benefit program will allow our members to access over thirty common expense categories and will support them in managing spend across the business. The program will be of benefit to all members regardless of the sector of the industry that they stem from- contract cleaners, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors or inhouse cleaners. There will be something for everyone regardless of company’s size. Our members will also have the support of a dedicated team member to help their business manage its expenses and gain insights and best practice. Our aim will always be to support the industry in enabling and helping them to achieve positive outcomes.

How has the public’s expectations of ‘clean’ changed as a result of the pandemic? The question ‘what does ‘clean’ mean, is not new to the industry. In fact, there have been many articles, panels and webinars surrounding this topic over the years. However, the latest pandemic has brought to the forefront the essential role that cleaning, and hygiene play in the management of pandemics and infectious diseases. There is no doubt that the public are more consciously aware of the cleanliness of their surroundings, not to mention their own hygiene practices. In fact, in an ISSA webinar, it was highlighted that in a recent study through the following questions, 61 per cent of participants identified having higher standards on hygiene products used and that 67 per cent would tell others about a poor hygiene experience in a public place. With a public that is more aware of ‘clean’, it places additional requirements on facilities to maintain a higher level of clean throughout their buildings and venues. This carries a ripple affect across the industry as cleaning tasks increase and/or adjust. There is a need to not only look clean, but to be safe and understand how this can be verified. The issue comes with balancing and managing expectation, cost and deliverables. It cannot be more for less or the same. As contracts are reviewed there needs to remain a continual dialogue with facility managers to ensure there is a clear understanding about what is being requested and what can be offered. These learnings form the foundation of our ISSA CCE and AAP courses, which also supports a sustainable return on investment for all stakeholders. However, an issue the market is experiencing at present, but is not unique to our region, is staff shortages and how we manage fulfilling the requirements. This will be an ongoing issue throughout 2022 and ISSA will be advocating for Government and Private awareness and assistance.

What additional challenges and opportunities do you see for the industry in 2022? Supply chain will continue to remain a focal point in 2022. One of the most important lessons to emerge from COVID-19 was the heightened importance of supply chain management and procurement. There was a risk to not adjusting business behaviours accordingly and the need to remain agile and pivot at a moment’s notice will still be required during a period that looks more optimistic but still entails risk. The new age of cleaning requirements will continue to impact roles, responsibilities and expectations of facility managers, end users and building service contractors. Demand for new products and services will continue to develop and increase as ongoing needs emerge presenting market opportunities. In order to develop and support these ongoing needs, regular training and development will need to be prioritised. This is particularly the case as employee safety and wellbeing remains an area of focus. With COVID-19 playing a dominant role for the past 18-24 months there will be a focal shift back to social, ethical and sustainable procurement. ■

INCLEAN

NEW AND IMPROVED AWARDS PROGRAM More award categories Expert Judging Panel Wider sector participation

NOMINATIONS OPEN JANUARY 2022 WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT THE

For more information visit issacleaninghygieneexpo.com/awards Organised by

www.incleanmag.com.au 53

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Franziska Geyer Sales Director Professional, Institutional Channels, Kärcher Australia How was 2021 for Kärcher? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? 2021 was another record year for Kärcher Australia, making it two years in a row. The market in both retail and professional remains buoyant, and we continue to take share in our key strategic areas. This has allowed us to further invest, in people, capacity, and resources to better deliver for our customers moving forward. A highlight has been our investment in NSW: we relocated our branch from Eastern Creek to Smeaton Grange and opened a new Kärcher Center in Campbelltown. A stateof-the-art Kärcher Clean Park has opened in Newcastle, a Kärcher branded car wash park operated by an independent investor. Some significant machine deployments with national key partners has enabled us to further invest in our service and aftermarket structures. We have grown the number of technicians and increased our geographical coverage. Additionally, we now carry more spare parts and can deliver parts directly and quickly to our regional technicians. The challenges were largely driven by the global pandemic with an impact on communication, the way we work internally and externally, and supply chain. We have worked very closely with Germany and global production plants to secure supply and keep delays to a minimum – with good focus and collaboration we were able to navigate through the challenges with no major disruptions.

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? I am really proud of the team for the continued close partnerships and engagement with customers, despite the physical distance. I am extremely proud of the NSW team that has managed several large rollouts, on-boarding and training of new staff, an office move, and opening of a new store all throughout various lockdowns and limited support from head office. 54 INCLEAN January / February 2022

Another highlight was to see the Thank Your Cleaner Day campaign being heavily promoted on social media and many companies getting behind the initiative globally and locally.

ourselves clear goals and metrics that improve our customers’ experience.

What will be the immediate focus for Kärcher in 2022?

The topic of sustainability has been top of mind in customer tenders, projects, and conversations. We can see that a lot more clients are looking for ways to provide services that are eco-friendly and reduce their waste and carbon footprint. At Kärcher we have launched a 2025 Sustainability Strategy with a focus on ‘’Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’’ with many initiatives. For example, since 2021 the Kärcher factories around the world are climate-neutral: this makes Kärcher the leading climate-neutral company in the cleaning market with CO₂-free global production.

We have a very clear strategic plan, which has been updated over recent months. There will be a focus on recruitment as we set up our structures for future growth. We will continue to invest in our service network as well as increasing our capabilities in the digital, e-commerce, and robotics space.

“

A lot more clients are looking for ways to provide services that are eco-friendly and reduce their waste and carbon footprint. At Kärcher we have launched a 2025 Sustainability Strategy with a focus on ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ with many initiatives.

”

There are also a number of new product categories we will be entering in 2022. We are very spoilt for choice when it comes to new solutions, products, and innovation. We will be looking to prioritise which of these to deliver in 2022. Furthermore, there will be an ongoing focus on supply chain and freight – we are expecting some more challenges until at least mid to late 2022. Another important initiative is our Customer Journey project that will focus on our commercial end customers – this will involve mapping customer touch points, working directly with customers to identify key areas of improvement, and setting

Did you notice any changes in customer behaviour in 2021? How did Kärcher respond to these changes?

What is one issue in the industry that you would like to see addressed? The discussion on value vs price is still a key discussion topic in my opinion. While the industry has moved in many areas to focus on quality and customer delivery, there are still opportunities for improvement. The last 18 months have shown the value that our industry provides to the entire market, we need to ensure that we use this to attract talent, upskill people, and deliver higher quality solutions.

What advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry? In today’s rapid changing world, it is even more important to focus on workplace culture, employee engagement, and wellbeing. As mentioned, labour shortages will continue to be a challenge so keeping your staff motivated, challenged and involved will be the difference in 2022. This applies to any business in any industry, small or large. We also have an opportunity to work more closely together on industry wide topics that benefit all. A great example of this is Thank Your Cleaner Day. I encourage all to embrace this and use it as a tool to show recognition to our cleaners and raise the profile of the industry. ■

FREE TO ATTEND

New Zealand’s largest dedicated cleaning & hygiene trade show MEDIA PARTNER

NEW DATE Tue 1 - Wed 2 March 2022

Newmarket Room, Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, New Zealand Visit www.cleannzexpo.co.nz or phone 0800 451 590 (NZ) / 1300 789 845 (AUS)

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Jasmine Newman Managing Director and Co-founder, Killara Services

How was 2021 for GJK Indigenous Solutions? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? 2021 was an exciting and busy year for GJK Indigenous Solutions. From being a certified joint venture in 2017 as GJK Indigenous Solutions (GJKIS), we have taken the next step and relaunched as Killara Services. We also had a great year in terms of recognition of our services to our client partners. We were nominated for a Supply Nation 2021 Supplier Diversity Award, alongside our client partner BGIS, and are nominated as a finalist in three categories for the upcoming Defence Connect 2021 Defence Industry Awards. Excitingly, we are also a state finalist for the Telstra Best of Business Awards. In addition, we also secured extensions on some of our foundation contracts that commenced in 2017. We’ve managed to grow and sustain these contract partnerships delivering an enhanced level of diversity, and reconciliation to our client partners and really assisting them in achieving their social inclusion objectives and targets.

Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? Our Indigenous engagement and employment rates. We have continued to build on our strong Indigenous participation and engagement targets and have achieved fantastic results in 2021 with the following outcomes: • 38 per cent Indigenous engagement company-wide (against a target of 30 per cent) • 52 per cent Indigenous engagement on Defence NSW specific contract • $200,000+ spent with Indigenous suppliers I’m also proud we were one of, if not the first, Indigenous joint venture businesses listed with Supply Nation, and in 2021, we demonstrated, through annual auditing 56 INCLEAN January / February 2022

and governance, to have transitioned from a registered joint venture, supported by the JV sister company, to a Pty Ltd company in our own right, where we have demonstrated our independence in our company operations.

What led to the rebrand of GJK Indigenous Solutions to Killara? Our rebrand to Killara empowers us to hold our own strong identity as an Aboriginal cleaning company. The word Killara was chosen with purpose, from my own traditional language of the Dharag people. Killara means ‘always there’, and we will always be there for our people, clients and communities. I am thankful and grateful to George Stamas, Director, GJK Facility Services & Killara Services. Without his continued support and belief in my vision to operate a true Indigenous business that creates real opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, GJK Indigenous Solutions would not have achieved the success that we have in our joint venture throughout the last four years.

What opportunities and challenges do you see for the wider commercial cleaning market in 2022? It will be interesting to see how our clients view cleaning services post COVID-19 and what a ‘normalised cleaning service’ should look like. I’d like to continue to educate current and future clients in the benefits of engaging with an indigenous supplier from a social benefit perspective. Since the inception of the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) by the Australian government in 2015, we are seeing more and more government and private sector clients wanting to engage with Indigenous business. The problem is that often these clients see engaging with an Indigenous business as a process or a KPI that needs to be met.

We would prefer to engage with clients and be seen as walking side by side with our partners on their journey to reconciliation, ensuring there is not only awareness but knowledge with a deep understanding of Aboriginal people’s culture and history. Building a shared culture across both organisations that fosters meaningful engagement with Aboriginal people and businesses. It is important for clients to engage with Aboriginal people and business with purpose and as second nature, and not just to tick a box or meet a KPI. I’m passionate about creating opportunities for Indigenous Australian’s and facilitating a pathway for them to gain access to sustainable employment opportunities and making a difference in their lives.

What is one issue you would like to see urgently addressed? With the release of the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) in 2015, and corporate partners making a bigger stand in regard to diversity and inclusion, we have seen numerous Indigenous businesses flood the cleaning and facilities market. Not all of these businesses are ‘true’ Aboriginal run businesses and therefore, black cladding is becoming a major issue. I’m passionate that businesses classified as Indigenous are in fact that. Not just owned, but also run and the majority business owner in control of the business. I’d like to see procurement professionals undertake enhanced due diligence to ensure the authenticity of the indigenous business before engagement.

What advice do you have for fellow industry leaders? With business returning to normal, and many more cleaning companies out there dominating the landscape, winning work in 2022 will be driven by price. As industry leaders we need to protect fair and equitable pay rates for our cleaners, and not engage in a ‘race to the bottom’ mentality to win business. ■

info@killaraservices.com.au

www.killaraservices.com

.au

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Greg Hill Product Manager, Makita Australia How was 2021 for Makita? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? 2021 was another positive year for Makita. Many of the challenges we have faced since the beginning of the pandemic remained throughout 2021. Adjusting forecasts to meet demand and frequent changes to international and domestic freight timelines has meant we are waiting until stock is physically in our warehouse before releasing it to the market.

What will be the immediate focus for Makita in 2022? First quarter will see us expand our XGT 40V Max product range. New and innovative products are paramount to success, and we feel these additions will provide further opportunity for growth for our distributors and increased performance and productivity for our consumers. We are also excited to grow our business with the RapidClean Group. Having been accepted as a preferred supplier, we are keen to start engaging with these new distribution partners.

What are the major opportunities you foresee for Makita in 2022?

58 INCLEAN January / February 2022

“

First quarter will see us expand our XGT 40V Max product range. New and innovative products are paramount to success, and we feel these additions will provide further opportunity for growth for our distributors and increased performance and productivity for our consumers.

”

optimum performance and efficiency. These products will complement our existing products to continue to move consumers to a fully cordless site.

What the opportunities and challenges you see for the wider market in 2022?

Relaxed travel restrictions will allow us to put a renewed focus on new product development. Being able to safely identify, understand, and evaluate our customers problems on site, will allow us to develop the best cordless solutions for them. March will see Makita presenting as the major sponsor at the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo, which will provide a long overdue opportunity to show off our new products and engage with our distribution partners and consumers.

I think there will be lots of opportunities for new business into 2022. The dust is looking like it will settle on a national level with people returning to work and international travel returning. Supply chain challenges may persist, but Makita will be getting on the front foot and will begin construction of a new distribution centre, service centre, and training facility in Truganina, Victoria with the goal of being operational in early 2023. This will complement our Sydney, Hobart, and Perth DC’s by providing more immediate service and support to Victoria and South Australia.

Are there any new products to be launched in 2022?

Is there a message that you would like to share with the industry?

We are excited to be launching our first XGT 40Vx2 Max Brushless Wet/Dry Vacuum, which will deliver suction that rivals 240V vacuums. Also due in first quarter is our new LXT 18Vx2 Robotic Vacuum which will be equipped with mapping and scheduling capabilities to deliver

Get excited about the year to come! Makita’s product pipeline is sure to get you excited and our national commercial cleaning product team are ready to provide product demonstrations to achieve the most effective solution for your application. ■

E&OE / 5662-21

AND STILL GROWING!

Makita is leading the way in cordless Commercial Cleaning, Power Garden and Building & Construction solutions. Makita is excited for a big year in 2022 with several NEW products due for release on both the LXT 18V and XGT 40V Max platforms which will deliver market leading performance and runtime.

YEAR

LIMITED WARRANTY*

Makita 5 year limited warranty on new cordless skins* *Makita.com.au/MyMakita for details, terms & conditions

MakitaAustralia

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Lucas Paris Managing Director, Motorscrubber Australia How was 2021 for Motorscrubber Australia? What were the highlights? What were the challenges?

