September 2016

CONTENTS

September 2016 | Vol.24, No.4

BUSINESS

SPECIAL REPORTS

53 Journey into the unknown...

29 Putting hygiene in a box

Hartley Milner explores the implications of UK voters deciding to leave the EU.

How do manufacturers ensure their dispensers deliver real hand hygiene?

35 First impressions count A look at how modern dispensers can enhance the washroom experience.

38 Horses for courses How one building services business is using horses in management training.

41 When only a mop will do...

Are there still cleaning tasks which are best performed by a mop?

49 Room for improvement

03 News

What are the cleaning disinfection issues faced by ambulance services?

16 European reports

57 Extend your carpets’ life How a scheduled cleaning programme can result in significant savings.

72 Product review

66 Cleaning up in the air Tackling the Tokyo Skytree in Japan, the world’s second tallest building.

69 Padding towards the future Is the industry moving towards more task-specific floor pads?

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

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

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

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

ISSN 0968-901X ©Criterion Publishing 2016

NEWS & EVENTS

Latest News & Events from ECJ

Clinical trials confirm ‘no-touch’ disinfection properties of copper Recently-published research from a joint US-Chile clinical trial studying the contribution of antimicrobial copper touch surfaces to environmental hygiene in a paediatric intensive care unit describes the intervention as a ‘no-touch disinfection technology’ that warrants serious consideration as part of a bundle of infection prevention measures.

Noting the built hospital environment serves as a significant and continuous reservoir of microbes that can cause infections, the researchers observe that whilst cleaning, hand hygiene and other measures are effective, they cannot completely eliminate contamination risk.

Adding continuously active antimicrobial copper surfaces offers another hygiene measure.

Builds on evidence The new study - conducted at Roberto del Rio Children’s Hospital in Chile - aimed to build on the evidence that copper and copper alloy surfaces (collectively called ‘antimicrobial copper’) decrease the burden of micro-organisms in healthcare environments, and assess whether this reduced the risk of healthcare-associated infections in paediatric intensive and intermediate care units, as has been reported in adult ICUs. Admitted infants were assigned sequentially to a room, eight with standard surfaces and eight where key touch surfaces had been replaced with antimicrobial copper items: bed rails, bed rail levers, IV poles, tap handles and the nurses’ workstation. Infection data were collected on a daily

basis for the 12-month duration of the study, with HCAIs confirmed according to protocol definitions.

Few bacteria harboured The copper surfaces were found to harbour, on average, 88 per cent fewer bacteria than those in the control rooms, and 94 per cent met the bacterial concentration limit for terminal cleaning (<500 cfu per 100 cm2), compared to 48 per cent of controls.

For the second part of the study, clinical outcomes from 515 patients were considered in the analysis: 261 patients from the intervention arm of the study, and 254 from the control arm. Crude analysis showed an HCAI rate of 10.6 versus 13.0 per 1,000 patient days for copper- and noncopper-exposed patients, respectively, for a crude relative risk reduction of 19 per cent.

The researchers concluded that exposure of paediatric patients to solid antimicrobial copper objects in the ICU resulted in decreased HCAI rates when compared with those in non-copper surroundings. They note the relative risk reduction was not statistically significant, and report that certain events such as overcrowding may have limited the antimicrobial contribution provided by the copper intervention.

Should be considered The authors also remarked that designing a randomised control trial was challenging.

Nonetheless, they believe copper interventions should be considered as part of a systems-based approach to controlling HCAIs. www.antimicrobialcopper.org

De nouveaux essais cliniques menés aux États-Unis et au Chili semblent confirmer les propriétés de désinfection « sans toucher » du cuivre.

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

EVENTS September 14-15

March 14-16 2017

Forum Pulire

The Cleaning Show

Milan, Italy www.forumpulire.it

London, UK www.cleaningshow.co.uk

September 22-25

March 28-30 2017

60th FIDEN Congress

Europropre

Athens, Greece www.fiden.org

Paris, France www.europropre.com

September 27-29

April 10-12 2017

Tissue World Istanbul

Tissue World Milan

Istanbul, Turkey www.tissueworld.com/istanbul

Milan, Italy www.tissueworld.com/twmilan

September 29

May 23-25 2017

European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards

Pulire

Barcelona, Spain www.ecj-awards.com

Verona, Italy www.pulire-it.com

October 21-22

September 11-14 2017

TisztaShow Cleaning Exhibition

ISSA/Interclean North America

Budapest, Hungary www.tisztashow.hu

Las Vegas, USA www.issainterclean.com

October 25-28

September 18-20 2017

ISSA/Interclean North America

WFBSC Congress

Chicago, USA www.issainterclean.com

Berlin, Germany www.wfbsc2017.berlin

November 9-11

September 19-22 2017

CleanExpo Moscow

CMS

Moscow, Russia www.cleanexpo-moscow.ru

Berlin, Germany www.cms-berlin.com

November 13-15

October 18-20 2017

MECTW

ISSA/INTERCLEAN Istanbul

Dubai, UAE www.mectw.com

Istanbul, Turkey www.issainterclean.com

January 18-20 2017

May 15-18 2018

Clean India Technology Week

ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam

Hyderabad, India www.ctwindia.com

Amsterdam, Netherlands www.issainterclean.com

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

Neue klinische Versuche in den USA und Chile scheinen die „berührungslosen“ Desinfektionseigenschaften von Kupfer zu bestätigen.

Dei nuovi studi clinici effettuati negli Stati Uniti e in Cile sembrano confermare le proprietà di disinfezione ‘no-touch’ del rame..

September 2016 | ECJ | 3

NEWS Istanbul exhibition postponed

Study questions long hand rub

The organisers of the ISSA/ INTERCLEAN Istanbul exhibition, originally scheduled for early September, have postponed the event until October 18-20 2017.

RAI Amsterdam, cleaning association ISSA and local partner UBM say they made the decision after careful deliberation, citing the rising concerns from exhibitors and visitors regarding travel in and out of the country.

“We are deeply committed to the Eurasian market and to working with the Turkish cleaning industry,” said Bas Dalm, senior vice president international exhibitions & sales

A new study has shown that there are no significant hand hygiene benefits in using an alcohol hand rub for more than 30 seconds at a time.

This emerged in an experiment carried out by Fernando Bellissimo-Rodrigues, a research fellow at the University of Geneva Hospitals. He contaminated the hands of 23 healthcare workers with Ecoli and then asked these volunteers to sanitise their hands for either 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 or 60 seconds.

All the participants used the same concentration of alcohol solution and each adhered to the WHO How to Handrub

at RAI Amsterdam. “However, our exhibitors and attendees have expressed concern regarding their participation at this event, and we believe it is prudent to respect their decisions and find a more opportune time to bring the industry together.”

“Eurasia, and specifically Istanbul, remain strong regions of activity for the professional cleaning and hygiene industry, and we plan to continue to support the region. Therefore we are pleased to have found alternative dates for the event next year in Istanbul,” added ISSA’s John Barrett.

• Les organisateurs du salon ISSA/INTERCLEAN Istanbul, qui avait été prévu pour le début de décembre, l’ont reporté à octobre 2017.

• D’après une nouvelle étude, il n’y a gère d’avantage à se nettoyer les mains avec in rince-mains à l’alcool pendant plus de 30 secondes.

September 2016 | ECJ | 4

• Die Organisatoren der ISSA/INTERCLEAN Istanbul, die ursprünglich für Anfang September geplant war, haben eine Verschiebung auf Oktober 2017 bekanntgegeben.

• Aus einer neuen Studie geht hervor, dass sich keine signifikanten Vorteile für die Handhygiene daraus ergeben, Händedesinfektionsmittel auf Alkoholbasis länger als 30 Sekunden zu verwenden.

technique. Fingertip bacterial counts were collected before and after rubbing.

Steady decrease After adjustments were made for participants’ gender and hand size, the data from 110 measurements indicated a significant trend of steadily decreasing bacterial counts when the duration of cleansing was increased.

However when the volunteers rubbed for 45 or 60 seconds, any declines in the bacterial count were found to be significantly smaller compared with those measured at 15, 20 and 30 seconds.

• Gli organizzatori dell’evento ISSA/INTERCLEAN Istanbul, inizialmente programmato per gli inizi di settembre, è stato posticipato a ottobre 2017.

• Un nuovo studio ha dimostrato che non ci sono benefici significativi per l’igiene delle mani nell’utilizzare prodotti a base di alcool per frizionare le mani per più di 30 secondi per volta.

NEWS First European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards this month in Barcelona Barcelona is the setting at the end of this month of the very first European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards - founded

by ECJ - which will be presented at a gala dinner on September 29. The main sponsor is Diversey Care.

Finalists, industry leaders and sponsors will gather at the Majestic Hotel to celebrate and recognise the high standards of innovation and quality being achieved by cleaning industry companies - whether they’re service providers, manufacturers or distributors.

The finalists Best use of Technology by Contractors in their Cleaning Programme - sponsored by Diversey Care.

• Climex for CMS • Leviy for Healthcare Cleaning ‘Real-time Control’ • ICE for Robo 2 • SmartView and Hospital Sant Pau Barcelona Commitment to and Investment in Training - sponsored by Boma • CSU for Budgetcoaching • Facilicom for Horses for Courses • ISS for Service with a Human Touch • Transforming and Modernising Cleaning Services at Manchester Metropolitan University Excellence in Client/Contractor Partnerships - sponsored by Tennant • Derrycourt Cleaning Specialists for St Vincent’s Private Hospital • G4S at Sunderland Royal Hospital • Grosvenor Services for a Shining Partnership • ISS and PWC • Principle Cleaning Services Distributors - Excellence in Added Value Initiatives • Boma

• Distribution Partnership ISC - Tennant • Kenter for LC5 • INPACS - Global Supply Solution Sustainability - Best Practice in Implementing Principles Throughout the Business sponsored by INPACS • Grosvenor Services for Putting Sustainability into Service Provision • Interval: Why do we Take Care of Turtles?

• Markas • Principle Cleaning Services Workforce - Excellence in Employee Relationships, Training, Diversity & Inclusion, Rewards Programmes, etc sponsored by Hygieia Network • Derrycourt Cleaning Specialists • Facilicom • Markas • ISS Spain Best Initiative Raising the Profile and Perception of the Professional Cleaning Sector - Locally or on a Wider Level sponsored by Greenspeed • ECMR, the Future of Europe is Circular for the Cleaning Industry • Grup Net100x200 • Gruppo Pulitore Qualificato Groundbreaking Technological Innovation of the Year • FacilityApps for Internet of Things in Cleaning • ICE for Robo 2 • Insider Facility Services for Kontroll Inside Active • SmartView and Hospital Sant Pau - Diversey Care Inspirational Leader of the Year - sponsored by Truvox International • Charlie Mowat • Jeff Bell • Kurt Alois Hegerich Greatest Individual Contribution to Driving Up Standards Within

Barcelone accueillera, fin septembre, l’édition inaugurale des Prix européens de propreté et d’hygiène. Organisés par l’European Cleaning Journal (ECJ), ces Prix représenteront le premier programme paneuropéen de distinctions visant à reconnaître l’excellence dans notre secteur.

a Cleaning Operation • Mariana Pirgaru, Derrycourt Cleaning Specialist’s outstanding employee • Kurt Alois Hegerich There will also be a Lifetime Achievement Award, selected by the judging panel. Sponsored by Ceris Burns International The judging panel was made up of ECJ editor Michelle Marshall; industry consultant Jean-Marc Flaux (France); director of contract cleaning association BIV Johannes Bungart (Germany); president of contract cleaning association ASPEL Juan Díez de los Ríos de San Juan (Spain); and industry consultant Lynn Webster (UK).

Exceeded expectations “As a panel we were all thoroughly impressed with the standard of information submitted by all the entrants,” said Michelle Marshall. “We were also delighted with the number of entries across the categories, which exceeded our expectations in this, our first year.”

She continued: “This level of participation from the industry only reinforces our belief that as a sector we have a great deal to

Barcelona ist der Austragungsort der ersten European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards, die Ende September verliehen werden. Diese vom European Cleaning Journal (ECJ) organisierte Veranstaltung ist das erste europaweite Preisverleihungsprogramm, mit dem Spitzenleistungen in der Branche anerkannt werden.

be proud of in terms of initiatives concerning service excellence, client relationships, investment in workforce and creating sustainable businesses.

“We now look forward to welcoming the finalists to Barcelona this month and celebrating their success.”

The day starts at midday with a round table discussion over lunch. There are then three conference sessions with the themes of Trends in Customer Relationships, Technology and People.

There is still time to buy tickets for the awards event at the fivestar Majestic Hotel in Barcelona on September 29. The delegate rate of €285 includes lunch, round table discussions, three conference sessions, face-toface networking opportunities, three-course dinner and - most importantly - the awards ceremony itself.

Worldwide cleaning association ISSA is the education partner.

The awards dinner cocktail reception before the ceremony is sponsored by ISSA/INTERCLEAN. www.ecj-awards.com, awards@ europeancleaningjournal.com

Barcellona è la sede dell’evento inaugurale di European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards che si terrà alla fine di settembre. Organizzato da European Cleaning Journal (ECJ), questo è il primo programma di premi pan-europeo per il riconoscimento degli standard di eccellenza nel settore.

September 2016 | ECJ | 5

NEWS WFBSC 2017 Berlin congress

World first self-cleaning metals

The World Federation of Building Service Contractors (WFBSC) is to hold its 22nd world congress from September 18-20 2017 in Berlin. The event will take place alongside the professional cleaning exhibition CMS and the theme will be the opportunities and challenges faced by increasing digitisation.

The speaker programme will focus on automation and its impact on human behaviour.

Topics being discussed include how Industry 4.0 affects relationship management, recruitment, processes and service performance within cleaning sector companies.

Using inspiration from nature, a team of European researchers has harnessed new photonics technology to develop the first fluid-repellent, antibacterial, metal surface. This could lead to self-cleaning saucepans, toilets, and dishwashers they say.

Taking their ideas from defence mechanisms found in plants such as the Lotus leaf, the High Throughput Laser Texturing of Self-Cleaning and Antibacterial Surfaces, or TresClean project, has made a breakthrough that will enable the production of self-cleaning sheet metal on an industrial scale for the first time.

This new technique will initially

Thomas Dietrich, president of the German contract cleaning federation BIV and also of WFBSC explained the objectives: “Let us work together to answer the question as to what kind of opportunities these developments can offer us, our (future) employees and our customers. Take inspiration from the views of well-known leading representatives from the world of international politics, key decision-makers from various interest groups and industry professionals.”

For more details about the congress visit: www.wfbsc2017.berlin

• L’édition 2017 du Congrès de la World Federation of Building Services Contractors (WFBSC) aura lieu du 18 au 20 septembre 2017 à Berlin, conjointement avec le salon CMS. • S’inspirant de la nature, des chercheurs européens ont mis au point la première surface métallique fluidifuge et antibactérienne, ce qui permettra de produire des tôles autonettoyantes.

September 2016 | ECJ | 6

• Der Kongress der World Federation of Building Service Contractors (WFBSC) 2017 wird in Verbindung mit der CMS vom 18.-20. September 2017 in Berlin stattfinden.

• Europäische Forscher haben inspiriert von der Natur die erste flüssigkeitsabweisende, antibakterielle Metalloberfläche entwickelt, die die Herstellung von selbstreinigendem Blech ermöglichen wird.

be used to create antibacterial surfaces for use in the food production industry.

Professor Luca Romoli, project coordinator of TresClean explains: “In the same way that Lotus leaves keep themselves clean, without the need for cleaning products or chemicals, their jagged, rough surfaces enable water to stay as spherical droplets by preventing ‘spreading’.

“Bacteria do not get a chance to stick because the contact with the metal surface and the liquid is reduced by over 80 per cent. We are looking at an antibacterial metal”.

• Il congresso 2017 della federazione World Federation of Building Service Contractors (WFBSC) si terrà a Berlino in concomitanza con la fiera CMS dal 18 al 20 settembre 2017.

• Trando ispirazione dalla natura., i ricercatori europei hanno sviluppato la prima superficie in metallo fluidirepellente e antibatterico che permetterà la produzione di lastre di metallo autopulenti.

NEWS ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America keynote speakers announced The organisers of the ISSA/ INTERCLEAN North America exhibition in Chicago from October 25-28 have announced a line-up of three keynote speakers - former US Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill, comedian Dennis Miller, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Wednesday October 26, 8.00am - Rob O’Neill is cofounder of Your Grateful Nation, an organisation that provides support to members of Special Operations as they return to civilian life. He was a senior chief petty officer and a team leader in the Naval Special Development Group, known as SEAL Team Six. During his career with the armed services, O’Neill was deployed more than a dozen

times, participating in over 400 combat missions.

He will bring to the presentation his commitment to never quit, his understanding of the benefits of being prepared, and his ability to make decisions under pressure. He will show attendees how they can apply and share these same values within their own companies and other aspects of life.

Informal Wozniak Q&A Thursday October 27, 8.00am - Dennis Miller is an awardwinning comedian and political commentator. He has worked as a talk-show host, sports announcer, actor, and author.

Miller has also authored five books that have all been New York Times best sellers and

Le salon ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amérique du Nord prévu à Chicago en octobre entendra trois orateurs principaux, dont l’un sera Steve Wozniak, cofondateur d’Apple.

has won five Emmy and three Writers Guild of America awards.

He will serve up his brand of humour and insight that will appeal to everyone regardless of their political leanings.

Friday October 28, 1.00pm - Steve Wozniak’s entrepreneurship and concept of what the future of technology should be led him to co-found and grow Apple. Wozniak has continued his success as a chief scientist at Primary Data, a data virtualisation company. His years

of experience and countless innovations provide him with plenty of valuable insight to share with attendees.

Wozniak’s keynote will be an informal Q&A chat with ISSA executive director John Barrett.

Attendees can submit their questions to ISSA’s Lisa Richter at lisar@issa.com by September 20.

For more information and to register for ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America 2016, visit www. issa.com/show

Register now for your free monthly email newsletter from ECJ. Simply send your email address to michelle@ europeancleaningjournal.com

Die im Oktober in Chicago stattfindende ISSA/ INTERCLEAN North America begrüßt drei Hauptredner, darunter Steve Wozniak, der Mitbegründer von Apple.

All’evento ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America che si terrà in ottobre a Chicago parteciperanno tre relatori importanti, uno di loro sarà il co-fondatore della Apple, Steve Wozniak,.

September 2016 | ECJ | 7

NEWS EXTRA London’s Bank of England gets long overdue façade renovation One of London’s best-known landmarks, The Bank of England, has had a much-needed facelift thanks to a substantial exterior clean carried out by cleaning and restoration specialist Thomann-Hanry.

The Bank of England in London’s Threadneedle Street is one of London’s most famous landmarks. Since 1828, when the current building was completed, it has been the symbol of monetary and financial policy in the UK. However the building had not been cleaned for over 20 years when specialist in stone cleaning and restoration Thomann-Hanry was awarded the contract to carry out the job last year.

Managing director Mark Styles told ECJ: “The renovation took six months to complete because we could only work at weekends to minimise disruption in the city during the week. That was 25 working days, with our activities having to fit around austerity protests and the filming of the James Bond film ‘Spectre’.”

All work was carried out using aerial platforms because the building could not be scaffolded.

The cleaning method used by the company, known as ‘façade gommage’ does not actually require the use of scaffold so businesses can function as

normal if necessary.

Specialist cleaning operatives work from a vacuum cabin attached to an arm mounted on a specially adapted truck. Ultrafine powder is projected under low pressure onto the façade and removes accumulated pollution deposits without affecting the masonry beneath.

No water or chemicals are used in the process.

All dirt and spent powder is captured within the cabin and removed for recycling. And the powder is so fine it can clean the smallest of crevices with none of the risks associated with high pressure or heated water, says Styles.

Stone restoration Thomann-Hanry was also responsible for the lead repairs to gutters and sheets, together with restoration of the stone.

So a team of fixers and masons was also employed to work alongside the staff carrying out the cleaning. The masons reproduced and replaced damaged stone. Templates and drawings were made of original sections and new stone was cut and prepared at the workshop before being taken to the site and installed.

“We found much more repair work needed to be done than we had expected,” explains Styles.

