September 2019

The pan-European magazine for the professional cleaning sector

SEPTEMBER 2019

CASE STUDY

WHITE PAPER

SPECIAL REPORT

European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2019 finalists’ news Page 3

One of UK’s top cricket grounds

Clean Hospitals

The science of fragrance

Page 32

Page 20

Page 36

CONTENTS

September 2019 | Vol.27, No.4

BUSINESS

SPECIAL REPORTS

49 No more nine to five?

27 The two-sided mop market

Hartley Milner takes a look at the trend towards more flexible working arrangements.

A look ahead to where the mopping market is headed.

32 The dizzy heights of cleaning A case study from the Kia Oval, one of the UK’s most famous cricket grounds.

36 The fragrance experience There are many different and ingenious ways of perfuming a room.

41 International innovation How international partnerships can help to transform cleaning provision.

43 Does carpet type matter?

How far does the type of carpet impact on the method used to clean it?

51 CMS Berlin Your guide to the German cleaning exhibition and World Summit starts here.

03 News

63 Making an entrance The role of matting in enhancing a facility’s appearance.

19 Clean Hospitals launch

67 A matter of wellbeing Why it is so important for schools to be cleaned by trained professionals.

22 European reports

69 Polish your online offering How can cleaning supplies retailers optimise their e-commerce offering?

71 Squaring the circle The launch of the first hand towel recycling service by Essity.

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

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

Circulation Marie Payne

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

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

ISSN 0968-901X ©Criterion Publishing 2019

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NEWS & EVENTS

Latest News & Events from ECJ

European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2019 - October London ceremony The finalists for the 2019 European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards have been announced, following a record year for entries.

Now in their fourth year, the awards recognise standards of excellence in the professional cleaning industry and are the only pan-European awards for the sector. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony and gala dinner on October 17 at The Church House, London.

ECJ editor and member of the judging panel Michelle Marshall said: “We’ve had some outstanding entries this year, and with over 130 nominations received, the judges certainly had their work cut out when it came to narrowing down to a shortlist.

Hard work, dedication “All our entrants should be incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication they have demonstrated towards the professional cleaning sector but there can only be nine winners on the night.

We feel our shortlist shines a spotlight on some of the most innovative, disruptive companies in the industry and we wish them the best of luck for October 17.”

Here are the finalists: Best use of smart solutions by service provider • HSG UK • Gom - Trash Roulette, smart technology to combat litter • Swiss Post Real Estate Management and Services IntelliClean • Sodexo - using technology to improve performance • Incentive QAS Investment in training • Derrycourt Training Centre • GSF • Viennese Guild for of

the Cleaning Industries - Professional Cleaning Academy • Principle Cleaning Services SCHOLAR programme Excellence in client/contractor partnerships • Principle Cleaning Services 30 St Mary Axe • Principle Cleaning Services The Office Group (TOG) • Care NV - more than just cleaning, function differentiation at Sanofi • ISS - partnership as a foundation at Nomura • Incentive QAS - in partnership with Citypoint Sustainability - best practice • iRecycle Waste Management • Forende Services • Derrycourt - the latest change in professional cleaning • Incentive QAS • Principle Cleaning Services Commitment to diversity • Facilicom/Buitengewoon giving people extraordinary employment opportunities • Clarity & Co - diversity in action, changing lives for good • Markas - diversity in the workplace Best initiative raising the profile of the cleaning sector • The Cheeky Panda • Essity • Lucart: MunicipalMaterial-Cycle Technological innovation of the year • Swiss Post Real Estate Management and Services IntelliClean • Sanimaid - hygienic toilet brush • Adlatus/Killis • Erylon

QAS housekeeping manager at Citypoint • Gerlinde Troestl - Markas

Association (CSSA).

Media partners include Tomorrow’s Cleaning (UK), GSA (Italy) and Services (France).

Rising star • Arkaduisz Marciniak - Birkin Cleaning Services • Gytis Kuliavcevas - Birkin Cleaning Services • Sol Amorim - Principle Cleaning Services • Lars Tubben, Gom

Tickets for the ceremony

Sponsors for 2019 include Tana Chemie, Ceris Burns International, Jangro, Vectair Systems, Vermop Salmon, Principle Cleaning, Greenspeed, Diversey, RAI Amsterdam, i-Team Global and Truvox International.

The awards are also being supported by the UK Cleaning & Support Services

The awards were launched by ECJ and are organised by EMG. Even if you are not a finalist, or did not enter this year, the awards ceremony and gala dinner offer an unrivalled opportunity for networking with people from leading businesses and organisations in the cleaning and hygiene industry.

Visit www.echawards.com for more information about tickets. Or contact awards@ europeancleaningjournal.com You can also follow the awards on Twitter @ECH_ Awards and #ECHAwards19.

EVENTS September 24-27

May 12-15 2020

CMS

Interclean Amsterdam

Berlin, Germany www.cms-berlin.com

Amsterdam, Netherlands www.intercleanshow.com

September 25-26

October 14-15 2020

CMS World Summit

Budapest Cleaning Show

Berlin, Germany www.cms-berlin.com

Budapest, Hungary budapestcleaningshow.hu/en

October 15-17

October 26-29 2020

Middle East Cleaning Tech Week

ISSA North America

Dubai, UAE mectw.com

Chicago, USA www.issa.com

October 17

March 16-18 2021

European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards

The Cleaning Show

London, UK www.echawards.com

London, UK cleaningshow.co.uk

November 12-14

May 18-20 2021

Hygienalia Pulire Madrid

Pulire

Madrid, Spain www.hygienalia-pulire.com

Verona, Italy www.pulire-it.com

November 18-21

November 15-18 2021

ISSA North America

ISSA North America

Las Vegas, USA www.issa.com

Las Vegas, USA www.issa.com

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

Leader of the Year • Tim Linsell - Incentive

Les finalistes pour les Prix européens de propreté et d’hygiène ont été adjugés. Les gagnants seront nommés le 17 octobre à l’occasion d’une cérémonie à Londres.

Die Finalisten der European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2019 wurden bekanntgegeben. Die Bekanntgabe der Gewinner erfolgt am 17. Oktober im Rahmen einer Preisverleihung.

Sono stati annunciati i finalisti dei premi 2019 European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards. I vincitori verranno annunciati durante una cerimonia che si terrà a Londra il 17 ottobre.

September 2019 | ECJ | 3

NEWS Educating hospital cleaners lowers infections

Circular shops

A new study has found that educating hospital cleaning staff can lead to fewer Clostridium difficile infections.

The aim of the study, carried out by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, was to “sustainably improve cleaning of high-touch surfaces (HTSs) in acute-care hospitals using a multimodal approach to education, reduction of barriers to cleaning and culture change for environmental services workers”.

Research was conducted in a number of hospitals, and it involved frontline environmental services workers.

A five-module educational

US household detergent brands Cascade and Tide are the latest companies to have signed up to circular shopping system Loop.

This means customers can now buy cleaning products in reusable containers which are collected, cleaned, refilled and returned after use.

Under the Loop scheme Tide laundry detergent will now come in stainless steel bottles with a twist cap while Cascade dishwasher products will be delivered in stainless steel plastic cups. Once consumers are finished with the containers, they can schedule a pick-up from their home via an online platform.

programme was developed, using principles of adult learning theory. Audience response system (ARS), videos, demonstrations, role playing, and graphics were used to illustrate infection prevention strategies.

Topics included hand hygiene, isolation precautions, personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning protocols, and strategies to overcome barriers.

Evaluation involved ARS questions, written evaluations and objective assessments of occupied patient room cleaning.

There were changes in levels of hospital-onset C.diff infection and methicillin-resistant

• Il ressort d’une nouvelle étude qu’il est possible de réduire le taux d’infection par Clostridium difficile en formant les agents de nettoyage à ce sujet.

• Aux États-Unis, les consommateurs peuvent maintenant acheter des produits de nettoyage dans des récipients réutilisables qui sont collectés, nettoyés, rechargés et retournés après usage.

S.aureus (MRSA).

On average, 357 environmental service workers participated in each module. Most (93 per cent) rated the presentations as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ and agreed that they were useful (95 per cent), reported that they were more comfortable wearing PPE (91 per cent) and performing hand hygiene (96 per cent) and better understood the importance of disinfecting HTSs (96 per cent) after training.

The frequency of cleaning individual high-touch surfaces in occupied rooms increased from 26 per cent to 62 per cent after the programme had been implemented.

• Bei einer neuen Studie wurde herausgefunden, dass die Zahl von Infektionen mit Clostridium difficile durch eine entsprechende Unterweisung des Krankenhausreinigungspersonals gesenkt werden kann.

• US-Verbraucher können jetzt Reinigungsprodukte in wiederverwendbaren Behältern kaufen, die nach der Verwendung gesammelt, gereinigt, neu gefüllt und zurückgegeben werden.

• Da uno studio recente emerge che istruire il personale di pulizia degli ospedali possa portare a una riduzione di infezioni causate da Clostridium difficile.

• I consumatori degli Stati Uniti d’America posso ora acquistare i prodotti di pulizia in contenitori riutilizzabili che vengono ritirati, lavati e riempiti dopo l’uso.

September 2019 | ECJ | 5

NEWS Rapping robots to be cleaning on Singapore streets by 2020 Singapore residents and visitors can expect to see autonomous robots that can sing, rap, wink and crack jokes while cleaning the streets.

At the launch and live demonstration of its rent-abot service recently, LionsBot International signed an agreement with four of six existing cleaning partners.

Prospective and current partners can rent the robots on a subscription basis. Two are already in use at National Gallery Singapore and Jewel Changi Airport, with more scheduled to appear at high-profile public sites very soon.

LionsBot’s partners can eventually choose from 13

different models programmed to scrub, mop, vacuum and sweep across different terrains as well as transport up to 450 kg of cleaning equipment.

Can clean in a group These machines can coordinate and clean a given area simultaneously in a group, without the need for human programming says the manufacturer. They are also claimed to use up to 70 per cent less water compared with their commercial counterparts.

Passers-by can even interact with a cleaning robot by scanning its QR codes, which will allow them to ask the device questions

À Singapour, résidents et visiteurs verront sous peu des robots de nettoyage des rues qui sont capables de chanter, danser, cligner de l’oeil et débiter des plaisanteries tout en exécutant leurs tâches.

6 | September 2019 | ECJ

like: “What is your name?” or: “What type of cleaning do you perform?”. The robots can reply back in several languages.

The robots have been developed by husband-and-wife team Dylan Ng and Michelle Seow, and Mohan Rajesh Elara, Singapore University of Technology & Design’s assistant professor with the engineering product development pillar.

