African Cleaning Review MarchApril '16 issue

PROMOTING PROFESSIONAL HYGIENE AND CLEANING

March/April 2016 | R46.00 (incl. VAT)

CSG Holdings acquire Afriboom Washroom evolution Relevance of hot water hand-washing Cleaning trolley systems

contents MARCH/APRIL 2016 Vol 17 No. 2

Washroom solutions Superior clean look solutions for the washroom. Take a look at the latest Air Care, Surface Care, Sanitary Care and Skin Care ranges from Rubbermaid Commercial Products on page 16 and 17.

Interview

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Afriboom CEO Pieter van der Westhuizen

Industry News

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Amsterdam Innovation Award 2016 nominees announced Brian Joffe steps aside, but not too far Kärcher official supplier for 2016 Olympic Games CSG Holdings aims at larger share of contract services market Lepro Corporation scoops top spot globally Luanda drowning in its rubbish Daily cleaning part of curriculum in schools Free tertiary education for children of outsourced workers Public cleaning campaign initiated in China to combat Zika virus

Laundry review

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• ISSA/Interclean show review • Hard floorcare

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July/August issue

• Healthcare facility hygiene • Waste management

September/October issue

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• Automotive wash systems • High access cleaning

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• Aircare • Sustainable cleaning

EPA targets dry-cleaning chemical Sustainability focus at Linen Care Expo Fresher fabrics and simpler ironing Energy- and water-saving Smart Load technology for washer extractors

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May/June issue

Distributor Choice Award for Tennant Company’s ec-H20 technology

Washroom hygiene Hand hygiene Cleaning trolley systems

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African Cleaning Review is aimed at end users, contractors and suppliers of products and services to Africa’s Cleaning, Hygiene, Maintenance, Pest Control and Facility Management Services industries.

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November/December issue

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Imagining and constructing healthier buildings Waste site converts plastic to oil Survey reveals robust office development activity Offering greener flooring options

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Educational

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Steps to protect your Twitter account

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New antimicrobial solution for healthcare sector Faster and more effective cleaning in narrow areas

African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

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from the editor

interview

Afriboom to become part of multi-services group Afriboom Cleaning Services recently made the news with the

Outsourcing under attack

announcement that CSG Holdings, a JSE-listed company, acquired 100 percent of the company’s interests in order to establish a substantial specialist contract cleaning operation within the CSG Group. African

With the second quarter of the year upon us, it would seem that South Africa has still not shaken off the unprecedented attacks on outsourcing of crucial facility services. For years the professional cleaning industry has been very vocal about the positive aspects and advantages of outsourcing facility services to professionals who are able to provide a superior service, or multiple services, with advanced skill levels and general effectiveness at a lower cost compared to in-house operations. However, a perception has somehow been created that staff employed by facility service providers are subject to exploitation. This has resulted in disgruntled staff at major tertiary institutions demonstrating their displeasure with what is referred to as ‘minimal benefits and wages’.

This is indeed a serious issue, and these extraordinary attacks on outsourcing should be addressed in no uncertain terms and as a matter of priority by all role players within the industry.

The large-scale return to insourcing of facility services could have a detrimental knock-on effect on facility service providers and suppliers throughout South Africa. The current negative connotation to outsourcing should be countered effectively, with the facts and figures relating to gains made by the outsourcing of multiple facility services – this ultimately allows companies to focus on their core business activities without the burden of having to manage ancillary tasks, such as cleaning, hygiene, pest control, garden and laundry services.

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Cleaning Review spoke to Afriboom’s CEO Pieter van der Westhuizen regarding the events leading up to the acquisition.

Background information Afriboom Cleaning Services was established during March 2008 as a small enterprise that serviced 25 sites – mainly for the City Lodge Group and the Hilton Hotel.

The company experienced rapid growth over the past seven years to its current position where it services approximately 118 sites across South Africa. The company provides professional housekeeping, laundry, back of house, kitchen, turndowns and management solutions to major hospitality groups, which includes Protea Hotels, Tsogo Sun, Legacy Group and the Hilton Group of hotels. Afriboom now has offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Mbombela.

Would you describe Afriboom as a niche service provider?

Our core focus is currently aimed at the hospitality industry. By providing specialised services to a niche sector, we are able to offer highly proficient and dedicated operational staff who understand this specific sector, thereby delivering a top-class service to our clients.

How would you differentiate Afriboom from ‘labour broking’?

We are not labour brokers. A labour broker, in my view, is someone who provides a client with temporary employees performing nonspecialised tasks.

Afriboom should be regarded as specialists; we have the ability to

interview provide complete cleaning solutions from chemicals to the latest equipment and obviously dedicated and trained staffing. Afriboom is able to offer complete housekeeping solutions by managing the entire housekeeping department for a hospitality establishment. This function then allows hotels to concentrate on their core business, which is marketing rooms.

What is the scope of Afriboom’s laundry service?

All City Lodge hotels (our clients) have fully functional on-site laundry facilities with laundry equipment purchased by the client. Afriboom’s task is to manage the laundry operations by washing and ironing laundry on site and also to pack it away for later distribution.

At our Mmbatho site, Afriboom owns the laundry equipment and the laundry service is provided on-site.

What are the prospects for growth?

One of the main benefits of becoming part of CSG is that it offers us a huge

opportunity to grow the business into new areas. We already have a minor presence in the healthcare sector and this development will afford us the opportunity to strengthen our presence in this sector. In fact, it will be bolstered because of the synergies with another CSG Group company, Ukweza – a major supplier of catering and cleaning services to the private and public healthcare industry.

What does the future hold?

Ukweza’s cleaning services will be incorporated into Afriboom, and in future, Afriboom will be responsible for the entire cleaning services business within the CSG Group, thereby creating a substantial specialist in the cleaning sector which will be a leading cleaning brand in South Africa.

I will remain in the position of CEO of Afriboom, reporting directly to the CSG executive team, for a period of four years, renewable for another five years thereafter. Our aim is to eventually provide our clients with

Pieter van der Westhuizen a full basket of facility management services, including security, cleaning, catering, pest control and hygiene.

Personally, I look forward to the new challenge, and although the company founded by me will now be part of a larger group, my passion for this industry will remain – I am here to stay.

African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

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industry news Amsterdam Innovation Award 2016 nominees announced

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he jury of the 11th edition of the ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam Innovation Awards has announced the nine shortlisted nominees from a record total of 110 entries.

The overall winner and the three category winners will be announced by the jury during the special award ceremony at the ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam Show on Tuesday, 10 May 2016.

In the Machines, Accessories and Components category, shortlisted nominees are Sealed Air Diversey Care for the TASKI SWINGOBOT 755, Cleanfix Reinigungssysteme for the RA 660 NAVI, and Kärcher with their BRC 40/22 C. The second category covers Equipment/tools for Cleaning, Care and Safety and here the SpillEX from Vileda Professional FHCS, Werner & Mertz’s Professional Quick & Easy System, and Newell Europe’s Lumecel Microburst 3000 Air Care Dispenser were the pick of the many entries.

The third and final category is for Management, Training Solutions and Related Products, with Sealed Air Diversey Care’s Augmented Reality

Suma Revoflow, Kärcher’s Connected Cleaning concept, and the Tork EasyCube from SCA being the three shortlisted nominees.

Chair of the Amsterdam Innovation Award jury Michelle Marshall commented: “This year, the jury was nearly overwhelmed by the record number of entries. The 110 entries prove that the industry is increasingly committed to innovation – particularly when you compare the sheer number of this year’s entries to the 66 entries received for the 2014 competition.

“I was also interested to note that the 110 entries were submitted by 66 companies from 20 different countries proving that innovation in our industry is truly international.

“Noteworthy trends in the entries this year included the breakthrough of autonomous robotic cleaning machines. Similarly, other technology innovations took a prominent role in the competition, with many entries based on software and apps to report on, analyse and visualise the data produced by remotely managed, Internetconnected devices.”