“

The quality of tools and product performance is integral, team members are going to be required do more with less time as resource will be redirected to tasks that weren’t as highly scrutinised prepandemic times.

”

60 INCLEAN January / February 2022

2021 was a big year for Motorscrubber Australia. We launched our own subsidiary after many years of supplying the commercial market through exclusive distribution partners. Although the transition wasn’t without its challenges, it was a tremendous success integrating existing customers into our systems, setting up and streamlining our local supply chain, and bringing the globally successful complete Motorscrubber range to the market. The major highlight was obviously successfully transitioning all existing customers and products into the Australian enterprise. The importing landscape at the end of 2021 was difficult to navigate, long shipping times, delays at ports, and the ongoing local logistical challenges due to the pandemic made the need to remain nimble more important than ever. The support of global head office allowed us to pivot with airfreight shipments as well as direct to customer shipments to ensure extremely long fill times were avoided. We thank all our local partners for their support throughout the handover period.

What will be the immediate focus for Motorscrubber Australia in 2022? Motorscrubber Australia will work on consolidating its existing customer portfolio, building a marketing leading service footprint, launching the JET3, STORM, and DMT systems. Motorscrubber Australia wants each of our distribution partners to see real value with their partnership with Motorscrubber Australia, this will be achieved by ensuring we support partners that support the brand, demo the product, hold spares, and actively market the product to their regions and customers. While many equipment manufacturers want the best of both worlds supplying the B2B and B2C markets, we will be ensuring our products

are supplied to our end users solely through our distribution partners.

What are the major opportunities you foresee for Motorscrubber Australia in 2022? Motorscrubber Australia will launch several revolutionary products in 2022. These innovations will be key opportunities for our partners to have unique fit for purpose commercial products that all sectors will be demanding for their sites, whether they are large spaces or small. The STORM sprayer will be a big focus as the continued need for quick effective disinfectant application tools is required, this product is currently used in many large public transport networks and airlines throughout Europe and the USA. With our fully stocked local warehouse we will ensure our partners can have the spares and accessories they need when they need it, eliminating the need for long airfreight times out of global manufacturing sites.

What challenges and opportunities do you see for the wider cleaning industry in 2022? The increased pressure on cleaning regimes and compliance is going to be the key change for 2022. Service providers are going to be held to account to ensure sites are cleaned and sanitised correctly, both for their patrons and teams. The quality of tools and product performance is integral, team members are going to be required do more with less time as resource will be redirected to tasks that weren’t as highly scrutinised pre-pandemic times – touchpoint cleaning, public seating areas etc. This shift will create many opportunities for equipment manufacturers, chemical manufacturers, and consumable suppliers alike to innovate products that require minimal in use time in application whilst providing maximum cleaning outcomes.

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

What do you expect to be the big floorcare trends of 2022? Robotics are obviously a trend that is becoming more affordable and prevalent in big cleaning spaces, however, not many manufacturers have created the perfect mix of performance, cost effectiveness and low service demands. Floorcare has evolved a lot in the past 20 years, improved machines, improved coatings, improved floor types this will continue to evolve over the coming years, but one thing will remain and that’s the need to clean them whether via traditional mop and bucket methods or mechanical scrubbing units. Focus will grow to develop smaller units, environmentally conscious products, longer run times, less down time, self-cleaning/sanitising surfaces

any manufacturer that innovate with all these topics in mind will have the ability to entrench themselves as market leaders for many years to come.

disinfect, OH&S risk to team members and patrons. Let’s focus on what value we can offer not how much something is going to cost.

What is one issue in the cleaning industry that you would like to see addressed?

Is there a message that you would like to share with the industry?

The cleaning industry needs to focus attention away from getting the ‘cheapest’, to offering value by ensuring all users are fitted out with the best solutions for their specified cleaning requirements. Too long in this industry product choices are being driven by cost rather than effectiveness. Total cost of ownership impacts everything in the cleaning process most importantly the time it takes to clean, time it takes to

Post pandemic the whole industry can continue improving our credibility. We have been applauded over the past years for our commitment to provide all Australians with hygienic environments, it is up to us now to ensure that everyone continues to see the importance of every point of the cleaning industry. Let’s continue to talk about the value we provide, the importance of clean, the importance of compliance, and most of all the importance of us to ensuring we keep living the way we all deserve to live. ■

DEEP CLEAN MAINTAIN TRANSFORM JET3’s compact size perfectly combines exceptional power with meticulous precision to provide a periodic deep clean that guarantees to release ingrained dirt from any surface, every time. Powerful 360rpm Performance On Demand Cleaning Solution Battery Backpack Technology Deep Clean the Tightest Spaces

+61 459 269 988

ausorders@motorscrubberclean.com

www.motorscrubberclean.com

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Mark Phelan Commercial Director – Professional, Oates (Freudenberg) How was 2021 for Oates (Freudenberg)? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? Like most, 2021 was a rollercoaster year. Having survived the challenges of 2020, we were finally recovering our service levels and improving our supply chain whilst focussing on our overriding strategy of hygiene, efficiency, and sustainability. Then nearly 60 per cent of the population went into hard lock down in June/July. This had a big impact on those involved in the commercial cleaning industry. Hospitality, offices, education, shopping centres, and venues suddenly found themselves with no people and a greatly reduced need for cleaning. Our emphasis on healthcare, however, helped to offset some of these declines with unique products focussed on virus removal critical for hospitals, vaccination centres and COVID hotels. We are grateful that lockdowns are looking like a thing of the past and that people are out and about meaning all markets are requiring the ‘next level clean’.

What will be the immediate focus for Oates (Freudenberg) in 2022? Our immediate focus is twofold. Mitigating risk and delivering cleaning outcomes. In terms of mitigating risk, this is also twofold. Number one is securing supply chain, managing demand, and ensuring critical cleaning supplies are landing in our warehouses in a timely manner. We have increased safety stock levels and incorporated a significantly increased lead time into all our import programs in order to ensure a secure supply chain in the current difficult global supply climate. Number two is working with our key partners to deliver products and systems that assist in reducing risk in many facets – hygiene, OH&S, and labour costs to name a few. In terms of delivering of cleaning outcomes, our extensive local sales teams are working through a continuous improvement program focussed on 62 INCLEAN January / February 2022

training, development, education, and certification. This allows our people to offer advice and specialisation whilst partnering with distributors and end users as trusted advisors in cleaning.

What are the major opportunities you foresee for Oates (Freudenberg) in 2022? Our opportunity to continue to invest in our people is a key focus. Through our trusted partnership with ISSA, our entire Professional team are in the process of completing various training and accreditation programs. With certification and accreditation, our teams will be in a unique position to provide specific consultation to the broader market and move into the position of trusted advisors related to cleaning. Understanding problems, challenges, causes, and providing relevant and tailored solutions based on a higher level of knowledge, is an obligation we have as one of the most trusted brands in cleaning.

Are there any new products to be launched by Oates (Freudenberg) in 2022? We have an active year of new product development and launches planned for 2022 and 2023. Whether it be new developments under Oates in high tech microfibre, Vileda Professional in innovative new equipment and textiles developed by Freudenberg (“Innovating together”) patented technology or refocussing and expanding our Research brand of chemicals to link with our cleaning equipment and textiles, the year ahead is an exciting one for us to work with the cleaning industry to help be even more hygienic, efficient, and sustainable.