Training academy “Our many years in the industry made us aware of exactly what was needed in a cleaning robot. We tried many existing solutions in the market but did not find the right one,” said Ng who, along with Seow,

Die Einwohner und Besucher von Singapur können sich darauf freuen, autonome Roboter zu sehen, die während der Straßenreinigung singen, rappen, zwinkern und Witze erzählen.

has also been managing cleaning equipment and chemicals supplier SuperSteamAsia Pacific since 2002.

The business currently has a team of 35 engineers who produce the robots in Singapore, from developing a cloud platform for live mapping data to 3D prototyping. It plans to produce four robots on average each day.

To provide training for cleaners on how to use the robots, the company has set up the LionsBot Training Academy to oversee a six-hour training programme, along with a mobile app that rewards cleaners based on how well they operate and maintain the robots.

I residenti e i visitatori di Singapore si possono aspettare di vedere dei robot autonomi in grado di cantare, rappare, fare l’occhiolino e dire barzellette mentre sono intenti a fare la pulizia delle strade.

NEWS Absenteeism rises in Spain

Working time ECJ court ruling

Workforce absenteeism among Spain’s cleaning companies has increased by over 91 per cent over the past five years. That’s according to data compiled by contract cleaning association Aspel.

Absenteeism in the industry rose from 14,136 workers in 2013 to 27,107 workers in the year 2018, an increase the association describes as “disproportionate” compared to the average for the other sectors.

And the average duration of leave due to common conditions was 56.64 per case - the

European member states must oblige employers to set up an objective, reliable and accessible system by which they record the daily working time of each employee. This will ensure the rights of workers, as set out in the Working Time Directive and the European Charter, are respected - ruled the European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently.

The decision was the outcome of a case instituted by Spanish trade union Federación de Servicios de Comisiones Obreras (CCOO). It believed the rights of employees were contravened

by Deutsche Bank in Spain not

average for all other sectors was 40.33 days.

These absences bring a high cost for contract cleaning companies. Fifteen-day periods amounted to over €242 million in social security payments, and sick leave periods over 15 days cost €267.2 million.

Aspel has also collated some general data about the sector in Spain. In 2018 the number of people employed grew by 13,200 - there are now 370,000 people employed in the industry.

And there are now 17,544 cleaning businesses, 100 more than last year.

• L’absentéisme au travail dans les entreprises de propreté espagnoles a augmenté de plus de 91 pour cent ces cinq dernières années, indiquent de récentes statistiques.

• Il incombe aux États membres de l’Union européenne d’obliger le patronat à mettre en place un système fiable lui permettant d’enregistrer les heures de travail quotidiennes des employés, a statué la Cour de justice des Communautés européennes.

8 | September 2019 | ECJ

• Aus neuen Daten geht hervor, dass die Abwesenheitsquote bei Mitarbeitern in der spanischen Reinigungsbranche innerhalb der letzten fünf Jahre um 91 Prozent gestiegen ist.

• Der Europäische Gerichtshof hat entschieden, dass europäische Mitgliedsstaaten Arbeitgeber zur Einrichtung eines zuverlässigen Systems verpflichten müssen, mit dem die tägliche Arbeitszeit ihrer Mitarbeiter verzeichnet wird.

complying with the obligation to record the daily number of hours worked by bank employees.

The Court points to the importance of the fundamental right of every employee to have a limit on the maximum working hours and on daily and weekly rest periods. That fundamental right is set out in the Charter and arranged in the Working Time Directive. Member states therefore must ensure employees can actually invoke the rights they have. If working hours are not recorded properly, the Court holds it is not possible to safeguard those rights.

• Dei dati recenti mostrano che l’assenteismo della forza lavoro nelle imprese di pulizia in Spagna è aumentato del 91 per cento nel corso degli ultimi cinque anni.

• La Corte Europea di Giustizia ha stabilito che gli stati membri dell’Unione Europea devono obbligare i datori di lavoro a istituire un sistema affidabile mediante il quale possono registrare l’orario di lavoro giornaliero di ogni dipendente

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NEWS EFCI conference’s future focus

More than 100 delegates from EU member states gathered in Brussels recently for the EFCI (European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry) conference, with the theme Cleaning and Facility Services: Shaping the Industry of the Future.

The event coincided with the relaunch of the federation, bringing together representatives from the European Institutions, EFCI’s stakeholders and cleaning industry professionals.

Centred around four roundtable discussions the themes covered: • An Industry in Evolution, during which EFCI’s trend report The Cleaning industry in Europe 1995-2016 was presented and analysed • Innovating in a LabourIntensive Industry, when social aspects of digitalisation and CSR were discussed • An Innovative Value Chain, during which policy makers, industry representatives and clients presented their visions on where to put the accent on innovation • C for Circular Economy, where an MEP, the European Commission and industry representatives explained how facility services can better integrate in the circular economy and provide business value.

The basis for the day’s La récente conférence de l’EFCI (European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry) a réuni à Bruxelles plus de cent délégués venus de l’Europe entière.

10 | September 2019 | ECJ

discussion was the EFCI’s new trend report, The European Cleaning Industry 1995-2016.

This statistical report builds on historical EFCI’s surveys and presents the evolution of the sector from different angles.

The cleaning industry has shown significant growth over the last 20 years with a turnover tripled to €107 billion and employment increase of 80 per cent, currently employing nearly four million people.

The report includes relevant comparisons at national level, based on the most recent data available in Eurostat.

EFCI director Isabel Yglesias concluded the conference by highlighting the quality of the presentations and that the main issues raised coincided with EFCI’s political priorities for the new European legislative mandate: the need for high quality procurement and for a level playing field to ensure the sector continues its growth and develops all its potential; the development of a skills and training agenda for the sector; and the support through adequate legislation for the sectors to totally integrate the circular economy.

• The next EFCI conference will take place in June 2020 in Barcelona. Email: secretariat@efci. eu for more information.

Mehr als 100 Delegierte aus ganz Europa versammelten sich vor Kurzem in Brüssel zur EFCI-Konferenz (European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry).

Oltre 100 delegati provenienti da tutta Europa si sono riuniti di recente a Bruxelles per la conferenza EFCI (European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry).

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EFCI NEWS EFCI Trend Report: The European Cleaning Industry 1995-2016 The EFCI recently published a Trend Report entitled The European Cleaning Industry 1995-2016. This 38-page statistical document gathers Eurostat’s most recent data (NACE 81.2) and builds on historical EFCI’s surveys. It presents the evolution of the cleaning industry from different angles, between 1995 and 2016.

The Trend Report was officially presented during EFCI’s 2019 Conference that took place in Brussels in June. It was welcomed with great interest by the participants and appreciated by industry players, academia and other stakeholders as it is the only pan-European analysis offering research-based and factual information about the European cleaning industry (EU28, Norway and Switzerland).

The Trend Report will be presented in ECJ through three articles that will analyse its main features. They will be published in this and the upcoming two editions of the magazine.

Concept and approach The Trend Report was commissioned coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Federation in November 2018. It was developed by the EFCI with the help of hkp///RemuNet and puts together the great deal of work the EFCI has conducted over the last years.

Indeed, the report builds on the historical EFCI Surveys: since 1987, it has published once every two years the EFCI Survey on the state of the European cleaning industry, providing an in-depth analysis of the sector (market development, employment, country comparisons, etc). It is possible to request past EFCI Survey(s) at www.efci.eu/contacts.

The Trend Report shows how, despite suffering from

a so-called “invisibility”, the cleaning sector is indisputably relevant in today’s society, not only for the essential services it provides but also in terms of the great impact it has regarding employment. The Report intends to share the main characteristics of the sector while showing its impressive progression throughout the last 20 years. It therefore becomes a tool for the industry and its stakeholders for analysis, decision-making and a unique instrument to learn about and promote the sector.

The Report is also a solid basis to work on the challenges ahead and work with EFCI’s stakeholders and EU institutions, as it shows the strength and relevance of our sector in terms of contribution to Europe’s GDP

L’EFCI (European Cleaning & Facility Services Industry) a récemment publié un rapport de tendance sous le titre The European Cleaning Industry 1995-2016 (Le secteur européen du nettoyage 1995-2016). Ce document rassemble les données les plus récentes d’Eurostat et s’appuie sur les enquêtes que l’EFCI a menées par le passé. Dans le premier de trois comptes-rendus, ECJ publie les résultats saillants de ce rapport.

and employment rates.

The headlines can summarise the outcomes of the report: (i) an impressive turnover growth and (ii) the job-creating role of our industry in Europe.

Impressive growth The cleaning industry is an important economic force which is growing steadily. Its excellent performances during the last past 20 years are mainly a result of the diversification of its activities, which includes more and more the provision of facility services besides industrial cleaning. Indeed, a higher diversity of market segments is observed today and is now a reality in all EU member states. Between 1995 and 2016, the industry’s turnover tripled

EFCI (European Cleaning & Facility Services Industry) veröffentlichte vor Kurzem einen Trendbericht unter dem Titel „The European Cleaning Industry 1995–2016“.

In diesem Dokument werden die neuesten Daten von Eurostat erfasst, und es stützt sich auf historische EFCIUmfragen. Im ersten von drei Artikeln veröffentlicht das ECJ Höhepunkte des Berichts.

to reach €107 billion in 2016 (better than the overall market).

The industry showed a strong turnover growth of almost 10 per cent annually between 1997 and 2001. Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK account for 69 per cent of the European industry’s turnover in 2016.

Employment-creating industry The industry employs today over 3.9 million people. This is a considerable increase over the 2.16 million employed in 1995 and correspond to an average addition of 87,000 employees per year in Europe.

EFCI’s Trend Report is available at www.efci.eu/wp-content/ uploads/flipbooks/1/. Email: secretariat@efci.eu.

EFCI (European Cleaning & Facility Services Industry) ha pubblicato di recente un rapporto sulle tendenze intitolato The European Cleaning Industry 1995-2016. Questo documento raccoglie i dati più recenti di Eurostat e parte dai sondaggi storici di EFCI. Nella prima di tre rubriche, ECJ pubblica le parti importanti del rapporto.

September 2019 | ECJ | 13

NEWS Self-cleaning

‘Smart’ sheets record washing history A laundry service in China is stitching microchips into the corners of sheets, towels, quilts and other linens containing data about the item’s washing history.

The idea is to enable hotel visitors to scan their bedclothes with a smartphone to check when they were last laundered so they can reassure themselves that the soft furnishings in their room are truly clean.

Electronic ID cards The service has been introduced by the Wuhan Kunteng Laundry in central China according to the country’s state-run media outlet Xinhua.

The Wuhan Kunteng Laundry provides cleaning services to most of the hotels in the city of Wuhan.