TASKI SWINGOBOT 755

Vileda SpillEX

Newell Europe’s Lumecel Microburst 3000

Brian Joffe steps aside, but not too far

Brian Joffe

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fter almost three decades at the helm of sprawling industrial giant Bidvest, CEO Brian Joffe is to step down following a major restructuring. But he is not going far and remains a director at one of the major units. “I am not going anywhere,”

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

68-year-old Joffe said at the company’s interim results presentation.

Joffe is to assume the role of director in the Bidvest Group, which will house the company’s industrial assets outside of food services. Lindsay Ralphs, who has been CEO of Bidvest SA since 1992, will chair the division.

The unbundled food services unit, where Joffe takes on a role in strategy and planning, will be led by Bernard Berson, CE of Bidvest Foodservices in Australia.

Joffe said that he expected the unbundling to be wrapped up in the next six months, and anticipated no significant hurdles to the restructuring, such as those it faced in London about 15 months ago. The company needs both shareholder and regulatory approval. “I can’t image why anyone would not want to approve,” he said.

Outside of the new Bidvest, Joffe plans to dedicate his time to help with the government’s ambitious plan to create 100 black industrialists in the next three years.

Joffe founded Bidfood, as it was known, in 1988, with just two assets: Chipkins and Sea World Frozen Foods. Further acquisitions over the period included major cleaning industry companies such as Steiner Services (1991), Prestige Cleaning Services (1993), which was then grouped with Steiner Services to form Bidserv, G Fox (2005), and Mvelaserve Ltd (2014), which included RoyalServe Cleaning.

Since listing on the JSE in 1997, at a price of around R16.79, Bidvest has grown across a range of sectors spanning financial, services, freight, pharmaceuticals and automotives.

African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

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industry news Kärcher official supplier for the 2016 Olympic Games

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ärcher Brazil was recently named an official supplier of the Rio 2016 Olympics. The company’s cleaning equipment will be utilised in all cleaning environments and arenas during the various competitions,

according to InsideTheGames.biz.

Kärcher will provide more than 1 000 machines, including highpressure washers, automatic floor-care equipment, vacuums, multi-functional systems for cleaning and disinfecting washrooms, and large sweeping

systems for outdoor use. Training on the equipment will also be provided.

The company’s involvement with the Olympics began in 2012 when Kärcher was subcontracted to assist with cleaning operations at the London games.

CSG Holdings aims at larger share of contract services market

Pieter Dry

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SG Holdings, the JSE-listed contract services company which has PSG Private Equity as a major shareholder, aims for a larger presence in the professional cleaning industry with the establishment of a stronger specialist contract cleaning operation.

The emphasis on the professional cleaning industry follows the recent 100 percent acquisition of Afriboom Cleaning Services, a company that specialises in providing cleaning services within the hospitality and healthcare sectors. The purchase price will vary between R5 million and R30 million, depending on the achieving

of profit warranties by Afriboom.

The acquisition followed shortly after CSG Holdings acquired the remaining minority shareholding in Ukweza, a contract catering and cleaning group that provides services mainly to private hospitals and certain state hospitals. The 38.1 percent stake in Ukweza will cost CSG Holdings between R7 million and R33 million, depending on its financial performance.

CSG Holdings CEO Pieter Dry said that the plan is to consolidate the Ukweza contract cleaning business under the Afriboom brand for cost savings and thereby create a stronger specialist in the professional cleaning sector.

“The recent weakening of the rand against major international currencies provided a major boost to the local tourist industry. Afriboom performed very well since the acquisition.

The company’s potential for the future provided the impetus for the consolidation with the Ukweza contract cleaning business,” Dry said.

The group’s future plans also include a stronger focus on its security business with more acquisitions. CSG’s focus

on the security sector flows from the recent acquisition of Hi-Tech Laeveld, Hi-Tech Nelspruit and Hi-Tech Witrivier.

The Hi-Tech group provides security, monitoring and armed response services. Dry further said that the difficult economic environment and the subsequent increase in unemployment results in more crime. “The benefit of Hi-Tech is that it provides a constant income stream to flatten out the cyclical nature of the contract sector,” he explained.

Regarding CSG’s interest in temporary labour contracting, Dry said that more stringent laws concerning temporary employment are putting pressure on the industry. There is nevertheless a tendency among corporate clients to reduce risk by contracting reputable and listed service providers.

“The diversification of the group’s activities is bearing fruit. The divergence of the group’s services and activities is making the unlocking of synergies between the divisions more and more possible, while revenue contribution is spread over various industries,” he concluded.

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industry news Lepro Corporation scoops top spot globally

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ocal professional cleaning firm, Lepro Corporation has joined a number of companies in making it onto an elite global list for its certification on the international quality management standard, ISO 9001:2015.

Lepro Corporation became the first company on the African continent and one of 10 companies globally to achieve the prestigious ISO 9001:2015 certification within four months after the release of the standard. Lepro was recommended for certification by German certification body DQS on 2 February 2016, and the certificate was

handed over on 19 February 2016 at the company’s head Office in Johannesburg.

This is a huge achievement not only for Lepro but business in South Africa, giving the assurance that local businesses measure up to international benchmarks and standards. When asked about how challenging it was for the organisation to achieve the milestone, Lepro Corporation’s management representative Violet Donjeany said: “The biggest challenge was in understanding the requirements as the standard had only been released four months ago. In an economy that is battling, it is critical

for companies to increase their global positioning and competitiveness, and ISO standards are able to provide a much needed assurance for such.”

As a result of the new standard, Lepro has had to adopt improved quality practices, and risk-based thinking.

Commenting on the significance of the certification Lepro MD Lizwe Ndlovu said: “We are now a global player, giving sustainable jobs to over 2 600 breadwinners and the responsibility of keeping them safe within jobs is never easy when adequate systems are not in place.”

Above: Violet Donjeany.

Left from left to right: Samantha Webster (DQS), Vusi Bongwe (MD – DQS), Lizwe Ndlovu (MD – Lepro), Michelle Olivier (DQS) and Francois Labuschagne (CEO – DQS)

Luanda drowning in its rubbish

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uanda, the sprawling Angolan city and home to 6.5 million people, has become an openair dumping site.

As a result, a passenger boat was stranded off the seaside capital.

Streams of rubbish clogged its engine as it attempted to enter the port of a city sinking under the weight of trash that has been left uncollected for several months, blocking traffic and infuriating residents.

According to an AFP report, the

company responsible for removing the trash says that it has not been paid by the local authorities, as the country, the second largest oil producer in Africa, buckles under the collapse of the oil price.

The rubbish continues to pile up all over the city, filling up sidewalks outside both luxurious mansions and the shacks of the slums. During the rainy season, the streets become flooded, forming stinking, black rivers that carry the decaying waste into stagnant ponds.

Source: idiuanu.wordpress.com

African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

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industry news Daily cleaning part of curriculum in schools

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tudents in Singapore will soon have to keep their schools spick and span with daily cleaning duties, according to reports.

The Ministry of Education says that it wants to foster a sense of responsibility in young people by getting them involved in looking after their own schools. According to Singapore’s The

Independent newspaper, pupils will be required to clean-up spaces including classrooms, corridors and canteens, but the washrooms will still be left to professional cleaners. Schools will be allowed to decide for themselves exactly when the duties can be slotted into the school day, either before or after lessons, or during break times. The new policy

will apply to students from primary age, and will be implemented across the country by the end of 2016.

Singapore is following the lead of Japan, where students have, for some period, been tasked with sweeping, mopping and dusting duties around their school buildings, and often serve lunches to their classmates in the canteen.

Free tertiary education for children of outsourced workers

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he University of Johannesburg (UJ) announced that it would implement extended benefits to the children of outsourced workers at the institution. In a statement, the university said: “An outsourced worker and eight (other) outsourced workers’ children will be joining more than 49 500 students who have successfully enrolled for 2016 studies. The outsourced worker is embarking on a BTech Transport programme and the other outsourced workers’ children are pursuing degrees and diplomas in

public management, small business management, accounting and law.”