Un des édifices les plus connus de Londres, la Banque d’Angleterre, a bénéficé d’un ravalement fort souhaitable de sa surface par les soins de Thomann-Hanry, un spécialiste du nettoyage et de la restauration.

September 2016 | ECJ | 8

“But the building was so dirty we could not have foreseen that from the ground survey. There was 20 years of grime, fumes and pollution.”

Weekends only Total area cleaned was 13,000 square metres and the team cleaned from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm every Saturday and Sunday. “We would leave our yard by 6.00 am every Saturday morning with our four-strong cleaning team, two stone masons and lead workers.”

The Bank is constructed mainly of Portland Stone, commonly used in many of London’s buildings. “Portland stone is easy to clean,” adds Styles, “and our method has been designed to achieve the best results on that surface.”

Eines der bekanntesten Londoner Wahrzeichen, die Bank of England, hat eine sehr notwendige Verschönerung erfahren. Dazu wurden an der Außenfassade umfangreiche Reinigungsarbeiten vom Reinigungs- und Restorationsspezialisten ThomannHanry ausgeführt.

Having also advised The Bank of England management about repairs, the ThomannHanry team carried out everything that was necessary in terms of safety. Repairs were categorised A, B and C in order of importance. And because The Bank of England is a Grade 1 listed building all repairs also had to be approved by English Heritage and the City of London Corporation.

“We are very proud to have been able to facilitate the facelift to this iconic city building,” concludes Styles.

Other European buildings cleaned using the company’s method include The Louvre in Paris, The Ritz in London, the Kremlin in Moscow and Kings College, Cambridge. www.thomann-hanry.co.uk

Una delle pietre miliari di Londra, The Bank of England, ha appena ricevuto una necessaria e sostanziale pulizia delle facciate effettuata dall’impresa di pulizia e restauro Thomann-Hanry.

NEWS Healthcare hand hygiene book to be published

Rebranding

An authoritative new book on hand hygiene in healthcare is due to be published this autumn.

Hand Hygiene: A Handbook for Medical Professionals offers a global perspective on hand hygiene issues in both developed and developing countries.

Compiled by world leaders in the topic, the book integrates World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines into a broader discussion on hand hygiene. It covers practices in both basic and highly complex clinical applications and offers guidance at individual, institutional and organisational level for carrying out national and worldwide

UK-based facilities management company Mitie has rebranded its cleaning business, Environmental+, to Clean Environments. This it says, better reflects the increasing number of services it delivers and the sectors it operates in.

These have grown to include contract cleaning, food hygiene, window cleaning, technical and industrial cleaning, events management and flooring renovation. The Clean Environments business has seen particular growth in healthcare with the introduction of patient dining, domestic services and porterage services.

hygiene promotion campaigns.

Fundamentals such as the flora and physiology of normal skin is explored along with the burden of healthcare-associated infections and the dynamics of hand transmission. Other topics covered include methods of evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of hand hygiene agents; good hand hygiene techniques; barriers to compliance and the economic impact of improved hand hygiene.

The book also looks at ways of marketing hand hygiene and monitoring compliance in healthcare settings. And it considers religious and cultural

•Un nouvel ouvrage sur l’hygiène des mains dans le domaine de la santé sera publié à l’automne sous le titre Hand Hygiene : A Handbook for Medical Professionals.

• La société britannique de multi-services Mitie a rénové sa marque de nettoyage, Environmental+, devenue aujourd’hui Clean Environments.

September 2016 | ECJ | 10

differences and the ways in which these might impact the hand hygiene challenge.

Authors include Didier Pittet, professor of medicine and hospital epidemiology at the University of Geneva; John Boyce, clinical professor of medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine, and Benedetta Allegranzi, who works at the WHO and is part of the infection control programme at University of Geneva hospitals.

The authors believe the book will become an essential resource for medical personnel.

Published by Wiley-Blackwell, it will be released in November.

• Im kommenden Herbst wird ein neues Buch über Handhygiene im Gesundheitswesen veröffentlicht.

Es trägt den Titel „Hand Hygiene: A Handbook for Medical Professionals“.

• Das in Großbritannien ansässige Facility Management-Unternehmen Mitie hat seine Reinigungsfirma Environmental+ in Clean Environments umbenannt.

•Quest’autunno verrà pubblicato un nuovo libro sull’igiene delle mani nel settore sanitario dal titolo “Hand Hygiene: A Handbook for Medical Professionals”.

• La Mitie, azienda di gestione delle strutture con sede nel Regno Unito, ha cambiato il nome del suo ramo pulizie da Environmental+ a Clean Environments.

NEWS EXTRA Hydrogen peroxide fogging - an opportunity for cleaning firms?

Fogging with dry mist hydrogen peroxide has been used in sectors including pharmaceuticals, biotech food production and healthcare for a number of years to destroy a broad spectrum of microorganisms. Now a company in the UK is promoting its use in the wider world – in offices, retail, schools and public transport. ECJ finds out more about the technology and visits the nursery where the management has decided to implement a regular whole room disinfection programme.

Based in the UK, Infection Control Solutions (ICS) offers a range of whole room disinfection services in many markets. The company is the European supplier of Sentinel

dry mist ionised hydrogen peroxide fogging generators from Halosil and its managing director is Oliver Canty.

He explains something about the history of fogging and whole room disinfection.

“Traditionally it was used primarily in laboratories and food manufacturing, however the technology was not ideal because such bulky generators were needed.

“Technology did move on, however, and we successfully introduced machines into the National Health Service (NHS).”

In 2010 Canty discovered the light, easy-to-use Sentinel machine, developed in the US

by Halosil. “When using the unit the operator produces a fine dry mist of fog with negatively charged hydroxyl ions that go

La brumisation à sec au peroxyde d’hydrogène est utilisée depuis un certain temps pour la désinfection dans des secteurs spécialisés. Cependant cette technologie est susceptible d’un usage bien plus étendu, affirme la société britannique Infection Control Solutions (ICS).

September 2016 | ECJ | 12

up, around and under all exposed surfaces killing 99.9999 per cent of bacteria, viruses and spores,” Canty continues.

“The activation technology is facilitated by the chemical interaction of six per cent hydrogen peroxide and 60ppm AgNo3+(silver cations). The combination of the hydrogen peroxide ions and the silver produce the 99.9999 per cent kill rate.” The formula decomposes into water and oxygen, it requires no rinsing.

Now Canty firmly believes many public areas could benefit from whole room disinfection and is promoting the service to a wider market. He is also seeking to partner cleaning companies that may be interested in offering it as an add-on service. In addition, Public Health England, the government body responsible for protecting and improving the nation’s health, has approved hydrogen peroxide fogging as a technique for disinfection.

Anita Sahota is managing director of the Kangaroo Pouch group of nurseries. She explains why she is taking a proactive approach and is using whole room disinfection as a preventative measure rather than bringing it in only after an outbreak. “For me it’s the age of the children we are taking care of here that makes it a convincing argument. The children are very young and they are in an at-risk group.”

Regular schedule Her plan is to have the nurseries treated two or three times a year. “Our environment is not officially classified as highrisk but nurseries such as ours are a risk,” she continues.

“And for us it’s a really good selling point we can make to parents when they are selecting a nursery. We are taking a proactive approach to their

Die Raumvernebelung mit TrockennebelWasserstoffperoxid wird seit einigen Jahren zur Desinfizierung in spezialisierten Bereichen eingesetzt.

Diese Technologie ist jedoch von Nutzen für die weitere Welt, teilt das in Großbritannien ansässige Unternehmen Infection Control Solutions (ICS) mit.

children’s health and this process is not a legal obligation. We are the first nursery in Europe to take such a step.”

This is a non-healthcare, nonscientific application for whole room disinfection technology and Canty believes the future holds many opportunities for service providers.

And Sahota has a clear attitude to the investment she is making in introducing a regular schedule of whole room disinfection. “The case for investment is clear,” she says. “If we were to have an outbreak and it closed us down, what damage would that do to our business?”

The company providing the hydrogen peroxide fogging service at Kangaroo Pouch is ServiceMaster Contract Services, whose operators were trained

by ICS. Managing director David Edwards explains: “This system offers a 6 log level of decontamination, which certainly makes it suitable for the education and healthcare sector for example. However the real challenge for us service providers now is to break into the market by educating customers about its benefits.

“I would like it to be the norm for whole room disinfection in certain applications to be carried out on a regular, scheduled basis.

But that is currently not the case and clients like Kangaroo Pouch are rare.”

Edwards believes the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in the UK should be influencing a more proactive approach to this type of treatment. The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

“However it’s true that providing hard evidence about the benefits is a challenge,” he admits.

“Customers will only do the bare minimum – such as when an outbreak happens for example,” he continues. www.icsolutions247.com

La nebulizzazione con i vapori di perossido di idrogeno viene utilizzata da molti anni per la disinfezione in settori specialistizzati ma la tecnologia ha degli usi anche in altri campi, come afferma la Infection Control Solutions (ICS) nel Regno Unito.

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NEWS EXTRA Fragrance is a crucial factor in cleaning and air care products, says survey Fragrance is considered by all manufacturers of cleaning products to be an important factor for them - and it has become more important over the years - according to a new international survey

by ECJ and IFRA UK, the fragrance association for the United Kingdom.

The survey covering readers of ECJ from across Europe and the aerosol manufacturers’ association BAMA, asked makers of cleaning products and air-care manufacturers for their views on the importance of fragrance when creating goods.

For makers of air care products, the view was again that fragrance was an essential element with all those for whom this question was relevant again stating is was ‘very’ or ‘quite’ important to them. For these the majority - two thirds - said that both the strength and the character of the fragrance were equally important.

The character of the fragrance was the most important factor however for just under a quarter of respondents.

In personal care, of course, fashion and other trends are crucial in guiding fragrance creation. The survey explored whether this was true of washroom, cleaning and air-care products too. The answer from those who responded to this question was mixed. All expressed strong awareness of current trends but over half of these respondents said that they were ‘not influenced’ and that wider trends did affect how their goods are fragranced.

Customer attitudes to fragrance is, by contrast, important but not always the key factor. Whereas for just over half of all respondents (55 per cent) fragrance is very important and an aspect about which they care strongly, for the remainder of respondents (45 per cent) it was reported that whilst

customers mention fragrance this is less important than factors such as price. As one respondent said, however, “Endusers will not purchase products without fragrance”.

Interestingly, fragrance has, for the majority, become more important over the last decade although some respondents noted no change over the past 10 years. One respondent commented: “This hasn’t changed for standard products but for ecological and health-related products, the fragrance element has got more restrictive for such applications”.

Ecolabel considerations Another respondent said: “An important change in the use of fragrances is related to the Ecolabel registration. We have several product ranges with Ecolabel and this limits the selection of fragrances to use in our formulation - not only in terms of what kind of fragrance but also how much to use.

Customers’ fragrance requirement cannot always be satisfied”.

One company commented on the importance of fragrance for odour masking or re-odorising.

“Where products are used in health settings, the wellbeing of patients is important, along with hygiene and so the aromatherapy benefits of essential oils are found to be important to this segment of the market.”

One respondent said that whilst cleaning products had not, in his company’s opinion, changed much over a decade, the air freshener market has changed significantly.

“The market has become seasonal with new fragrances introduced as ‘summer’ or ‘winter’ ranges”.

For those who sell products internationally, the responses were evenly split between those who purchase different fragrances to sell equivalent goods in different geographical areas.

One example given was that a

Conférer une odeur agréable aux produits de nettoyage est jugé un facteur important par tous leurs fabricants, indique une enquête internationale menée par ECJ et l’IFRA (Association internationale des matières premières pour la parfumerie) au Royaume-Uni.

product sold in Spain has a different fragrance for Germany whilst in Nordic countries the fragrance must be less strong. Another pointed to the Middle East having different requirements with Oudh used for products there which is not the case for UK products.

Others however, include the same fragrances everywhere.

One respondent said that user preferences were driven by fragrance trends in different geographical areas so that different fragrances are used in different countries or regions.

It was also noted that “In recent years, chemical regulations have also driven the need for this geographical diversity, despite the competing trend of globalisation”.

He explained: “Both consumer and professional cleaning and air-care products would carry a ‘chemical’ smell without any fragrance being present. Masking that initial smell has always been important and from that initial position, product differentiation and preference based on fragrance character has always been critical”.

In summary, the picture which emerged is that fragrances play a crucial role as an influence in purchasing.

“Fragrance is an important factor for the acceptance of a product, independent from the performance. Buying decisions are always influenced by the product performance and also by its fragrance,” said one respondent.

Lisa Hipgrave, director of IFRA UK said: “Cleaning products and air-care are an important sector for perfumers and fragrance houses. Often, it is fragrance that is the invisible difference in buyers selecting products.

Crucially fragrance plays a role

Duftstoffe werden von allen Herstellern von Reinigungsprodukten als wichtiger Faktor betrachtet.

Dies geht aus einer internationalen Umfrage hervor, die von ECJ und IFRA (International Fragrance Association UK) durchgeführt wurde.

La fragranza è considerata da tutti i produttori di

Image: Shutterstock

in hygiene as it can reflect the ambience of the place in question and also encourage cleanliness - hand wash, for instance, when pleasantly fragranced, encourages more enthusiastic use and therefore better hand hygiene amongst children.

“The starting point when considering fragrance is not the character or the scent but the need to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for the product in question. By using an IFRA UK member manufacturers, distributors and end-users can be assured that the fragrance will be fit for the intended purpose”.

October forum Meanwhile IFRA UK has also announced details of its 2016 Fragrance Forum, which will take place on October 12 at the Royal Society in London.

This year it has invited a group of speakers to explore fragrance, wellness and wellbeing, considering the effects of aroma on health now and in the past.

A limited number of tickets are available for non-members of IFRA UK. For details and to register interest please email secretariat@ ifrauk.org www.ifrauk.org

prodotti per le pulizie un fattore molto importante per loro. Questo è quanto emerge da un sondaggio internazionale di ECJ e della associazione delle fragranze per il Regno Unito IFRA.

September 2016 | ECJ | 15

UPDATE: FRANCE Paris’ elite cleaning unit French ECJ correspondent Christian Bouzols reports on a special cleaning team that takes care of exceptional operations in Paris.

It is 6.30 on a Thursday morning in Paris. Four police coaches are keeping watch on the Place de la République in Paris. Another event, called Nuit Debout, bringing hundreds of Parisians together to discuss the changes needing to be brought to society, has just finished on the square and the cleaning teams have been at work for almost an hour.

With vacuum cleaners purring, beer cans and other objects are being cleared away. All the cleaning operatives have their designated task.

“My job is to sweep bottles and glass fragments. Others drive the washer. And another colleague, wearing a special suit and a breathing mask, handles the corner where people have done their business,” explains Lassana, 42, who since 2006 has been a cleaner for La Fonctionnelle, the elite unit in charge of keeping Paris clean.

La Fonctionnelle is a special corps of cleaners under the responsibility of the Town Hall entrusted with all the exceptional cleaning operations in Paris that can’t be handled by the local council cleaning services. That’s because their work requires special equipment and needs to be done at specific times. Therefore the assignments of this corps of 400 people vary considerably.

They range from festive events (Gay Pride and Techno Parade) to sporting fixtures (Marathon and supporter areas to watch the Euro 2016 football championship) and demonstrations.

This cleaning brigade also sweeps the Périphérique motorway, the banks of the Seine Christian Bouzols évoque les activités de « La Fonctionnelle », un corps spécial de nettoyeurs à Paris chargé de tâches de nettoiement particulières que les services d’arrondissement ne sont pas en mesure d’entreprendre.

September 2016 | ECJ | 16

and rather more sensitive and dramatic scenes. These include the scenes of traffic accidents, street brawls, crimes and terror attacks - such as the one that took place at Le Bataclan.

La Fonctionnelle can be deployed immediately on a 24/7 basis. It was therefore obvious for the Town Hall to call on its services right from the start of the Nuit Debout events, which take place on April 1.

“Ever since the event was launched we’ve been arriving early in the morning to support the Arrondissement cleaners with a task force of some 10 people,” explains Basile SaintCarlier, deputy head of the unit.

“At the beginning things were a little complicated because people were sleeping in the open air. So we had to wait for the arrival of the police. Now as we arrive, there aren’t any people left. And less heavy refuse.”

Broken bottles and yellow kebab boxes, stained with ketchup, are piling up around skips and dustbins. “We collect something like 40 to 400 cubic metres of refuse every morning,” he adds. “The amount can vary, but we find dirt all the time, especially at weekends.”

At 7 am, the motorised street sweepers come into play, jet cleaning the pavement with water. “From 8 am onwards there are many people and traffic on the square. So in order to work safely we do our best to finish before that time,” said Basile Saint-Carlier. “This is also necessary because if there’s a traffic accident somewhere, part of our team may need to be deployed there.”

Christian Bouzols berichtet über „La Fonctionnelle“, eine Sondertruppe von Reinigungskräften in Paris, die alle speziellen Reinigungsarbeiten übernehmen, die nicht von den üblichen Mitarbeitern der lokalen Stadtverwaltung ausgeführt werden können.

Christian Bouzols ci parla di ‘La Fonctionnelle’, un corpo speciale di addetti alle pulizie di Parigi che effettua tutti i lavori di pulizia speciali che non possono essere gestiti dai servizi comunali locali.

UPDATE: RUSSIA What’s good for business?

Russia correspondent Oleg Popov asks what we will remember most about the summer of 2016.

Normally the summer isn’t filled with many events. Most people are on holiday, while the rest dream about holidays, watching news they don’t care about on television just to fix their eyes on something. That’s what’s been so surprising about this summer.

Not a day has gone by without something big happening. Two key events – the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the release of the game Pokémon Go are reflecting new trends in business.

Everyone in our country was really looking forward to the Olympics and followed how well the Russian teams were performing. Their interest in the games at Rio de Janeiro was heightened by the doping scandal - the story was covered by all media on a daily basis.

What makes good business in a situation like this? Playing on people’s emotions and using news as a basis to promote oneself. In one case, an internet electronics store created a game where a Russian female athlete has to outdo the doping officers and pole vault into the air. No matter how many people play it, there’s no doubt people worrying about the athletes will help them better remember the store’s brand and they will associate it with patriotism. And the stronger people’s emotions are, the better the business’ promotion works on them.

An unexpectedly glamorous media event was the release of the game Pokémon GO. The augmented reality plus the viral promotion of the news demanded people’s attention. And not only its target audience. A post was going around on Facebook about how a retired man asked a girl in the subway what Pokémon are and she was overjoyed to start telling him about what augmented reality is. As a Oleg Popov, de l’entreprise de propreté Cristanval, contemple les événements des trois derniers mois qui ont affecté le secteur du nettoyage en Russie.

response, the man told her sadly “the world has gone nuts”.

In order to keep from going nuts, we must keep ourselves informed about what’s going on around us. Sometimes we don’t want our lives to change and for new technology that we will have to master to go mainstream.

The more innovations that come about all around us, the older we feel. And it’s not an issue of our actual age.

The classical business model is currently experimenting with gamification in order to make it into the news ticker. We are starting to see more and more instances of this. For example, a large Russian bank ‘settled’ Pokémon into its retail divisions and announced free insurance to players for possible injury. After visiting one of this bank’s divisions recently, I didn’t find any virtual creature ‘catchers’ there, but the news got around. For a company that is interested in building a modern image for itself, it managed to work its way into the information flow.

Of course, those types of promotional paths work best for the B2C market and they require budget and careful planning. But we could take a lesson from this and apply it to cleaning as well: 1. Don’t be afraid to share, especially if you have a lot of competitors and everyone is offering the same type of service. If even a conservative businessman likes catching Pokémon, then it’s time for cleaning to become more modern and dynamic as well.

2. Today’s youth are our future clients. Try and understand them and keep on the same page.

A high level of neglect doesn’t do anybody any favours and it doesn’t help business either.

3. Technology is saving time and making business more profitable.

It’s time to take advantage of it.

Der bei der Reinigungsfirma Cristanval tätige Oleg Popov blickt zurück über die Ereignisse der letzten drei Monate, die sich auf die russische Reinigungsbranche ausgewirkt haben.

Oleg Popov dell’impresa di pulizie Cristanval ricorda gli eventi degli ultimi tre mesi che hanno avuto ripercussioni sul settore del cleaning russo.

September 2016 | ECJ | 17

UPDATE: ITALY New show for the south of Italy Italian correspondent Anna Garbagna looks ahead to a busy autumn in the Afidamp events schedule.