What the opportunities and challenges you see for the wider market in 2022? The most immediate challenges to accept and solve right now are those relating to

supply chain and access to labour. The ongoing global constraints related to manufacturing and shipping will impact many markets, including that of cleaning until at least mid 2022. This allows the opportunity for ways and processes to use that create efficiency and less usage but also for manufacturers and suppliers to help their partners mitigate risk of out of stocks. We are fortunate at Freudenberg that we are able to leverage a number of global arrangements to secure supply chains and reduce product supply risk. The issue of labour shortages is impacting many areas. In a labourintensive industry, there has never been a more important time to think beyond those historic and entrenched cleaning products and processes. New innovation, developments, sustainability, initiatives and technology in systems that reduce the overall need for labour, whilst delivering an improved cleaning outcome, is an opportunity for old school to move to new school and really adapt to deal with the labour challenge.

Is there a message you would like to share with the industry? Work hard to gain an understanding of what is important to your clients. Establish what matters to and what the expectations are of the business, its people and its customers. Once you have established this, work hard to set up your business, your processes, your systems, your people, and your contracts to over deliver against these expectations. Look outside of the box for new developments and innovations to help you achieve this whilst not compromising hygiene, safety and sustainability. Our opportunity is to continue the high levels of cleanliness that COVID has brought upon us and to ensure the environments people are in are as hygienic as possible to help prevent the devastating impact viruses can have. ■

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Tony Antonious Managing Director, Polivac International How was 2021 for Polivac? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? At Polivac, we saw a sharp increase in demand for commercial cleaning machines during 2021. One of the major highlights for us was that we were able to diversify our product range and introduce new machines because of the changing requirements in the market. As a result, we could capitalise on the opportunities. As an Australian manufacturer, we could showcase our potential and extend support to our local market and economy during the crisis and recovery stage. One of the significant challenges was the burden on our suppliers and employees to meet the rising demand, and we had to adapt to a new supply and production strategy that assisted us in creating a steady supply. We received enormous support from our supply and distribution partners, who maintained the accessibility and support for the Polivac range during these challenging times.

be to expand our manufacturing line to increase production capacity. At Polivac, we will aim to install automated processes to speed up operations and maintain high-quality standards. We will also actively curate customised training programs for our staff to accommodate new techniques and procedures. Secondly, our focus will be to re-design and upgrade our machines with unique features that add value to the existing range of machines.

What challenges and opportunities do you see for the cleaning industry in 2022?

We are most proud of our employees who have worked hard and shown resilience in the face of adversity. Because of their commitment and determination, we have been able to deliver quality machines on time without any delays and have supported the Australian cleaning industry to recover faster from these unprecedented times. In addition, we trained existing and new employees on multiple processes, which helped them improve productivity.

One of the major challenges in the industry is the competition among cleaning companies has escalated, especially after the pandemic. Every company must maintain and deliver high quality service to survive. To address these challenges, they need to focus on using machines incorporated with advanced technology and provide employees with continuous training to provide top-quality results and help save time, energy, and money. As Australia opens its borders and makes its way back to pre-COVID times, this presents an opportunity for the cleaning industry to address the issue of labour shortage. I see the potential for growth for small cleaning companies as more offices and venues re-open, and cleaning standards and frequency continue to increase. We’re also witnessing more companies investing in R&D to manufacture intelligent technologies for the industry, which will further help support growth.

What will be the immediate focus for Polivac in 2022?

What will be the big floorcare trends of 2022?

One of Polivac’s primary focuses is to deliver safe and quality commercial cleaning machines, which will not change in 2022. Our immediate focus this year will

Robotic machines will be the biggest trend in the year 2022. The new technology can take on redundant, tedious tasks and can save operator’s time, energy. Along with

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months?

advantages this new trend will have its disadvantages. For example, some robotic machines require large areas for operations, companies should determine if their work location is favourable for robotics. In addition, do the companies have the resources to adapt to these new machines?

What is one issue in the cleaning industry that you would like to see addressed? Cleaning companies should avoid purchasing cheap and low-cost machines. I understand that cutting costs is essential but buying low-quality, throwaway machines can impact business operations and reduce the chance of surviving in the current competitive market. Lowquality machines also have a negative impact on the environment, contributing to landfills. Furthermore, the cleaning standards have increased, especially after the pandemic, hence using high-quality machines is imperative to keep up with the high standards.

What advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry? Firstly, build and nurture your relationships with your suppliers and customers. They are going to be the supporting pillars during your journey. Secondly, manufacturers need to focus on innovation. Innovation is the key to surviving and succeeding. So, invest time and money in research and development, and remember it is a continuous process. Thirdly, invest in automated manufacturing processes this would help in increasing workplace safety, reduce manufacturing lead time, increase labour productivity, and reduce labour costs especially in the long run. Lastly, cleaning machine manufacturers should focus on building safe, operatorfriendly, environmentally friendly, and recyclable machines. ■ www.incleanmag.com.au 63

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Mark Piwkowski CEO, Quayclean How was 2021 for Quayclean? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? The Delta virus made 2021 another challenging year, perhaps more challenging than 2020. Regardless, we managed a number of great achievements. With major public venues closed because of lockdowns, customers in government services, healthcare, aged care, and education all provided buffers for our workforce to continue working. We were very proud of more than 400 team members working 24/7 at the Sydney Royal Easter Show where over 800,000 attendees visited the Sydney Showgrounds site over the 12-day event. It was the world’s biggest event in the first half of 2021 and the company’s single-biggest event in consecutive days at one location since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Show organisers acknowledged the precinct has never been as clean. This was awesome feedback for the dedication shown by all our staff. Our challenge remains an Australiawide problem to attract and retain staff. All companies in the services industry are rebuilding a workforce that does not exist with the demand and competition for labour to remain high for the foreseeable future.

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? The awesome dedication of our team whose commitment and dedication are unwavering. It never ceases to amaze me, and we applaud them and thank them. We also unveiled a new contemporary and sophisticated brand identity which was specifically designed to reflect the company’s growth and versatility as we enter a new, exciting era of tailored client services. The bold, clean, and vibrant brand marks a new chapter of development as 64 INCLEAN January / February 2022

we move towards a full range of expertise and skills highlighted in our new, emotive “Experience More.” tagline. Lastly, the creation of the Quay Academy has established deep positive cultural behaviors within our young developing leaders and workforce with many of the benefits already being realised.

What will be the immediate focus for Quayclean in 2022? Workforce attraction, retention, and development will continue to be a heavy focus for the months ahead. The re-opening of the borders is welcome news, but it cannot come soon enough. Waste management, hygiene and sustainability services are natural additions to complement existing services. Additionally, the career development of our leaders to promote succession from within the organisation will continue to dominate our thinking.