The microchips act like electronic ID cards linking reservations to washing information. Said to be about the size of a small coin, the chips are said to be waterresistant and can withstand high temperatures which means that linens containing the embedded microchips require no special care.

The technology reportedly comes from Germany and Japan and will soon evolve to enable QR codes to be printed on each

• En Chine, une entreprise de blanchisserie coud des puces à l’angle de draps, linges de bain, couettes et d’autres types de linge afin d’y enregistrer des données sur l’historique de lavage de chaque article.

• À Singapour, des cabines autonettoyantes de toilettes publiques sont en cours de développement à l’initiative d’un organisme public.

14 | September 2019 | ECJ

towel and sheet. Hotel guests will then be able to scan the code to discover the history of each towel and sheet including when it was last washed, how many times it has been used and at what temperature it was disinfected.

News of the ‘smart’ sheets follows an announcement by InvoTech Systems that it plans to introduce a new wireless UHFRFID hand-held reader with integrated software for portable use. The device would be used to streamline all hotel laundry, linen and uniform processes to provide accurate inventory scanning.

• Ein Wäscheservice in China näht Mikrochips, die Daten zur Waschhistorie des Gegenstandes enthalten, in die Ecken von Betttüchern, Handtüchern, Steppdecken und anderer Haushaltstextilien.

• In Singapur werden im Rahmen der Initiative einer Regierungsbehörde selbstreinigende öffentliche Klosettzellen entwickelt.

In Singapore, there may soon be self-cleaning toilet cubicles at hawker centres as part of the push to drive innovation.

A hawker centre is a complex housing a variety of food stalls.

The project involves retrofitting existing cubicles with features to automatically clean the toilet bowl, walls and floor at scheduled intervals.

For example, a mechanism will open and close the toilet bowl lid on its own, rinse the bowl and seat, as well as blow-dry the seat. Cleaning agent and water will be sprayed to wash the cubicle wall, and the floor will be flushed with pressurised water.

• In Cina, un servizio di lavanderia sta cucendo negli angoli di lenzuola, asciugamani, coperte e altri articoli tessili dei microchip che contengono dati sulla storia del lavaggio di ogni articolo.

• A Singapore si stanno progettando i cubicoli autopulenti per le toilette pubbliche nell’ambito di una iniziativa di un ente governativo.

NEWS EXTRA What cleaning contractors need to know about WELL - part two Following the launch of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in the US some time ago, there is now the International WELL Building Institute. This focuses not so much on buildings but on the people working in those buildings – and cleaning contractors are very much involved. In the second part of his exclusive article for ECJ, Ron Segura, president of Segura Associates, takes a closer look at the role of cleaning in the WELL programme.

Let’s say you are a building service contractor and one of your clients wants to be WELL certified. While your services may have little involvement with nourishment, water, light, and fitness, except possibly for cleaning a fitness centre, it will have a huge role to play in the other concepts mentioned in the last edition, most specifically protecting indoor air quality and ensuring building user comfort.

Among the steps you would need to take to help ensure your client is WELL certified would include the following: • Ensure equipment used in the facility abides by GreenSeal 42 Standard for Commercial and Institutional Cleaning Services for Powered Equipment Use/ Maintenance Programme or the equivalent.

Well designed • All battery powered equipment must be equipped with environmentally preferable gel batteries.

• Equipment must be designed with user safeguards as well as rubber bumpers that help prevent damage to building surfaces.

• Wall-mounted auto-dilution systems are a must to limit

direct exposure to chemicals and provide proper dilution.

• Cleaning workers must be trained on how to perform specific cleaning steps, how to reduce injuries to themselves and others, how to eliminate exposure to hazardous materials, and must be expected to wear protective gear when needed.

• Training on the use of green cleaning solutions is required, and cleaning workers must take annual classes on the use of these products.

• Cleaning contractors must also be taught on how to purchase green cleaning solutions to promote sustainability.

Extensive protocol The actual cleaning protocol is very extensive, reflecting how important cleaning is to WELL certification. It even goes into such details as how often the undersides of entry mats should be cleaned (at least once per day); why all product labels must follow the Globally Harmonised System for labelling; as well as the establishment of a cleaning and disinfecting protocol to determine where disinfectants and sanitisers are needed in a facility as well as how often they are to be used. The goal here is to help prevent pathogens from becoming immune to these products.

Because the cleaning-related aspects of the WELL program are extensive, many cleaning contractors turn to cleaning consultants to help guide them through the WELL ‘cleaning maze’. In some ways, it is similar to other training programmes such as ISSA’s CIMS programme, but with far more detail.

The big question now is, will the WELL programme grow?

By all indications, it is growing and will develop further. A key

Par suite du lancement de l’organisation LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) aux États-Unis il y quelque temps, l’International WELL Building Institute (Institut international du bâtiment pour le bien-être), a maintenant vu le jour. Ce dernier se concentre non sur les immeubles, mais sur les gens qui y travaillent, ce qui va nécessairement impliquer les entreprises de propreté.

Ron Segura écrit pour ECJ.

16 | September 2019 | ECJ

reason for this is that it is so specifically designed to help protect human health. Also, according to chairman and ceo Rick Fedrizzi, who has been associated with green cleaning and sustainability issues for more than 20 years, the programme is not costly.

Immediate impact “When companies recognise that they can implement WELL for less than what their

employees spend on coffee in a year, with the possibility of greater (worker) productivity, fewer absences due to illness, and lower insurance costs, they become interested,” says Fedrizzi. He adds WELL certified buildings “can have an immediate and measurable impact on the health and wellbeing of employees, tenants and customers, faculty and students, and families who occupy (WELL certified) buildings.”

Register now for a copy of ECJ’s monthly email newsletter, delivered directly to your inbox. Visit europeancleaningjournal.com

Nachdem in den USA vor einiger Zeit die Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED, Führerschaft in energie- und umweltgerechter Planung) eingeführt wurde, gibt es jetzt das International WELL Building Institute. Hierbei liegt der Schwerpunkt nicht so sehr auf den Gebäuden sondern auf den Menschen, die in diesen Gebäuden arbeiten – und Reinigungsunternehmen sind daran stark beteiligt. Ron Segura schreibt für das ECJ.

Negli Stati Uniti D’America, dopo il lancio di Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) avvenuto un pò di tempo fa, c’è ora l’istituto International WELL Building Institute. Questo si concentra non tanto sugli edifici ma sulle persone che lavorano al loro interno e gli appaltatori dei contratti ne sono estremamente coinvolti, come ci riferisce il corrispondente di ECJ Ron Segura.

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NEWS EXTRA Didier Pittet heads up Clean Hospitals network launch Clean Hospitals is a new network of relevant stakeholders who have formed an international collaboration with the aim of improving hospital environment hygiene as it relates to patient safety. ECJ spoke to Professor Didier Pittet, who is heading up the initiative.

Didier Pittet, MD, MS is professor of medicine, the hospital epidemiologist and director of the Infection Control Programme and World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety at the University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine in Geneva, Switzerland.

In 2004, Pittet was approached by the WHO World Alliance of Patient Safety to lead the First Global Patient Safety Challenge under the banner ‘Clean Care is Safer Care’.

The mandate was to galvanise global commitment to tackle healthcare associated infection, which had been identified as a significant area of risk for patients in all United Nations member states. WHO Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare were developed under his leadership in consultation with international experts.

‘Clean Care is Safer Care’ has now been endorsed by ministers of health in 142 countries worldwide representing coverage of more than 95 per cent of the world population.

‘Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’ is the annual campaign encompassing World Hand Hygiene Day, designated by WHO as May 5.

Now Pittet is heading up a brand new initiative called Clean Hospitals. This is a network of relevant stakeholders who have formed an international collaboration focused on improving hospital environmental hygiene in the context of patient safety.

He explains: “We have been focusing for a number of years on hand hygiene, and the global campaign with the World Health WHO has been very successful.

For me it was natural the hospital environment would be our next focus.”

There are a number of reasons for this Pittet says. “There have been some things happening in hospitals which need further investigation. For example, floors in areas that are not receiving patients are being cleaned with disinfectants when it is not necessary – and this is also expensive. The wrong products are often being used for the task and the area.

Redeployment of skills “There has been something of a revolution in how healthcare settings are maintained and a redeployment of processes and skills is required.”

Pittet says he has also witnessed variance in different countries with regards to hospital cleaning standards. “We really need a universal vision for cleaning and maintenance,” he continues. “Most activities are not evidence-based – cleaning is very much lacking in this domain.”

It was Rob den Hertog at RAI Amsterdam who invited Pittet to investigate what could be done about creating a more scientific approach to hospital cleaning, and the first Healthcare Cleaning Forum was held during Interclean Amsterdam in 2018.

“This was more successful than we expected,” says Pittet, “and we realised there is a real need to explore the issues around cleaning adding value and increasing patient safety.”

So a group of scientific experts and relevant manufacturers from the cleaning sector was assembled and from there the Clean Hospitals strategy was constructed. “We are bringing

Le professeur Didier Pittet enseigne la médecine, est épidémiologiste hospitalier et un directeur du programme de contrôle des infections et du centre de collaboration de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) à l’université de Genève. Devenu également chef du nouveau groupe Clean Hospitals, il s’entretient avec Michelle Marshall, de notre rédaction, sur les raisons de son implication dans cette nouvelle activité.

together five pillars – surfaces; air; water; waste management; and sterilisation/device reprocessing - covering a huge domain.

“Considering how much is invested in hospitals and in antimicrobial resistance, the environment and hygiene are of paramount importance. Nobody wants to be hospitalised in a place where they’re not safe.”

Pittet says there have not been many scientists involved in the field of cleaning up to now.

“The formation of Clean Hospitals allows us to change that. And it enables us to ensure we optimise the hospital environment.”

In today’s hospital environment the focus is budget, he adds. “We still have cases where outbreaks happen but the managers do not want to raise the cleaning costs. The challenge of modern medicine is that hospitals are not handled by experts in patient care, but by managers. Their priority is to lower costs.

“Managers consider only the cost of cleaning, when the cost of infections within hospitals is far higher. But that’s a different budget so the thinking is not joined up.”

Skills also need more attention and more investment he believes. “Cleaning operatives must be sufficiently trained in the responsibility they have for patient care. They must have the correct skills and those skills must be deployed in the correct areas of the hospital.

Each hospital is facing the same challenge in my view.”

Training essential Pittet is critical of some contract cleaning companies that work in hospitals. “Often they do not have the correct expertise and they are not qualified for healthcare environments.