The objective of the first Pulire Mediterraneo exhibition, organised by Afidamp to take place in southern Italy, is to become a new reference point for the majority of countries in the Mediterranean region. It will take place from November 12-15 this year at Etnafiere in Catania, Sicily.

The exhibition aims to reach out not only to Italy but also to Malta and North Africa. This is a very strategic market because Ôthe extended marketÕ accounts for over 11 per cent of Italian exports which makes it the second largest destination area after the European Union.

Hence the Pulire network is

enriched with a brand new hub in the South thanks to the synergy between Afidamp Servizi and AfidampCOM. Pulire Mediterraneo is in fact the first exhibition with the brand Pulire nel Sud dellÕItalia (Pulire in Southern Italy).

This project has been in the planning for a long time, as highlighted by Toni DÕAndrea, Afidamp ServiziÕs managing director: ÒThere are numerous open challenges for the cleaning sector in the South of the world and it is important to have an Afidamp and Pulire hub in order to promote excellence in Southern Italy.Ó The event will be a very intensive four days. ÒDays of full

Anna Garbagna, correspondante d’ECJ en Italie, rend compte d’un nouveau salon de la propreté, le Pulire Mediterraneo, qui sera lancé en Sicile en novembre.

September 2016 | ECJ | 18

immersion among innovations displayed by the professionals of the professional cleaning, environment and laundry sectors.

There will also be seminars, cultural and institutional events,Ó added DÕAndrea.

The characteristics of Pulire Mediterraneo will make it an exhibition of great interest to the sectorÕs operators as well to the end users, with a special attention to those from the ho.re.ca sector.

The presence of operators and end users together in Etnafiere and the synergies already in place with the exhibition RistoraHotel (exhibition for the hospitality sector) should mean it will be attended by purchasing managers from catering and hospitality.

The show will also encompass healthcare, carwash, industrial and other sectors linked to cleaning.

The new exhibition will take

Anna Garbagna, die Italien-Korrespondentin des ECJ, berichtet über eine neue Reinigungsmesse, die im November in Sizilien stattfinden wird – Pulire Mediterraneo.

place a short time after Forum Pulire, the congress of integrated services promoted by Afidamp and ONBSI, and it will be organised by Afidamp Servizi. It will take place on September 14-15 at the Unicredit Pavilion in Milan and, for the first time, will cross the Italian borders by becoming an international event for the professional cleaning sector. ÔCleaning as absolute valueÕ will be the theme of Forum Pulire.

This platform has pursued excellence since its origin and in 2012 it started on the path of building the image identity of the cleaning sector. To achieve this, it has engaged with the market in order to identify its trends and needs.

In line with this choice, the next event will continue to build and consolidate this path supported by brave choices and the achievement of ambitious objectives.

Anna Garbagna, la corrispondente italiana di ECJ, ci informa su una nuova fiera del settore del pulito che si terrà in Sicilia in Novembre dal titolo “Pulire Mediterraneo”.

UPDATE: DENMARK September marks the beginning of an academic year. A recordbreaking number of students start university studies in Denmark where vocational education has been struggling in recent years to attract applicants. But if job security is anything to go by, choosing vocational education to pursue a career in the hygiene sector, may prove a wise choice.

The most recent figures show that 91 per cent of the service assistants, which is the official title in the Danish educational system for those having studied for a cleaning job, become employed. So job security appears to be extremely high in this sector.

However, the figures are somewhat deceiving. A majority of those training to become service assistants in Denmark have a job in the cleaning industry beforehand. The most common scenario being that their employer decides

on their behalf that a qualifications upgrade is needed.

The students are usually women, over 30 years old and with little or no education. They are generally reluctant to start studying, but when “forced” into it and succeeding, the joy and satisfaction seem far greater for them than other students according to Marianne Klitgaard Würtz, head of Centre for Education and Training at Aarhus Tech, one of the polytechnics offering this type of education in Denmark.

As a positive side effect of choosing education, they minimise the risk of being worn down over time as the jobs they are offered to do afterwards are usually better and less physically demanding. Besides cleaning, service assistants specialising in either hospital or company service are qualified to perform tasks such as serving or preparing

La propreté n’est peut-être pas le meilleur métier à indiquer sur un CV, mais pourrait être un bon choix de carrière. Notre reporter en Scandinavie Lotte Printz examine cette question.

What education can do for you Cleaning is not considered the hottest job on a CV. But it may be a wise career choice - says ECJ’s Danish correspondent Lotte Printz. meals, meeting preparation and administration tasks.

Should the service assistant studies have triggered a desire to continue education, this has been an option since the spring of 2015 - the Zealand Institute of Business & Technology is offering an AP Programme in hygiene and cleaning technique.

With subjects such as cleaning technology and management of the cleaning process this programme may give service assistants yet another qualification boost, but it also strengthens and develops management skills and qualifications further for

Das Reinigen gilt nicht als einer der besten Jobs in einem Lebenslauf, es kann jedoch eine weise Karriereentscheidung sein. Unsere SkandinavienReporterin Lotte Printz berichtet.

others working in the cleaning sector, those planning services for instance or the self-employed.

Being a part-time programme, it allows the students to keep their full-time jobs while studying and to mix and match subjects according to their current occupation.

The knowledge and input they take back to their workplaces are much appreciated.

“It’s a great programme and highly qualified training. But I also learn a lot from my fellow students who work in the trade during the breaks when we’re discussing our profession,” says one student.

La corrispondente scandinava Lotte Printz nel suo articolo parla di come “addetto alle pulizie” non sia considerato il miglior lavoro da inserire nel CV ma che comunque potrebbe essere una scelta intelligente di lavoro.

September 2016 | ECJ | 19

UPDATE: GERMANY Unexpected reactions German reporter Thomas Schulte-Marxloh on accidents caused by chemical reactions.

Chemicals like humans can react unexpectedly, in particular when mingled. Sometimes even professionals seem to be unaware regarding the dangers of chemicals in cleansing agents, their safe storage and use. New accidents every year, from chemical burns to explosions, are the consequences of careless use of chemicals.

This year, for instance, a sevenyear-old girl was taken to hospital after pouring several cleansing chemicals in a watering pot and drinking the mixture. The chemicals, carelessly stored in boxes in the living-room, came from household clearances the girl’s mother carried out.

The mother’s thoughtless behaviour seems to be a typical example of non-professional handling of chemicals. Amazingly, despite respective warning notices on every detergent label, inappropriate storage or disposal of detergents still cause serious accidents.

In order to clean a clogged urinal a janitor in Berlin applied an alkaline tube cleaner, however it did not work. So he called a professional tube cleaning company but did not mention his former attempts to solve the problem.

After the workman applied sulphuric acid a chemical reaction with the tube cleaning agent triggered an acid eruption. The workman suffered from chemical burns of his hands and breathing problems, the fire brigade registered an increased level of dangerous hydrogen sulphide.

Another acid accident happened when an employee in a packaging material factory poured a detergent into a bucket where it reacted with remains of acid. The reaction caused fire in the bucket and a lot of reddish smoke which spread into the factory hall. The Dans son reportage d’Allemagne, Thomas Schulte-Marxloh fait rapport sur les accidents qui sont causés par la manipulation négligente de produits chimiques de nettoyage.

employees were evacuated and the fire brigade was called.

On the premises of a sausage producer chlorine gas occurred after a detergent and a disincentive agent were used successively in a refrigerated warehouse.

Again, staff had to be evacuated.

As a precaution one employee was taken to hospital and contaminated products had to be disposed of.

In a cafe located in a busy street of Frankfurt, a heavy explosion caused four people to be injured, two of them severely. According to the fire brigade in charge, the explosion was triggered by a flammable detergent in a spray can which most likely reacted with remains of another detergent or fragrance which was used before.

The explosion at an natural gas storage facility in Berlin, investigators found out, was caused by a new cleansing method which was deployed for the first time. A clogged filter, 900 meters below street level, was cleaned with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The gas was injected under pressure into the borehole and returned into a respective tanker. In the borehole a part of the hydrogen peroxide changed into oxygen (O2) which created a highly explosive mixture with the natural gas.

It is still unknown why a spark occurred which triggered the explosion. Unfortunately it is also still not clear who in the end is responsible - all parties involved point to each other: the building owner, the cleaning company and the local authorities who approved the innovative method.

Chemicals and detergents are still integral parts of the contract cleaning industry; luckily, due to professional training most employees are well aware of the dangers.

Thomas SchulteMarxloh berichtet aus Deutschland über Unfälle, die durch unsachgemäßen Umgang mit Reinigungschemikalien verursacht wurden.

Dalla Germania, il corrispondenteThomas Schulte-Marxloh parla degli incidenti causati dal maneggiare con negligenza i detergenti chimici.

September 2016 | ECJ | 21

UPDATE: NETHERLANDS Experienced versus expected ECJ’s Dutch reporter Nico Lemmens continues his look at the theme of service and expectations.

We continue our exploration of Christian Grönroos’s work on service management and marketing. We have discussed the distinction between technical (the what) and functional (the how) quality. Good technical quality alone does not mean customers perceive the service quality is good. If customers are to consider total service quality good, functional quality has to be good as well.

Where a number of firms are competing with similar outcomes or technical quality, it is the functional quality impact of the service process that counts, especially in the case of commodity services.

Grönroos points out that quality is to a large extent perceived subjectively. The quality perception process is more complicated than the distinction between technical and functional quality would suggest. Good perceived quality is obtained when the experience quality meets the expectations of the customer: the expected quality. If expectations are unrealistic, the total perceived quality would be low, even if the experienced quality, measured in an objective way, were good.

The expected quality is a function of a number of factors, namely marketing communication, word of mouth, company

Notre correspondant aux Pays-Bas Nico Lemmens contemple le thème de la gestion de services. Il se penche sur la notion voulant que la qualité relève en grande partie de perceptions subjectives.

September 2016 | ECJ | 22

image, price, customer needs and values. Some of these factors are under control of the firm, others can at best be influenced indirectly. Marketing communication is directly under control of the firm. The image and wordof-mouth factors, as well as public relations, are only indirectly controlled by the firm.

External impact on these factors may also occur, but they are basically a function of the previous performance of the firm, supported by, for example, advertising. Finally, the needs of the customer as well as the values that determine the choice of customers also have an impact on his expectations.

Grönroos’s conclusion is the level of total perceived quality is not determined simply by the level of technical and functional quality dimensions, but rather by the gap

Nico Lemmens, der Niederlande-Korrespondent des ECJ, wirft einen Blick auf das Dienstleistungsmanagement.

Er untersucht den Gedanken, dass Qualität größtenteils subjektiv wahrgenommen wird.

between the expected and experienced quality. Consequently, every quality programme should involve not only those involved in operation, but those responsible for external marketing and marketing communication as well. If a service provider over-promises, it raises customer’s expectations too high and, consequently, customers will perceive that they get low quality.

The level of quality may very well still be high, objectively measured, but as customer expectations were not in line with his experiences, the perceived quality is nevertheless low. Many quality development processes are destroyed by too much promise of improved service, too early.

The marketer has to be very careful when designing external campaigns and activities, so he avoids making promises that cannot be kept.

Il corrispondente olandese Nico Lemmens prende in esame la gestione dei servizi ed analizza il concetto che la qualità viene ampiamente percepita in modo soggettivo.

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THE INDUSTRY’S FIRST PANEUROPEAN AWARDS A world-leading five-star venue, firstclass lunch, three hard-hitting conference sessions, unrivalled face-to-face networking opportunities, sumptuous three-course dinner and - most importantly - the Awards ceremony for just €285.

WHY ATTEND? Opportunities to network with key decision makers and senior management.

A fantastic chance to share, learn and celebrate success.

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UPDATE: UK In this technological age, when reference to ‘the net’ is the internet, the worldwide web and all things associated with this information superhighway, we need to recognise the value of the alternative net: the networking event, a point lodged in actual space and time where like-minded people, the bearers of particular information and expertise, are drawn together to exchange this information and expertise.

It’s become all too easy to hide behind a screen, searching for information online, finding the experts, checking out the latest news on the latest services and products. It’s also all too easy to forget that for most, if not all of us in our industry, our knowledge and expertise has developed from regular, longterm face-to-face interaction with the endless list of individuals encountered socially and professionally throughout

our working lives. Perhaps the renaissance of network events is down to the very real success of online forums and special interest groups (SIG’s). The need to meet the expert “in the flesh” and discuss current trends and difficulties in a group brings the issues to life, airing subtle points that online forums tend to miss.

Analyse the value Network events are improving year on year, driven by high attendee expectations and the need to justify the costs of the event itself, but perhaps more so is the need to justify the real costs of being away from the workplace. Enticing as it may be to escape work and enjoy a natter with old friends, network events need to offer quantifiable benefits that can be applied once back at work. “What will I know that I don’t know now?” and “What will I be able to do that I can’t do now?”

UK correspondent Lynn Webster emphasises the continuing importance of face-to-face networking. or “Which valuable people will I meet that it is difficult for me to meet now?” Network events can be the added value component of our working lives if managed and accessed thoughtfully. And there is no shortage of topics to constructively discuss.

Targeted events, ranging in size from a select few to a wider more general gathering of the industry’s like-minded, great and good are what we need to keep the industry moving forward. Let’s perhaps consider the power of networking in bringing new blood to the industry: host events on a university campus and at schools and invite students, their tutors, employment advisers and teach-

Die britische ECJ-Korrespondentin Lynn Webster hebt hervor, dass Networking-Veranstaltungen in unserer in zunehmendem Maße internetbasierten Welt weiterhin wichtig sind.

ers. We know that direct contact with those in the know can inspire a better understanding, the richness of roles within the industry, meeting real people, doing real jobs and hearing their stories of success and enjoyment.

As autumn descends and the days grow shorter and colder, now is definitely the time to get out from behind that screen and engage in active networking.

What do you know? Who do you know? What can you bring to networking that is beneficial to others, and what can you take away that is beneficial to you?

And remember the best of all?

Networking is enjoyable!

La corrispondente britannica di ECJ Lynn Webster enfatizza la continua importanza degli eventi di networking nella nostra società sempre più basata sul web.

2016

Lynn Webster, correspondante d’ECJ au Royaume-Uni, souligne l’importance des manifestations de réseautage dans notre monde toujours plus connecté par l’Internet.

Casting the ‘net’ wider

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September 2016 | ECJ | 25

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WASHROOM DISPENSERS

Putting hygiene in a box ECJ asks manufacturers how they ensure that their dispensers deliver hand hygiene in the washroom – and finds out whether hygiene is the customer’s top priority in any case.

Practically all away-from-home washrooms are equipped with soap and toilet paper housed in dispensers. Most of them also offer hand drying facilities in the form of an air dryer or a dispenser for textile or paper towels. In some cases the main aim of these units is to improve product delivery or help to reduce costs. Other dispensers have a smart appearance in order to create a cohesive look that enhances the washroom’s image. But how important are these attributes compared with the simple ability of a dispenser to improve hygiene in the washroom?

That all depends on the type of washroom in question according to Bobrick’s international marketing projects manager Jaime Kotin. “The main function of soap and towel dispensers is to allow patrons to wash their hands easily, quickly and thoroughly,” he said. “Hygiene is a key consideration for any building operator, but its importance will vary depending on the building type and the level of maintenance quality.”

He says managers typically consider other factors such as ease of maintenance, dispenser outlay, cost of soap and paper refills, sustainability, aesthetics and accessibility alongside hygiene.

“Hygiene might well be the top priority in healthcare and food processing environments whereas high-traffic facilities such as airports and casinos may prefer dispensers that offer economies in use,” he said. “And while hygiene is likely to be

considered important in a high-end office, the priority here will probably be the need to exhibit a prestigious image.”

However he concedes that all washroom dispensers play a crucial role in improving and maintaining hygiene. “High quality dispensing solutions not only encourage patrons to wash and dry their hands, they also simplify the cleaning and refilling process for maintenance staff,” he said. “Ease of maintenance is important because when dispensers run out of soap or paper, people are unable to use them and this allows bacteria to proliferate throughout the washroom.”

Kotin claims Bobrick’s counter-mounted soap dispensers are easy to use and quick to refill via a jug. “There is no need for maintenance staff to reach under the counter and remove panels, and this encourages them to fill the dispensers as soon as they are running low,” he said.

Among Bobrick’s latest products is the Designer series of automatic, no-touch, counter-mounted soap dispensers.

A washroom dispenser needs to fulfil many functions according to Metsä Tissue’s UK and Ireland sales director Mark Dewick. “It should dispense just enough hygienic product in an easy, efficient and environmentally-friendly way while also delivering good value in terms of cost in use,” he said.

While hygiene is an important requirement, he claims that maximising hygiene in a washroom dispenser is not always easy. “The dispenser is a point of contact for everyone who uses the washroom which means that the risk of cross-contamination is high,” said Dewick. “Since a simple hand wash will not remove all the germs from the hands there is potential for the dispenser to become a breeding ground. Meanwhile, the ‘sneeze effect’ of a flushed toilet can result in germs circulating around the washroom.”

Katrin Inclusive dispensers are designed to protect the product from contamination, he says. “The hand towels are ‘selfpresenting’ which means there is no need

for the user to reach inside the dispenser to find the paper or to touch the dispenser during use at all,” he said.

The dispensers are also said to be easy to clean and have few areas where germs could collect. “Our systems also have a very high capacity which means there is no need for an extra roll to be left lying around to gather germs,” said Dewick.

He also says one way in which washroom hygiene can be improved is by making dispensers easy to use to encourage hand hygiene. Katrin Inclusive dispensers feature braille text, contrasting colours and large ‘push faces’ to take into account the needs of children, the elderly, the disabled and the visually impaired.

Different priorities He agrees with Kotin that customer priorities vary greatly according to sector.

“Food-safe products are required in a food environment whereas in a healthcare setting, hygiene is key,” he said. “But since healthcare professionals wash their hands frequently they also require dermatologically-tested products that can help to prevent sore hands and skin conditions.”

Hygiene is a crucial consideration for CWS-Boco’s customers according to product management team lead Silke Zugel. “In sensitive sectors such as food service and healthcare the main function of a dispenser is to maintain or enhance hygiene and to meet legal hygiene requirements,” she said. “Compliance with hygiene standards and regulations should be the top priority when developing dispenser systems.

“For example, there are specifications for the portioning of cotton towel segments for cotton towel dispensers.

And disinfectant dispensers must carry instructions on the length of time the user should spend rubbing in the disinfectant for optimum effect.” However, she adds that perceived hygiene is just as important as measured hygiene in the washroom.

“An adequate number of dispensers that are constantly being refilled will reassure the end user and provide the percepContinued page 30

September 2016 | ECJ |29

WASHROOM DISPENSERS Putting hygiene in a box (continued) tion of hygiene,” she said.

According to Zugel, dispensers need to function in a way that helps to enhance hygiene in use. As an example she says touch-free dispensers can help to improve washroom hygiene. “Users prefer this type of dispenser since the soap and towels are dispensed with no contact whatsoever,” she said.

CWS offers Paradise Disinfect NT, a touchfree disinfection solution for use in the washrooms of airports, railway stations, shopping centres, offices and public institutions. The company also offers soaps and lotions supplied in sealed bottles to prevent the risk of contamination before use.

Besides high levels of hygiene, the company’s customers also seek products that are reliable, easy to use and easy to refill. “Demand for sustainability is also on the rise,” said Zugel. “The cost of dispensers must of course be reasonable, and maintenance intervals are another issue. So in some cases, dispensers need to have a large capacity so that staff need not spend too much time refilling them.”

EU sales manager of Ffuuss Victor Guasch agrees with Zugel that the customer’s perception of washroom hygiene is crucial. “Any washroom hygiene system should have a visually clean and well maintained appearance,” he said. “This is important because end users are not usually informed about the hygienic features of any washroom appliances they use.”

He says Vectair’s customers tend to seek stylish designs that enhance the aesthetic appeal of their washrooms.

“We don’t want to compromise this by using unsafe systems so it is our job to combine the two,” said Wonnacott.

Vectair offers touch-free Sanitex soap dispensers plus a manual version that incorporates antimicrobial protection into the dispenser cover. This is said to reduce bacterial growth by 99.99 per cent. Both versions feature a sealed soap cartridge to prevent the risk of contamination before use.