What are the major opportunities you foresee for Quayclean in 2022? With the vaccination rates climbing and borders re-opening, more major events such as sport, festivals and tourism sites will allow patrons to return to these public locations. Increasingly, we see customers, particularly in the education sector, looking to outsource cleaning, hygiene, and waste management services to industry experts. The COVID pandemic has taught the market that cleaning is a key frontline service, with a need for consistent, high standards of service.

What opportunities and challenges do you see for the wider market in 2022? The outcomes from the Climate Summit in Glasgow must drive behaviours in organisations, and the industry must respond with our own solutions and actions to be a carbon neutral service. The industry must embrace environmentally improved waste management and sustainability services

educating customers and staff to the need for action and establish leading edge sustainability systems. Chemical free sanitisation and cleaning products is easy low hanging fruit to embrace.

What is one issue you would like to see urgently addressed? The significant labour shortages across the cleaning industry, and country generally, because of the few overseas students entering the country must be addressed. The current limits on student visa holders working hours must change. Student visa holders comprise upwards of 30 per cent of cleaning workers yet the Federal Government limits their working hours to 20 hours per week. Students visa holders can work up to 40 hours per week in tourism, hospitality, aged care, disability, and other health related industries. The industry therefore faces a critical growing shortage of labour as student visa holders are leaving the industry to accept employment in sectors where they are lawfully permitted to work double the hours or are forced to move to regional locations for the purposes of achieving residency. It is on this basis that we believe strongly that temporary visa holders currently residing in Australia should be made permanent residents and allowed to work at their chosen location.

Looking forward to 2022, what advice would you give to fellow industry leaders? Be firm on the true costs of cleaning and resist pressures to undervalue cleaning services. More often, procurement managers are driven by price and not on the quality of the services provided. We are coming out of a major pandemic and, as an industry, we need to continue to keep our fellow Australian safe by providing quality, frontline cleaning services. ■

www.quaysupplynetwork

.com.au

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Bruce Lees General Manager, RapidClean How was 2021 for RapidClean? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? In terms of business, RapidClean had an excellent year of growth and building our service capabilities, however, socially it has been a very difficult year for many people. Our sales grew by over 13 per cent this year which maintains our upward trajectory with 10 years of continuous double digit growth and we are very grateful that our clients choose RapidClean to supply their cleaning supply needs. It has been a challenging year in many ways, but our industry is robust, the people within it are resourceful and they have found a way to overcome the obstacles and succeed. We now have 56 locally owned and managed stores in Australia and 13 in New Zealand and we look after a broad range of companies in both countries. We value and support our large BSC clients and all of their staff as well as the individual cleaner using our products. The highlight of the year for me was watching the cleaning industry receive positive public recognition and a heightened level of respect. The pandemic, whilst tragic, has brought with it knowledge of the strong contributing factor of professional hygienic practices in public spaces on the health and wellbeing of people. Our industry deserves admiration for the part it plays in society, and it was very pleasing to see the cleaning industry featured in the fight against COVID.

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? I am particularly proud of all of our RapidClean store owners and teams throughout Australia and New Zealand who have managed to continue servicing their customers through a very difficult period. All of our people face challenges every day to provide the products that their customers require in a timely manner. 66 INCLEAN January / February 2022

There have been huge disruptions to supply over the past year with delayed international freight and massive increases in demand for select product sectors such as masks, gloves, disinfectant, and sanitisers. Whilst it has been difficult our people have continued to solve problems as they arise through flexibility much like our customers have had to do operationally. They have worked together to get the job done. Another proud moment this year was our involvement in Thank Your Cleaner Day, which I think is a brilliant initiative to acknowledge the contribution of people in our industry who face a difficult working environment. Every day should be thank your cleaner day.

What will be the immediate focus for RapidClean in 2022? We will continue to work on improving our offering and service levels for our clients. We believe that our customers value the support that we can provide with product knowledge, a huge range of products, competitive pricing and a genuine pride for the industry. It has always been the focus of RapidClean stores to be customer centric and look to meet and exceed the needs of our clients. It is a simple mantra but at Rapid we believe the 7 Rs are what our customers require from us: Right product at the right time to the right place in the right amount of the right quality at the right cost provided in an environmentally responsible way. That sounds simple but it requires a lot of work to meet those criteria for our customers and we work hard to ensure we can fulfil our obligation. This is achieved by employing a highly skilled team of people and empowering them with sophisticated IT systems. We continuously invest in our people and our systems to provide us with the tools to manage product ranges, stock levels, online ordering platforms, information

platforms, training programs, and electronic data interchange.

What challenges and opportunities do you see for RapidClean in 2022? Inconsistent supply of product and increased international freight costs will be significant challenges again in 2022 and we are actively pursuing strategies which will protect our customers. We are engaging with multiple suppliers across product sectors so that we can always have an offering to meet our clients’ needs and we are also supporting locally manufactured products. All RapidClean cleaning chemicals are now manufactured in Australia as are the majority of our paper products. We will continue to support local manufacturing as the benefits to our clients are significant including greater certainty of product supply. It is well known in the industry that labour is the largest cost, and many companies are looking to robotics to replace people. We acknowledge this inclination and will continue to pursue innovation where it brings benefits to our customers and their ability to generate efficiencies. However, we believe the most readily accessible efficiency is for us to provide quality cleaning products suitable to the task and assist with product knowledge and training to clean surfaces professionally. To this end, we work with the manufacturers of the best cleaning products available anywhere in the world and we ensure our teams are well trained to provide those products. Additionally, we provide very affordable online training on our website from a registered training organisation to assist cleaners in achieving optimum results.

What challenges and opportunities do you see for the wider industry in 2022? Challenges are the forerunners to opportunity and everyone in business

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

knows that they never abate. What is key is how we get in front of the challenges with foresight and effort. The greatest challenge to the cleaning industry remains the same as it was last year and the year before, how do we do more with less? Predominantly the less is labour and the solution is to make the labour more productive through improving skills and utilisation of highly effective products and equipment. Our role at RapidClean is to facilitate the productivity improvements through promotion and provision of innovative products.

What do you expect to be the big trends of 2022? We believe one of the big trends this year will be a continued bearing toward to utilising products with minimal impact on our natural environment. We take our responsibilities very seriously in this area and have a full offering of thirdparty accredited products available for our customers.

As part of our commitment to our social responsibilities and the environment, this year we have registered as a signatory to the UN Global Compact, registered as a member of the Australian Packaging Covenant, achieved a bronze medal for sustainability from EcoVadis, developed our own sustainability program and implemented a supplier code of Conduct with implicit anti-modern slavery conditions. We have also maintained our Quality Assured status for Environmental Management Systems, Occupational Health & Safety Standards & Quality Management Systems.

What is one issue in the cleaning industry that you would like to see addressed? I believe our industry should have mandatory training for all people employed as professional cleaners. Online training is so accessible and effective now that enabling a basic set of skills with certification can be readily achieved.

As a service to our industry, on the RapidClean website we offer a free online safe chemical handling course. Thousands of cleaners have now completed this course and we pay the fee as our contribution toward upskilling our industry and keeping our people safe.