UJ Deputy Vice Chancellor for Strategic Services Mpho Letlape said that the outsourced workers and their children who qualified to study at the institution were exempted from paying tuition fees.

“The university supports the quest to provide decent work and improved working conditions,” she said.

Although workers would study without paying fees, Letlape said that the university would not renew any of the outsourced service contracts.

“The workers currently performing these services will be transferred through an agreed process to the university. In the process, no new conditions relating to education level for insourcing will be introduced,” she said.

The institution promised to insource workers by 30 June 2017.

However, while workers wait for the process to be completed by the university, UJ said that the cleaners would continue to receive an extra payment of R1 000 per month.

Public cleaning campaign initiated in China to combat Zika virus

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hinese authorities have reportedly kick-started an extensive public cleaning campaign in the country.

Two more people have been diagnosed with the Zika virus, taking the total number of such cases to nine in China.

A six year old and an eight year old recently returned to Guangzhou city

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from Zika-affected Venezuela with rashes and fever. It was later confirmed that the two had contracted the mosquito-borne disease. The Chinese government is taking all necessary precautionary measures to prevent the virus from spreading. Health officials ordered the cleaning of public areas, specifically where the Zika virus could be potentially transmitted by the Aedes mosquito.

According to a report by the IndoAsian News Service (IANS), National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) Chairperson Lin Bin said that the public cleaning campaign will focus particularly on cleaning common public areas, including bus stations, markets

and residential areas in cities. China’s measures to stop the Zika virus came after World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan warned that the virus would likely worsen before the Zika-affected countries could see some relief from the mosquito-borne disease.

The WHO declared the Zika outbreak a public health emergency on 1 February 2016. The Zika virus has spread to 52 countries so far.

Brazil, the worst-affected country, has confirmed 583 cases of microcephaly – a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads, and is associated with incomplete brain development.

advertorial goscor Distributor Choice Award for Tennant Company’s ec-H2O technology

Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) – a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions that help create a cleaner, safer, healthier world – has been honoured with a 2015 Distributor Choice Award by the readers of Sanitary Maintenance magazine for its sustainable cleaning technology ec-H2O™.

Tennant’s proprietary ec-H2O technology, available on most Tennant-built floor scrubbers, electrically converts water into a solution that cleans effectively, saves money, improves

safety and reduces environmental impact. The technology is effective on many types of soils, leaves no chemical residue on floors and helps to improve floor traction, which can assist in reducing slip-and-fall accidents. Scrubbers equipped with ec-H2O technology use up to 70 percent less water than conventional floor scrubbing methods.

“Tennant Company is very pleased and honoured that our ec-H2O technology was named a Distributor Choice Award winner by Sanitary Maintenance magazine,” said David Huml, Tennant Company’s Senior Vice President of Global Marketing. “Our distributor partners are an important extension of the Tennant team. With authorised partners in more than 80 countries around the world, it is especially gratifying to be recognised by a global group of distributors across the entire sanitary industry.”

The Sanitary Maintenance Distributor Choice Awards programme recognises the most

innovative and useful sanitary supply products of the year, as determined by sanitary supply distributors who voted in an online campaign.

The voters are readers of Sanitary Maintenance magazine, which reaches 15 000 distributors active in the sanitary supply marketplace.

“We value our distributor relationships and work together to deliver the best products and solutions to our mutual commercial and industrial customers.

It’s great to see ec-H2O become a globally, well-adopted cleaning technology that cleans effectively, saves money, improves safety and reduces environmental impact. This makes us even more excited about our recent launch of ec-H2O NanoClean™, the next generation of this proprietary technology,” added Huml.

For more information on ec-H2O NanoClean, visit www.tennantco.com.

African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

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feature washroom hygiene

The evolution of washrooms Competition in the washroom hygiene market is so fierce that it calls for continuous innovation by vendors and service companies in order to Rika van Rooyen

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echnology in this market is accelerating at an astounding pace and consumers and clients are demanding it, because they are becoming increasingly aware of how the washroom reflects on their brand.

Rika van Rooyen, Group Sales Director at Bidvest Steiner*, South Africa’s foremost hygiene services company, provides an update on how the washroom hygiene industry has evolved:

No-touch washrooms and the reduction of touchpoints A touch-free washroom is becoming increasingly important not only from a hygiene perspective, but also for consumption control. By reading articles about hygiene practices clients are becoming more and more informed about the spread of germs. Therefore, a greater awareness exists of the prevalence of germs and germ transfer within public washroom facilities.

No-touch washroom ranges, including

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enhance market share. dispensers, sanitary bins, faucets, urinals etc, have most definitely become the latest trend in new upmarket facilities. In addition, it is common practice to design the latest washrooms in a way where entry/exit doors have become obsolete, thereby eliminating the need to touch a door upon entry or exit.

Co-ordinated washrooms White is still the preferred colour for washroom dispensers because it is perceived as hygienic and clean.

However, new developments tend to opt for the stainless steel look as it is professed to be upmarket and more durable in the long term. The negative aspect of these dispensers are cost; it is cumbersome and not that easy to keep clean. The trend is definitely towards standardisation, where dispensers match a theme and are also recessed for increased aesthetic appeal. With smaller washroom facilities the emphases is definitely on small, slim and slick.

Ease-of-use dispensers While it is important for washroom dispensers to look good, it is even more imperative that dispensers are installed in convenient locations and are accessible to all, easy to operate and that works time and again. High-tech innovations are not always practical in all applications, as washroom patrons will find it difficult to operate, which often ends up in dispenser abuse and will impact on effective washroom hygiene.

Dispensers that look good, are easy to use and are installed at convenient locations play a valuable role in encouraging people to develop healthy hand hygiene habits. Products should be accessible to everyone, including the disabled, children and the elderly.

Today’s clients want interchangeability.

For example, if they wish to change from foam to a liquid spray, the system must be adaptable and the change must be simple and smooth.

African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

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feature washroom hygiene Hand dryers There will always be a heated debate in terms of a hand dryer’s comparison with paper products in offering effective, hygienic and fast hand drying.

It is a fact that hand dryers will always have a place in the washroom as it is regarded as the most costeffective way to dry hands. However, in South Africa, and because of loadshedding, paper has clawed back its leading position in the washroom, thereby offering an effective alternative.

Irrespective of the recent introduction of high-speed hand dryers, many washroom patrons still believe that drying hands under, or more recently within, a hand dryer is simply time consuming or unhygienic which, in many cases, results in people having to add the finishing drying touches by running their hands down the sides of their jeans. It is also a reality that in the absence of a paper dispenser, patrons will resort to toilet tissue in order to dry their hands quicker and more effectively rather than standing in the queue waiting for the next available hand dryer. Also the shape, size, power or noise of some hand dryers can alienate people from using them and this has implications for effective washroom hygiene.

It is advisable, though, to have both paper dispensers and hand dryers in a washroom in order to heed customer preferences.

Unfortunately, in a price-driven market the majority of clients still prefer to go with the most inexpensive paper version available. The fact that singleply paper results in increased usage because of wet-paper shrinkage is not considered during the process. Bidvest Steiner’s preference is a high-quality, double-ply paper.

The sanitary bin should be automated or at least feature a foot pedal to enable no-touch opening.

Outside the cubicles, washrooms should have: a paper towel dispenser and/or a hand dryer; a wall bin/waste paper bin; a soap dispenser and an air freshener.

In a male washroom, it is preferable to install an automatic flush unit at the urinal with an auto-sanitiser dispenser because of irregular manual urinal flushing; an urinal dome or urinal screen are alternative options to an autosanitiser and, further, exactly what was specified for ladies washrooms, except for a ‘she packet’ dispenser and a sanitary bin.

In addition – and from a cleaning point of view –it is important to have your paper towel dispenser/hand dryer located next to the basin.