Wonnacott agrees that the focus on hygiene varies from sector to sector. “Healthcare establishments are naturally more concerned about hygiene because they are dealing with vulnerable people,” he said. “This means that transmitting any germs could be deadly.

The same goes for food establishments where the staff need to be careful not to contaminate any food they serve.

“Other sectors such as leisure and hotels will also be concerned about safety but are arguably more worried about factors such as style, technology and being up-to-date with the latest trends. They will want to ensure that their washroom dispensers look great while co-ordinating with their modern design ethic.”

He says most customers demand Hygiene is the key dispensers that are durable and easy Ffuuss’ washroom hand dryers have built-in to use. “They also want them to be hygiene features, according to Guasch. “For discreet and capable of functioning example, we use antibacterial additives in our efficiently without disrupting the surinjected plastic housings and H13 HEPA filters rounding environment,” he said. “And it to guarantee hand drying with clean air,” he is important that a washroom dispenser said. “This is especially relevant in food hanshould be simple to install and easy for dling and hospital environments where high the washroom visitor to use. If it needs standards of disinfection are required.” instructions once it is up on the wall, it Creating hygienic systems is also vitally shouldn’t be there in the first place.” important for Vectair according to managSCA’s European dispensers assorting director and president Paul Wonnacott. ment manager Verena Ristau agrees.

“While our customers tend to focus more on “There are some soap dispensers on the price and aesthetics, hygiene is key for us,” he market that don’t make it obvious what said. “However, this often comes at an extra to push or where to put your hands to cost to the manufacturer. For example, cover- access the soap inside,” she said. “Dising a dispenser with antimicrobial protecpensers should be intuitive.”

She says washroom dispenser tion will increase the price of the unit so it is hygiene tends to be top of mind in the important that customers understand why it healthcare and food processing sectors, is important.”

Les appareils distributeurs de toilettes ont pour fonction principal de protéger leur contenu contre le milieu ambiant et de protéger les utilisateurs contre la contamination croisée. Nous invitons des fabricants à nous dire comment ils garantissent les propriétés hygiéniques des distributeurs par l’emploi de matières plastiques antibactériennes, d’enceintes hygiéniques, de joints étanches et en facilitant le nettoyage de leurs produits.

September 2016 | ECJ | 30

Eine der Hauptfunktionen eines Waschraumspenders ist der Schutz des im Spender enthaltenen Produktes vor der Waschraumumgebung und die Verhinderung von Kreuzkontamination zwischen Besuchern. Wir fragen Hersteller, wie sie sicherstellen, dass ihre Spender besonders hygienisch sind, beispielsweise durch die Verwendung von antibakteriellem Plastik; Hygieneschildern; guten Abdichtungen; leichte Reinigung usw.

whereas a hygienic image is important in the hospitality sector. “We discovered this when developing our new Tork Image Design range of dispensers,” said Ristau. “It came out clearly in research that dispensers need to look clean and blend in with the environment to make customers feel that the managers of the establishment care about them.” Tork Image Design dispensers have a brushed stainless steel surface treated with an anti-fingerprint coating to preserve their shiny appearance.

Durable and intuitive SCA stops short of treating its washroom dispensers with antibacterial coatings, says Ristau. “We feel there is no real need for these,” she said. “Bacteria doesn’t grow on dry surfaces and since all our dispensers are designed to be touch-free there is no need for washroom visitors to come into contact with them in any case.”

A good dispenser should be functional, reliable and easy to service, she adds. “It should make the job of the maintenance staff as easy as possible and this in turn will reduce labour costs,” she said.

According to Risteau it is important that dispensers and refills work together to maximise hygiene. “For example our soap cartridges have single-use pumps which prevent any build-up of soap or mould, while our hand towels are wrapped in plastic which means there is no need for the janitor to touch the paper before use,” she said. “And our Tork SmartOne dispenser is hermetically sealed so that people are unable to reach their hands inside.”

So while factors such as cost, sustainability, aesthetics and efficiency all matter greatly, manufacturers agree that hygiene is one of the most important considerations when designing a washroom dispenser. As Vectair’s Paul Wonnacott puts it: “We are not just here to make the washroom smell nice and look pretty.” And Metsä’s Mark Dewick adds: “The whole point of washing and drying your hands after using the washroom is to practise good hand hygiene. So it is extremely important that the dispenser adds value to this hygiene function rather than work against it.”

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WASHROOM DISPENSERS

• La gamme de distributeurs Tork Image Design produite par SCA combine l’acier inox et un habillage noir.

• Les distributeurs de WC en acier inoxydable Xibu proposés par Hagleitner dispensent du savon mousse, des serviettes en papier ou de la mousse désinfectante.

• La famille des distributeurs Summit de San Jamar a été enrichie du distributeur de savon Rely Hybrid.

• Die Produktfamilie Tork Image Design mit Spendern von SCA kombiniert Edelstahl mit einer schwarzen Zierleiste.

• Das Xibu Waschraumspendersystem aus Edelstahl von Hagleitner bietet Spender für Schaumseife, Papierhandtücher oder Desinfektionsschaum.

• Die neueste Ergänzung der Spenderproduktfamilie Summit von San Jamar ist der Seifenspender Rely Hybrid.

• La linea di dispenser Tork Image Design della SCA abbina l’acciaio inossidabile con dei profili neri.

• I dispenser in acciaio inossidabile per sale da toilette Xibu prodotti dalla Hagleitner possono contenere sapone in schiuma, asciugamani in carta o schiuma disinfettante.

• Il nuovo prodotto della linea di dispenser Summit della San Jamar è il modello Rely Hybrid Soap Dispenser.

September 2016 | ECJ | 32

Functional style In creating its line of Tork Image Design dispensers SCA says it aimed to combine style with function. The range teams stainless steel with black trim to provide a smart and sophisticated image in high-end washrooms.

Tork Image Design comprises a Tork Xpress Interfold Hand Towel Dispenser; a Tork Jumbo Toilet Roll unit, and both manual and sensor-operated versions of the Tork Foam Soap dispenser. A stainless steel Tork Facial Tissue box, matching bin and coat hook complete the range.

Dispensers can be connected via the Tork EasyCube smart washrooms solution, offering

real-time washroom data. www.sca.com

Economical units

Hagleitner says its XIBU dispensers for foam soap, paper towels and disinfection foam are cost-effective and economical in consumption, while a reserve tank guarantees uninterrupted refilling.

All models are made of stainless steel and the touch-free Sense version comes with a LED fill level indicator, adjustable dose, output deferral, non-drip and airtight discharge path for no drying out.

The senseManagement range, meanwhile, is equipped with an integrated radio frequency

board that transmits usage and status data. Information such as dispenser filling level, battery status and the number of disposals is sent to a web-based central site. A counter provides information on how many people have used the washroom, so cleaning staff know which dispenser in which room needs to be filled or maintained. www.hagleitner.com

New addition San Jamar has added to the Summit family of dispensers it launched earlier this year with the launch of the Summit Rely Hybrid soap dispenser.

This no-touch electronic unit can be used for soap or lotion and features manual ‘Pushthe-Cover’ operation for when batteries are low. Which means users always have guaranteed access to soap.

There are four standard finishes and 12 custom colours. www.sanjamar.com

WASHROOM DISPENSERS Rotating nozzle

Black style New from Kimberly-Clark Professional is the Aquarius Range of Black dispensers which includes all the features of the existing Aquarius range in a sleek black format.

There are seven dispensers in the line, covering hand towels, toilet tissue and hand cleanser.

A patented overfill device prevents overfilling, stops jamming and reduces clumps of towel

JVD has launched a new hand dryer called Copt’air, which features a patented system for drying hands - a rotating air outlet nozzle. The company says that by incorporating this system into a jet dryer there is greater hand drying efficiency.

When the user places his wet hands under Copt’air the nozzle rotates while blowing. This dynamic air, says JVD, complements hand rubbing so it improves and accelerates drying.

The dryer is available in two colours, grey or white. www.jvd.fr

tearing off and causing mess. A concealed locking mechanism makes the dispenser easy to maintain and control costs.

Because the units are designed with no dirt or dust traps they are hygienic and easy to clean, says Kimberly-Clark Professional, while a viewing window makes it simple to see when refilling is required.

Next ECJ - October

•

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High capacity dispensers

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•

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Never run out The Never-Run-Out-Soap (NRO) soap dispenser is new from Hygiene Vision. It has been designed to provide users with a continuous supply of soap while making it easy for cleaning teams to keep the dispenser refilled without wasting soap.

The dispenser features an electronic chamber that holds sufficient soap for continued use after the refill has completely emptied. Cleaning staff are alerted to the empty refill by a red LED which is only activated when the refill has emptied but soap is still retained in the NRO chamber, giving them time to replace the refill during routine checks. Refills are replaced when they are completely empty.

The dispenser holds a one-litre luxury foam soap pouch refill which offers 2,500 doses. www.neverrunoutofsoap.com

• Copt’air, le dernier sèche-mains de JVD, est doté d’une buse de sortie d’air tournante.

• Kimberly-Clark Professional a lancé la gamme Aquarius de distributeurs de couleur noire.

• Hygiene Vision a introduit le distributeur de savon Never-RunOut-Soap (NRO).

• Bei Copt’air handelt es sich um den neuesten Handtrockner von JVD, der über eine drehbare Luftauslassdüse verfügt.

• Die Spenderlinie Aquarius von Kimberly-Clark Professional ist jetzt auch in schwarz erhältlich.

• Neu von Hygiene Vision ist der Seifenspender Never-Run-OutSoap (NRO).

• Copt’air è il modello più recente di asciumani ad aria calda della JVD, dotato di una bocchetta rotante di emissione di aria.

• La Kimberly-Clark Professional ha lanciato la gamma di dispenser neri Aquarius.

• La novità della Hygiene Vision è il dispenser di sapone Never-RunOut-Soap (NRO).

September 2016 | ECJ | 33

WASHROOM DISPENSERS

First impressions count When it comes to washrooms, first impressions are everything.

To provide a pleasant environment businesses need to get all the aspects of a washroom’s design and maintenance right. Paul Jakeway, marketing director at Deb, explains why a modern dispenser system can enhance the washroom experience.

When you enter a public washroom, what is it that you notice? It might be the cleanliness of the surfaces, or whether or not the cubicle doors lock properly. It might be the availability of toilet tissue, or the state the toilet seats are in. It might be whether or not there is soap available, or what the hand drying facilities are like.

For most people, it is probably a combination of these aspects – and if even just one of them fails to meet your expectations, you are likely to feel negative about the environment. When it comes to washrooms first impressions are everything.

If you are confronted with a dirty washroom at a restaurant, you might wonder if the lack of cleanliness you are experiencing in the front of house could be present in the kitchen too. If it is an office you are visiting, you might wonder: what else is this company neglectful about? Using a washroom as an employee, you might wonder how much your company really values you.

People might make such assumptions consciously or subconsciously. Either way, they can have serious consequences for the business or the workplace that provides the washroom. Research consistently shows the importance washroom appearances have for customers and employees. According to a survey by Zogby International, for instance, more than 80 per cent of consumers would avoid visiting a restaurant with a dirty washroom.

Most businesses and workplaces are of course aware of this situation, and many of them have made clean and pleasant washrooms a priority. Doing so requires a thought-through strategy. Because the failure of even just one aspect of a washroom can ruin the experience for the visitor – with all the negative consequences this can have – it is important to pay close attention to all of them.

Obviously, cleanliness is key. It goes without saying that regular cleaning is the first step to a well-presented washroom.

A transparent rota should be in place for this. If this is publicly displayed, it can further increase the confidence of those using the facility.

The toilets and the washbasins should be well-maintained. Regular checks can help to keep everything functioning, and when something stops working, it should be repaired as soon as possible.

But for a washroom to be appealing, it needs to be more than clean and functioning. Design matters. This includes basics such as the washbasin, or cubicle doors – but attention should also be paid to any additional equipment that needs to be installed for a washroom to meet the standard a visitor can expect.

Working dispensers Functioning dispensers for soap are a crucial element for any washroom environment. Their absence – or their failure to work properly – is something many users will notice immediately, with reactions ranging from mild annoyance to outright anger. And however well-maintained a washroom might be, the environment can be totally ruined by a shabby-looking dispenser installation.

Integrating dispensers into a washroom environment used to be quite hard. All too often, soap dispensers were eyesores.

Facility managers viewed them as mere necessities and not much time was spent choosing them. In recent times,dispenser design has made huge advances with equipment generally looking much slicker, and more stylish.

It is now possible for businesses to customise dispensers, which opens up a range of new possibilities. Dispensers can not only be styled to blend in perfectly with their environment – using a matching colour scheme, say – they can also carry messages or logos.

Companies can work with dispenser providers to create equipment that reflects their brand identity. Companies should also look for BioCote marked dispensers; a market leading antimicrobial technology supplier proven to achieve up to a 99.99 per cent reduction in bacteria, mould and fungi over a 24 hour period.

This means a washroom can become much more than a required facility. The thoughtful design and integration of dispensers can allow businesses to further their brand identity, while providing users with an excellent service. This can work both ways: visitors associate a pleasant washroom with a company’s brand, and they associate a company’s brand with a pleasant washroom.

By tailoring dispensers, businesses can create washrooms that do not merely fulfil basic standards – but become environments with a difference. Visitors might remember such washrooms, and they might even tell others about them.

The installation of a well-designed, reliable dispenser system comes with an added benefit. If soap is readily available – from dispensers that work and are easy to use – visitors are much more likely to wash their hands properly.

This is of particular importance for washrooms in workplaces. The skin health of employees should be a concern of employers. Occupational skin disease is a serious health issue that goes largely unnoticed; an invisible threat that affects both an organisation’s efficiency and the health and wellbeing of its employees.

Implementing skincare best practice is essential to maintain healthy skin and reduce the risk of occupational skin disease. Besides the regular cleansing of Continued page 36

September 2016 | ECJ |35

WASHROOM DISPENSERS First impressions count (continued) hands, using soap, a best practice regime also consists of applying protective and restorative creams. Modern dispenser systems can provide users of washrooms with a way to adhere to all three steps.

Cost savings should be considered too.

Thanks to advances in hand hygiene products, modern systems tend to dispense no more than a controlled amount of soap or cream, making them much more cost-effective. Manufactured from durable plastic components and tested for high usage environments, modern dispensers are built to last.

Making use of all these advances, businesses and workplaces are able to create washrooms that exceed visitor expectations – providing them with much more than a mere ‘facility’. Achieving this does not have to be costly, or time-intensive.

Business and workplaces can work closely with providers of dispensers, choosing a system that meets their individual needs.

Should the dispensers be smaller in size to fit into a compact environment? Is touch-free the right solution? How many dispensers will be needed?

The right products should also be carefully chosen. In some cases a cost-effective, universal soap might be preferable, while in others luxury foam could be a better choice. If protective or restorative creams should be part of the offering, which products are best suited to the particular needs of a business?

Anecdotal experience tells that, once a new dispenser system is in place, other aspects of a washroom might improve as well. Visitors tend to be more mindful of environments with noticeable new additions and, if they show more care for the washroom environment as a result, life will become easier for the cleaning personnel.

Regular cleaning; proper maintenance; and a thoughtful, well-executed design,

Pour les utilisateurs de toilettes, la première impression est celle qui compte. Que ces utilisateurs soient des membres de l’entreprise ou des visiteurs, il faut que les toilettes soient dotées des agencements qui leur conféreront un environnement agréable. En quoi l’emploi d’un distributeur moderne peut-il y contribuer?

Bei Waschräumen ist der erste Eindruck alles. Um Kunden, Besuchern oder Mitarbeitern eine angenehme Umgebung zu bieten, müssen Unternehmen alle Aspekte von Design und Pflege eines Waschraums gut hinbekommen. Wie kann ein moderner Waschraumspender das Erlebnis verbessern?

September 2016 | ECJ | 36

including a modern dispenser system – all these need to play their part in creating a washroom environment that fulfils its purpose well. It’s in the combination of these elements that such an environment can become truly outstanding.

If businesses or workplaces get all of them right, they have an opportunity to create washrooms that leave a lasting impression on those using them – be they customers, visitors, or employees.

Imagine entering a public washroom, and what you notice is this. All the surfaces are spotlessly clean. The cubicle doors lock without problems. There is plenty of good quality toilet paper. The toilet seats are new and clean, the hand drying facilities excellent. And luxurious foam hand wash soap is available from dispensers that do not merely blend in perfectly with their stylish environment, but also proudly carry the name of the business that provides the washroom.

Quando di tratta di sale da bagno, la prima impressione è quello che conta. Per assicurare un ambiente piacevole per i clienti, i visitatori o il personale, le imprese devono curare alla perfezione tutti gli aspetti del design e della manutenzione delle sale da toilette. Come può un dispenser per sale da toilette potenziare l’esperienza?

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CASE STUDY

Horses for courses....

ECJ editor Michelle Marshall visits building services provider Facilicom, which has its headquarters in the Netherlands.

The company has identified the advantages of incorporating horses into its management training, with great success.

“Changes in the market have led to customers expecting us to adapt more to their needs.

Contracts are also becoming much more results-oriented.”

September 2016 | ECJ | 38

As the building services market develops across Europe and clients have changing expectations, so the providers of those services are obliged to adapt to a new way of working.

Fundamental to future success, says Facilicom, is quality of management personnel. That’s why the contract cleaning and soft services provider, based in the Netherlands with branches in Belgium, France and the UK employing 28,000 people, has radically altered its management training programme.

Jacobien van Wittmarschen, human resources development manager, explains the background. “Changes in the market have led to customers expecting us to adapt more to their needs. They want us to advise them rather than just provide a service.

“Contracts are also becoming much more results-oriented. The fact we are experienced in cleaning is now assumed so the client expects us to work more towards achieving overall satisfaction for that building user.”

This has led to changes for the cleaners and how they operate, van Wittmarschen continues. “They must be more independent, they must be able to talk to customers, etc. They have to be proactive in their service on contracts. This, we have discovered, requires a different style of leadership.”

For Facilicom this transition necessitated a significant change in culture. “We were competent in terms of operational excellence,” explains van Wittmarschen, “but we have very high-end clients and they expect more innovation. We must introduce new ideas.

“Customers also want more service at a lower cost – that means better educated cleaners who work smarter.”

Facilicom expects its teams to solve problems themselves on-site, so they must be taught how to work as a team.

Consequently, personnel at management level must now be leaders and facilitators.

This is where the horses come in. It

is widely recognised that working with horses is a successful and practical way to understand what it takes to be a good leader, through hands-on experience.

Facilicom identifies its management candidates with the highest potential and puts them in a situation where they work together with the horses and then transfer the skills they learn into their managerial life.

Constructive learning There are many benefits of working with horses. They are non-judgmental so everyone can learn constructively from their mistakes. They give an immediate response so you get instant and honest feedback – they don’t discriminate if you are the ceo or a secretary. They respond to non-verbal communication, enabling managers to learn to make their message clear through movement and posture. And they reward your efforts once you have earned your authority, which encourages leadership through respect and trust rather than power.

So Jacobien van Wittmarschen developed exercises with psychologist Tenne von Nordheim, at whose farm near Zwolle the Facilicom managers attend their training courses. Von Nordheim is experienced in professional training and coaching so was an ideal partner.

The managers work in small groups and spend a day with the horses working through a series of exercises. This ranges from guiding them on a rope, leading them around obstacles, getting the horse to run around a paddock while they stand in the centre and prompting them when to slow down through movement and posture.

Sometimes the manager works alone with the horse, other exercises require them to work in pairs or as a small team.

“We have found this method to be particularly useful in seeking feedback,” continues van Wittmarschen. “As human beings this is difficult for us because we are naturally defensive and feedback can be seen as criticism. However we have found our managers accept feedback from

CASE STUDY horses more readily than from people. ÒWith the horses we are providing a safe environment where our managers can experiment with new behaviour. This is vital because we need this type of higher ranking people in our organisation.Ó

Implement small changes Van Wittmarschen observes how each manager interacts with the horses then transfers her findings into work practices.