Training them to the right standards is essential, and that

Professor Didier Pittet ist Professor der Medizin, Krankenhausepidemiologe und Direktor des Programms zur Infektionskontrolle und des World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety an der Universität Genf. Darüber hinaus hat er nun auch die Leitung der neuen Gruppe Clean Hospitals übernommen, und hier erläutert er in einem Gespräch mit Michelle Marshall, warum er daran beteiligt ist.

means there must be guidelines.”

Clean Hospitals aims to take a worldwide approach in establishing and maintaining those guidelines, through academic research, education, training and awareness raising.

Be involved “To start with we are working with companies at all levels of the industry, and we will implement training in different disciplines,” he explains.

Enough companies supplying hygiene products to the sector are convinced about the need for a more cohesive approach to get the Clean Hospitals initiative started. They are helping to fund the programme, and relevant research teams are giving their time.

“It’s my duty to get involved in this type of issue,” he continues, “ and the more companies we have involved too, the better.

Some businesses work on surface cleaning, others in sterilisation. None are experts in everything. Some are better equipped in awareness raising, mapping or distribution. And others are more inclined to focus on the educational, academic element.

“We will pool the experience, then add the science – the clinicians. That could mean we are able to change products, adapt them for specific outbreaks perhaps. When we bring people together, we are much stronger.”

The official launch for Clean Hospitals is at the International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) in Geneva in September, where the group will hold a symposium.

There will be a follow-up Healthcare Cleaning Forum at Interclean Amsterdam 2020 next May. Email: marianne.kemmer@ cleanhospitals.com to find out how to become involved.

Professor Didier Pittet è professore in medicina, epidemiologo dell’ospedale e direttore del programma Infection Control Programme and World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety all’Università di Ginevra. È inoltre ora a capo del nuovo gruppo Clean Hospitals e in questo articolo parla con Michelle Marshall di ECJ sulle ragioni per le quali partecipa al progetto.

September 2019 | ECJ | 19

CLEAN HOSPITALS

Transforming patient safety Clean Hospitals®: transforming patient safety from an idea to an international collaborative movement Alexandra Peters1, Jonathan A. Otter2, Pierre Parneix3, Andreea Moldovan4, Ermira Tartari1, Marianne Kemmer5, Andreas Voss6, Didier Pittet1 1

Infection Control Programme and WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland

2

Imperial College London, UK

3

Nouvelle Aquitaine HealthcareAssociated Infection Control Centre, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France

4

Infection Prevention and Control Service, St.Constantin Hospital, Brasov, Romania

5

Clean Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

6

Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, and Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Over the last year, the group Clean Hospitals has developed from an idea to a maturing international collaboration, focusing on improving hospital environmental hygiene in the context of patient safety.

The healthcare industry is facing a number of new challenges, including the rise in antimicrobial resistance, an ageing patient population in most parts of the world, and the increasing costs associated with healthcare. The hospital environment is an important source of pathogen transmission. Investing in infection prevention and control,

20 | September 2019 | ECJ

including the hospital environment, is one of the most cost-effective ways for hospitals to prevent extra expenditures due to healthcare-associated infections.

Preventing an infection is always cheaper than treating one. And not only does preventing infections save money, but it improves patient outcomes and experience, and reduces antibiotic consumption - lowering the antimicrobial pressure in the hospital environment contributing to the containment of antimicrobial resistance. 1–3 Although a safe and clean hospital environment is crucial for preventing healthcare-associated infections; it is often ignored, underfunded, and understudied. Available products, technologies, and practices vary widely in quality and effectiveness. Clean Hospitals aims to bring clinical and academic experts together to address the gaps present both in the knowledge in the field and in everyday practice, and raise both the visibility and quality of hospital environmental hygiene worldwide.

The group and its aims Clean Hospitals has established a collaboration between various key stakeholders including: ministries of health, hospital management, academics, manufacturers and service providers from the professional cleaning industry, key opinion leaders, patient association groups, and others. The primary objective of this group is to develop a comprehensive network connecting all relevant stakeholders around the cause for a safer and cleaner environment for both patients and hospital staff. Through this extended collaboration, the group will initiate and support a range of initiatives to promote an increased focus on the importance and quality of environmental hygiene in healthcare settings across the world.

Clean Hospitals aims to build up the evidence that demonstrates the impact of improved environmental hygiene in healthcare settings in patient safety, and

align and evaluate hospital environmental hygiene recommendations across geographic regions and economical income groups. A major focus of the group is on the adaptability of best practice recommendations, so that they can be implemented across healthcare facilities, even in low-resource settings.

Clean Hospitals works to promote quality products and techniques and cost effective approaches in the supply chain as well as champion the adoption of best practices for environmental hygiene, based on scientific evidence. It also works to highlight the need for corporate social responsibility and give the companies that provide these products and services a forum to exercise it. The vision of Clean Hospitals is that the world is large enough for all serious companies to do well, but that in the future, only quality products and methods should be on the market.

Context Historically, the importance given to cleaning and disinfecting the hospital environment has varied greatly by time and region. Some regions adopted the attitude of “we don’t eat off the floor so there is no reason to disinfect it”, while others flooded non-critical areas of the hospital such as offices and hallways with disinfectant every day. Until recently the practices of how to clean and disinfect hospitals was often taken from what was done in other industries, such restaurants or hotels; a reason why, in some parts of the world, environmental hygiene personnel are still referred to as “housekeeping”.

In the last 10 years there has been a strong upswing in the scientific literature available on the subject.1,4,5,6 Nonetheless, many hospitals do not view a contaminated hospital environment as a threat to patient safety. Globally, initiatives for preventing healthcareassociated infections have focused on hand hygiene. Hands are, at their most basic level, a highly mobile and often contaminated environment that

CLEAN HOSPITALS frequently is in contact with patients. It makes a lot of sense that hand hygiene is a primary focus for patient safety, but it also makes sense to look at environmental concerns, especially because perfect compliance with hand hygiene has proven impossible to implement.

Although the hospital environment tends to be one of the most understudied and underfunded areas in healthcare, there is enough literature in the field to prove that a well-maintained patient environment is crucial for preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.6,7

Scope and research agenda Instead of treating hygiene challenges in isolation, it is important to look at the broader picture and include all aspects of the hospital environment. Specific subject areas covered by Clean Hospitals include, but are not limited to, cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation, equipment for hospital environmental hygiene, the training of cleaning personnel, waste management, air and water treatment, and information technology solutions among others.

The Clean Hospitals research activities centre around a taskforce, which develops the main agenda for the group members based on the identified needs. The taskforce is organised in a three-pronged structure: research; training and education; and awareness raising. Research includes analysis of the cost and value of improved environmental hygiene in hospitals, and the association between improved environmental hygiene and reduced healthcare-associated infections. Results of this research will be published in peerreviewed journals, and help to advance the field.

Training and education centres on creating course content and specific modules to ‘train the trainers’ on key topics in hospital environmental hygiene that can be tailored to the needs and levels of health systems or specific institutions.

The group is also developing a core curriculum to train hospital environmental hygiene personnel. Awareness raising is the public relations part of the group and focuses on making Clean Hospitals visible at both the global and regional levels.

Activities include making a business case for hospitals to use based on research on Au cours de l’année écoulée, le group Clean Hospitals, dont la création est partie d’une idée, est devenu un lieu de collaboration internationale mûrissante, centrée sur l’amélioration de l’hygiène hospitalière dans le contexte de la sécurité du patient.

the economic impact of improved cleaning, having booths at shows or consortiums, presenting the group at conferences, and other public outreach.

In addition to this main taskforce, there are also various subgroups where industries and the Clean Hospitals academic team collaborate on subjects which are of special interest to some of the members. Current subgroups include, sterilisation and instrument reprocessing; mapping and analysing existing guidelines; creating a transposable model for hospital hygiene that can be adapted to diverse environments and resource levels; and developing a protocol and group for reacting to fake news in hospital environmental hygiene.

A large network of industries, NGOs, and ministries of health are supporting this initiative. Because of the academic reputation of core members of the team and their capacities of championing patient safety worldwide, any research conducted and published by the group will be held to the highest academic standard; giving the group’s outputs more weight than if they came from industry alone.

Structure and timeline The Clean Hospitals collaboration consists of meetings, as well as dedicated initiatives, activities and projects. It is facilitated via a secure web-based hub. Group activities and initiatives are coordinated and implemented in collaboration with the respective stakeholders. The Clean Hospitals group meets biannually, and the various sub groups and related initiatives meet at additional, mutually agreed, times.

The Clean Hospitals inception was at the Healthcare Cleaning Forum at Interclean Amsterdam in May 2018.3 The Forum was the first of its kind, and a whole hall of the RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre was dedicated to environmental hygiene in healthcare settings. After the conference on the role of the hospital environment in patient care, the main question that both the speakers and participants had was “Where can we have the most impact and how?” The creation of Clean Hospitals is our answer to that question.

Clean Hospitals had its introductory meeting for potential stakeholders meeting in October of 2018. The formation of the core group of participating Im Verlauf des letzten Jahres hat sich die Gruppe Clean Hospitals aus einer Idee in ein heranreifendes internationales Kooperationsprojekt entwickelt, dessen Schwerpunkt die Verbesserung der Hygiene in einer Krankenhausumgebung im Kontext der Patientensicherheit ist.

stakeholders took place in autumn 2018 and the Knowledge/Information/ Coordination hub (KIC-hub) is currently in development. A first stakeholders’ meeting was held in January 2019, where the agenda and aims of the group were more clearly defined. The academic team of Clean Hospitals presented and conducted interactive workshops at the Healthcare Cleaning Forum at Interclean in Istanbul in April 2019, which hosted participants from over 80 countries. The second stakeholders meeting was held in May 2019 and the group will have its official launch at the International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) in Geneva in September 2019.

We look forward to developing our projects, changing how the world views hospital hygiene, championing the fight against healthcare-associated infections, and saving patients’ lives.

References 1. Dancer, S. J., White, L. F., Lamb, J., Girvan, E. K. & Robertson, C. Measuring the effect of enhanced cleaning in a UK hospital: a prospective cross-over study. BMC Med 7, 28 (2009).

2. Jenks, P. J., Laurent, M., McQuarry, S. & Watkins, R. Clinical and economic burden of surgical site infection (SSI) and predicted financial consequences of elimination of SSI from an English hospital. J. Hosp. Infect. 86, 24–33 (2014).

3. Peters, A. et al. Keeping hospitals clean and safe without breaking the bank; summary of the Healthcare Cleaning Forum 2018. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control 7, 132 (2018).

4. Dancer, S. J. Controlling Hospital-Acquired Infection: Focus on the Role of the Environment and New Technologies for Decontamination. Clin Microbiol Rev 27, 665–690 (2014).