Washroom cubicle must haves

Cleanliness and hygiene

A typical washroom cubicle must have: an auto sanitiser for bacteria build-up in the toilet; a toilet paper dispenser and, in a ladies cubicle, a sanitary bin with a ‘she packet’ dispenser and a foam surface sanitiser to wipe the toilet seat.

Cleanliness and hygiene are still the number one requirement for washroom end-users, irrespective of the vast array of high-tech dispensers available and general aesthetics. It is therefore imperative to realise the importance

factor to consider is the hygiene issue: soap cartridges are sealed, whereas soap top-up systems are opened all the time and almost never cleaned between filling. This results in salt concentrations clogging nozzles, which is one of the main reasons why many dispensers become non-operational even though they are completely filled. This is also unhygienic because, as an unsealed unit, it can create an environment for bacterial growth.

Paper usage in South Africa

Enviro-friendly soaps and top-up systems Environmentally-friendly soaps and sustainable paper products are of growing importance.

Price plays a massive role when it comes to making decisions regarding sustainable products, and the South African market still relies heavily on the soap top-up systems – where five litres of liquid soap can easily become ten litres with dilution – and just about anything can be used in the top-up process.

The more progressive companies are definitely moving towards the cartridge system, as it is very easy to control: the client now knows exactly how many cartridges are issued and these can be replaced with the same number of new cartridges upon return. Another big

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feature washroom hygiene thereof from a hygiene operator as well as a cleaning company’s perspective; these partnerships are vital. Obviously, our company partners with many cleaning service companies and therefore we focus on on-site training and have initiated a ‘cleaning academy’.

It is impractical to perform cleaning training only on the day of installation and never again, as cleaning staff change. Today they are here, tomorrow they are deployed somewhere else; keys are lost and absenteeism also needs to be factored in. Proper training on all washroom equipment is essential to ensure optimum use of consumables and to maintain a hygienic environment. However, the servicing of sanitary bins should rather be entrusted to specialist hygiene companies who ensure their staff receive regular vaccinations, wear the correct protective clothing and are adequately trained in this aspect of hygiene servicing.

High-tech washroom solutions Trends are definitely moving towards advanced technology in washrooms where hygiene systems are equipped with a sensor that triggers an automatic flush, paper is fed in pre-determined lengths when needed, and a service is available that alerts facilities staff via their smartphones when a washroom’s dispenser need refilling. Connectivity is definitely playing a larger role in how washrooms are maintained.

Consultants perform washroom surveys on handheld devices. With the press of a button a quotation can be generated, clients can be emailed, quotations can be distributed and installation dates can be confirmed, all while the consultant is still busy in the field.

Automatic flush systems, infrared devices and no-touch dispensers are on the increase as facility owners and managers realise the benefits in water conservation, the elimination

of blockages and improved control of consumables. Green-rated buildings are currently leaders in the move towards high-tech washroom solutions. Technology, including smart systems and automation, will in future drive change, thereby allowing facility managers to track performance and improve upon it. * Founded in 1958, Bidvest Steiner has grown to become a national company with over 30 branches throughout Southern Africa.

The company service clients in Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia. Bidvest Steiner provides a range of health and hygiene services from washroom accessory rentals to deep cleaning, dust control and pest control, as well as hygiene, cleaning and office consumables sales. Bidvest Steiner is an ISO9001 accredited company compliant with SABS and NRCS quality standards. The company’s clientele includes many industries i.e. Mining, Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, Hospitality and the Financial Sector.

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feature hand hygiene

How relevant is hot water for effective hand-washing?

In order to establish how relevant hot water is for effective hand-washing, US researchers surveyed 510 adults and questioned them about their hand-washing behaviour and perceptions. People had to answer questions relating to how often they wash their hands, for how long and how hot the water should be.

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ccording to the published report, 70 percent of respondents said that they believe that using hot water is more effective than warm, room temperature, or cold water, despite a lack of evidence to back that up. The research showed a “strong cognitive connection between water temperature and hygiene in both the United States and Western Europe”.

So while many believe hot water is more effective for hand-washing, the study actually concluded that “the temperature of water used is not related to how well pathogens are eliminated during the process”.

Additionally, warmer water can irritate the skin and can affect its protective layer, which may cause it to be less resistant to bacteria. Skin irritation has been reported as one of the main

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reasons why many healthcare workers forgo hand hygiene.

Interestingly, if you look at the official guidelines for hand-washing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), both do not actually specify a water temperature. They do recommend using soap and water and scrubbing using a proper technique for at least 20 seconds, followed by drying hands thoroughly.

Despite this, there is still a lot of confusion around water temperature, as some public health organisations still recommend “elevated water temperature”.

The FDA Food Code, for example, which is a model used to enforce health standards in restaurants, recommends the “handwashing sink be equipped to provide water at a temperature of at least 38°C”.

Certain food safety consultants insisted that the temperature should be 60°C. Observations revealed that staff proceeded to use cold water, saying hot water was too hot. The research further showed that “microbiological swabbing of hands revealed an increase in Campylobacter, E.coli and Listeria counts on hands that were washed in basins when very hot water was demanded by the consultants, compared to hands exposed to water at 40 to 45 °C”.

Barry Michaels, a microbiologist and expert in infectious disease, performed the only known comprehensive review of published recommendations or testing standards on hand-washing and rinsing water temperatures from 1938 to 2002. He found that there was no consensus, but instead temperatures

feature hand hygiene Microbiological swabbing of hands revealed an increase in Campylobacter, E.coli and Listeria counts on hands that were washed in basins when very hot water was demanded by the consultants, compared to hands exposed to water at 40 to 45 °C ranged from ambient to “as hot as you can stand” or “as hot as possible”.

Many recommendations in food and healthcare environments were not concerned with the water temperature at all, while an equal number only specified that water in the lukewarm to warm temperature regions be used. Then there was a select group including the American Society of Microbiology (ASTM) test methods, the FDA Food Code and experts in food and healthcare who felt that hot water from 40 to 50°C should be used.

The reasoning was that hot water was needed to melt fats in food soils and increase antimicrobial effectiveness.

In testing on efficacy and skin health, Barry Michaels and team found that hot water should not be used.

Michaels commented: “The damage at 60°C would probably be enough to stop workers from washing hands all together. Results indicated that water temperature has only slight effect on transient or resident bacterial reduction during normal hand-washing when bland soap is used. We have also tested with four other soap products, each having different active ingredients [PCMX, lodophor, Quat and Triclosan] and overall, the four soap products produced similar efficacy results.”

“Although there were slight increases

in Log10 reductions (ascribed to antimicrobial speed of chemical reaction), skin moisture content decreased, while Visiometer skin dryness score and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) increased at higher temperatures. Results were not statistically significant for any parameter, but all trends were unmistakable.”

Added Michaels: “In summation, water temperature should be comfortable to allow or encourage frequent hand-washing with mild, but effective soaps [designed for soils to be encountered]. Vigorous hand-washing is the preferred method. In terms of ideal temperature, I would say from 20 to 40.5°C. This is comfortable without the risk of skin damage.”

Reference for the research cited is: Michaels, B.; Gangar, V.; Schultz, A.; Arenas, M.; Curiale, M.; Ayers, T.; Paulson, D. Water Temperature as a Factor in Hand washing Efficacy. Food Service Technology 2002; 2:139-149.

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laundry review

EPA targets dry-cleaning chemical The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering adding subsurface intrusion to the method that it uses to identify hazardous waste sites which are eligible for federally-funded, long-term clean-up.

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he EPA published its proposed rule during February in Federal Register.

Subsurface intrusion – most commonly known as vapour intrusion – is the migration of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants from contaminated groundwater or soil into an overlying building, similar to the way radon gas seeps into homes.