She visits them in their workplace, with their team, to implement small changes. ÒFor example, we had a manager who was keeping the rein on the horse very short even though the horse could act

alone,Ó she continues. ÒThat could signify he perhaps needs to give more ÔreinÕ, more freedom, to his managers, because theyÕre perfectly capable.Ó She also meets with the team reporting directly to each manager to see what their tasks are. ÒWe work on developing the teamÕs trust in their manager, and the managerÕs trust in them.Ó Step by step the managers are led to new behaviours by van Wittmarschen. ÒWhen I can show them that working in this way costs less time, we find the manager feels more independent and enjoys his work more,Ó she explains.

For Facilicom this investment in senior

management is high but crucial to its success. ÒIt is essential to spend a great deal of time with our managers because it takes high-ranking people a long time Ð at least three months Ð to learn new behaviour,Ó she adds.

Tenne von Nordheim and her horses show the managers the potential for learning, then van Wittmarschen is responsible for leading them to transfer what they have discovered to their daily life.

And the results speak for themselves. ÒWhat we have witnessed is that managers being trained using more conventional coaching techniques were not able to make significant changes,Ó van Wittmarschen explains. ÒWhen we gave them some time with the horses, they could really take significant steps forward. ÒThis is more important with managers who have a great deal of experience than with young potential leaders,Ó she continues, Òbecause the young managers are easier to ÔshapeÕ.Ó

Embedded behaviour ÒMore experienced behaviour becomes embedded and we need to understand why that behaviour has developed,Ó adds von Nordheim, Òand how changes to that behaviour can result in a different way of doing things. This is apparent very quickly when working with horses and it shows managers there is a different way.Ó For Facilicom, it is absolutely crucial to have the right calibre of people in its management team. ÒOur managers must realise and accept the need for change and adapt accordingly,Ó says van Wittmarschen. ÒWe are offering them a bigger toolbox to use wider behaviours, we are not asking them to become a different person.Ó And Tenne von Nordheim supports the businessÕ policy, adding: ÒFacilicom is very proactive in exploring what their people need, now and in the future. There is a strong culture of continuous improvement.Ó ÒIf our management want to stay aboard and stay relevant they must engage in this type of training,Ó concludes Jacobien van Wittmarschen. ÒBeing able to adapt is crucial. Our managers have to become more like business consultants, and they must have a different relationship with their clients than they did before.Ó Facilicom, un prestataire néerlandais de multiservices, a incorporé des chevaux à son programme de formation à la gestion. On sait que travailler avec des chevaux est un moyen probant et pratique pour faire comprendre ce qu’il faut pour devenir un bon conducteur d’hommes.

Das in den Niederlanden ansässige Gebäudetechnikunternehmen Facilicom integriert Pferde in sein Programm zur Ausbildung der Führungskräfte. Die Arbeit mit Pferden ist bekannt als erfolgreiche und praktische Art, um zu verstehen, was eine gute Führungskraft ausmacht.

La Facilicom, fornitrice di servizi con sede in Olanda, ha inserito i cavalli nel suo programma di training manageriale. La pratica di lavorare con i cavalli è ben conosciuta per essere un sistema pratico e di successo per capire cosa è necessario per essere un buon leader.

September 2016 | ECJ | 39

MOPPING EQUIPMENT

When only a mop will do....

An increasing number of today’s professional cleaning operations are carried out using machines.

But are there still some instances where only a person with a mop will fit the bill, asks Ann Laffeaty?

“A mopping system can be used for virtually all cleaning tasks. They come in many forms and may be used dry, damp or wet, and can be produced using a variety of different materials.”

Cleaning is a particularly labour-intensive task – one that can lead to aches and pains on the part of the operative. For this reason there has been an increasing reliance on machines to do the heavy work over recent years. Machines offer a number of advantages over manual cleaning methods: for example, they take the physical strain away from the cleaner and can continue operating for much longer periods of time.

So where does this leave the mopwielding cleaner? Are there still any applications for which manual mopping is still the best – if not the only – viable option?

Only a mop will do when it comes to tasks such as cleaning and disinfecting in operating theatres according to IPC Tools managing director Michele Redi.

“This is particularly the case between surgery procedures,” he said. “Here a short pile microfibre mop is the best solution because it will rapidly clean and disinfect surfaces while inhibiting the development of bacterial loads. Only a person with a mop would be able to access every edge and corner in this type of situation without having to remove all the surgical equipment from the operating room.”

He says mops are also the best option for tasks such as cleaning up unexpected spills. “A mop is sufficiently versatile to be used in any environment and in any situation,” he said. “For example, a mop equipped with a telescopic pole plus a frame with a blocking system can safely be used to clean ceilings, vertical walls and stairs.”

Another advantage is the fact that a mop it can be used correctly by anyone, says Redi. “A lightweight mop combined with a professional frame has no limitations,” he said. “Mops are also highly suitable for use in small offices, banks, shops and restaurants. And being such an easy tool, a mop can be used in all environments and on all surfaces thanks to its flexibility.”

IPC has recently developed a new range of mops for use on surfaces and floors.

These include Spot which features black abrasive spots for removing stubborn dirt; Path, a two-in-one microfibre mop that dusts and cleans in one step; and Hygiene and Premium Hygiene, two new blue microfibre mops for washing and disinfecting areas where the risk of bacterial contamination is high.

Redi concedes that the latest generation of scrubber dryers and vacuums are making cleaning operations more effective and professional. “Nevertheless we are sure that the simple mop will always be associated with efficient and lasting cleaning,” he said. “It is true that sometimes the results will be less efficient, but this depends on the choice of equipment.

It is essential for customers to seek advice from professionals.”

Cleaning guarantee He adds that a machine can never replace the reassuring presence of a cleaner.

“The image of a person using a mop is still a cleaning warranty,” said Redi.

Export area manager of Filmop Igor Pegorin agrees with this view. “Human cleaners demonstrate a professional approach to the task and ensure an optimal image,” he said. “This is of course only the case if they are properly trained and provided with clothing that will protect both themselves and the environment from contamination. And equipment such as gloves and safety shoes when worn by the cleaner will add to this reassuring presence.”

According to Pegorin, a flat mop is essential for carrying out simple vertical cleaning tasks. “Stairs, steps, doors and walls are all impossible to clean with machinery,” he said. Filmop’s Lock System is a vertical support that can be applied to all its flat frames.

Other areas that are hard to clean using a machine include hospitals, clinics and offices, he says. “This is because of the presence of obstacles such as furniture, healthcare equipment and cabling,” he said. A manual mopping system Continued page 42

September 2016| ECJ | 41

MOPPING EQUIPMENT When only a mop will do.... (continued) also works well when a fast reaction is required, says Pegorin. “It is useful for all kinds of maintenance tasks, particularly in a spot-cleaning operation,” he said. “Being cable-free, a manual system is useful for many more situations than a machine.”

According to Pegorin a well-designed manual mopping system needs to be userorientated. “For example, a roll wringer will make the double-bucket system easier to use,” he said. Filmop offers various flat-mopping systems such as the Speedy System, Top-Down and Duo Face, the company’s latest patented double-sided mopping system.

Speeds up cleaning Another advantage of a mop is that it speeds up any cleaning operation, said Pegorin. “This – together with the fast drying time of the floor – results in optimal hygiene while also reducing working time,” he says.

He believes there will always be tasks for which only a mop will do. “Just think of high ceilings, showers, steps and urinals, for example,” he said. “It is impossible to use machines in every kind of environment and there are many cases in which a manual cleaning method could never be replaced.”

Flexibility and accessibility are the main advantages of a mopping system according to international sales manager of Crisp Clean Services Judy Toes. “Mopping systems can be used on areas and in types of facilities where it is simply not possible or economical to clean with a machine,” she said. “For example, manual mopping

L’élimination d’épandages dans des situations d’urgence, le nettoyage d’escaliers, l’épongeage de coins difficiles d’accès, le lavage de surfaces vitrées verticales - autant de tâches normalement abordées à l’aide de l’humble tampon de nettoyage, plutôt que d’une machine sophistiquée. Nous interrogeons des fabricants à propos des tâches de ce type, où seul un tampon de nettoyage fera l’affaire.

September 2016 | ECJ | 42

can be used to clean small or large areas right to the very edge. It can also be used to clean stairs and walls, and can be easily transported for an unplanned cleaning task.”

She concedes that machines are more efficient on large open areas and on certain types of surfaces such as stone floors.

“However, mopping systems have become more flexible, effective and efficient in recent years,” said Toes.

“A mopping system can be used for virtually all cleaning tasks. Mopping systems come in many forms including singlebucket, double-bucket and triple-bucket options that can include wringers and dosing systems. Mops can be used dry, damp or wet and can be produced using a variety of different high quality materials.”

Crisp Clean Services offers a range of mops including the patented Solo system.

This has been designed to add the right amount of solution evenly to the mop and ensure that mops are not left for long periods of time in a damp, unused state.

Business development director at Vileda Steve Barber concedes that mechanised cleaning solutions hold an advantage over mopping in certain environments such as wide open spaces, corridors and entrance halls that contain few obstacles or items of furniture. “However, mopping systems come into their own in small to mid-size areas because they are versatile and easy to operate,” he said. “They are also the best option in healthcare wards because they are quiet and can be used when the patient is in the room. Mechanised solutions are generally noisy which makes

Das Aufwischen einer verschütteten Flüssigkeit in einem Notfall, das Reinigen von Treppen, von beengten Ecken, von vertikalen Oberflächen: all diese, so heißt es, fallen in den Zuständigkeitsbereich des bescheidenen Handmopps und nicht einer weiterentwickelten Maschine. Wir befragen Hersteller nach diesen und anderen Aufgaben, die nur von einem Mopp ausgeführt werden können.

them unsuitable for use in these areas.”

Only a mop will do when cleaning food courts, he says. “It is difficult to use a machine in an area where you need to clean around and underneath tables and chairs since the size of the machine would represent a challenge,” he said.

Another advantage of mops is the fact that they can be used without the need for training, he said. “Also, they do not need batteries or access to electricity and require a significantly lower investment than machinery,” says Barber. “Furthermore they do not require regular servicing and they tend to be more compact and easier to store than machines.”

He adds that the weight of cleaning machines makes them impractical for use on stairs since they are difficult to lift up and down. “The narrow width of a typical staircase is another challenge since the footprint of most machines is too wide,” he said. “However a typical flat mop has a width of 12-14 cm which is perfect for cleaning each step. And flat mops are also lightweight.” The weight of machines is also an issue when cleaning vertical surfaces, he says.

Good future Latest products from Vileda include the SprayPro Inox spray mopping system and the MicroOne range of singleuse mop pads.

Barber agrees with other manufacturers that a person with a mop is a more reassuring presence than a cleaner with a machine. “Everyone knows exactly what a mop is, how it operates and what it is doing,” he said. “I’m not sure that the same could be said of a person using a walk-behind scrubber dryer. While most people will realise that a cleaning operation is taking place, the machine’s pads or brushes will be hidden beneath the machine so it will not be possible to actually see the cleaning process.”

And he believes the future looks good for the mopping industry. “As machines become smaller and quieter over time they will start to replace mopping systems in specific areas,” he said. “But I do not see a time when a complete switch to mechanical systems will occur. There will always be a place for a mop within cleaning.”

Rimuovere una fuoriuscita di liquidi in situazione di emergenza, pulire le scale, passare il mop in angoli angusti, pulire le superfici verticali – tutto questo viene considerato essere la specialità del modesto mop manuale piuttosto che di una macchina molto più sofisticata. Chiediamo ai produttori delle informazioni su queste ed altre operazioni di pulizia dove solo un semplice mop è in grado di eseguire il lavoro.

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MOPPING EQUIPMENT

• Réalisé par Sprintus, le Magic Click est un porte-tampon magnétique escamotable, à dispositif breveté de maintien debout.

• Les nouveaux chariots IdeaTop de VDM offrent un maximum de capacité de chargement, de modularité et d’ergonomie.

• Proposé par Robert Scott, le Stream2 est un manche portetampon comprenant un réservoir de solution de nettoyage de 500 ml.

• Magic Click von Sprintus ist ein faltbarer Magnetklapphalter mit patentierter Aufrechtfunktion.

• Die neuen Reinigungswagen IdeaTop von VDM wurden konzipiert, um maximalen Laderaum, Modularität und Ergonomie zu bieten.

• Stream2 von Robert Scott ist ein Aluminium-Moppgriff mit integriertem 500-ml-Behälter für die Reinigungslösung.

• Magic Click è un sistema magnetico pieghevole per mop con funzione di posizione eretta brevettata prodotto dalla Sprintus.

• I nuovi carrelli IdeaTop della VDM sono progettati per offrire massimo spazio di caricamento, modularità ed ergonomia.

• Stream2, prodotto dalla Robert Scott, è un manico per mop prodotto in alluminio che incorpora un serbatoio da 500 ml per la soluzione detergente.

September 2016 | ECJ | 44

Self-standing Magic Click is the new foldable magnetic mop holder from Sprintus, incorporating a patented self-standing function.

The mop can be left standing anywhere in the room when the operator needs to have both hands free.

The robust Cardan joint can be pivoted all the way round for the figure eight mopping technique and locked at any time says Sprintus. There is no need to lean it against a wall or an object. sprintus.eu

Top trolleys The latest trolley development from VDM is IdeaTop - designed to offer maximum space with

the smallest footprint. Said to be durable and resistant to breakage, these new models are stable and manoeuvrable.

Thanks to modular configuration it is simple to tailor IdeaTop trolleys to individual requirements, with ergonomy being a key consideration. And trolleys can be assembled and customised without the use of tools. www.vdm.it

Better handle Stream2 is the new improved version of Robert Scott’s bucket-

free mop handle - it now has a magnetic double-sided microfibre flat mop.

The magnetic mop frame allows the mop head to be changed without the user having to touch dirty mops, and because the mops are doublesided they can clean twice the floor area - which saves time and reduces laundry costs.

Stream2 also features an improved controlled water dosage system that ensures leak-free mopping. The lightweight rust-free aluminium mop handle incorporates its own 500 ml reservoir within the mop handle for water or mopping solution. www.robert-scott.co.uk

MOPPING EQUIPMENT Hook up

Loop mop

TTS has developed a way to attach/detach Magic trolleys. Using new plastic hooks users can create Magic+, a fully accessorised trolley connected to a smaller mobile workstation. With a simple click, part of the workstation can be disconnected from the main trolley and the operative can take only the part they need.

For example waste collection can be managed by detaching the collection module, or you can have access to small areas using just the module you need.

This attachment/detachment system can be applied to the whole Magic Line and it can be wheeled over uneven floors. www.ttsystem.com

Loop is one of the new microfibre mops from IPC - its white looped yarn microfibre is designed to capture and retain dirt inside its structure.

For more stubborn dirt there is Spot, a combination of white short pile microfibre and black abrasive dots. Hygiene and Premium Hygiene are recommended for deep cleaning as they are resistant to bleach and aggressive detergents. And Path dusts and washes in one step - the central strip collects dirt while the external ones wash. www.ipcleaning.com

Last longer TASKI Jonmaster Ultra ultra microfibre mops from Diversey Care are guaranteed for 800 washes and are claimed to offer superior microbial removal for daily cleaning in healthcare and other demanding applications.

The mops are manufactured using a new specification of ultra microfibre with finer fibres and a more open structure.

The construction of the fibres ensures each mop has double the surface area compared with previous models says Diversey.

Ultra mops also have increased polyester fibre content, designed to reduce friction so they glide across the floor more easily. www.diversey.com

• Pour servir en espace restreint, TTS a ajouté les chariots de nettoyage Mini Magic à sa gamme.

• IPC affirme que sa nouvelle gamme de tampons en microfibre offre une solution pour chaque tâche.

• La gamme de tampons de nettoyage TASKI Jonmaster Ultra de Diversey Care est garantie pour l’exécution de 800 lavages.

• TTS hat sein Sortiment um die Reinigungswägen Mini Magic zur Reinigung in kleinen Bereichen erweitert.

• IPC teilt mit, dass seine neue Produktreihe mit Mikrofasermopps eine Lösung für jede Aufgabe bietet.

• Die Mopps der Produktreihe TASKI Jonmaster Ultra von Diversey Care sind für 800 Waschgänge garantiert.

• La TTS ha aggiunto alla sua gamma di prodotti i carrelli di pulizia Mini Magic, adatti per le aree di piccole dimensioni.

• La IPC afferma che la sua nuova gamma di mop in microfibra offre soluzioni per ogni tipo di impiego.

• I mop della gamma TASKI Jonmaster Ultra della Diversey Care sono garantiti per 800 lavaggi.

September 2016 | ECJ | 45

MOPPING EQUIPMENT Special fibre

Spray solution

Two for one

Filmop has launched Fur Line, a new range of microfibre mops designed for different floor cleaning applications, according to the degree of dirt and surface.

Smart-Fur is a white highly absorbent microfibre mop which enables fast floor drying. Suitable for use on indoor smooth floors, it removes medium/low levels of dirt and can be used dry.

Thanks to its grey nylon inserts Active-Fur offers maximum slid-

IDI is a producer of mops, frames and handles. Its latest launch is a spray mop which has the cleaning solution within the aluminium handle - it’s dispensed via a button at the top.

Cleaning solution capacity is 500 ml and refilling is simple, from the middle of the handle grip. The plastic frame is said to be light but heavy duty, while the mop head is microfibre. www.idi-housewares.com

Vikan says its new DampDry 31 microfibre-based mop is a two-in-one product that enables customers to save on overall mop costs, storage space and procurement and stock manage-

ing capacity, lowering the friction on the floor and reducing effort.

Finally, Power-Fur features black polypropylene brushed stripes for maximum degreasing action on stubborn and sticky dirt. It can be used on rough and irregular floors with medium and high levels of dirt. www.filmop.com

ment costs.

The key to the DampDry 31’s ability to handle both damp and dry mopping is its cleaning surface, claims the company. The microfibre edges generate static electricity that picks up dust and dirt particles when mopping dry.

The mop’s centre is enhanced with polyester to reduce friction when damp-mopping.

Ergonomic features include a lightweight design and low-friction surface for easier, faster cleaning and no need for wringing or changing water or detergent. www.vikan.com • La Fur Line est la nouvelle gamme de tampons en microfibre de Filmop.

• IDI produit des tampons ainsi que des cadres et manches de tampon pour le marché professionnel.

• La DampDry 31 est une nouvelle tête de balayage humide à microfibre proposée par Vikan pour le nettoyage d’aires hospitalières à hygiène critique.

• Fur Line ist die neue Produktreihe mit Mikrofasermopps von Filmop.

• IDI produziert Mopps, Mopprahmen und -griffe für den Profimarkt.

• Bei DampDry 31 handelt es sich um einen neuen Mikrofasermopp von Vikan für Krankenhausbereiche, in denen Hygiene besonders wichtig ist.

• Fur Line è la nuova gamma di mop in microfibra prodotti dalla Filmop.

• La IDI produce mop, strutture e manici per il mercato professionale.

• DampDry 31 è il nuovo mop in microfibra prodotto dalla Vikan per le pulizie negli ambienti ospedalieri dove l’igiene è di massima importanza.

September 2016 | ECJ | 46

MOPPING EQUIPMENT

Cleanroom

Smart mop

Both sides

Designed for use in cleanroom or sterile environments where contamination control is critical is the TruCLEAN mop range from Perfex. These are suitable for applying disinfectants and sterilants to floors, walls and ceilings.

Cleanroom Mops are constructed of continuously woven polyester fabric that conforms to almost any shape, offering easier cleaning says the

Unger’s SmartColor SmartMop system comprises a double bucket with press, selection of mop holders and handles and colour-coded microfibre mops.

The company says its microfibre picks up 96 per cent more bacteria than conventional mops and lasts up to 10 times longer.

There are specific mops for various applications. For example the Unger SpillMop picks up and holds up to one litre of liquid,

Duo Face is the latest mop developed by Hilados Biete under its Ressol brand. For simple cleaning of floors, vertical surfaces, stairs and skirting boards, both sides can be used.

Dust, turn and wash, then wash, turn and dry.

One side is made of microfibre chenille which attracts dust and dirt, while the other is slightly rougher in its construction. www.hiladosbiete.com

making it suitable for areas where spillages are likely. And the Unger DampMop is designed to clean smooth floors with minimum water. www.ungerglobal.com

Cleaning Technology · Municipal Technology

company. They are individually packaged and laundered.

The TruCLEAN Antimicrobial Mop has an added antimicrobial agent permanently bonded within the fibres that works to capture and retain allergens.