Is there a message that you would like to share with the industry? I would like to send a message to all of the people in the cleaning industry to be proud of the contribution that you personally make to the health of those who you protect with your services. Our industry is vital for society to work effectively and for people to co-exist in densely populated cities. The words “I am just a cleaner” should never be heard again and should be replaced with “I’m a professional cleaner”. We need to be proud of ourselves before our value will be recognised by others. I am proud to be employed in the cleaning industry and hope that you are too. ■

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR CLEANING, PACKAGING, CATERING & SAFETY SUPPLIES ALL THE BEST BRANDS

CLEANING SOLUTIONS

CLEANING ACCESSORIES

AUTOMOTIVE

PAPER & WASHROOM

HOSPITALITY SUPPLIES

CLEANING EQUIPMENT Custom Catalogues What changes can you make?

Add your Logo Add your business name Add your contact details Change colour of top corner to align with your business' colour scheme ™

HEALTHCARE SUPPLIES

WASTE MANAGEMENT

SAFETY

WWW.RAPIDCLEAN.COM.AU | OVER 55 STORES ACROSS AUSTRALIA

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Matt Marsh Managing Director, Sebastian Property Services How was 2021 for Sebastian Property Services? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? 2021 was a challenge to keep staff motivated and navigating an ever-changing landscape. We were even more so challenged in staying consistent with our business plans but with these challenges, we experienced many highlights that make us a stronger cleaning company for being able to: • Navigate changes quickly, to support and educate our clients • Retaine a large majority of our staff through effective communication, training • Provide a positive experience for our clients in being able to consistently deliver our services • Increase employee training for improved awareness. • Highlight the need for more advanced equipment • Highlight the need for our ecoconscious cleaning • Improved communication and education for our clients.

Is there an achievement that you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? At Sebastian Property Services we are focused heavily on following best practice and as part of that this best practice we have taken direction and attended many webinars from ISSA. This has allowed us to implement strategies that are cost effective and achieve the desired results needed for our clients. Sebastian Property Services also are proud of taking a pro-active approach to mental wellbeing at work and at home, by investing on online workshops (in person when allowed) and training delivered by Holistic Growth Solutions Consultancy 68 INCLEAN January / February 2022

services. We had very high retention rate in staff, they educated each other in doing wellbeing checks with themselves and our clients. This had an overall positive effect on productivity and found our team were able to quickly adapt to a changing landscape and educate our clients on COVID safe cleaning and plans.

What will be the immediate focus for Sebastian Property Services in 2022? The immediate focus of Sebastian Property Services in 2022 is to take the learnings of the last few years, the education programs delivered to our team and passing these on directly to our employee’s stakeholders and clients. A significant part of our focus in 2021 has been to become the first cleaning company in Australia to be accredited with the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) and Certification Program. CIMS applies to management, operations, performance systems and processes. Compliance with the standard demonstrates an organisation is structured to deliver consistent, quality services that are designed to meet customers’ needs and expectations. It sets forth processes, procedure and supporting documentation proven to be characteristic of customer driven organisations.

What challenges and opportunities do you see for the wider industry in 2022? Staffing, productivity, and safety. Staffing - Commercial cleaning companies will spend a significant amount of time and resources hiring their employees. The more turnover a cleaning business experiences; the more costly hiring is to become. Staff can literally make or break a commercial cleaning business, so hiring the right employees, with the right onboarding and training will be vital ensure retention.

We believe that staffing is going to be the biggest challenge, our ability to staff up and down has become very challenging. Sebastian Property Services are looking forward to welcoming international students and working visa holders back. Productivity - The industry has seen a major shift in customer expectations when it comes to cleanliness but to ensure commercial cleaning companies can remain profitable, without impacting our service or service efficiency, we will need to focus on investing in the right cleaning technologies and improve cleaning service delivery models. Safety – Slips, trips, and falls are the most common types of issues in the commercial and industrial facilities, the responsibility sits with the cleaning staff, as we return to higher occupancy of buildings consistent training is going to be biggest challenge. Sebastian Property Services has for some time now implemented weekly toolbox talks and regular training to ensure that safety is always at the forefront of our cleaning staffs minds when carrying out their daily cleaning duties.

How has the public’s expectations of ‘clean’ changed as a result of the pandemic? While COVID-19 has taught everyone the importance of cleaning surroundings, people have become a lot more sceptical and demanding about the cleanliness of the spaces they work, live and frequent in. Cleaning needs to be more visible; clients and visitors find it more reassuring to see touch points disinfected between interactions. Our client’s feedback to us that this leaves a positive impression and shows that health and safety is being taken seriously.

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

What impact will these new expectations have on BSCs, in terms of cleaning standards and processes, in 2022? As we emerge out of COVID lockdown, the expectations will be very high, cleaning companies will always ahead of the game and management, filtering down learnings to the cleaning staff, it will be important that everyone in the company is on the same page. Sebastian Property Services sees the CIMS accreditation being vital part of supporting cleaning standards and processes in 2022 in delivering the right level of quality services to our clients.

What is one issue in the cleaning industry that you would like to see addressed? Greater government engagement and support regarding our labour force, encouragement of our labour force, support for labour complaint providers in general addressing the needs for cleaning suppliers, so we can meet the client requirements, and finally relaxing of the rules

of international permit workers to address staffing shortages in the cleaning industry. . .

Looking ahead to 2022, what advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry? Put people first, ensuring that employees are property training and equipped to handle the changing landscape and invest heavily in their wellbeing. The ability to remain agile is going to incredibly vital in 2022. Being prepared to adapt, allow, and respond to government and hence client needs is still paramount. Using the right technology, software and cleaning management processes are all going to be vital in keeping the lines of effective communication open with clients and a good service outcome. Finally, as an industry we now have a unique opportunity to engage with government and clients as to how we deliver as a cleaning industry, what we need in the way of government support to do so, including how we educate and upskill our teams. ■

“

The ability to remain agile is going to incredibly vital in 2022.

”

Victoria's trusted cleaners for a safe and healthy work environment.

www.sebastiangroup.com.au customerservice@sebastiangroup.com.au www.incleanmag.com.au 69

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Mauro Viola Executive Director, ServiceFM How was 2021 for ServiceFM? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? Last year was a time of challenge and change for ServiceFM. We, of course, faced the challenges of the pandemic and working with our trusted partners to ensure the safety of their workers and clients and the hygiene of their sites. We’re excited by the new relationships that we developed during this time, cementing ourselves as a company that provides excellence in service. Through good management, we operated efficiently, even during the lockdowns in Victoria and New South Wales. We learnt a lot about our capabilities and watched our workers grow in stature. Apart from the development of our business, our highlight was most definitely the transformation of our company to ServiceFM. We are now a proud and recognised multi-service provider following our business and brand transformation. The transformation completed a two-year strategic project to meet the changing needs and demands of our clients – they were telling us they wanted multiservice provision, one throat to choke, if you will. We have responded.

What will be the immediate focus for ServiceFM in 2022? ServiceFM will continue to consolidate business opportunities now arising from our transformation into a multi-service provider as our nation emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. One way we’ll do that is by continuing to act as a trusted partner in the infection control space where we’ve proven our value to our clients in the past two years. We now have distribution rights to a new infection control solution that ensures clean shared air in the workplace, Airofresh. We’ve learnt that clean shared air is just as important in ensuring the safety and hygiene of all our workspaces. 70 INCLEAN January / February 2022

Our product, Airofresh, is an ingenious air-purification solution that cleanses indoor environments by using water vapour in the shared air to destroy all organic chemicals as they pass through the device and beyond.