According to the EPA: “Dry cleaning solvents and industrial degreasers are products that contain hazardous substances that, when released into the environment, can migrate into the soil and subsurface environment, enter buildings by seeping through cracks in basements, foundations, sewer lines and other openings and ultimately result in human exposure.”

Exposure can raise the lifetime risk of

cancer or chronic disease.

Tetrachloroethylene or Perchloroethylene, commonly used in dry cleaning, has been classified as a likely carcinogen by the National Academy of Sciences. Numerous lawsuits have been filed due to water contamination from dry cleaners.

“Vapour intrusion is a particular concern because concentrations of vapours can rise to a point where the health of residents or workers in those buildings could be at risk. Intrusion of contaminants in a non-vapour state may also be a pathway of concern because of the potential for human exposure to the liquids, the resulting precipitates, or associated vapours,” the EPA said.

To ensure that such contamination is consistently evaluated, the EPA wants to add a subsurface intrusion

component to the Superfund Hazard Ranking System.

Sites that receive scores above a specific threshold will be eligible for addition to the National Priorities List.

The EPA targets sites on this list for investigation and remediation through the Superfund programme; only sites on the list are eligible for federal funding for long-term permanent clean-up.

Such listing is required for the EPA to spend more than $2 million on remediation. By adding subsurface intrusion, hundreds of sites that would not have previously ranked high enough to qualify for a spot on the list now may qualify.

On 23 February 2016, a 60-day public comment period commenced.

Source: www.courthousenews.com.

Sustainability focus at Linen Care Expo The Gulf Laundrex Linen Care Expo, scheduled to take place in Dubai, will provide a platform for the laundry market to showcase its latest innovations that will aid in the conservation of resources.

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Dr Helmut Eigen

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ayaraman Nair, organiser of Middle East Cleaning Technology Week, said: “The show aims to draw attention to creating a sustainable future by bringing leading laundries and suppliers under a single umbrella and providing them with a platform to showcase the latest innovations in the market.”

Dr Helmut Eigen, Senior Chemist and Managing Director of Kreussler Textile Care Division, who will be exhibiting at the Expo, said that going green does not only mean doing what is right for the environment.

“Going green allows you to operate more efficiently and reduce your costs.”

According to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) survey, a

third of companies now say that the adoption of sustainable practices adds to their profitability, with 25 percent of companies citing “improved innovation in products and services” as one of the top benefits they derived from sustainable practices. Hotels and central laundries are increasingly adopting green practices to conserve resources, reduce their costs, gain a competitive advantage, improve customer loyalty and increase brand value.

The expo – part of the Middle East Cleaning Technology Week – is described as the region’s biggest show that is dedicated to the laundry and dry cleaning industry and takes place from 13–15 November 2016 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

laundry review

Fresher fabrics and simpler ironing

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ew Clax Deosoft Easy2Iron conc is an innovative fabric softener from Diversey Care. It delivers exceptional softness, reduces creasing and makes it easier to iron linen by hand. The Clax Deosoft Easy2Iron conc is ideal for healthcare and hospitality housekeeping where traditional hand ironing is still widespread.

Ergonomic studies have shown that Clax Deosoft Easy2Iron conc reduces the physical effort required during hand ironing by almost 30 percent, compared with conventional products.

In addition to making it easier for housekeeping staff to complete their ironing tasks more efficiently, this reduces fatigue and minimises the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

The formulation also promotes superior softness and fragrance so that linen looks, feels and smells luxurious,

giving residents, patients and guests the best possible experience during their stay. This, in turn, leads to positive reviews, higher satisfaction ratings and stronger recommendations.

Modern fragrances in the formulation are designed to match the global trends for an additional touch of luxury.

The fragrances persist through lengthy drying cycles and storage times – and are reactivated when the fabric is re-wetted – to ensure that linen always smells freshly laundered. In hospitality, for example, this helps to keep guest rooms smelling clean and eliminates odours in shared facilities, such as gyms and spas. In care homes, it helps to maintain a fresh smell in private rooms, treatment areas and communal spaces. This performance is enhanced by the inclusion of patented Odour Neutralising Technology (ONT)

in the product to eliminate sources of malodours.

The formulation also helps to prevent the fading of dark and strong colours.

This means that fabrics retain their appearance for longer, which extends their useful working life and reduces replacement costs. The product also eliminates build-up of static electricity on synthetic fabrics to simplify handling tasks.

Clax Deosoft Easy2Iron conc is available in five and 20 litre containers, for use with a wide range of commercial and on-premises laundry equipment.

Diversey Care is a division of Sealed Air Corp., a leader in food safety and security, facility hygiene and product protection. For more information about Diversey Care, follow the company on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

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laundry review

Energy- and water-saving Smart Load technology for washer extractors Girbau’s new Smart Load technology on its latest HS Series washer extractors offers care and nursing home laundries even greater savings in energy, water and detergent use. Smart Load automatically adjusts water consumption and chemical dosing in accordance with load weight, fabric and chosen wash programme to save energy, water and detergent without users needing to do anything.

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ur HS Series washers are already among the most energy- and water-efficient models available, and the new Smart Load function offers additional in-use economies, especially for on-premise laundries that operate machines at less than full capacity on some washes,” said Peter Marsh, Managing Director of Girbau UK. Machine capacities range from 9kg for the HS-6008 model up to 122kg on the giant HS-6110. The most popular models for care and nursing home laundries are the HS-6008, HS-6013, HS-6017 and HS-6023. HS Series washers can spin at speeds of up to 1 000rpm to create water extraction forces of up to 400G. Depending on the fabrics being cleaned,

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this means residual moisture after washing can be less than 50 percent, which in turn means faster drying and further energy savings.

Other features on the HS Series include Girbau’s Aquamixer, which controls hot and cold water mixing to save energy and reduce wash cycle times, and Aquafall, which recirculates water through perforated drum blades to save water, increase washing action and reduce cycle time. G-Drive, Girbau’s exclusive control and communication system that links the inverter, motor and microprocessor, ensures accurate balance even at high speeds for quieter operation, reduced vibration and longer machine life. Girbau’s unique Care Touch Drum prolongs linen life and optimises

water extraction. Drum holes are pressed in the Viton-sealed stainless steel to ensure there are no sharp edges.

The washers’ highly controllable inverter and microprocessor make it possible to configure extremely accurate and versatile programmes. The advanced Girbau INTELI control system on HS Series offers virtually unlimited (up to 99) programming options for economical, water- and energy-efficient operation for the widest range different requirements including wet cleaning.

The user controls are highly intuitive and very quick and easy to master.

Advanced users can vary individual programmes even more finely via a PC, using the optional INTELI Manager Tool eXpert (IMTX).

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facilities management review

Imagining and constructing healthier buildings The focus at this year’s Green Building Conference will be on leapfrogging straight to the latest thinking, innovations and technologies that are enabling built environment designers to imagine and construct higher performing, healthier buildings now and into the future.

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he 10th annual Green Building Conference forms part of Sustainability Week 2016, a platform whereby authorities from across the continent and beyond, together with private-sector investors, business operators, professionals and researchers, examine their respective areas from a sustainability perspective, whether economic, social or environmental, and exchange ideas on how to improve and encourage sustainable development among cities.

Sustainability Week, which will run from 31 May to 2 June 2016, aims to advance the green economy through the sharing of knowledge and experience across disciplines, sectors, markets and continents, while actively seeking to develop and accelerate sustainabilityoriented pipeline projects. It will also

call for delegates to re-evaluate their business context, and the cause and effect of actions, while further engaging on key challenges and solutions which will prove to have a catalytic effect on the green economy.

“Green buildings form an integral part of the green economy conversation, especially in South Africa where energy

efficiency remains a focus and, as such, the Green Building Conference is a much anticipated highlight of Sustainability Week 2016,” says Llewellyn van Wyk, Chairperson of the Green Building Conference, and Principal Researcher in Building Science and Technology at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Waste site converts plastic to oil

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he Kraaifontein Waste Management site in Cape Town boasts a public waste drop-off facility, a materials recovery facility, a refuse transfer station and a green waste-chipping area. The commercial plant has the capacity to convert a maximum of 8 000kg of plastics per day.