Perfex’s stainless steel frame - featuring a quick squeegee release and frame-locking mechanism - is compatible with all its mops. www.perfexonline.com • Pour les chambres blanches, Perfex a mis au point la tête d’épongeage à éponge TruCLEAN que l’on peut employer pour appliquer des désinfectants.

• Le système SmartColor SmartMop d’Unger est conçu pour le nettoyage hygiénique.

• Hilados Biete a lancé la tête d’épongeage à microfibre Duo Face sous sa marque Ressol.

• Für Reinräume hat Perfex den TruCLEAN-Schwammmopp entwickelt, mit dem Desinfektionsmittel aufgetragen werden können.

• Das Unger SmartColor SmartMopSystem wurde im Hinblick auf hygienische Reinigung konzipiert.

• Hilados Biete hat unter seiner Marke Ressol den Mikrofasermopp Duo Face vorgestellt.

Hako-AntiBac® Hygiene-sensitive areas require the highest standards in terms of immaculately cleaned floors. Hako meets this demand: with the fungal & bacteria growth-inhibiting Hako-AntiBac® feature for the solution & recovery tanks* of the Scrubmaster models B30, B45, B70 and B90.

Cleanliness without compromise.

15 - 0 3 5 3 - I R - A n t i b a c - S C M B 4 5 - J P - E N

• La Perfex ha sviluppato il mop TruCLEAN Sponge per le camere bianche che può essere usato per applicare i disinfettanti.

• Il sistema Unger SmartColor SmartMop è stato progettato per la pulizia igienica.

• La Hilados Biete ha lanciato il mop in microfibra Duo Face con il suo marchio Ressol.

Don’t Like Bacteria.

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Scrubmaster B30

Scrubmaster B45

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Scrubmaster B70

Scrubmaster B90 CL

For further information, visit us at www.hako.com/antibac_EN Hako GmbH · Head office · Hamburger Str. 209-239 · 23843 Bad Oldesloe · Germany Phone +49 (0) 45 31- 806 0 · info@hako.com · www.hako.com

September 2016 | ECJ | 47

MOPPING EQUIPMENT

• Les tampons les plus populaires de Locon sont les Tec3Mop et LC MIcrolett à fines boucles de coton.

• Hygienteknik expose l’Activa Flexi Move, son cadre de tampon réglable à portée plus étendue et mouvement sans cintrage lors du nettoyage sous meubles bas.

• Decitex affirme que la Spacer, sa tête semi-jetable de balayage humide, est capable d’absorber 600 fois son poids en eau.

• Die beliebtesten Mopps von Locon sind der Tec3Mop und LC MIcrolett, die mit kurzen Baumwollschleifen ausgestattet sind.

• Hygienteknik berichtet, dass die groessere Reichweite seines einstellbaren Moppstiels Aktiva Flexi Move es erlaubt, leicht unter niedrigen Moebeln ohne Beugen zu reinigen.

• Decitex teilt mit, dass der SemiEinweg-Mopp Spacer das bis zu 600-Fache seines eigenen Gewichts in Wasser absorbieren kann.

• I mop più popolari della Locon sono Tec3Mop e LC Microlett in cotone a frangia corta.

• La Hygienteknik afferma che la sua struttura regolabile per mop Activa Flexi Move raggiunge angoli più distanti rendendo possibile pulire sotto i mobili più bassi senza bisogno di piegarsi.

• La Decitex afferma che il suo mop semi-monouso è in grado di assorbire acqua fino a 600 volte il proprio peso.

September 2016 | ECJ | 48

Cotton loops

Locon says its bestselling mops are the Tec3Mop and LC Microlett. The short cotton loops at the bottom of both these mops collect dirt effectively, even larger particles says the company.

Thanks to the viscose and polyester fibre combination they can be used on all floors and as needed - wet, damp or dry. The base material is Super Loop, which is manufactured using a 3D weaving process and has a low shrinking ratio. www.locon.dk

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Adjustable frame The adjustable mop frame Activa Flexi Move, says Hygienteknik, reaches further than other mops and makes it easy to clean under low furniture without bending the back. It is also designed to be simple to adjust, easy to reset and no accessories are required.

The company developed the Activa JustOnce disposable mop for damp cleaning, and there is now also a version for wet cleaning. A new mop is used for each area and no washing is needed, saving on time and chemicals.

The mops are designed for use on a trolley equipped with Hygienteknik’s Activa Control System. This allows the operator to prepare the mop for use, directly on the cleaning trolley saving time and reducing water and chemical consumption. The disposable mop is placed over the spray nozzles in the spray box and the spray button is pushed to moisten it evenly. www.hygienteknik.se

Spacer mop Made from a combination of microfibre and monofilaments, the Spacer semi-disposable mop from Decitex is said to be able to absorb 600 times its own weight of water.

It is designed to be discarded after 50 washes and aimed at any environment with limited washing facilities. The material is thinner than that of traditional microfibre mop heads. www.dreumex.com

AMBULANCE CLEANING

Room for improvement Paul Harleman, business development manager Benefrance at Vileda Professional writes exclusively for ECJ about the cleaning and disinfection issues ambulance services are facing. He looks at how they organise the cleaning process today and makes suggestions as to how they can improve.

Some time ago ECJ published news about a leading Dutch ambulance service in Amsterdam that had been given a final warning by the nation’s healthcare inspectorate because of their poor cleaning regimes and poor cleaning equipment.

That is pretty serious I would say. The thing is, it is probably not a unique case.

For instance, an investigation by the trade union UNISON found large variations in cleaning practices at ambulance trusts in the UK. And for sure there are other ambulance services in Europe with plenty of room to improve.

This article is about the cleaning and disinfection issues ambulance services are facing, how they organise the cleaning process today and suggestions as to how they could improve.

From car to high tech vehicle The first known hospital base ambulance service dates from 1865 and was situated in Cincinnati (USA). In those days an ambulance was nothing more than a carriage drawn by horses. At the beginning of the 19th century car ambulances arrived on the scene. It was more or less a normal station wagon with very limited medical equipment. Today technology has created high tech ambulance cars fully

equipped with the latest medical instruments. And it is not only cars anymore, but also ambulance services with helicopters, motor cycles, bikes and boats.

There are basically three types of ambulances: emergency ambulance, transport ambulance and the rapid responder. The first two carry patients, the third does not.

A rapid responder can be a small car or a motorbike. It provides elementary first aid at the accident scene.

Although the trend is to build ambulance interiors that are easy to clean, the actual interiors are still a nightmare from a cleaning point of view. The ‘ambulance world’ is moving on, which will have consequences for cleaning as well. More and more advanced equipment, ‘patient friendly’ interior design and higher demands on cleaning and disinfection will have an impact on cleaning requirements.

Do it, feel it, know it.

To be able to develop a concept for ambulance cleaning it is very important to start with the cleaning experience yourself. So at Vileda we contacted an ambulance service and cleaned ambulances ourselves. Together with the employees of the ambulance service. “Do it, feel it, know it”, that’s my motto. Talk and walk with the ones that normally do the job. That is often the most effective way to learn and to understand. And indeed it was. We discovered many interesting things that could be improved. And the ambulance service personnel became more and more enthusiastic during the project. Now, let’s zoom in on the issues we found and the solutions we developed.

What makes it a challenge?

First of all, a typical situation is that the driver and the paramedic have to clean the ambulance. They are not trained professional cleaners. They also can have a motivation issue because drivers and paramedics consider it not to be a part of their job, but an unavoidable “must do”. Exactly the same situation you can observe with operation theatre assistants

that sometimes have to clean in between surgeries. “We did not study for years to do the cleaning after an operation” is what I regularly hear from them.

Once you go in the ambulance there is the stretcher, one or two chairs, closets, a computer and several sets of medical equipment. It is a small room with many objects. All together a landscape full of edges, ridges, difficult-to-reach areas and many dirt traps. Typical dirt on the floor is of course street dirt. You would also expect blood contamination but that is rarely the case. The bleeding has been stopped on the scene of the accident. However, what can happen is heavily traumatised patients throw up. Last but not least you have to realise that especially ‘in-between cleaning’ of an ambulance can have a time limitation. Ambulances don’t wait until the cleaning is finished when there is an emergency call. They turn on the lights and are instantly on the move.

Cleaning concept Once you know the critical points a cleaning concept can be developed. What to clean and disinfect after every trip and what to do periodically. How to do it and what tools are needed to do it. Cleaning equipment, chemicals, machines, hygiene protocols - everything should be included in the concept.

In general a summary of the guidelines to clean an ambulance are: • Don’t use a whole range of chemicals.

Reduce it to a set that is really needed.

• Use as little detergent as possible.

Plain water and a 100 per cent microfibre cloth is in many cases good enough.

• If you have to use a detergent, take care to dose correctly. Overdosing can cause smears and biofilms.

• Only disinfect when necessary. An Infection prevention expert can help to make protocols.

• Use microfibre cleaning mops and cloths, preferably disposable.

• Use a cleaning trolley. It is better to have all the materials you need on a trolContinued page 50

September 2016 | ECJ |49

AMBULANCE CLEANING Room for improvement (continued) ley and take them to the ambulance than walking back and forth between the ambulance and the storage room where cleaning equipment is kept.

• Take care that all the touch points are cleaned and, if necessary, disinfected.

Don’t forget the driver’s cabin and the hand grips on the outside of the vehicle.

• Put clean sheets and blankets on the stretcher after the ambulance is cleaned.

An ‘open door’, but we saw the opposite as well. Often a matter of habits.

• Always check if a patient is contaminated with a contagious virus or bacteria that can be harmful. Like MRSA or Clostridium difficile. If it is known, follow the protocol.

• Take care that the people who clean the ambulance are trained and give them refreshment trainings periodically. vileda-professional.com Dans un article exclusif pour ECJ, Paul Harleman, cadre chez Vileda Professional, évoque les problèmes de nettoyage et de désinfection rencontrés par les services d’ambulance. Contemplant leurs méthodes d’organisation actuelles, il formule des suggestions sur les moyens de les améliorer.

September 2016 | ECJ | 50

Paul Harleman (Vileda Professional) schreibt exklusiv für das ECJ über die Reinigungsund Desinfektionsprobleme, mit denen sich Ambulanzdienste konfrontiert sehen. Er betrachtet, wie das Reinigungsverfahren gegenwärtig organisiert ist und macht Verbesserungsvorschläge.

Nel suo articolo esclusivo per ECJ, Paul Harleman della Vileda Professional parla dei problemi di pulizia e disinfezione che i servizi di ambulanze devono affrontare. Prende inoltre in esame come vengono organizzati i procedimenti di pulizia di questi tempi e dà suggerimenti su come possono essere migliorati.

BUSINESS: BREXIT

Journey into the unknown...

For better or for worse – or, more pertinently perhaps, for richer or poorer – the Brits have defied their leaders’ dire warnings and given the EU the ‘big E’, writes Hartley Milner.

The Brexit vote, though not wholly unexpected, sent a shockwave through the world’s financial markets. But the doomsayers warn this was merely a ripple in the pond compared to the tsunami that will hit the UK’s shores after the Article 50 mechanism for leaving the union is triggered, probably before next year.

But are they right? The truth is no one really knows – it all rests on the trade deal David Davis, secretary of state for leaving the EU, comes away with from negotiations with the bloc in the run-up to the formal exit in two years from now.

That and how successful a solo Britain would be in striking trade agreements with countries beyond the EU, including more than 50 that have strong trading links with the union.

Davis, a long-time Eurosceptic, has said the “ideal outcome” for negotiations is continued free-tariff access to Europe.

However, he has also written: “Leaving the EU gives us back control of our trade policy. We can do deals with our trading partners, and we can do them quickly.

“I would expect the new prime minister to trigger a large round of global trade deals with all our most favoured trade partners. I would expect the negotiation phase of most of them to be concluded within between 12 and 24 months.”

To maintain access to the single market (European Economic Area), the UK will need to negotiate an agreement that in some ways may not be so different from the one it has with the EU now. The deal could include terms that will not deliver all the promises made by the leave lobby during the referendum campaign, notably limiting free movement between borders.

Individual deals As a member of the EU, Britain is included in the 22 trade deals the union has negotiated with individual countries, and five multilateral agreements covering multiple countries. This means that if the UK wants to retain preferential access to the markets of the 52 countries covered by these agreements, it would need to renegotiate trade deals with all of them.

Britain is a large market, so there is a clear incentive for other countries to negotiate a deal. The BDI, the German industry association, has said that creating trade barriers would be “very, very foolish”.

Non-EU countries have agreements with the bloc that could provide a base model for a UK agreement.

Norway. Model: Membership of European Economic Area (EEA), full access to single market, obliged to make a financial contribution and accept majority of EU laws, free movement as at present.

Norway is a member of the EEA, along with the 28 current EU members, Liechtenstein and Iceland. In return for access to the single market, it pays a contribution to the EU budget and has to sign up to all the rules of the club, including its common regulations and standards.

People from across the union are free to live and work in Norway too, but the country is exempt from EU rules on agriculture, fisheries, justice and home affairs. The downside for Norway is that it has no say over how the rules of the single market are created.

Ireland’s finance minister, Michael Noonan, has said the UK is unlikely to secure full access to the single market unless it continues to allow free movement of labour.

Switzerland. Model: Membership of the European Free Trade Association but not the EEA, access to EU market governed by series of bilateral agreements, covers some but not all areas of trade, also makes a financial contribution but smaller than Norway’s, doesn’t have a general duty to apply EU laws but does have to implement some of its regulations to enable trade, free movement applies.

Switzerland has a free trade deal with the EU and a number of agreements that give it access to the single market for most of its industries. But it does not have full access to the single market for its banking sector and other parts of the services sector, which together make up almost 80 per cent of the UK economy. Its agreement also requires the free movement of people.

The Swiss voted against joining the EEA in December 1992. Instead the country, which sells more than 50 per cent of its exports to the EU, has agreed more than 120 bilateral agreements with Brussels, designed to secure Swiss access to Europe’s markets.

Switzerland contributes billions of dollars to EU projects. Its bilateral deals are now in danger of unravelling over the question of free movement of people, after a referendum two years ago went in favour of restricting the number of workers arriving from the EU. Turkey. Model: Customs union with the EU, meaning no tariffs or quotas on industrial goods exported to EU countries, has to apply union’s external tariff on goods imported from outside the EU. Turkey is not part of the EEA or the European Free Trade Association. but does – like tiny Andorra and San Marino – have a customs union with the EU. This means it faces no tariffs (taxes or duties on imports and exports) or quotas on industrial goods it sends to EU countries.

The customs union does not apply to agricultural goods, or services.

Tariff-free trade deal Turkey also has no say on the tariffs it has to impose on goods it imports from non-EU countries, as it has to apply the EU’s common external tariff to those goods (and is not involved in setting it).

The UK’s current tariff-free, unrestricted trade deal with the EU would remain in place for at least the first two years of negotiations. No non-EU countries have negotiated tariff-free unrestricted trade with the union without contributing to its budget and allowing unlimited EU migration.

Canada. Model: Currently negotiating CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement), gets rid of most tariffs on goods but excludes some food items and services and stipulates need to prove where goods are made.

CETA gives Canada preferential access to the EU single market without all the obligations that Norway and Switzerland face, eliminating most trade tariffs.

However, some ‘sensitive’ food items, including eggs and chicken, are not covered by it.

Canadian exporters will have to prove that their goods are entirely made in Canada, which imposes extra costs, to prevent imports entering the EU through a back door. The services sector is only partially covered by CETA. Crucially, a CETA-type deal would not give UK financial services the EU market access that they have now. It would Continued page 54

September 2016 | ECJ | 53

BUSINESS: BREXIT Journey into the unknown.... (continued) be hard for London-based banks to get passporting rights for their services in the EU – rights that they value hugely now.

It would also mean firms that export to the EU would have to comply with EU product standards and technical requirements without having any say in setting them. And critics of such a plan point out that the UK has a complex web of ties to the EU – many more than Canada.

Singapore/Hong Kong. No import or export tariffs at all – a unilateral free trade approach.

Some advocates of Brexit have said the UK should adopt a unilateral free trade policy, dropping all tariffs and relying on the World Trade Organisation’s framework.

For example, Hong Kong’s free trade policy means the Chinese special administrative region maintains no barriers Pour le meilleur ou pour le pire, ou peut-être pour l’enrichissement ou l’appauvrissement, les Britanniques ont défié les sombres avertissements de leurs dirigeants et opté pour sortir de l’Union européenne. Quelles seront les conséquences du Brexit ? se demande Hartley Milner, d’ECJ. 904

September 2016 | ECJ | 54

on trade. The Hong Kong government says it does not charge tariff on importation or exportation of goods. Import and export licensing is also kept to a minimum.

Negative effect This approach may have some appeal to Brexiteers, whose ideology favours no trade restrictions. It would be likely to gather less support from disaffected Labour voters and left-wing critics of the EU in Britain.

No tariffs of any kind could have a strongly negative effect on the UK’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors, as importing goods such as food and steel would in many cases be cheaper than producing them in the UK. Default World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. WTO rules for international trade apply to all – no free movement between borders or financial contribution Auf Gedeih und Verderb – oder vielleicht wäre es angemessener von reicher oder ärmer zu reden – die britische Bevölkerung hat den düsteren Warnungen der Politikern zum Trotz für ein Verlassen der Europäischen Union gestimmt. Wie sehen die Konsequenzen des Brexit aus, fragt ECJKorrespondent Hartley Milner.

and no obligation to apply EU laws, although traded goods would still have to meet EU standards, some tariffs would be in place on trade with the union and trade in services would be restricted If talks with the EU and others do not reach a deal before Brexit takes effect, trade regulations would default to the WTO rules. The UK and EU would be obliged to apply to each other the tariffs and other trade restrictions they apply to the rest of the world. That is because the WTO rules allow countries to discriminate in favour of a trade partner only in a limited number of circumstances, including a full bilateral trade deal.

Whether the UK seeks an agreement based on one of the above, or a very different model, what is certain is that there are some extremely tough talks ahead.

Nel bene o nel male, o molto più attinente forse, in ricchezza o in povertà, i britannici hanno sfidato gli avvertimenti dei loro leader e hanno optato per votare per l’uscita dall’Unione Europea. Quale saranno le consequenze del Brexit, chiede Hartley Milner di ECJ?.

CARPET CARE

Extend your carpets’ life Replacing carpet is a costly proposition and in these challenging times extending its life through comprehensive cleaning and maintenance can result in significant savings.

David Grossmann, president of service provider Renue Systems looks at the role of preventative measures, vacuuming, spot & spill removal, and periodic deep cleaning.

in winter months. Complement outdoor ‘scraper’ mats with well-positioned natural or grass mats immediately inside the entrance to absorb moisture and small dirt particles. These water-absorbent indoor mats also will help remove oil and other liquids. Lastly, a fibre mat placed deeper into the property traps some of the remaining soil and moisture before they come into contact with the hard floor.

In addition to the type and placement of the mats, consideration should be given to their length. According to the American Institute of Architects, 1.5 metres of matting captures 33 per cent of external soil entering a venue, three metres captures 52 per cent, six metres captures 86 per cent and eight metres captures nearly all the soil.

Replacing your carpeting is indeed a very costly proposition, which can easily be a high six-figure or even seven-figure line item when the material and labour costs are involved. In the past carpets, curtains and upholstery were typically replaced every five years, but in these challenging economic times stretching the life of your soft assets even for a year can result in significant savings. Based on our 25 years of experience servicing thousands of hotels, we offer several suggestions, many of which have been endorsed by leading industry expert organisations such as the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) and the Carpet and Rug Institute as well as carpet manufacturers.

A comprehensive maintenance programme consists of the following four key points that not only prolongs the carpet asset but also increases its attractiveness: 1. Preventive measures – use a threepronged matting programme to significantly prevent wear and tear on carpets.

To begin, mats placed outside entrances prevent dirt from entering or spreading throughout the property. Outside mats should have a coarse texture to prevent large pieces of soil. Careful usage of these entranceway mats can help, especially

Clean mats regularly Once they are filled to capacity with dirt and debris mats become counterproductive. Thus mats should be cleaned regularly to maintain maximum effectiveness. This can be done by vacuuming, laundering and replacing them at various times and by having extra mats available when one set is being cleaned.