5. Han, J. H. et al. Cleaning Hospital Room Surfaces to Prevent Health Care–Associated Infections: A Technical Brief. Ann Intern Med 163, 598 (2015).

6. Otter, J. A., Yezli, S. & French, G. L. The role played by contaminated surfaces in the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 32, 687–699 (2011).

7. Mitchell, B. G., Dancer, S. J., Anderson, M. & Dehn, E. Risk of organism acquisition from prior room occupants: a systematic review and metaanalysis. J. Hosp. Infect. 91, 211–217 (2015).

Nel corso dello scorso anno, il gruppo Clean Hospitals si è sviluppato partendo da un’idea fino a creare una collaborazione internazionale affinata che si concentra sul miglioramento dell’igiene negli ambienti ospedalieri nel contesto della sicurezza dei pazienti.

September 2019 | ECJ | 21

LATEST: DENMARK Booklet helps and boosts cleaners Lotte Printz reports from Denmark on the launch of a new publication on cleaning in healthcare facilities.

“The rather theoretical publication drawn up by Statens Seruminstitut (SSI) on national guidelines on cross-infection prevention (locally known as NIR]) is light years away from the cleaners who are to understand and use it,” Pia Heidi Nielsen of FOA, the Danish Trade Union for Care-workers and Cleaners, says speaking to the Danish cleaning industry magazine, rent i DANMARK. As a consequence, the trade union joined forces with Rigshospitalet Glostrup (Danish state hospital in the Capital Region) to create an easy-to-use version of the NIR guidelines that are applied in hospitals and preferably at

other healthcare facilities.

The hospital itself was one of the first facilities to clean according to those standards. And from now on the new publication will be used as a textbook or instructional material in the three-hour training course all staff involved in cleaning at the hospital must participate in. But the 60-page booklet is accessible, downloadable and easy to use for everyone who wishes to clean in accordance with the NIR standards.

It comes with plenty of real-life pictures showing step by step how various areas and surfaces in these facilities must be cleaned in order to minimise the risk of

Lotte Printz rend compte du lancement au Danemark d’une publication consacrée aux thèmes de la contamination croisée et de la propreté dans les établissements de santé.

22 | September 2019 | ECJ

spreading infections. It explains in detail and in fact boxes high-risk surfaces, cleaning procedures, suggested frequencies and order of cleaning and equipment to be used and how. It even has an appendix with the hospital’s handbook for new staff and forms for screening and auditing in the cleaning process.

Lisbeth Stampe, who applies NIR in her daily job as a service assistant and cleaner and who has assisted in the making of the booklet, is confident it will come in handy in various healthcare facilities around the country and is pleased it can make the transition smoother and easier to grasp.

“We all know the feeling of getting worked up at the mere thought of something new which seems hard at first. And working according to NIR guidelines is a huge change for those who are not used to them. They require a

Lotte Printz berichtet aus Dänemark über die Vorstellung einer neuen Publikation zum Thema Kreuzkontamination und Reinigung in Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens.

change of heart,” she said when the booklet was launched.

People who have trained to become service assistants or studied on the AP Programme in hygiene and cleaning technique in Denmark have already become a little familiar with the NIR standards. But as NIR has established cleaning to be part of patient handling - thus acknowledging greater responsibility in the job anyone who is able to clean this way, perhaps “just” after having read the booklet, may sense a boost themselves and should be met with the same respect and recognition as other professionals in a hospital or other healthcare facility. NIR-skilled staff know the importance of preventing crosscontamination, the right order of cleaning and how to communicate with patients as they get literally close to them when cleaning, say, bed rails.

Dalla Danimarca, la corrispondente Lotte Printz ci informa sul lancio di una nuova pubblicazione sulla contaminazione crociata e le pulizie nelle strutture sanitarie.

LATEST: UK Did you say ‘thank you’?

ECJ’s UK reporter Lynn Webster brings news of upcoming initiatives aimed at giving cleaning operatives the recognition they deserve.

In today’s highly competitive market the companies with the winning edge not only have well trained and skilled operatives but have a culture of well-motivated teams. One of the biggest motivators is being held in high esteem; earning the respect and acknowledgement for being good at what you do. Letting your staff know they are appreciated can significantly motivate your most valuable asset with a positive impact on morale and productivity.

Positive feedback Saying “thank you” creates a positive emotional state for not only those receiving the positive feedback but also for ourselves.

It increases our happiness and self-worth. It is a boost to our self-esteem. Research shows that showing appreciation results in an increase of 50 per cent of additional help offered in the workplace. Besides being so significant, this additional 50 per cent of help comes with a more positive attitude, more motivation and energy, and more willingness to do it all over again the more “thank you’s” received.

The role of the cleaning operative; the janitor; the housekeeper is so often taken for granted. This is not only by the general public - each of us in the cleaning and facilities management arena can be just as guilty.

Show your appreciation Perhaps we should question ourselves as to when we last said “thank you” to one of our own staff; passed on our appreciation to the room attendant making up or hotel bedroom; the day janitor removing spillages in the supermarket or passed the street cleaning team without even a second glance.

Lynn Webster, reporter d’ECJ au Royaume-Uni, rend compte d’initiatives courantes visant à accorder aux agents de nettoyage la reconnaissance qu’ils méritent.

Individual companies demonstrate this internally with their own schemes however there are a number of schemes available where all of us can play our part.

For example, “Thank Your Cleaner Day” has become well established from its origins in New Zealand in 2015 and the 2019 day will take place on Wednesday October 16.

Saturday September 21 is World Clean Up Day where everyone globally is encouraged to get involved to do their bit to ‘Clean Up’. Visit www.worldcleanupday. org for more information.

To coincide with this, Friday September 20 is set to be a further 2019 day of recognition for cleaning operatives around the world to encourage all businesses to actively promote this day of recognition for cleaning operatives. This day of recognition is to say ‘I Respect Every Cleaning Operative Giving Necessary Importance to Service and Environment’. I-RECOGNISE.

Get involved To add its support to this initiative i-Team, in partnership with Made Blue, is providing a sustainable water bottle for each cleaning operative to reduce single use plastics, encouraging all cleaning operatives to stay hydrated throughout their physical working day, and provide them with a token that is useful not only at work but in daily life. Each bottle purchased will contribute towards Made Blue, a charity that provides clean drinking water in third world countries (madeblue.org).

Whichever initiative you decide to engage with, the important message is to take that moment to embrace the contribution cleaning operatives make to our everyday lives.

THANK YOU!

Die britische ECJ-Korrespondentin Lynn Webster berichtet über bevorstehende Initiativen, deren Ziel es ist, dem Reinigungspersonal die verdiente Anerkennung zukommen zu lassen.

La corrispondente del Regno Unito di ECJ Lynn Webster ci informa sulle prossime iniziative finalizzate a dare agli addetti alle pulizie il riconoscimento che si meritano.

September 2019 | ECJ | 23

LATEST: ITALY

LATEST: FRANCE

Healthy growth for cleaning sector

Plenty of job prospects

Anna Garbagna in Italy reports on positive data from the country’s cleaning sector manufacturers.

Christian Bouzols reports from France on how the professional cleaning sector is tackling its manpower shortage by setting up a number of new training schemes.

The market is healthy and growing in Italy and for exports, dynamic and successful. This is the view of the professional cleaning sector emerging from the annual survey conducted

by AfidampFAB (Association of Italian Manufacturers of Cleaning Machines, Products and Equipment), which represents companies manufacturing products for professional cleaning.

In 2018 the health of the sector is confirmed by a total turnover of €1,780,529,716.

The trend is upward mainly due to the strong growth in sales of chemical products, the sector with the strongest growth at seven per cent.

Also growing are machines (+six per cent), paper (+five per cent) and fibres/cloths (+five per cent).

The equipment sector remains fairly stable (+0.4 per cent), while the category ‘other products shows a decrease (-10 per cent). This includes soap dispensers, air fresheners, warm air hand dryers, batteries and battery chargers, brushes and pad holders and all the products which are ‘unclassified’.

The sector of accessories and machine spare parts is also decreasing (-11 per cent), a return to 2016 levels after reaching double digit growth in last year’s survey.

The survey data confirmed however the positive trend of the Italian market which recorded in 2018 a growth of three per cent compared to the previous year and a total turnover of €848,685,612. The same growth, three per cent, applies for exports with total sales of €931,844,105.

It is a scenario of business D’après le dernier rapport de l’association italienne des fabricants de produits de propreté, AfidampFAB, le secteur professionnel de la propreté a le vent en poupe dans ce pays. Anna Garbagna fait rapport.

operators showing they can interpret the market perfectly, anticipating needs and generating work at national level as well as internationally.

To confirm this, it was proved in 2018 that business from foreign markets amounted to 52 per cent of total turnover.

The sector recording the highest export figures was machines, which amounted to 41 per cent of total sales (one point higher than 2017) with a growth of seven per cent compared to the previous year.

This confirms the success and versatility of Italian technology. Next there is the paper sector, with 32 per cent, and other products with 11 per cent (from soap dispensers to air fresheners, from warm air hand dryers to batteries and battery chargers, brushes and floor pads), accessories and machine spare parts with six per cent and equipment with five per cent.

Chemical products, traditionally destined for the home market, also progressed in 2018, with four per cent of total exports.

The importance of the machine sector is therefore growing at international level, which is why the turnover of this sector is 66 per cent on foreign markets while the home market is also healthy.

Leading the score board for total sales is the paper sector, which represents 35 per cent, followed by the machine sector with 23 per cent. In third position we find chemical products with 22 per cent, other products with 10 per cent, accessories and machine spare parts with four per cent and lastly equipment, fibres and cloths with three per cent.

Laut einer kürzlich von AfidampFab, dem italienischen Verband der Reinigungsproduktehersteller, durchgeführten Untersuchung ist die professionelle Reinigungsbranche Italiens im Wachstum begriffen. Ein Bericht von Anna Garbagna.

24 | September 2019 | ECJ

La corrispondente italiana Anna Garbagna ci informa che, a quanto emerge dall’ultima indagine dell’associazione di produttori di macchine e attrezzature AfidampFAB, il settore del cleaning professionale italiano è in crescita.

It’s been known for some time that the industrial cleaning sector in France lacks manpower and is currently recruiting in a big way.

Given this situation, the French cleaning federation has set up a number of training schemes, some of which take the form of work-study programmes, and others of apprenticeships.

In the words of Magali Melenotte, who manages the Federation’s apprentice training centre at Villejuif, near Paris: “People don’t always come here because they’ve got a special calling for cleaning, but rather because there are jobs on offer. This year, we’ve got capacity to train 375 people and have received some 300 candidates. At the end of their training, they’ll all be sure to find a job.”