How has the public’s expectations of ‘clean’ changed as a result of the pandemic? COVID-19 has placed extreme importance on adopting measures that prevent airborne pathogens infecting staff or visitors to workplaces.

“

The recipients of our industry’s services need to understand the ethical and legislative risks that come with accepting the cheapest quote. As an industry, we need to understand the risks we are placing on our clients by offering unfeasibly cheap quotes.

”

For many of our clients, there has also been a further shift towards understanding non-toxic and green cleaning solutions. The use of alcohol-based disinfectants for hand sanitisation has also come into question, along with the high use of toxic cleaning chemicals that leave residue – impacting on health and wellbeing. We are now seeing the issue of toxic dust, that remains from cleaning chemicals, being breathed in. Not to mention the skin issues arising from constant use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, which should be of concern to us all. Firstly, ServiceFM has recognised the need for clean shared air. As a result, we’ve added Australian-made Airofresh to

our suite of infection control services so our clients can better protect themselves, their employees and customers from the risks associated with COVID-19 and other viruses and contaminants. We also continue to champion the use of Nanocyn disinfectant and sanitiser, which can be used as a cleaning solution and hand sanitiser. The pandemic has given us all a greater understanding of how we can reduce risk and downtime due to sickness in the workplace. Cleaning is no longer about just looking neat and tidy; it is about a clean and healthy environment on the surface and in the air.

What is one issue in the industry you would like to see addressed? In our industry there are times where I think there’s a price rush to the gutter. We need to work with our clients so they understand that choosing the cheapest option isn’t always the best option. The recipients of our industry’s services need to understand the ethical and legislative risks that come with accepting the cheapest quote. As an industry, we need to understand the risks we are placing on our clients by offering unfeasibly cheap quotes. We all have costs and contract quotas that we must meet, but we can all do better for our frontline workers and further reduce risks to our clients. We provide a valuable service and the quotes we offer should reflect the value of that work.

What advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry? Don’t fear change – embrace it. Value yourself and the service you provide – we have learnt the importance of soft services during the pandemic. Don’t let that value slip. Pay your workers properly – as we return to ‘normal business’ – expect the government’s focus to return to investigating wage theft. Keep our industry clean. ■

Airofresh – Next generation air purification Infection Control technology that cleans air and provides assurance

CLEAN SHARED AIR

Smart workplace air purification

Kills 99.9999% of airborne viruses

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed extreme importance on adopting measures that prevent airborne pathogens infecting staff or visitors to workplaces. ServiceFM has recognised this need for clean shared air and has added Australianmade Airofresh to our suite of Infection Control services offered to clients so they can better protect themselves, their employees and customers from the risks associated with COVID-19 and other viruses and contaminants. Australian invented, manufactured and distributed, the Airofresh unit has the unique capability to destroy airborne contaminants without using chemical applications or physical capture and store filters. AiroFresh: • Cleans and purifies shared air without chemicals. • Has no filters to replace. • Uses water vapour in the air, via electric and magnetic fields (oxidisation), to capture ‘bad air’ and neutralise it. • Is used in various settings: education, medical, retail and supermarkets. • Removes odours. • Provides coverage in all inside environments, from small offices to large interior environs. • Is Australian made. • Can be installed to current HVAC facilities or as free-standing units for offices. • Has a 7-year construction warranty; and • Is completely recyclable.

13-log

first pass eradication Carbon neutral

CONTACT 1300 300 959 enquiries@servicefm.com enquiries@servicefm.com.au .au servicefm.com.au ww w.servicefm.com.au

s tp ht

More information

s ://

er fm

servicefm

fre iro /a

.au

m .co

/ sh

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Gideon Joseph Practice Director, UKG

Anthony Gentin Digital Transformation Officer, Challenger Services Group

“

In today’s competitive marketplace that is plagued with complications like labour shortages, there’s no time to delay when it comes to investing in people technology.

”

Gideon Joseph

72 INCLEAN January / February 2022

The cleaning industry has seen significant change and demand since early 2020. Tell us how that has impacted your organisation and how you think about your people. AG: The past couple of years have certainly highlighted the need for flexibility! It’s been a challenging time for many of our customers, and Challenger has needed to adapt our service to suit our customers’ changing needs. We also had to adapt for our people. For example, the hospitality industry has been significantly impacted by COVID-19; many of our employees decided to transfer from our hospitality cleaning unit to commercial cleaning, an area of our business which has seen an uptick in demand. With these transfers, we needed to ensure they were getting paid accurately under the correct awards, with transparency across their new

working conditions. We have found that having a robust, adaptable people system is critical – not only to supporting change, but also to ensuring transparency and trust as an employer and a partner to our customers. GJ: COVID-19 has had a huge impact on cleaning organisations and their operations. The quality, type, and frequency of cleans have all had to change. Organisations have found they need to be more agile to deal with this tactical change, which represents significant challenges. There is an increased demand for workforce management tools to help manage the impacts of the pandemic. More shifts need to be filled in a market with severe labour shortages. Cleaners are travelling across multiple sites to environments that require deep cleaning. It’s become a question of being flexible to respond to these changes, while keeping employees safe.

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM So, you turned to UKG to help you adapt to the challenges. What are some of the strategic needs and goals you’re striving to achieve through your partnership with UKG? AG: As part of our digital transformation project, we knew we needed a single system on which to build our digital infrastructure foundation. That system, first and foremost, needed to support our people. Previously, none of our existing systems spoke to each other. We wanted mobile-first technology to manage our remote, diverse workforce, and we needed a robust system in place to help us comply with challenging compliance regulations. Compliance requirements in the cleaning industry are some of the most complex I have ever encountered, with many different legislations to take into account. UKG solutions are really flexible, and we’re able to configure the system to suit the needs of different business areas. GJ: We’ve definitely seen that workforce flexibility and visibility are critical business issues for our customers in the cleaning and facilities management industries, whether that’s providing visibility into forecasted spend against budget or rostering appropriately qualified staff to the right equipment and shift conditions. COVID-19 also continues to present additional challenges for the cleaning industry. In this environment, relying on manual systems such as Excel to urgently fill a deep-clean shift or flexibly roster staff is not proving to be sustainable. Our customers recognise this and have taken advantage of UKG solutions to automate those processes. They’ve also benefitted from implementing contact tracing tools and health attestation functionality, as part of their COVID-19 management strategy.

What have you learned through the process of streamlining your people technology so far? AG: HR software is very detailed and complex. You have to consider how everything flows and the impact it will have on the whole organisation, ensuring that it accurately records all information and then integrates that into the rest of the ecosystem. On-premise systems should be avoided as hosting them on site requires a lot of knowledge and investment. I believe you should outsource what you’re not an expert in. The cloud environment allows flexibility and ensures that

you’re always on the latest version and provides a sense of security with real-time backup. GJ: Our solutions help organisations streamline their people technology to give them greater visibility, maintain compliance, control labour costs, and improve employee engagement. ‘One touch’ is how businesses should be thinking about the technology that helps manage their people – having just one system to access all of the information they need across the employee lifecycle. An all-in-one solution that is simple to use and can be accessed from any device saves managers time and allows them to focus on what really matters, rather than spending time dealing with manual processes and disparate systems.