2. Vacuuming – past studies have shown that 85 per cent of the soil tracked into a building is dry, and the other 15 per cent is oily. Vacuums are designed to remove dry soil. The more traffic a carpet receives the more it allows soil particles to work their way down into the carpet pile, where they are more difficult to remove.

Frequent vacuuming removes these soil particles from the surface before this happens. Vacuum daily to three times per week, traffic dependent, to remove dry soil. Be sure to use a (CRI) Green Label Approved vacuum and operate according to the manufacturer’s specifications. The specific model depends on factors such as the carpet’s material and contours, the way the carpet was attached to the underlying hard surface and the dimensions of the surface.

3. Spot and spill removal – act quickly by treating as soon as possible. The long-

er the contaminant sits, the more difficult it is to eliminate and the more likely it is to become a permanent stain. Be sure to blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or white, non-print, paper towel and be careful not to scrub the area since the latter can lead to pile distortion. Semi-solids should be gently scraped with a rounded spoon, and solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed. It’s also important to pre-test a small inconspicuous area to ensure the carpet’s fibre is not damaged and work your way in from the spill’s perimeter, so as to minimise spreading. Since some actions can cause permanent damage be sure the manufacturer’s recommendations are followed or call in an expert to assist.

Ever wonder why stains return almost immediately after eradicating them?

When a carpet dries, it does so from the bottom up. Even after the stain is removed, there can still be residual staining below the surface waiting to ‘wick’ back to the surface during the drying process.

Aiming an air-mover or carpet fan directly at the stain can reverse the drying process downwards.

4. Restorative cleaning – schedule periodic deep cleaning to remove residues and trapped soil. To improve the aesthetics of the property, increase the longevity of the carpet and minimise cleaning costs, deep cleaning should be performed before the soil is highly visible. Carpet manufacturer Shaw Industries recommends deep cleaning anywhere from one to 12 times per year, depending on the amount of traffic on the surface.

Also of importance – especially in restaurants and other venues with food – is the need to address the accumulation of FOGs (fats, oils and grease). They require stronger techniques than vacuuming.

There are several different types of restorative cleaning ranging from hot-water extraction to low-moisture methodologies. While the former produces better results, cleaning without water – using Continued page 58

September 2016 | ECJ |57

CARPET CARE Extend your carpets’ life (continued) an encapsulation or bonnet technique – sometimes can be used when a four to six hour dry time is not practical.

Regardless of methodology used, the most critical step is identifying low, medium and high traffic areas so frequency can best be balanced with limited staff time and equipment. It is prudent to consult the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding the specific frequency within the common range of one to12 times per year.

While curtains and upholstery represent smaller budget items than carpeting, substantial money can still be saved. Following these several simple tips will also help maintain curtains’ appearance: • Vacuum twice a year using a soft brush attachment. This can be done while the curtains are hanging to enable the room

to be used immediately after cleaning and reduce any take-down and re-installation labour cost.

• Sheers can be laundered in a washing machine and spin cycle, but be careful not to dry them. Re-hang them while still damp to avoid wrinkling.

Comme le remplacement d’une moquette est une opération coûteuse, l’allongement de sa vie utile au moyen d’un programme complet de nettoyage et d’entretien peut aboutir à des économies considérables, particulièrement par les temps difficiles du moment. Dans ce contexte, ECJ examine le rôle des mesures de prévention, du passage à l’aspirateur, du détachage et du nettoyage périodique en profondeur.

Das Ersetzen von Teppichflächen ist eine kostspielige Angelegenheit, und in den gegenwärtig schwierigen Zeiten kann die Verlängerung seines Lebens durch eine gründliche Reinigung und Instandhaltung zu erheblichen Einsparungen führen.

Das ECJ betrachtet die Rolle von vorbeugenden Maßnahmen, Staubsaugen, Entfernen von Flecken und verschütteten Flüssigkeiten sowie regelmäßiger Grundreinigung.

September 2016 | ECJ | 58

Steam cleaning • Curtains and blackouts should be professionally steam cleaned once a year. The frequency should be increased for smoking rooms and those that have kitchens for long-term stay guests.

• Attach a rod to the curtains so guests can open and close them without putting their hands on the material.

For upholstery we recommend: • Sofas should be thoroughly vacuumed on a weekly basis and professionally

steam cleaned once or twice per year.

• If possible, rotate cushions to avoid uneven crushing.

• Spot clean sofa arms since they come into contact with guests’ hands and cushion tops which touch people’s heads.

• Have a place for people to hang wet bathing suits so they are less prone to be placed on upholstery.

• Apply a fibre sealant to new material in order to reduce the likelihood of permanent staining.

While it may appear overwhelming, once this four-step maintenance plan is put into place, it is simply a matter of working it, occasionally revising it and then enjoying the impressive aesthetic as well as financial results. www.renuesystems.com Sostituire la moquette è una proposta onerosa e in questi periodi difficili estenderne la vita con la pulizia a fondo e la manutenzione periodica può avere come risultato enormi risparmi. ECJ esamina il ruolo delle misure preventive, pulizia a estrazione, rimozione di macchie e rovesciamento di sostanze, e la pulizia a fondo periodica.

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CARPET CARE Vacs for 2017 From September 2017 new EU legislation will take effect and dry vacuum cleaners must have reduced power consumption.

With that in mind Columbus has developed the ST7, ST11 and ST11 pro. The ST 7 and the ST 11 are both certified with a B energy label, while the ST 11 pro goes further by having an A energy label.

The new models have a nominal power of 720 watts while the improved air flow of the new suction nozzle and better material quality of the suction hose guarantee optimum vacuum power despite the reduced energy consumption.

The power cords of all models can be easily replaced, while the regular version of the ST 11 Pro is equipped with an integrated socket and can be upgraded with an optional electrical vacuum brush.

The ST 11 pro has a 2.5-metre suction hose and 15-metre power cable - all vacuums have up to four filtration stages and HEPA filter versions. The fourlayer Bioneem fleece bag offers allergy sufferers protection against dust mite droppings. www.columbus-clean.com

Portable units

Prochem has upgraded its Endeavor range of extraction machines to effectively deliver small truck-mount performance in portable models, with the flexibility to reduce solution pressure for smaller jobs and upholstery cleaning.

The Endeavor 500 features an induction motor-driven Cat

Pump, fully pressure-adjustable with gauged control from 50 to 500 psi. Its single, low-noise Lamb vacuum motor boasts superior air movement and it also incorporates a modified version of Prochem’s Heat-and-Run in-line stainless steel heat exchanger, giving heat up to 60°.

Other features include rear-mounted wheels for easy van loading, top-mounted controls and front-mounted wand storage. www.prochem.co.uk

All-in-one

Restorative

In the process of restorative carpet cleaning, Legend Brands Europe says the most critical step is prespraying high traffic areas as well as any spots and stains, then agitating the product into the carpet. The company offers a range of Chemspec cleaning products that break the bond between soils and carpet fibres for easy removal.

Next is extraction and the company’s Versaclean machines boast superior heat and vacuuming, long-life service and ease of use. Other features include easy transport, built-in cord wrap plus hose and wand caddy. www.legendbrandseurope.com

Next edition of ECJ - October

Separate tanks HOST’s carpet cleaning system is designed to first vacuum away dry soil then dissolve and remove sticky soil. And carpets are clean and dry immediately it says.

There are two machines for the European market. The Freestyle incorporates a removable vacuum pod and detachable base unit and - because of its manoeuvrability - is suitable for difficult-to-reach and large open areas. And the Liberator is designed for deep cleaning in large areas, boasting greater dry soil removal than conventional vacuums and superior removal of HOST dry carpet cleaner.

Both are used to vacuum and pile lift the carpet, before the application of HOST cleaner - the integral brushing action allows it to break up and trap any remaining sticky soil. Finally, the area is vacuumed. www.hostvonschrader.co.uk

The SE 7 spray extraction cleaner from Sprintus features a separate anti-foaming tank.

With four bar spraying pressure and 230 mbar suction pressure, it is designed to clean quickly and thoroughly.

The spray function can be turned on or off with the valve close to the handle. Fluid levels of both the 6.5-litre freshand wastewater tanks can be checked at any time through the transparent lid - both tanks are separately removable.

An integrated container allows the use of anti-foaming agent while the clear nozzle allows the operator to view the surface being cleaned. sprintus.eu

• Les nouveaux aspirateurs ST 7, ST 11 et ST11 Pro de Columbus sont conformes à la prochaine étape de la législation environnementale de l’UE. • Appareil portable, la nouvelle version du nettoyeur de moquettes Endeavor proposé par Prochem donne la performance d’une machine auto-portée.

• Host propose les machines de nettoyage de moquettes Freestyle et Liberator, pour des opérations à sec.

• Legend Brands Europe propose des équipements et produits chimiques pour le nettoyage de restauration de tapis et moquettes.

• La SE 7 est une machine à injection-extraction proposée par Sprintus et dotée d’un réservoir anti-moussant.

• Die neuen Staubsauger ST 7, ST 11 und ST11 Pro von Columbus entsprechen der nächsten Stufe der EU-Umweltgesetzgebung.

• Die neue Version der Teppichreinigungsmaschine Endeavor von Prochem bietet die Leistungsfähigkeit einer kleinen fahrzeugmontierten Maschine in einem tragbaren Modell.

• Host bietet die Teppichreinigungsmaschinen Freestyle und Liberator zur Trockenreinigung.

• Legend Brands Europe bietet Geräte und Chemikalien zur wiederherstellenden Reinigung von Teppichflächen.

• Beim SE 7 von Sprintus handelt es sich um ein Sprüh-Extraktionsgerät mit Entschäumertank.

• I nuovi aspirapolvere ST 7, ST 11 e ST11 Pro della Columbus sono conformi alla fase successiva della legislazione ambientale dell’UE. • La nuova versione della macchina lavamoquette Endeavor della Prochem vanta le prestazioni di una macchina di piccole dimensioni montata su automezzo in un modello mobile.

• Host propone le macchine per la pulizia a secco della moquette Freestyle e Liberator.

• La Legend Brands Europe propone attrezzature e prodotti chimici per la pulizia rigenerativa.

• SE 7 è una macchina lavamoquette spray a estrazione prodotta dalla Sprintus dotata di una tanica antischiuma.

September 2016 | ECJ | 61

CARPET CARE Greener clean The WoolSafe Organisation has teamed up with Enco Global Testing Services (EGTS) to develop an environmental testing protocol and certification standard for carpet (and upholstery) cleaning detergents specifically for the European market.

The Enco Environmental Standards, EGTS 1502 (for liquid formulations) and 1503 (for dry compound formulations) incorporate the latest European cleaning

tion once they have been tested and approved to the WoolSafe Standard (WS 1001). This ensures the product meets best industry practice of colour protection, low re-soil, high performance and safety. www.enviroseal.eu chemical formulation practices and legislation. Several products have now met all the requirements and carry the EnviroSeal certification mark.

Cleaning solutions can be submitted for environmental evalua-

Toughest jobs The Hydromist 55 spray extractor from Truvox International is designed for cleaning large carpeted areas. The 55/400 version

operates at 400 psi (27.6 bar) for the toughest jobs, while the 55/100 tackles average soiling at 100 psi (6.8 bar).

Both have a 55-litre solution tank and twin 1200W vacuum motors, as well as wands and upholstery tools.

For deep cleaning, CimexEncap is a low-moisture process applied by the triple-head Cimex Cylcone carpet scrubbing machine. This can clean up to 300 square metres per hour in a single pass, says Truvox, and the solution is easily removed by vacuuming. www.truvox.com

• L’organisation Woolsafe a introduit une norme de certification européenne pour les détergents destinés au nettoyage de moquettes et garnissages.

• Truvox International aligne l’Hydromist, une machine à injection-extraction pour grandes surfaces moquettées.

• Die Woolsafe Organisation hat eine europäische Zertifizierungsnorm für Reinigungsprodukte für Teppiche, Teppichböden und Polstermöbel entwickelt.

• Das Sprüh-Extraktionsgerät Hydromist von Truvox International wurde für große Teppichflächen konzipiert.

• La Woolsafe Organisation ha sviluppato una norma europea riguardante i detergenti per moquette e stoffe d’arredamento.

• L’estrattore spray Hydromist prodotto dalla Truvox International è progettato per la pulizia di aree di vasta dimensione.

September 2016 | ECJ | 62

CARPET CARE

Minimum prep Numatic says its CleanTec Hi-Lo 15 carpet machine has been designed for quick and effective cleaning with the minimum of preparation and effort.

The company has incorporated its TwinFlo carpet vacuum extraction system with its dual, deep clean PowerFlo pump injection unit. This offers two performance levels.

The Hi-Lo system allows users to select Hi pressure (60 psi)

of the dirty water tank or integrated dump hose. www.numatic.co.uk

Quick change IPC’s new CT15 Roller walkbehind scrubber dryer can be turned into a carpet cleaner when equipped with the IPC carpet kit.

This transformation is possible, the company says, because the simple injection and extraction system, located near

the small pump underneath the body of the machine, pressurises water and sprinkles a detergent solution onto the carpet to be washed. The cylindrical brush removes spots and stains before the vacuum dries the carpet. www.ipcleaning.com

Cordless The new OrbiPro is an orbital cleaning tool from iVO Group designed for carpet cleaning on stairs and small areas. This

cordless machine can be used with a brush or microfibre bonnets, boasting faster cleaning times than conventional methods.

Distributor enquiries welcome. www.ivo-group.com

#CleanGREEN! ... for a cleaner and greener world

TriJet performance for heavily soiled areas and Lo pressure (30 psi) for lesser soiled areas.

There are also two separate emptying systems - full removal • Le CleanTec Hi-Lo 15, appareil de nettoyage de moquettes proposé par Numatic, a été conçu dans un souci d’effort minimum pour l’opérateur.

• L’autolaveuse accompagnée CT15 proposée par IPC peut être convertie en nettoyeur de moquettes en y ajoutant le kit IPC pour moquettes.

• L’OrbiPro est un outil de nettoyage sans cordon assurant le nettoyage de moquettes sur des escaliers ou petites surfaces.

• Die Teppichreinigungsmaschine CleanTec Hi-Lo 15 von Numatic wurde so konzipiert, dass ein minimaler Arbeitsaufwand erforderlich ist.

• Die handgeführte Scheuersaugmaschine CT15 Roller von IPC kann durch das Hinzufügen des IPC Teppich-Kits in einen Teppichreiniger umgewandelt werden.

• Beim OrbiPro handelt es sich um ein schnurloses Reinigungsgerät, das zur Reinigung von Teppichböden auf Treppen und in kleinen Bereichen geeignet ist.

• La macchina lavamoquette CleanTec Hi-Lo 15 della Numatic è stata progettata per essere utilizzata con il minimo sforzo.

• La lavasciuga pavimenti con operatore al seguito CT15 Roller prodotta dalla IPC può essere convertita in lavamoquette aggiungendo il kit per moquette IPC. • OrbiPro è uno strumento di pulizia cordless adatto per la pulizia delle scale e di aree di piccole dimensioni.

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September 2016 | ECJ | 63

CARPET CARE

Rotating head Kärcher’s latest carpet care development is the BRC 40/22 C machine for deep and intermediate cleaning. The head, which can rotate 200° to both sides, makes the machine highly manoeuvrable and reduces cleaning time by up to 30 per cent the company says.

Intuitive and ergonomic operation were key considerations in the design of the machine.

There is a simple rotary switch for setting the operating mode, changing of the roller brush and squeegees without tools, a separate cable guide and heightadjustable handlebars are some of the features.

When used for deep carpet cleaning an agent such as Kärcher’s CarpetPro RM 764 is used area performance in this mode is 350 square metres per hour. And the BRC 40/22 C can also be used for intermediate cleaning, using CarpetPro Cleaner RM 768 with patented Kärcher iCapsol technology for dirt encapsulation. No vacuuming is necessary and area performance is up to 1,000 square metres per hour. www.karcher.com

Three stages The Tapi system from Diversey Care is a three-stage maintenance programme for carpets.

For daily cleaning, dust vacuuming and spot removal there is the upright vacuum cleaner TASKI jet 38/50 which can be used in conjunction with Tapi Spotex 1 for removal of mineral oil and grease stains. For tannin and coloured stains there is Tapi Spotex 2, and Tapi Gum for chewing gum.

For intermediate cleaning the dry foam shampoo system allows areas to be opened again very quickly. With the TASKI procarpet 30/45 encapsulation cleaning can be carried out using

Tapi Shampoo.

Finally, for deep extraction cleaning there is the TASKI procarpet 30/45 used in conjunction with Tapi Extract. www.taski.com

Large areas For very large areas of carpet - such as hotels, cinemas and theatres - Santoemma has developed the Elite-Battery machine. Because it has no power cord it can be used in public areas and it also boasts a low noise level of 60 dBA. Brush and vacuum head pressure can be adjusted according to the type of carpet, while water flow can also be regulated for maintenance lowmoisture cleaning or restorative deep cleaning.

And if equipped with the optional Smartkit system the Elite-Battery can offer automatic chemical dosing, prespraying and rinsing. www.santoemma.com • La Kärcher BRC 40/22C assure des tâches de nettoyage de moquettes en profondeur et intermédiaire.

• Diversey Care propose le système Tapi, un programme en trois étapes pour le nettoyage quotidien, intermédiaire et en profondeur de moquettes.

• Dernière machine Santoemma pour le nettoyage de moquettes, l’Elite-Battery travaille sur de très grandes surfaces.

• Der Teppichreinigungsautomat BRC 40/22 C von Kärcher ist zur Grund- und Zwischenreinigung von Teppichflächen geeignet.

• Diversey Care bietet das TapiSystem – ein 3-Stufen-Programm zur täglichen, Zwischen- und Grundreinigung von Teppichen.

• Elite-Battery ist die neueste Teppichreinigungsmaschine von Santoemma, die für sehr große Flächen konzipiert wurde.

• La macchina per la pulizia della moquette BRC 40/22 C della Kärcher è progettatta per la pulizia a fondo e intermedia.

• La Diversey Care propone il sistema Tapi, un programma a tre fasi per la pulizia giornaliera, intermedia e a fondo della moquette.

• Elite-Battery è la nuova macchina per la pulizia della moquette progettata per aree molto estese prodotta dalla Santoemma.

September 2016 | ECJ | 65

CASE STUDY

Cleaning up in the air Cleaning – a job that doesn’t come with excitement and adrenaline? Well, think again, because the cleaners of Tokyo Skytree start their first day at work full of adrenaline. They are tasked with cleaning the windows of the second highest building in the world. Bobbie van der List met two of their cleaners to find out what drives them, and what it takes to do the job.

In the east part of Tokyo you will find one of Tokyo’s biggest tourist attractions: Tokyo Skytree. At a staggering 634 metres Skytree is the second highest tower worldwide, nearly 200 metres ‘shorter’ than Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. According to Skytree it was the plan from the beginning to make sure Skytree would be “the world’s tallest freestanding broadcasting tower”. After the construction of Skytree was finished in 2011, the Guinness World Records Company registered Skytree as the tallest freestanding broadcasting tower.

Although Skytree primarily functions as a television tower, the observation deck has been a huge tourist attraction over the past four years. From there visitors get to experience a 360 degrees view of the world’s largest metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 37 million people.

In order to give visitors this breathtaking view it is essential for Skytree to keep the windows, through which visitors see the city, perfectly clean. As such, the Skytree

cleaning team is of vital importance to keeping visitors satisfied.

Mochizuki Hideki is head of the cleaning team, and sits down on the 14th floor of Skytree to talk to ECJ. He explains: “I have always wanted to do this kind of work, I decided to do this job because of the heights”, he explains. The cleaning company he works for is specialised in cleaning the windows of high buildings and high constructions. He turns around – behind him a spectacular view of Tokyo: “I’m responsible for cleaning a few very famous high buildings here in Tokyo, unfortunately I can’t tell you which, because that is confidential.”

Getting used to heights Most people shy away from the idea of having to be on the other side of the window at such height, let alone having to do a demanding task such as cleaning extremely large windows. For Hideki it all started nearly three decades ago. “When I told my friends that I was going to clean high buildings they were all surprised. This

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CASE STUDY was even more so when I started to clean the windows of Skytree four years ago.

Up to this day people ask me: ‘Aren’t you scared?’ In all honesty I do remember the first day up there”, he recalls, while holding his finger up the air. “I was so scared, it felt like I was dying. Especially when you first look down, it’s frightening, but after a while you get used to it”, says Hideki.