Another example of this positive employment situation is given by Skyscraper, a cleaning contractor based at SaintGermain-les-Corbeil (Essonne département). In that company, things are done in reverse order: first they recruit, then they train!

Among the 18 workers it sends out to clean the windows or dust the streel structures of high-rise buildings in the Defense business area of Paris, there are former masons and former painters - who of course aren’t afraid of heights - but also people who had applied to the company without any experience at all, explains Olivier

Desnous, general manager.

“In my time, you needed to be a potholer or a rock climber or, like me, you learned on the job, adds Desnous. “Today, before being sent out on the field, our people have to undergo a fiveweek training course.

They can also complete a workstudy programme.”

After two years on the job, a Skyscraper worker earns between €2,000 and €2,700 net per month. However, he or she can improve this by working overtime, which is paid at higher rates. “As with all jobs in the services industry, we have to make ourselves available to the customer. We can therefore be called to work on a Saturday, on a Sunday and even at night. In such circumstances, it would be most unusual for a worker not to earn more than the basic wage,” Desnous explains.

Although inclement weather can put someone off, Olivier Desnous has plenty of arguments to attract young people.

“Without any initial qualifications, you can earn quite good wages. But you need courage and the drive to earn the required qualifications. This is also a rewarding activity because it’s not something everybody can do.”

That’s also why, in all the specific areas of industrial cleaning, people with the right profile are very much sought after and never unemployed.

For a full rundown of the finalists for the 2019 European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards see page three of the news section Dans son reportage de la France, Christian Bouzols fait état des efforts du secteur de la propreté pour combler la pénurie d’agents de nettoyage industriel en déployant des programmes de formation.

In seinem Artikel berichtet Christian Bouzols, dass die professionelle Reinigungsbranche in Frankreich den Mangel an Arbeitskräften durch die Einrichtung einer Reihe neuer Ausbildungsprogramme angeht.

Dalla Francia, il corrispondente Christian Bouzols ci informa su come il settore del cleaning professionale stia affrontando la carenza di forza lavoro organizzando una serie di nuovi schemi di training.

LATEST: NETHERLANDS Business models of the future John Griep from VSR, ECJ’s correspondent in the Netherlands, tells us two interesting stories of businesses becoming involved in circular economy activities.

Are cleaning service providers the raw material managers of the future? If you asked two Dutch cleaning entrepreneurs, they’d say yes. Take WEPA. They furnish toilet areas and have been making toilet tissue for years. Nothing innovative about that, you might think - but you’d be wrong.

After spending years on a range of sustainability initiatives, they realised you can only make a real impact by reorganising your entire production process. And the company felt that meant they needed to start from scratch. What is my product? What do I need for it?

Conclusion: “Our customers have our raw material at their disposal, namely waste paper,” explains the entrepreneur during the VSR Knowledge Event on circularity earlier this year.

Waste as a resource WEPA developed a logistical process for collecting confidential paper from their customers, cutting it up and bringing it to the factory, where office paper becomes toilet paper. Old hand towel dispensers are also retrieved and processed into raw materials for new ones. “This is how we create fully circular toilet areas.”

A major component of this is the collaboration with supply chain partners. Returnity, which makes new products out of residue materials from buildings, discovered this too. Furniture, carpets, or – more short cyclic – coffee mugs and paper; no waste is wasted by this company. It has value and forms the raw materials for new products.

Another great initiative: at Returnity, you lease your printer paper. The director: “This is where John Griep, notre correspondant aux Pays-Bas, qui travaille également pour VSR, relate deux cas intéressants d’entreprises qui se sont lancées dans des activités économiques circulaires.

you buy in 100 per cent recycled paper as an organisation and pay a fee per workplace per month for it. We keep track of how much you use and adjust the balance. If we get a lot of paper back (used or unused), then the fee goes down. It’s now even the case that companies collect extra waste paper to lower their fee.”

Need for change This new economy is diametrically opposed to the rise of the linear economy, which has been depleting the Earth for many years. In the crisis years of the thirties, we made a conscious choice for planned obsolescence.

This limited lifespan brought the economy back on track, or so it was thought. We experience the consequences every day.

Indeed, all speakers at the Knowledge Event on Circularity agree: this needs to change. We must take the restorative capacity of natural energy sources as our starting point and see waste as a raw material for a different product.

Different revenue model The consequence is that organisations will begin to make money from the fact that a product lasts longer, whereby the producer remains the owner and earns from its maintenance. An example is purchasing the use of a lamp or a lift, instead of purchasing the lamp or lift itself. After all, it is then in the producer’s interest that products can be repaired, dismantled and their components re-used.

It is a different revenue model – earning from labour instead of from products – but one that retains a healthy economy and a healthy world.

John Griep (VSR), der ECJ-Korrespondent für die Niederlande, erzählt zwei interessante Geschichten über Unternehmen, die sich an kreislaufwirtschaftlichen Aktivitäten beteiligen.

John Griep di VSR, il corrispondente olandese di ECJ, ci informa su due storie interessanti di imprese che si sono impegnate in attività di economia circolare.

September 2019 | ECJ | 25

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MOPPING EQUIPMENT

The two-sided mop market ‘Smart mopping’ has become the new watchword as companies increasingly seek to develop sophisticated systems that gather data and monitor water and chemical use. But is there still a place for the traditional, manual mop as well? Ann Laffeaty looks at both sides of the mopping market in a bid to discover which way it is heading.

Like most things in life, mopping is becoming smarter as manufacturers increasingly come up with high-tech, sophisticated solutions that enhance efficiency and improve productivity.

For example, some smart mopping systems keep track of their own water and chemical use to allow cleaning companies to plan their operations and make savings where possible. Others use sensors or microchips to monitor mop efficiency.

But when one hears the familiar call for a “clean-up on aisle three” resonating through a supermarket, one rarely witnesses a smart, technology-led solution being deployed to cope with that spill of

jam or fruit juice. No: the staff simply bring out an everyday mop and bucket instead.

So, does this indicate there is still room in the market for both types of mopping – the simple, manual method and the more sophisticated technology-led solution?

One first needs to define the term ‘sophisticated and intelligent mopping’ according to Kärcher’s international sales and business development project manager for detergents and consumables Christoph Scheiwiller.

“If we suppose the mop in question uses sophisticated technology and a system that delivers data, that intelligence can only be gathered through processing the acquired data,” he said.

“And data is gathered in a number of different ways: for instance, it could be harnessed with the use of a scanner or by manually recording the movements of the mop holder.”

He claims the industry is divided about when a system can be called a ‘sophisticated mopping solution’. “If it involves recording tasks and activities, almost all big suppliers are willing to offer digital solutions to their customers,” says Scheiwiller. Besides a range of traditional floor mopping solutions Kärcher also offers ECO!manager which is a software package designed to optimise cleaning efficiency, plus Kärcher!Manage

that records and analyses cleaning times and quality checks.

The key benefit of smarter mopping is that it provides greater transparency, he says. “Labour accounts for the biggest percentage of cleaning costs, so the industry needs to create visibility because only what is visible and transparent can be measured and optimised,” he said.

According to Scheiwiller, smart mopping systems are better suited to larger buildings than those that can be cleaned in under 10 hours per week. “The information must also flow dynamically in both directions - to and from the cleaning staff – in as close to real time as possible in order to create a successful solution in which all staff are integrated,” he said.

“Increasing digitisation demands new communication channels. And in fact, the next generation of sophisticated mopping solutions is already on the starting blocks.”

Filmop’s export area manager Paolo Scapinello agrees the mopping market is constantly evolving. “In the last few years we have witnessed a growth in demand for technologically advanced equipment that is also easy to use,” he said. “Customers are increasingly seeking professional solutions that permit them to gather data about chemical and water consumption as well as information about the various Continued page 28

September 2019 | ECJ | 27

MOPPING EQUIPMENT The two-sided mop market (continued) costs related to cleaning operations.

“So there is a growing demand for technological solutions along with a strong need to control the cost of operations.”

Filmop offers the Equodose mechanical dosing system which is said to provide accurate data on the use of cleaning solutions. The system is also claimed to reduce chemical consumption since only the side of the mop that comes into contact with the floor is impregnated with detergent.

Smart mopping systems are particularly useful in healthcare where the cleaning needs are specific and where costs are typically high, according to Scapinello. “In this sector it is pivotal to maintain the maximum level of cleanliness and hygiene to ensure efficient operations,” he said.

“Offering a cleaning service in line with these parameters can really make a difference in healthcare.”

However he feels operators also need the option to deploy equipment that can cope with quick clean-ups and general cleaning. Filmop’s own Sprinter system is quick and easy to use because the solution is contained within the tank-handle and is released at the push of a button.

Not all mopping companies believe smart mopping to be the future, however.

“Virtually no-one is actually using data gathering for mopping,” according to Crisp Clean’s general manager Paul Frost. “There might be some software shown at exhibitions by some of the larger companies, but I have never come across them in use and have never been asked about such a product.”

Little demand Sales director of Robert Scott Alastair Scott feels the same. “I’ve not yet personally come across any mopping systems that can gather data - but we’ve seen continued growth in the demand for microfibre products with more customers looking for intelligent materials that use less water and require less chemical cleaning agent,” he said.

The company’s Pro-mist mop system comprises an ergonomic spray handle and microfibre pads to provide a quick response to clean-up needs, says Scott.

This is said to feature a lightweight break-

D’un côté les vadrouilles traditionnelles restent en usage pour le nettoyage rapide d’immeubles municipaux et d’allées de supermarchés. D’un autre côté, des produits toujours plus sophistiqués ont vu le jour pour améliorer l’efficacité et l’ergonomie du balayage humide, à quoi s’ajoute la collecte de données sur les besoins en matière de nettoyage et sur la consommation de produits. Y a-t-il donc de la place sur le marché pour les deux types de produits de balayage humide ?

28 | September 2019 | ECJ

frame and a built-in release system to avoid any operator contact with soiled mop pads.

He claims volume is growing in the traditional mopping market. “Demand for quick-drying spot cleaning is also increasing to ensure facilities can be cleaned efficiently during busier periods and reduce the risk of any slips or falls due to residual moisture,” he said.

Role of technology “While the industry is changing, I don’t foresee any drastic changes in floorcare systems in the years to come. At Robert Scott we’re selling more traditional mops today than ever before.”

Conversely, IPC communications manager Gabriella Bianco believes technology to be changing the face of mopping.

“Tracking data has become one of the most important aspects of cleaning today,” she said. “In fact, the IPC Group is now studying and developing this objective in the healthcare sector, tracking mop efficiency through a microchip encapsulated within the microfibres.”