What advice would you give other organisations in regard to people technology? AG: If you haven’t thought about investing in people technology, you should. If your organisation has ambitions to grow and provide both your employees and customers with a good experience, you need to ensure you are automating your processes with modern technology. At a certain point, it becomes impossible to manage your labour with manual systems, such as Excel. It exposes your organisation to too much compliance risk and hampers your ability to grow. If you are preparing to invest in people technology, make sure you spend the time to understand your requirements and values. Don’t lose focus on what’s important, otherwise you won’t reap the true benefits of your vision. Be thoughtful of who you select as your vendor – it should be a partnership that you can trust. You’re making a big commitment– select a vendor that understands and supports your organisation’s goals. Finally, strong employee engagement is vital for your organisation’s long-term sustainability, and you can achieve this with people technology, and open and honest communication when introducing the technology to employees. GJ: In today’s competitive marketplace that is plagued with complications like labour shortages, there’s no time to delay when it comes to investing in people technology. It’s going to be some time before we have international labour supplementing our local workforce, so taking care of your employees and having the right engagement mechanisms in place to retain these resources is critical. ■

“

If your organisation has ambitions to grow and provide both your employees and customers with a good experience, you need to ensure you are automating your processes with modern technology.

”

Anthony Gentin

www.incleanmag.com.au 73

INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

Dr Greg Whiteley Executive Chairman, Whiteley Corporation

“

2022 will see a significant step change for Whiteley in terms of our production capability.

”

How was 2021 for Whiteley? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? 2021 was an incredibly challenging year for everyone. Within our business we experienced unprecedented customer demand on many of our products, especially in the infection prevention space. Whilst increased demand is usually a good news story, trying to keep up with supply to meet the demand was exceptionally challenging. Raw material availability was a constant challenge, as was the scaling up of production, warehousing, and distribution. We were swamped with phone and email enquiries nationally and internationally. As a business we were forced to pivot heavily and work in a way we have not experienced before. Despite the challenges there were also many highlights. The way our team stepped up to this challenge was incredible, and the way they demonstrated flexibility and tenacity was amazing. We delivered flexibility in our operations to dramatically increase manufacturing output and ensure product supply was maintained for all customers, albeit in a reduced capacity at times. It was great to see hand hygiene become a key focus outside of the traditional channels like primary healthcare.

Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of from the past 12 months? Without a doubt, Viraclean becoming the very first product in Australia to achieve a TGA registered claim around effectiveness against COVID-19. This was an immense step 74 INCLEAN January / February 2022

forward and allowed us to supply a proven COVID-19 killing solution to the broader community to improve hygiene and help keep people safe. Secondly, our ability to maintain a very high level of supply to primary healthcare. We became well known as a reliable place to get hold of high quality ready to use hospital grade disinfectants for surface and hand hygiene. Being Australian made we were able to maintain a high-level of supply status which was not something that many of our competitors could deliver on especially with imported products. I was very proud of the essential support that Whiteley were able to provide within healthcare in our collective fight against COVID-19.

What will be the immediate focus for Whiteley in 2022? We do not want to lose any momentum, so 2022 will see a significant step change for Whiteley in terms of our production capability. We are building a new human therapeutics plant which will enable increased capacity for registered products. We are also building our internal expertise to enable us to deliver even more world class innovation. This will put us into an enviable position to ensure that we will have even more ability to keep our products in a very positive supply situation going into the future.

How has the public’s expectations of ‘clean’ changed as a result of the pandemic? The public is now much more aware that visibly clean does not always mean it is clean, and they are far more educated about the risks associated with hand hygiene in the fight against viruses and bacteria. The use of registered products and hospital grade disinfectants, previously considered premium products for medical use, have become more mainstream as people seek efficacious products with approved claims. Businesses want to reassure customers that their premises are clean and safe. Customers want quality hygiene products

such as alcohol-based hand rubs readily available and easy to use when there are out and about.

What impact will these new expectations have on the industry, in terms of cleaning standards and processes, in 2022? Training needs to continually improve and be formalised. Awareness of basic infection prevention guidelines are needed to ensure cleaners are using products correctly and with the correct contact times, and the cleaning process is done in a manner that does not spread bacteria or viruses from one surface to another. We have evolved along way over the past two years, and it would be a shame to see practices revert back to prepandemic practices.

What is one issue in the cleaning industry that you would like to see addressed? I would like to see a greater focus on training. If we use COVID-19 as an example, cleaners are a first line of action when active cases are presented, therefore correct training is essential to protect the cleaners, but also ensure the site is effectively cleaned and made safe again. We need to increase the perceived value of cleaning and to better value the cleaning teams that are out there getting the job done. That means more reward and more recognition for those on the front line.

Do you have a message for the cleaning community? The work carried out by the cleaning industry over the past 18 months has been nothing short of incredible. I would like to personally thank them all for the vital role they have all played and continue to play in not only making our environments clean and pleasant to be in, but in helping to keep us safe. I would encourage you all to stay the course and make the things that you have learnt in the past two years part of your standard procedures to help reduce virus spread as we move into the future. We wish you a fantastic year ahead! ■

PRODUCTS

i-sense With i-sense, it’s never been easier to monitor and optimise the air quality inside your building. Thanks to the smart display design, a quick glance will inform you whether the ambient air is clean, or if you should act against any pathogens or particulate matter. The i-sense device allows you to measure the ambient temperature, humidity, particulate matter (to 2.5) and VOCs. The air quality is clearly indicated on the i-sense with icons that change colour based on the current levels. This way, you know exactly when you need to take action. The small, square device can easily be mounted on the wall or placed on a shelf or table.

www.i-teamanz.com hello@i-teamanz.com

Bonnie Bio available from Cleanstar The Bonnie Bio range of compostable products is now available to make plastic a thing of the past. The Bonnie Bio range has the same look and feel of plastic but all products in the range are fully compostable and made from corn-starch. The range includes garbage bags, council dog poop bags, straws, gloves, cutlery, and more.

Cleanstar 03 9460 5655 sales@cleanstar.com.au bonniebio.com.au

Check out Cleanstar’s YouTube channel for more product videos

Accord InClean Mag 2021_Half page Hoz_AW.pdf

24/11/21

4:13 pm

The Packaging Challenge Towards packaging waste circularity solutions for the cleaning & hygiene industry Hosted by Accord Australasia The packaging space in Australia is abuzz. We have National Packaging Targets. A National Plastics Plan. All eyes are firmly fixed on ‘problematic plastic packaging’. The Packaging Challenge is a sector-specific deep-dive into this highly topical sustainability issue for the cleaning & hygiene products industry. In this special workshop, you will learn from a range of experts on current packaging use and supply chains, industry initiatives and case studies, recycling and circular economy best practice, how to communicate your sustainability achievements and more!