At the beginning of each month Hideki and his co-workers clean the windows of Skytree. Usually it takes about a week to get the job done. Luckily for Hideki and his team Tokyo Skytree created a special rail alongside the windows, which goes sideways but can also move vertically. It

enables them to reach all the windows, without having to get out of the wagon that is attached to the rail. “Usually we work in teams consisting of three persons.

One person does the cleaning, while the other two cleaners are controlling the wagon and the surroundings of the wagon”, he explains.

Fear brings caution According to Hideki awareness of what is happening around the wagon is extremely important, because there are always looming threats when the cleaners are in their wagon. “The biggest risk of working in the wagon is that it might

bounce against the windows, so we have to be very careful not to collide. This is also why we never go outside if there is heavy wind or rain”, Hideki emphasises. For safety reasons all the cleaners wear a harness, which is attached to the wagon. “In the unlikely event that someone falls out, it would be like a bungee-jump, since we are safely attached to the wagon.” He starts laughing thinking of the idea of actually bungee-jumping from Tokyo Skytree.

His team is equipped with as few cleaning products as possible, to prevent the risk of equipment falling down. The cleaners are only geared with squeegees and soft-bristle brushes, to reduce the number of items that could potentially tumble down.

Ironically fear is what he describes as one of the crucial characteristics a cleaner should posses in order to clean the windows of a high building in a safe manner. Hideki explains: “Thinking about the height, or being scared of the height is important. If a cleaner is too comfortable with the height it can cause him or her to not consider the dangers, they can become reckless. Being scared makes you cautious of your environment.”

A view like no other Next to Hideki sits 23-year-old Uesake Chisato. She sits quietly and listens how the experienced Hideki explains what it takes to clean high buildings. She might come across as shy, but looks can deceive: in reality the young Chisato has nerves of steel. As opposed to many of her co-workers, she wasn’t scared when she stood inside the wagon to clean the windows on her first day at work. On the contrary: “I like the high position, the scenery from Tokyo Skytree is unlike any other, totally different, it’s the highest building in Tokyo.”

Her friends admire Chisato for her courage, whereas some others might have told her she is crazy to go up there and clean the windows. “At times my family is worried too, but like Hideki said, the wagon we are in is really safe”, Chisato says reassuringly.

Hideki, who is the more talkative of the two, takes over, when asked about the dirt they usually find. “It depends on the season. Usually it’s dust and dirt caused by the rain. But in the spring there is a lot of flower powder, it comes up here with the wind, and also a lot of yellow sand. In the summer there are many dead insects.

You know the noisy insects cicada, we find a lot of them on the top. Their bodies are all over the place.” And have you ever seen Continued page 68

September 2016 | ECJ | 67

CASE STUDY something you were surprised by? “Not here at Tokyo Skytree, but on skyscrapers generally I’m surprised by what I see.

Some people throw an entire lunch or soft drinks out of their window, making the windows very sticky.”

Besides the strange things they might come across on the windows, it is mostly the contact with the visitors that makes the work pleasant, both Chisato and Hideki agree. Perhaps it’s the single most social job there is: having to clean the very object people can see right through: a window.

“I don’t find it distracting if people wave to us from the other side of the glass, we wave back at them and they actually take selfies with us.” In a way one could argue that the actual cleaning of Skytree is a little show and performance in itself.

Le nettoyage - un emploi qui ne procure jamais des émotions fortes ? Pensez-y de nouveau, car les nettoyeurs de l’immeuble Skytree de Tokyo commencent leur journée chargés d’adrénaline. Ils ont à nettoyer les vitres du deuxième gratte-ciel du monde par la hauteur. Dans un article exclusif pour ECJ, Bobbie ven der List s’entretient avec eux pour savoir ce qui les anime et les qualités exigées porr ce travail.

September 2016 | ECJ | 68

No need to look down According to Skytree no one has ever quit the job because they couldn’t handle their nerves. However, there is always a threat that people who are looking for excitement and adrenaline want to work there. It is mostly thanks to a very strict hiring and selection procedure that the Japanese company is able to avoid employing risk-seekers, or people looking for some adventure outside of the tower.

On top of that, every cleaner has to go through strict safety training before they are even allowed to enter the wagon.

Having said that, in reality not that many people even dare to look down from the wagon, to the ground, nearly 600 metres down. For Hideki it is surprising how few cleaners actually dare to look down.

Reinigen – eine durch und durch langweilige Arbeit?

Falsch gedacht, denn das Reinigungspersonal des Tokyo Skytree beginnt den Arbeitstag mit einem vollen Adrenalinschub. Sie reinigen die Fenster des zweithöchsten Gebäudes der Welt. In einem exklusiv für das ECJ verfassten Artikel spricht Bobbie van der List mit dem Team, um mehr über die Motivation der Mitarbeiter zu erfahren, und was erforderlich ist, um diesen Job zu erledigen.

“Although you are high up in the air, not all of them look down, it’s not a necessity to do a good job.” Then he turns to Uesaka, who doesn’t seem to have any problem looking down. Some people were made to work on high altitude and clean at the same time.

For Hideki it is clear that Chisato is a talented cleaner, who will replace him when the time comes. Hideki explains: “I headhunted her for this position. She has a great sense for her surroundings, which is important for this job, especially when it comes to safety. But she also has a good sense for cleaning, she catches every spot,” he concludes – referring to the essential part of their job: keeping the windows clean so visitors can see the beautiful skyline of Tokyo.

Pulire – un lavoro che non prevede niente di entusiasmante? Ripensateci, perchè gli addetti alle pulizie del Tokyo Skytree iniziano la loro giornata lavorativa carichi di adrenalina. Puliscono le finestre del secondo edificio più alto al mondo. Bobbie van der List, nel suo articolo esclusivo per ECJ – intervista il team di pulizia per scoprire cosa li motiva e cosa serve per fare questo lavoro.

FLOOR PADS

Padding towards the future Every floorcare task has a colourcoded floor pad to match. But will this dazzling spectrum of products grow to feature even more pads in future, or will the market be rationalised to provide a more streamlined selection of multipurpose pads?

Floor pads quite literally cover a whole spectrum of products. There are black pads for stripping, green pads for scrubbing, red pads for buffing and many more colours and grades designed for specific tasks in between.

The colour coding of floor pads makes it easy for operatives to tell at a glance which pad needs to be used where. In some cases it could damage a floor if the wrong floor pad were used: an aggressive black pad might well scratch a delicate floor surface, for example. Sometimes the wrong product would simply prove ineffective, such as if a fine polishing pad were used in an attempt to remove sealants or black marks.

However it could be argued that the growing number of floor pads on the market is beginning to represent a potential source of confusion for the end user. Does this mean we have reached a ‘ceiling’ in terms of floor pad colours, grades and sizes? On the contrary says Americo Manufacturing’s director of marketing Cameron Harrison. She believes there is still plenty of room for more pads in an ever-growing sector.

“The cleaning industry as a whole is a fairly mature market, but when floor types change there is a need for new and specialised products,” she said. “The trend is moving towards pads with very specific applications rather than fewer products for general use.”

As an example she cites the recent introduction of melamine pads. “These have been designed to address the issue of shallow grout lines - something that has

been a challenge for years,” she said.

“Polished concrete is another example of a floor surface that requires specific solutions,” said Harrison. “We are encountering this floor type more frequently in today’s retail units, but polished concrete requires the use of speciality-specific diamond pads for cleaning, polishing, scrubbing, stripping, burnishing and restoration.” Diamond pads use billions of microscopic diamonds to produce a highly polished appearance.

Other recent innovations to the market include pads made from a heavy-duty turf material for use on grouting, says Harrison. “Turf pads are designed to provide a scrubbing action on uneven floors without the need for changing the brush driver blocks,” she said.

Industry drivers According to Harrison cost and sustainability are two important drivers for today’s floor pad industry. “With tight budget constraints, many cleaning professionals are turning to solutions that optimise performance and longevity while reducing the overall labour cost,” she said.

“They are also increasingly being asked to offer systems that are environmentally sustainable. With new technology and the use of recycled materials, Americo is now offering solutions that are more compatible with market demands.”

She says Americo has been manufacturing pads made from 100 per cent recycled PET plastic for well over a decade. In 2014 the company announced the launch of its Full Cycle technology which is said to allow floor pads to biodegrade much more rapidly in landfill than conventional pads.

Continuing market innovation will be necessary in future in line with the introduction of new types of flooring, according to Harrison. “Floor pads will continue to follow the shifts and demands of the market and there is likely to be a need for additional pads,” she said.

KGS marketing coordinator Sophie Artar agrees the number of specialist floor pads entering the market is likely to increase

rather than be reduced. “This is particularly the case with regard to applications such as the light renovation of natural stone and terrazzo,” she said.

She says one recent change in the market has been the introduction of new materials with which to make floor pads.

“For example, we at KGS no longer use diamonds for super abrasives – we now use Ferrzon+ instead,” she said. “This provides a better performance than diamonds and is also more durable and results in a higher gloss.”

Meanwhile pad manufacturer Bonastre is maintaining the status quo as far as products are concerned. The company’s philosophy is to make floor maintenance as simple as possible for the end user according to proprietor Victor Bonastre. “For this reason we have developed a universal range of pads that can be used on any stone floor and using any type of cleaning machinery,” he said.

Unlike other companies, Bonastre offers just three types of pad: a red pad for floors that are heavily soiled or scratched; a yellow pad for maintaining large shop floors in supermarkets and malls, and a green pad for customers who like their floors to have a high shine.

The floor pad market is driven by several competing pressures according to Wecovi’s marketing and sales director Derik Landman. “The floor pad industry follows developments in machines: for example, rectangular pads are required for oscillating machines,” he said. “Over the past two years there has also been a growth in demand for cleaning without the use of chemicals. This has resulted in chemical-free stripping pads and Twister pads becoming more popular.”

The demand for chemical-free cleaning is part of a wider focus on sustainability, says Landman. “Many facility management organisations have certain social conduct and sustainability standards which are often a requirement of governments and institutions,” he said. “ConseContinued page 71

September | ECJ | 69

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FLOOR PADS Padding towards the future (continued) quently all materials and methods need to contribute to these standards.”

The Americo material used to make the company’s Wecoline pads is produced using recycled fibres such as PET bottles combined with water-based resins, he says. “Since 2015 we have introduced an additive into the formulation that enables a used floor pad to biograde much more quickly in an active landfill,” says Landman.

The cost of cleaning is another constant pressure for the industry, he says. “We are improving formulations to increase the lifespan of pads,” he said. He adds new materials such as melamine and turf scrub are being used to manufacture floor pads for specific tasks.

According to Landman the cleaning market in general is fairly static. “This is unfortunate because with the use of new Où en est l’évolution des tampons pour machines de nettoyage ? Les fabricants ont-ils adopté des matériaux et procédés nouveaux pour les rendre plus efficaces et durables ? Verra-t-on l’adjonction de types et de coloris nouveaux à la gamme considérable des tampons existants ? Alternativement, la gamme sera-t-elle rationnalisée par l’introduction d’un plus grand nombre de tampons polyvalents ?

specialist pads, the industry could gain efficiencies,” he said. However, he feels that the number of types and colours of floor pad on the market is more likely to grow than be streamlined in the future.

“The latest floor pads to enter the market offer the huge benefit of an improved cleaning performance which is often combined with time or chemical savings,” he said. “Not only will there be more new colours in future, there will also be more pads manufactured using materials such as diamonds, melamine and turf which have all recently gained market share.”

However he predicts the focus on cost will shape the future of the pad industry.

“There will be increasing pressure to reduce the cost of cleaning, and consequently the cost of labour,” he said. “This implies there will be increasing opportunities for Welche Neuentwicklungen gibt es im Bereich der Bodenpads? Verwenden Hersteller neue Materialien und Verfahren, um sie effektiver und nachhaltiger zu machen? Werden dem bereits jetzt sehr umfangreichen Produktangebot weitere Typen und Farben hinzugefügt? Oder wird das Angebot rationalisiert und werden mehr Mehrzweckpads eingeführt?

machines and robots - and this in turn will provide more opportunities for floor pads.”

KGS marketing coordinator Sophie Artar agrees the floor pad sector will grow as the market continues to seek new possibilities. “There is an increasing acceptance of new, specialist pads on the market such as our new Flexis Ultra Fine product, for example,” she said.” Flexis Ultra Fine is a cream-coloured pad designed for wet and dry buffing.

And Americo’s Cameron Harrison predicts an increasing shift away from traditional, multipurpose products towards speciality-specific floor pads. “Since there are constant innovations in floor types, cleaning equipment and chemicals, it follows that floor pads will also continue to evolve in order to meet the needs of the industry,” she said.

Quali sono gli sviluppi più recenti nel settore dei dischi per i pavimenti? I produttori stanno utilizzando nuovi materiali e nuovi metodi per renderli più efficaci e sostenibili? Verranno aggiunti ancora altri tipi e colori alla vasta gamma di prodotti già presenti sul mercato?

Oppure la gamma verrà razionalizzata e verranno introdotti altri dischi multiuso?

September 2016| ECJ | 71

NEW PRODUCT REVIEW

• Diversey Care a introduit la gamme Lapē de produits de lavage et lotions de luxe pour les mains.

• L’Excelerator est la plus récente poignée de lavage de vitres de la gamme Moerman Proclean.

• Morclean a mis au point un nouveau système de filtrage pour ses machines de lavage de poubelles qui utilise de l’argent comme inhibiteur de croissance bactérienne.

• Le système Solupak est une gamme de nettoyants et désinfectants chimiques, conditionnée dans des sachets dosés à l’avance et solubles dans l’eau.

• Le module Tink de Fooom Advanced Dispensing transforme des distributeurs mécaniques et automatiques de toilettes en distributeurs « intelligents ».

• Les liquides de nettoyage de la gamme Green Care Professional de la société Tana sont désormais conditionnés en bouteilles produites à 100 pour cent en HDPE recyclé.

• Nouvellement ajouté à la gamme Kaivac, l’Auto-Vac est un aspirateur à batterie qui s’installe dans le chariot OmniFlex de ce fabricant.

• Neu von Diversey Care ist die Produktreihe Lapē mit LuxusHandreinigern und Lotionen.

• Excelerator ist der neueste Fensterreinigungsgriff in der Produktreihe Moerman Proclean.

• Morclean hat ein neues Filterungssystem für sein Mülltonnen-Waschgerät entwickelt, das mit Hilfe von Silber das Wachstum von Bakterien hemmt.

• Beim Solupak-System handelt es sich um eine Produktfamilie mit chemischen Reinigungsmitteln und Desinfektionsmitteln in vordosierten wasserlöslichen Portionsbeuteln.

• Mit dem Tink-Modul von Fooom Advanced Dispensing werden aus mechanischen und automatischen Waschraumspendern „intelligente“ Spender.

• Die Reinigungslösungen in der Tana Produktfamilie Green Care Professional werden jetzt in Flaschen verkauft, die aus 100 % recyceltem HDPE hergestellt werden.

• Neu von Kaivac ist der Auto-Vac, ein akkubetriebener Staubsauger, der zum Reinigungswagen OmniFlex hinzugefügt werden kann.

• La novità della Diversey Care è la linea di detergenti per mani e lozioni di gamma superiore Lapē.

• Excelerator è il manico per la pulizia delle finestre più nuovo della gamma Moerman Proclean.

• La Morclean ha sviluppato un nuovo sistema di filtrazione per le sue macchine per il lavaggio dei bidoni delle immondizie che utilizza l’argento per inibire la crescita dei batteri.

• Il sistema Solupak è una linea di detergenti e disinfettanti chimici confezionati in buste predosate e idrosolubili.

• Il modulo Tink della Fooom Advanced Dispensing trasforma i dispenser per sale da toilette meccanici e automatici in dispenser ‘intelligenti’.

• Le soluzioni detergenti della linea Green Care Professional della Tana verranno ora vendute in flaconi in polietilene ad alta densità prodotti al 100 per cento con materiale HDPE riciclato.

• La novità della Kaivac è Auto-Vac, un aspirapolvere alimentato a batteria che può essere fissato sul suo carrello OmniFlex.

September 2016 | ECJ | 72

Hand luxury The Lapé Collection is a new line of luxurious hand washes and lotions developed by Diversey Care. It says the elegant presentation and delicate scent of the products make them suitable for hospitality areas such as restaurants, hotels, offices and airport lounges.

Designed for any skin type, the products contain mild formulations to reduce the risk of allergic reactions, and all products are phthalate, paraben and triclosan free. The bottles and outer packaging are completely recyclable.

The 300 ml bottles of hand wash and hand lotion are available in two scents - Oriental Lemon Tea and Honey Vanilla. www.sealedair.com

Speedy precision

Moerman has added the Excelerator window cleaning handle to its Proclean product range, which it claims to be the fastest on the market.

The handle can be set up in a 10°, 25° or 40° angle depending on the type of window frame, window height, possible obstacles, challenging angles or just personal preference. With a slight twist the blade immediately goes in the right direction and boasts more channel spread which allows the operator to cover the window faster. Used as a rigid squeegee Excelerator evenly distributes constant pressure along the channel.

When teamed up with the

Liquidator 2.0 and F*LIQ washer it has the precision, speed and ease of use to avoid using ladders, says Moerman. www.moermangroup.com

Safer water Morclean has developed a bin wash machine whereby additional filtration is used to ensure that bacterial growth in the contaminated water is inhibited.

All the company’s bin wash models now feature five stages of filtration to ensure that water being used to clean waste bins stays clean enough throughout the day.

The new filtration system consists of a series of secondary filters which continually condition the water and the two extra filters improve the traditional three stages of filtration. Impregnated silver also inhibits the growth of bacteria. www.morclean.com

Pre-dosed The Solupak range of cleaners and sanitisers has been designed for use where daily cleaning is carried out, where storage space is limited and where handling of neat chemicals is to be avoided.

The eco-friendly chemicals come in pre-dosed watersoluble sachets (PVOH), which cuts down on bulk storage and ensures there is no skin contact with concentrated chemicals for the operator. Once added to water, the Solupak solution remains effective for up to 28 days - retaining its cleaning efficacy without the need to be replenished.

UK distributor Klenzan has recently been appointed sole EU distributor for the range. www.klenzan.co.uk

Tink module Fooom Advanced Dispensing has developed the Tink module, which can be fitted to both mechanical and automatic washroom dispensers to transform them into ‘intelligent’ dispensers.

This means the dispenser can gather data concerning location,

usage frequency and number of visitors, as well as filling intervals.

The Tink module is very small, stand-alone and does not need electrical power. It can be retrofitted to existing dispensers and data is monitored through the Fooom Tink app. www.fooom.eu

Recycled bottle Cleaning chemicals specialist tana Chemie is to sell all products in its Green Care Professional range in its new onelitre ‘Wellfeel-bottle’ based on 100 per cent post-consumer recycled HDPE. The company had produced PET bottles from mixed packaging collection waste and has built on its knowledge with translucent PE material.

Implementation begins this month with Green Care Professional Tanet SR15 floor and surface cleaner, and will gradually expand throughout the one-litre Professional range. www.tana.de

Visit europeancleaning journal.com for news

Floor tasks Kaivac has launched the AutoVac, a battery-powered model that can be added to the company’s OmniFlex trolley-bucket which allows operatives to perform a number of floor cleaning tasks at once.

Said to be inexpensive and easy to use, Auto-Vac can clean over 20,000 square feet an hour says Kaivac. www.kaviac.com

The pan-European magazine for the professional cleaning sector

SEPTEMBER 2016

CASE STUDY

UPDATE

SPECIAL REPORT

Washroom dispensers special focus Starts page 29

Training with horses

Ambulance cleaning

Extreme cleaning in Tokyo

Page 38

Page 49

Page 66

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CONSUMPTION REDUCTION SUSTAINABILITY YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE. Take a fresh look at your business.

Identity System by Lucart Professional proves that sustainability is a tangible value.

A real reduction in consumption that cuts costs and respects the planet.

A proďŹ table and eďŹ&#x20AC;ective solution for your business and for the future of everyone.

Sustainable innovation. A totally new experience.

Results from market research conducted by Research Factory on a representative sample of a traditional Lucart Professional Jumbo dispenser. The research was conducted according to ASSIRM regulations in compliance with ISO 20252 standard. Milan 2015.