Like Scapinello, she feels healthcare to be a sector in which smart mopping systems are particularly useful since efficient results and safety for patients and operators are the primary goals.

According to Bianco, one of the drivers behind the new, smart mopping trend is a more general acceptance of technology in today’s world. “Technology is increasingly playing a larger role in our everyday lives,” she said. “But at the same time, customers are beginning to feel the need for more tangible evidence based on results and performance instead of simply replying on empirical data.

“This means smarter solutions are particularly widely requested in developed markets where customers increasingly require their cleaning processes to be tracked.”

She claims these more developed markets are also seeking higher cleaning standards, greater efficiency and reduced costs alongside the data that smart mopping can provide. “Additionally, there has been an increased awareness of the need to avoid musculoskeletal disorders such

Einerseits werden traditionelle Mopps weiterhin zum schnellen Reinigen in öffentlichen Gebäuden und Supermarktgängen verwendet. Doch andererseits werden immer anspruchsvollere Produkte entwickelt, um die Effizienz und Ergonomie beim Moppen zu verbessern, während gleichzeitig Daten zu Reinigungsbedarf und Produktverbrauch gesammelt werden. Bietet der Markt Raum für beide Arten des Moppens?

as shoulder and back pain due to incorrect movements or positions at work,” she said.

“For this reason, ergonomic mopping solutions are also being pursued.”

New from IPC is the Kinetik system which offers a choice of three wringing levels depending on the type of surface to be cleaned. By offering a choice of high, medium or low settings the machine is said to improve the efficiency of water use which is claimed to save time and operating costs.

So, is there is room in the market for both the intelligent mopping system and the rapid clean-up solution?

Yes there is – in the immediate future at least according to Kärcher’s Christoph Scheiwiller. “There are still countries today where colour coding is not implemented and where the floor mop is still the standard tool for the job – a situation that seems inconceivable in other countries,” he said.

“And in any case, it is not about whether or not there is a greater acceptance of the technology – it is more about managing the entire use of resources in order to achieve clean buildings.”

Filmop’s Paolo Scapinello says there is definitely room on the market for both types of mopping systems. “In my opinion, the industry will make cleaning even easier in future in order to respond efficiently to ever-changing needs,” he said.

And IPC’s Gabriella Bianco also believes quick and easy manual systems for ad hoc clean-ups will continue to be required alongside smarter solutions.

“Items such as mops, wringers, squeegees and trolleys are designed to back up those tasks performed by cleaning machines, completing the operations wherever the use of a specific product is needed,” she said.

“There are so many different types of cleaning needs that it’s inevitable several types of mopping system will continue to coexist. Innovation will always be sought, but ease of use will also play a key role.

And mopping systems will never be a replacement for machines - but the two will be used hand in hand to achieve the most effective results.”

Da una parte, i mop tradizionali vengono ancora utilizzati per la pulizia veloce negli edifici pubblici e nelle corsie dei supermercati. Per contro, vengono sviluppati dei prodotti sempre più sofisticati per migliorare l’efficacia e l’ergonomia della pulizia con il mop e allo stesso tempo raccogliere dati o necessità di pulizia e consumo di prodotti. Esiste quindi sul mercato spazio per entrambi i tipi di sistemi mop?

PRODUCTS: MOPPING

Wringing

With its new Kinetic wringer, IPC says operators can select the right level of wringing for the floor surface - reducing water consumption and optimising cleaning operations.

This model has also been designed to reduce operator effort, with ergonomic principles ensuring functionality and practicality.

Features include an optimal grip square-shaped to reduce the risk of injury and a 360° rotary knob for the operator’s natural movement. The position of the handle ensures a natural posture position. www.ipcworldwide.com

Confined areas The TruCLEAN 2’s compact bucket-in-bucket design features a nine-litre waste containment bucket seated within a 36-litre wash bucket. This latest mopping system from Perfex is suited to confined areas.

The stainless steel TruCLEAN Wringer, meanwhile, contains hundreds of release apertures on calibrated pressure plates to direct foreign matter into

the waste collection bucket to prevent cross-contamination. www.perfexonline.com

No slipping Ecolab’s Rasant Micro Scrub mop is part of the Care range of flat mops and has been designed for use on non-slip flooring. It can be used on all water-resistant floors but is particularly effective on tiles, synthetic or stone non-slip floors.

The abrasive filament brushes remove encrusted dirt that makes floors look dull and grey.

The microfibres then absorb the dirt to prevent it from spreading.

The new ergonomic design and high-tech fibres provide consistent water release and require less floor friction.

Cleaning and scrubbing in one step saves on time and resources as it removes the need to manually scrub floors during deep cleans. www.ecolab.com

Visit www. echawards.com to book your ticket at the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2019 on October 17 in London

Less effort ErgoSwing is a new mopping system from Filmop consisting of telescopic handle with turning grip and mop holder with ergonomic joint designed for easy S movement. This makes for less strain and increased productivity, together with better floor cleaning performance says the company.

The ergonomic system is designed to clean into the most difficult-to-access places and its rotation mechanism can be locked.

Filmop says ErgoSwing allows operators to maintain correct posture while cleaning floors, and there is a reduction in wrist flexion and extension movement compared to other methods. www.filmop.com

• À l’aide de l’essoreuse Kinetic de la société IPC, les opérateurs peuvent choisir le degré d’essorage en fonction de la surface du plancher.

• L’agencement à seaux emboités TruCLEAN 2 de la société Perfex convient pour les usages en espace confiné.

• Proposée par Ecolab, la Rasant Micro Scrup est une moppe plate permettant de frotter et de nettoyer en une seule opération.

• L’ErgoSwing est le dernier lancement de Filmop, un système de balayage humide impliquant moins d’effort et plus de productivité.

• Bei der Presse Kinetic von IPC können Reinigungskräfte abhängig von der Bodenoberfläche die Pressstärke auswählen.

• Dank des kompakten Designs des Perfex TruCLEAN 2, bei dem ein Behälter im anderen Behälter sitzt, ist dieses Moppsystem für beengte Räume geeignet.

• Rasant Micro Scrub von Ecolab ist ein Flachmopp, der das Scheuern und Reinigen in einem Durchgang ermöglicht.

• Bei ErgoSwing handelt es sich um die neueste Vorstellung im Angebot von Filmop: ein Moppsystem, das bei weniger Anstrengung eine höhere Produktivität bietet.

• Con lo strizzatore Kinetic della IPC, gli addetti alle pulizie possono selezionare il livello di strizzatura del mop in base al tipo di superficie del pavimento.

• Il design del “secchio nel secchio” compatto TruCLEAN 2’s della Perfex lo rende adatto per l’utilizzo negli spazi ristretti.

• Rasant Micro Scrub è un mop piatto prodotto dalla Ecolab per pulire a fondo e lavare in un’unica operazione.

• Il nuovo prodotto lanciato dalla Filmop è ErgoSwing, un sistema mop che vanta minor affaticamento e maggiore produttività.

September 2019 | ECJ | 29

PRODUCTS: MOPPING

• Les moppes en microfibre Copper+ de la société Rezi éliminent les saletés et 99 pour cent es bactéries de toute surface.

• Duotex est une solution de nettoyage à microfibre comprenant des tampons d’épongeage, un manche et un porte-tampon.

• Proposée par Sprimsol, la Fregomatic est une presse automatique pour l’essorage de serpillères industrielles.

• Die Mikrofasermopps Copper+ von Rezi können Schmutz und 99 Prozent der Bakterien von allen Oberflächen entfernen.

• Duotex ist eine Mikrofaserreinigungslösung von Microsystem, die Mopps, Griffe und Mopphalter umfasst.

• Fregomatic, hergestellt von Sprimsol, ist eine automatische Presse für Industriemopps.

• I mop in microfibra Rezi’s Copper+ sono in grado di rimuovere lo sporco e il 99 per cento di batteri da qualsiasi superficie.

• Duotex è una soluzione di pulizia in microfibra prodotta dalla Microsystem che include mop, manici e strutture per mop.

• Fregomatic è una pressa automatica per strizzare i mop industriali prodotta dalla Sprimsol.

30 | September 2019 | ECJ

Added copper According to Rezi its Copper+ microfibre mop can remove dirt and more than 99 per cent of bacteria from all surfaces in one pass. Only water is required, no detergent.

Thanks to the patented Copper+ treatment the danger of germ multiplication within the mop is avoided because any bacteria in the mop is eliminated by copper particles - which have a natural antibacterial effect. www.rezi.at

Split fibre Duotex products from Microsystem are made from a 100 per

Next ECJ - October

Well drained

cent split microfibre and can be used for dry, damp or wet cleaning. Boasting easy glide and using the whole surface area to pick up dirt, the company claims they reduce up to 99.9 per cent of MRSA bacteria using water.

Two systems are available.

MicroSweep Duotex Mop is designed for daily dry and damp low-friction cleaning. It has additional fringes to increase capacity by 35 per cent and collect larger particles. MicroWet Duotex Mop meanwhile, can be used daily or for more heavy-duty tasks, or for surface disinfection in healthcare. www.microsystemduotex.com

Fregomatic from Sprimsol is an automatic press for wringing most types of mop, cloth and other cleaning tools. Thanks to this vertical system, both water and dirt slide away completely, leaving it clean and well drained. And there is no effort for the operator.

The system can be adapted to existing mops and buckets and is also compatible with the dualcube system. www.sprimsol.com

PRODUCTS: MOPPING

Everyday use

Universal

Suitable for everyday use in offices, shops and restaurants is the Durawet line from Ressol, which is compact and economical. The universal head fits most types of handle and can also be used to clean vertical surfaces thanks to the rotating head.

The mop head is microfibre, which leaves a surface dry after 20 seconds, and two different buckets are available single or double. www.hiladosbiete.com

Uni System is a universal frame from TTS for washing and disinfection that enables the operator to reduce the amount of equipment they need. It also avoids compatibility challenges and laundry management of different mops.

mops with micro flaps Uni can also be used with pocket mops.

And TTS says the system is intuitive and easy to use for operatives - requiring less training.

A patented joint called Block System allows cleaning of vertical surfaces too. www.ttsystem.com

Less strain Unger’s erGO! clean mopping system is designed to be ergonomic for the user, with its telescopic handle that requires virtually no effort to move it in S-shape motions. And it can be adjusted to suit the height of any operative to make work even less stressful. www.ungerglobal.com

The frame is compatible with the pre-soaking Hermetic bucket and Dosely soaking station, and it can be used with roll, jaw or flat wringer according to task.

Although it is designed to be used with a full range of flat

• Sous la dénomination Durawet, Ressol propose une gamme de systèmes de balayage humide à plat.