“The pilot pyrolysis plant is facilitated by an agreement between the City of Cape Town and two Japanese firms, CFP Corporation and Kanemiya, while funding for the pilot plant was provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The plant converts up to 500kg of plastics into 500 litre of cracked oil per day,” said Margot Ladouce, Chairperson of the Institute

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

for Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), Western Cape.

Tetsuya Sato, the General Manager for Waste Management at CFP Corporation, explained that the feedstock used to generate the oil is used plastics from city and commercial waste. Polyethylene has been found to be the best material for producing diesel equivalency fuel. PET and PVC plastics are not suitable for the plant.

“The plastic waste is subjected to pre-treatment of washing, shredding and extrusion before being sent into the pyrolysis reactor. A syngas is formed which is condensed into the oil and is then collected in storage tanks, where 15 percent is used for generator fuel for the factory’s electricity, and 85

percent of the fuel can be sold or used for the generation of electricity in the case of a commercial plant,” said Sato.

Cracked oil can be used as fuel for power generators, boilers as well as for diesel engines. One litre of cracked oil generates approximately 4kW to 5kW/litre of electricity.

Mayoral committee member for utility services at the City of Cape Town, Ernest Sonnenberg emphasised that the objective of the pilot plant was to investigate the feasibility of the application of this technology to the tailings (plastics which cannot be recycled) to further reduce waste in landfills, thereby improving the waste diversion footprint of the City of Cape Town.

facilities management review

Survey reveals robust office development activity

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recent survey revealed that South African office development activity remains at a historic high despite double-digit national office vacancies.

The SA Property Owners’ Association (SAPOA) released the latest office vacancy survey report, which revealed that the national office vacancy rate remained virtually unchanged at 10.5 percent in the fourth quarter from 10.6 percent in the third quarter.

According to SAPOA, the sideways trend in office vacancies of the past five years remained firmly intact since vacancies rose to 9.8 percent after the 2009 recession. It said there was a promising 60 basis point improvement in vacancies in the second quarter of last year, the largest quarter-on-quarter decline since 2008, but still not a clear downward trend in vacancies.

More than half of the office nodes reported deteriorating vacancy rates in the fourth quarter compared with

the previous quarter, while office development activity had in the third quarter of last year overtaken the highs of 1998 and 2007, SAPOA said.

Developments under construction increased to a total of 982 000 square metres in the fourth quarter from 922 000 square meters in the previous quarter after several new developments broke ground during the quarter, mainly in Highveld Technopark in Centurion, Waterfall in Midrand and Menlyn node in Pretoria.

SAPOA said development activity expressed as a percentage of existing market stock was currently at 5.7 percent, which was below the highs of 2007/08 but high given the absence of growth drivers on a national level. The recent drop in the development pre-let rate to 64 percent in the fourth quarter from 72 percent in the previous quarter was slightly concerning, it said.

“A decline in the pre-let rate could weigh on rental growth given that

new developments will compete with completed stock for tenants,” it said.

Rentals increased year on year by 6.5 percent in the fourth quarter compared with 7.1 percent in the third quarter to continue the trend of above-inflation growth. This growth was more a product of supply-side dynamics than being demand driven because current asking rentals were based on a better quality sample than a year ago.

“The latest surge in rental growth needs to be put in context though. On an inflation-adjusted basis, office rentals are down 15 percent since the first quarter of 2011, having grown at only half the rate of inflation recorded over this period,” it said.

SAPOA further said the office sector remained in recovery mode with a sustained improvement in the office vacancy rate reliant on a strengthening of macroeconomic drivers, with a further deterioration in the domestic economy likely to weigh on office occupancy rates.

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facilities management review

Offering greener flooring options Envirobuild, in a joint venture with carpeting and flooring company Van Dyck, and Hammarsdale-based Mathe Group, will produce eco-friendly rubber flooring for commercial, industrial and residential use.

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aco Snyman, Managing Director of Envirobuild, said that the new products, which include 93 percent recycled materials, are a perfect fit with the increasing demand for greener flooring options.

Internationally, architects, interior designers and the construction industry are under pressure to meet their clients’ sustainable building requirements in order to ensure green building certifications.

“There is very little high-quality flooring of this nature produced locally, so there is definitely a market for it. We are the first company to produce eco-friendly rubber flooring in KwaZulu-Natal and one of very few in South Africa,” he said. The main component of Envirobuild flooring is rubber crumb that is sourced from the Mathe Group.

Dr Mehran Zarrebini, Managing Director of Van Dyck, said that the collaboration between the partners was exciting as there were significant synergies in place. Van Dyck produces rubber-based acoustic cradles and underlays for commercial carpeting and sporting applications, while Mathe is a well-established tyre recycler.

Minor adjustments to existing machinery at Van Dyck’s Durban factory meant that production could commence immediately. “However, because we anticipate volumes going up both quickly and appreciably, we have invested R800 000 in additional machinery, which is due to arrive within the next three months and is expected to be operational by the beginning of June. This will quadruple existing capacity,” said Zarrebini.

“This is an exciting venture for us. We are about to commission a new plant in Hammarsdale that has

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

Seated left is Jaco Snyman, Envirobuild Managing Director, standing is Mehran Zarrebini, Van Dyck Carpets Managing Director, and seated right is Vusimuzi Mathe, Mathe Group Director.

capacity to recycle 250 000 truck tyres. This will be an important market for our rubber crumb. It is a particularly exciting venture as there are still very few secondary rubber products made from recycled rubber in South Africa,” said Vusumuzi Mathe, Head of Mathe Group.

Snyman added that the partnership with Van Dyck was particularly important as the company not only provided the manufacturing expertise, but also enhanced the credibility of a new entrant into the market.

Although he had initially looked at importing environmentally-friendly rubber flooring products from Canada and America, he had abandoned this as the exchange rate made this unaffordable. There is a ready supply of used tyres in South Africa and Envirobuild will be able to both

make and deliver mats to America at less expensive rates than they can produce them there, opening up significant export opportunities.

Rubber flooring is suitable for a wide range of applications. It absorbs impact and cushions falls, making it ideal for use in play areas, schools and retirement facilities. Together with increased grip, this also makes rubber flooring particularly suitable for use in gyms, dance studios and sporting facilities. It is also ideal for use around swimming pools and wet areas such as saunas and jacuzzis.

Snyman explained that rubber flooring was also suitable for industry and warehousing as it was able to withstand impacts, as well as high footfall and the movement of heavy equipment, such as hoists and forklifts.

educational

Steps to protect your Twitter account The vulnerability of social media accounts was recently in the news when the Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula commented that his Twitter account had been hacked, following the posting of a risqué picture of a woman published by his Twitter account.

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his is not the first time a wellknown personality has had to feel the embarrassment of a Twitter hacking incident.

But, even if you’re not a government minister, having your Twitter account hacked is embarrassing and sometimes very damaging to your reputation, particularly if you’re a company and your brand account starts posting questionable content. So, how can you protect your Twitter account from prying hackers?

Use a password manager

Choose a strong password

Change your password regularly

Ideally this should be at least 10 characters long and include numbers, symbols and a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters. In fact, the longer the password the better, and don’t ever use standard words that you’ll find in a dictionary. Any word that’s in the dictionary is extremely vulnerable. If you need to remember the password, then think of a phrase and replace parts of that with numbers and symbols.

For example, imagine your password is ‘topsecretpassword’ (not particularly good, but for demonstration purposes).

You can modify this to make it secure like so: ‘T0pS3cr3tP@ssw0rd’ (again, not a great password, but you’ll remember it).

Again, this can be something of a pain to do which is why most of us don’t do it, but it’s worth the time. Change your passwords every month or two for some peace of mind.

Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts Having a unique password for all of your various accounts greatly improves your security. But it is also a right pain having to remember long, unique passwords for each account, so write them down somewhere safe, or see point 3.

Services such as LastPass and 1Password will store all your passwords for you and, in most cases, automatically fill passwords in when you try to login to a listed site. All you need to do is to set one extremely secure master password for your password manager to secure all your other passwords. Of course, you need to protect that master password with your life and never, ever lose it.

Enable verified login Passwords can only go so far. If you’re serious about protecting your Twitter account then you need to enable two-factor authentication. Twitter, some time back, added this capability.

It will send a confirmation code by SMS to your phone every time you login to your account. To enable this, login to your Twitter account and go to the settings page and then click on the ‘Security and Privacy’ link. Right near the top of that screen you’ll see an option to ‘verify login requests’.

You’ll need to first add your phone number and then enable this feature.

Once that’s done, next time you login to Twitter you’ll need your password and the SMS code that is sent to your phone.

Exercise caution, always. Other than passwords and SMS codes, you need to take caution Hackers will often try and lure you into revealing your password by sending you links. Always be cautious and if anyone sends you a link that leads you to a page that asks you for your password, back away quickly. Examples are direct messages or tweets that warn you that your account has been hacked and that you should click on the link to change your password. If you need to change your password always go directly to Twitter.com. Type it in yourself to make sure you’re on the Twitter page before you change your password.

Watch out for third-party apps Today, it’s possible to login to a range of other websites with just your Twitter or Facebook account. This makes it really easy to register for various services, but remember that each time you do, you are asked to give the third party various permissions on your Twitter account. The more third-party apps you have linked to your account the greater your chance of one of them being compromised.

You should regularly review the apps connected to your Twitter account and delete the ones you’re not using. To do this login to your Twitter account and go to the settings page. Once there click on ‘Apps’ which will list all the apps connected to your account. Review these and revoke access for those that you no longer want connected.

Source:IOLonline

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feature trolley systems

Cleaning trolley systems The modest cleaning trolley is often referred to as a professional cleaner’s mobile working station. However, the trolley market is changing, with customers requiring product efficiency, longevity, individuality, space management, ease of use and flexibility as key requirements. Supplementary to these specifics, the cleaning trolley is regarded as the most visible part of the cleaner’s equipment.

Therefore, it should portray professionalism but can also be utilised as a prominent carrier of the cleaning company’s brand, with manufacturers now offering decoration, overprinted logos and slogans as an added benefit.

African Cleaning Review takes a closer look at how trolley systems have adapted to meet changing customer- and industry-specific needs, and explores some of the systems available to the continuous evolving professional cleaning market.

Certain manufacturers offer options where trolleys can be customised and decorated to make them more attractive and unique.

Clients can choose a slogan, logos or images to personalise their trolleys and best portray their company’s identity.

Nilfisk SA The Nilfisk Group, the global supplier of professional cleaning equipment for industrial, commercial and consumer markets, celebrates its 110 year anniversary this year. The company was founded in 1906 by the Danish engineer Peder Andersen Fisker. It was a desire for knowledge and the ambition of creating a global company based on exploiting the potential of technology that drove Fisker to set-up the business: Nilfisk. In 1910, Fisker patented his first vacuum cleaner. At the time, it was the first electric vacuum cleaner manufactured in Europe, weighing ‘only’ 17.5kg and could be handled by one person – which was groundbreaking at the time.

Nilfisk South Africa, part of the global Nilfisk Group, distributes different trolleys for diverse customer needs and environments. Currently, new types of trolleys and cleaning equipment are driving housekeeping methods and processes, and these are designed to suit the needs of various users in different industries and segments such as hotels, hospitals and other major facilities. Trolleys are sufficiently lightweight and easy to push, while also accommodating a wide variety of tools, chemicals and waste disposal facilities.

A trolley’s configuration will depend greatly on the environment in which it is utilised. When cleaning a small room that is within a short distance

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from the cleaning store, the trolley can be simple, in order to sufficiently house the basics. Some are state of the art, while others are simple in design. However, where long distances are involved, and complex cleaning operations need to be carried out, the configuration of the trolley will change. The cleaner should not run out of supplies as repeated trips to the cleaning store will become labour-intensive. Manufacturers have come up with innovative products and technology with various incorporated features for better visual appeal and performance, including ergonomics, easy maintenance and improved hygiene.

feature trolley systems Nilfisk SA offers the Alpha range, a tailor-made trolley offering endless solutions. Alpha is a modern line of multipurpose trolleys that can satisfy any cleaning need and request. Alpha trolleys can be employed with both the traditional wet mopping systems – buckets and wringer – as well as with the more recent wet mopping systems – pre-soaked mops. These trolleys are modular, featuring a complete range of components and accessories, from the most simple to the most equipped trolley to satisfy any space requirement.

Alpha trolleys can be classified as eco-friendly products – certified ‘Plastic Second Life’, which is made of recycled plastic and is 100 percent recyclable.

Another advantage is that these trolleys are customisable. Each compartment of the trolley can be closed with walls or doors to hide the content. The new plastic doors and walls can be customised on request, with special designs, pictures, images or personal trademarks – company logos are the perfect example. The Alpha trolley is ergonomic, light and easy to move, with the ‘Hush’ system that quietly and softly closes the cover, and special rubber wheels that makes it ideal for the healthcare environment.

Hygiene is a major factor when configuring a hospital trolley because of the very real and high risk of contamination. Within the healthcare environment, Nilfisk SA offer the Alpha A-B Plus trolley system, which is treated with antibacterial additives to slow down the growth of microorganisms, bacterial and fungi.

Rubbermaid trolleys

In addition to the Alpha range, Nilfisk SA also supplies the traditional Rubbermaid janitor trolley, which is suitable for all markets and is configured for specific requirements. It features a smooth and easy-to-clean surface, and is supplied with a zipped yellow bag which eases waste removal. The storage compartment is incorporated into the lid, which is ideal for holding cleaning records, a few tools and accessories.

Gavin Herold, General Manager at Nilfisk SA, commented: “Public areas often demand that the trolley should not become an eyesore and that harmful chemicals be secured out of view for safety reasons, and this is where part or fully-enclosed trolleys have become more common and a safer option in these environments.

For this reason, the trolley configuration can be changed according to the cleaning method, storage and waste requirement – it is important that a trolley should be configured to suit the needs of the individual cleaning site. In a healthcare environment, the main focus will be on hygiene. Whereas in an office building, storage space can prove to be a problem and this creates a requirement for a smaller more compact trolley.”

“Within a hospital environment it is concerning to witness the condition of certain plastic-based trolley systems being utilised in wards. The plastic can retain dirt, germs and bacteria, therefore in reality it will become a major vessel for the transfer of bacteria, causing harmful hospital acquired infections. This is where a more simple mould is sounder and makes cleaning more practical,” added Herold.

For more information, visit www.industroclean.co.za or www.nilfisk.co.za.

Continues on next page >>

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feature trolley systems Numatic International Numatic International (Pty) Ltd South Africa is the sole importer and distributor of Numatic cleaning equipment.

The company is the South African subsidiary of Numatic International Ltd, based in Chart, United Kingdom, and is regarded as the single largest cleaning equipment manufacturer in Europe, producing a minimum of 3 000 products per day. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the ProCare 100 and 200 within Numatic’s Versacare range of cleaning trolley modules, featuring innovative design and practical quality engineering.

The Versacare product ranges open up 101 possibilities within the professional cleaning sector, providing an extensive choice of equipment of all shapes, sizes and functions.

Much of the product range is unique with key patented features – all designed to result in a blend between today’s technology and Numatic’s brand of quality, which is based on common-sense engineering.

In support of the full Versaclean line, Numatic provides an exceptional range of accessories that allow innovations and additions to be achieved on an almost unlimited scale.

The success of most cleaning projects is found in ensuring that staff are provided

with equipment that are designed to satisfy the requirements of the particular application, almost without compromise.

Numatic International firmly believes that one can only expect cleaning standards to improve if in turn one improves the very equipment and facilities with which those standards must be achieved.

Recent innovations: • Microfibre technology – environmentally friendly, reduced reliance on aggressive chemicals • Automatic water separation – mopping as it should be, raising efficiency and standards • Structofoam construction – the professional choice, providing long-life and total reliability

• C olour coding throughout – allows planning and control to the highest of standards All these many developments allow for improved and cost-effective cleaning systems. The Accessory Range is given the same priority as the equipment itself and will not only allow customisation of equipment, but also modifications which may be needed in the future due to changing requirements.

Versacare is, in many respects, a management system and, like any good system, full consideration and consultation in the initial instance will ensure that a sound specification is attained.

ProCare 100 The Procare100 provides an easily manoeuvrable cleaning trolley system with ample secure storage. This makes it perfect for use in public places such as healthcare and retail environments.

• Lockable compartments • Lift-off swing pails • Colour-coded lids for area control • Coverall waste bag system • Choice of 125mm or AT 200mm castors Includes lockable compartments and waste coverall system – it is also available with All Terrain (AT) castors. For added user convenience and cleaning efficiency, colour-coded swing pails have been added to the ProCare 100.

Coverall waste bag system

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Mop Storage The ProCare 100 has been designed with the user in mind, allowing for storage and transport of an additional mop.

Colour-coded lids for area control

African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

Fully secure lockable compartments

All terrain (AT) wheel option

feature trolley systems ProCare 200

Numatic International firmly believes that one can only expect cleaning standards to improve if in turn one improves the very equipment and facilities with which those standards must be achieved.

The ProCare 200 is an extension of the ProCare 100, and is designed to allow for a selection of our professional mopping systems to be used to suit the varying needs of different climates and applications.

• Lockable compartments • Lift-off swing pails • Colour-coded lids for area control • Coverall waste bag system • Choice of 125mm or AT 200mm castors.

For more information, visit www.numatic.co.za.

ProCare200 Basic: Includes lockable compartments and waste coverall system. Also available with All Terrain castors.

ProCare200 BK4: Twin 22-litre mopping kit includes clean and dirty water buckets and highly efficient Allmops press.

ProCare200 BK5: Flat press mopping kit comprises a wide 22-litre red dirty water and rinse bucket and matching 15-litre blue clean water facility. The Speedclean widepress, substantially improves operational performance.

ProCare200 MM1616: Can be used ON or OFF board. Suitable for Kentucky or Flat mops. 16-litre mop buckets can be removed and replaced without the need to demount the press.

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Amsterdam 2016 tour package

Amsterdam – where cleaning professionals meet Travel to Amsterdam and attend the world’s largest ever cleaning and hygiene industry exhibition, ISSA/ Interclean, to be held from 10 to 13 May 2016. The show will feature over 700 exhibitors from more than 40 countries covering an area of approximately 60 000 square metres. This exhibition will expose visitors to the latest cleaning and hygiene products and trends, custom-designed seminars and numerous networking opportunities.

The tour package will allow travellers to make the most of their visit to this vibrant European city with an itinerary that offers a generous mix of business and leisure options.

5-night package Join tour organiser Steve Braham on a trip to the heart of Europe where cleaning professionals meet!

Tour itinerary: Saturday 7 May Depart via OR Tambo International to Amsterdam.

Sunday 8 May Arrive in Amsterdam, transfer to Hampshire Eden Hotel (3-star). Day leisure option, tour of the Heineken brewery with evening drinks sponsored by SWB Sports & Events.

Monday 9 May • Day excursion to The Hague and surrounding area, with a visit to a traditional Dutch fishing village and countryside.

• Sailing cruise along the Dutch coast including dinner.

Tuesday 10 May • Coach transfer to the RAI Exhibition Centre.

• Visit the show between 10h00 and 17h00.

• Evening canal cruise through the city of Amsterdam (including drinks and snacks).

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African Cleaning Review March/April 2016

Wednesday 11 May • Visit the show between 10h00 and 17h00.

• Attend cocktail party sponsored by ISSA. Thursday 12 May • Visit the exhibition between 10h00 and 17h00.

• Farewell dinner at traditional Dutch restaurant.

Friday 13 May • Visit the exhibition between 10h00 and 17h00.

• Early evening departure from Amsterdam via Paris to OR Tambo International.

Saturday 14 May • Arrive at OR Tambo International, Johannesburg.

Tour package: • Airfare (ex. Jhb) • 5 x nights accommodation in Amsterdam (including breakfast) • Transfers from and to airport • Welcome drinks at hotel • Opening day transfer to RAI Exhibition Centre • Day excursion • Canal cruise • Farewell dinner • Entrance to exhibition • Entrance to ISSA cocktail party • Entrance to educational seminars

Tour rate:* • Single package: ZAR 33 000.00 • Per person sharing: ZAR 25 000.00

Land only:* • Single package: ZAR 25 000.00 • Sharing per person: ZAR 16 500.00

Optional: • Various additional excursions can be arranged including site and company visits.

• Additional days before or after the exhibition can be accommodated as well as land only options.

• Travel insurance. * Tour package rates subject to exchange rate fluctuations

Mobile: 083 265 1268 | Email: steve@sbpr.co.za | Web: www.swbsports.co.za | Twitter: @swbsports | Facebook: SWB Sports

new products New antimicrobial solution for healthcare sector Healthcare technology company, Seal Shield LLC recently announced the introduction of Seal Shield™ antimicrobial protection for healthcare and consumer products. Products treated with Seal Shield have been shown to resist the growth of viruses, fungi and odour-causing microbial bacteria. The product is EPA registered, environmentally friendly and keeps treated products cleaner, greener and fresher for longer.

Developed for the healthcare market, Seal Shield is the perfect antimicrobial product to provide permanent product protection for sensitive healthcare devices.

“With recent increases in infection prevention efforts, our healthcare customers are demanding germ protection for all common touch surfaces, ranging from phones to light

switches and everything in-between,” says Seal Shield CEO Brad Whitchurch.

Seal Shield is an antimicrobial, fungistatic additive which reduces the growth of mould, mildew and odourcausing bacteria on product surfaces.

It is available in liquid, powder or as master batch for plastic, silicone and other varied polymers.

During 2007, Seal Shield LLC

invented the world’s first antimicrobial, waterproof keyboard and mouse. Since then, the infection control company has established a unique in-house antimicrobial test laboratory and has become the world’s leading innovator of infection prevention and antimicrobial technology.

For more information, visit www.sealshield.com.

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new products Faster and more effective cleaning in narrow areas For the first time ever, Nilfisk proudly introduces a floor-care machine that is specifically focused on cleaning areas that are so narrow that manual cleaning was the preferred solution to date.

The SC100, a small, upright scrubberdryer floor-care machine, is easy to use and transport; it also offers high cleaning performance at an attractive price. It is the value-for-money choice for small shops, schools, restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, bakeries, fast-food chains, hotels and in-home cleaning.

The new scrubber-dryer is ideal for any hard-floor cleaning; it is light to transport and can also be used for smaller carpets and spot cleaning.

Using the machine is fast and comfortable due to its two-handed ergonomic handle. Cleaning in low positions such as under furniture and

shelves is easy by tilting the handle to an almost horizontal position.

Controlling the cleaning is simple due to the touch display with two water settings and a solution indicator which alerts the user when the solution tank is empty. For added convenience, the machine will automatically stop when parked in an upright position.

The Nilfisk SC100 offers high productivity, with 15 minutes of continuous scrubbing and drying on

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a single tank. Cleaning performance is ensured by means of a 30cm cylindrical brush or microfibre roll, a 3 litre solution tank and 4 litre recovery tank. The machine can be used in both directions as suction squeegees are positioned before and after the brush, thereby rendering the floor area clean, dry and ready for immediate use.

For more information, visit www.nilfisk.co.za.

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