• Mis au point par TTS, l’Uni System est un cadre de balai humide universel pour le lavage et la désinfection.

• La conception ergonomique du système de balayage humide erGO! d’Unger vise à réduire les tensions physiques.

• Bei Durawet von Ressol handelt es sich um eine Produktfamilie mit flachen Nassmoppsystemen.

• Bei dem von TTS entwickelten Uni System handelt es sich um einen universellen Mopphalter für Wisch- und Desinfektionssysteme.

• Das ergonomische Design des Bodenreinigungs-Systems erGO! clean von Unger wurde zur Reduzierung der körperlichen Belastung konzipiert.

• Durawet è una linea di sistemi di mop a umido della Ressol.

• UniSystem è una struttura universale per mop per lavare e disinfettare sviluppata dalla TTS. • Il design ergonomico del sistema di mop erGO! clean della Unger è progettato per ridurre lo sforzo fisico.

September 2019 | ECJ | 31

CASE STUDY

The dizzy heights of cleaning The Oval is one of the UK’s iconic cricket grounds, in fact it was one of the 11 selected to host Cricket World Cup games over the summer. Before that however, a thorough makeover was needed on one of the stands and Stadium Support Services was brought in to carry out the work.

being accessed from scaffold we erected.”

The team of eight abseilers is IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) qualified and they can be suspended for hours at a time. For the cleaning of the grandstand, each took with them a bucket of warm water and microfibre cloths. That water was regularly being changed by sending the bucket up and down to the team member on the ground. “They used the first cloth to remove the deep grime, then a clean one to wipe to a smear-free finish,” says Noble.

Qualified abseilers Based in south London, the Oval (known for sponsorship reasons as the Kia Oval) is an international cricket ground that has been home to Surrey County Cricket Club since it was opened in 1845. With its 24,500 capacity the ground played host to five matches during this summer’s Cricket World Cup. The roof of the OCS grandstand, however, was in urgent need of some attention before the ground could welcome the world’s cricket fans. Built 15 years ago, it had never been properly cleaned. So Stadium Support Services was appointed to carry out a thorough deep clean and maintenance survey. “The plan was to use an articulated boom sited on the pitch to gain access,” explains commercial director Joseph Noble.

“However it transpired that all the plant needed would have to go onto the pitch in order to reach the roof, and the head groundsman insisted heavy machinery could not be stationed on the grass for obvious reasons. Tracks would have to be laid down to transport the machines, and they would have to be removed each night. The risk of damage to the precious turf was unacceptable.”

Plant not possible Noble continues: “Access from the roof was not possible with mechanical plant either so we changed strategy and brought in our rope access team to carry out 50 per cent of the clean with the rest

32 | September 2019 | ECJ

Up to 300 cloths a day were used by the cleaning team – they also cleaned using the company’s secret chemical formulation – which were then laundered and re-used. Each operative cleaned between two and three of the roof’s cylindrical columns per day. An anti-static coating was applied at the end of the clean in order to detract new dirt from the surfaces.

The areas cleaned were all steelwork; roofing sheets were cleaned with a reach and wash system from above to increase natural light coming in; the north side of the stadium’s outer rim was covered in moss; birds’ nests and faulty bird spikes were removed. To reduce water ingress, a steam cleaner was used.

There were advantages to not having machinery on site, as the team was not dependant on weather conditions in order to start working every day. And they had to be flexible around various functions (the Kia Oval also has a thriving hospitality business) and sporting activities – sometimes having to suspend work at short notice.

It was only once all the years of dirt had been removed that the true condition of the roof’s beams and structures was revealed, and it wasn’t good. “At that stage we were asked to remove all the rust that had accumulated over the years and to treat those areas in order to ensure the structure’s longevity.”

After heavy abrasion with grinders to

strip back the rust, a primer was applied to the exposed steel surface. Then it was time to apply two coats of paint that had been sourced to match the original specification.

Joseph Noble adds: “The good news is that there is now a plan in place to have regular cleaning and maintenance carried out according to a schedule.”

So with over 1,000 hours of cleaning, prep work and painting the renovation works were completed and the grandstand handed back in time for the Cricket World Cup. Some other interesting statistics around the job: • One kilometre of rope needed for access • 8,000 bird spikes removed • 25 metres working at height • 2.4 kilometres of steelwork cleaned and painted • 5,000 bolts primed and painted • 5,000 square metres of roof reached and washed.

Dermot Reid is responsible for aspects of cleaning, maintenance, waste management, staffing and security for games. He is total facilities manager for OCS Group at Kia Oval. He explains: “The stand had never been cleaned in its 15 years, it just was never a priority.

We awarded the contract to Stadium Support Services because Scott Hudson (operations director) and Joseph Noble are so knowledgeable – with their drive and enthusiasm they were streets ahead of other companies who tendered for the job.”

Delighted client Reid is delighted with the job done by the company. “The team worked well with everyone at the Oval, including the groundsmen. They were very understanding about having to stop work at short notice for tours, etc – and they were asked to stop a few times. But they never complained.”

Reid also had no hesitation in giving the job of painting the stand to the same team. “I was really impressed with their ‘can-do’ attitude – they just got on with

CASE STUDY it,” he says. He also valued Stadium Support’s knowledge of health and safety, which is vital where rope access work is concerned.

Knowledge and expertise In fact Reid cannot praise his contractor highly enough.

“Stadium Support is one of the best companies I have worked with - they genuinely want to offer a good service to their clients. They solve problems quickly and without fuss, and they display such high levels of professionalism and experience.

“Everyone who works for

them is really positive, clearly very happy to be doing the job and totally engaged.”

The good news for Stadium Support Services is that it is winning more and more specialist work like this. “There is always a way of getting something clean,” says Noble.

“It does however, require thorough knowledge of access techniques which many conventional contract cleaning companies do not have.

“We feel we solve problems by making a plan and implementing a systematic process.”

ECJ fait rapport sur la mission de Stadium Support Services, entreprise de propreté chargée d’effectuer le nettoyage en profondeur, ainsi qu’une expertise d’état de toiture de stand, au Kia Oval, un grand stade de cricket londonien, en prévision de la Coupe mondiale de cricket de cet été. Cette mission présentait des défis particulier parce qu’il n’était pas possible d’accéder aux sites de travail, ce qui a nécessité l’emploi de travailleurs suspendus à des cordes.

Das ECJ berichtet von einem der bekanntesten Cricketplätze Großbritanniens, dem Kia Oval. Hier war Stadium Support Services verantwortlich für die Durchführung einer sorgfältigen Grundreinigung und eines Wartungsgutachtens für das OCS Haupttribünendach vor dem im Sommer stattfindenden Cricket World Cup. Der Standort präsentierte besondere Herausforderungen, da er für Maschinen nicht zugänglich ist, sodass das Untermehmen Techniker hinzuzog, die im Umgang mit Seilen geschult sind.

ECJ ci riferisce da uno dei più conosciuti campi da cricket del Regno Unito, il Kia Oval, dove la Stadium Support Services era responsabile per eseguire una pulizia a fondo e un sopralluogo di manutenzione del tetto della tribuna coperta OCS prima dell’evento estivo di quest’anno Cricket World Cup. Lo stadio presentava delle sfide molto particolari in quanto l’accesso alle macchine non era possibile, quindi l’impresa ha ingaggiato i lavavetri in quota.

September 2019 | ECJ | 33

Range of Scent Diffusers

Remove Bad Smells Powerful Scent Delivery Deeply Connect with Emotions

Advanced Atomizer Technology

An Immersive User Experience

B2 000

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MAGIC of SCENT MADE SIMPLE

The true magic and effect of scent is only just being discovered.

In addition to scenting an environment as a solution to mask unpleasant smells and odours, nowadays it is common to view fragrance as an ‘immersive user experience’ in a location.

Organisations are realising the powerful ability of our sense of smell, and using the magic of scent to deeply connect with our emotions. Smell can evoke memories and create lasting impressions, which stimulates emotional responses and triggers certain behaviours.

The Impact of scent.

Scent is an important emotional influencer, and pleasant aromas give places, objects, humans or brands

a powerful, unique and coherent identity. The use of fragrance can affect the amount of time a person spends in a store, igniting behaviours such as morale, brand recognition and purchase behaviour.

The use of scent can also influence a consumer’s decision making process and the effect that smell has on their purchasing decisions.

Vectair Systems are leaders in aircare and scenting technology, and can offer a wide range of scent products to meet your requirements.

The Sensamist™ diffuser utilizes advanced atomizer technology to create a fine mist of fragrance which is then diffused into the environment.

North American Headquarters (USA) Vectair Systems, Inc.

European Head Office (UK) Vectair Systems Ltd

2095 Spicer Cove, Covington Way Distribution Center, Memphis, TN 38134

Unit 3 Trident Centre, Armstrong Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 8NU

Tel: 901 373 7818 | info@vectairsystems.com

Tel: +44 (0) 1256 319 500 | emea.info@vectairsystems.com

AIR FRESHENERS

The fragrance experience There are many different and ingenious ways of perfuming a room and today’s air fresheners come in the form of solids, mists, sprays and gels. Paul Wonnacott, managing director at Vectair Systems, discusses the pros and cons of each format, how they work and what the future holds for fragrance systems.

It’s an exciting time for the aircare industry. Experts have estimated that the global air freshener market is set to increase from $10 billion (€9 billion) in 2016 to $12 billion dollars (€10.83 billion) by 2023. As manufacturers, we are constantly listening to the market and creating newer and better solutions.

We know what our loyal and traditional cleaning sector wants but we also know that our audience is growing.

Scent is appealing to more and more markets including hoteliers and retailers.

High-end hotels traditionally used candles and reed diffusers in their lobbies but they are realising the powerful effects of being able to control their fragrance output. They want more powerful fragrance that lasts longer. They want cleaner solutions that have less of an impact on the environment. This provides a huge opportunity for us to innovate and experiment with new ways of scenting a space and reaching out to these markets.

That can only mean better outcomes for the cleaning sector too.

It used to be all about disguising bad odours, and replacing them with a fresh scent. Now we are tasked with creating an experience with fragrance. Citrus has always been a staple scent for the public washroom – and in many ways it still is – but more refined scents are emerging and

36 | September 2019 | ECJ

we are starting to see ‘trends’ like they have in the consumer perfume market.

We are putting much more thought into the effects air fresheners have on global warming, and telling stories about where our products come from and what they are made of. Dispenser design is also becoming more sophisticated, as now we are placing a greater emphasis on aircare products being part of the wider landscape.

It has been a long time since aerosols ruled the aircare market. On offer now are solid fragrance cartridges, gels, nebulisers, atomisers, diffusers… each solution providing different advantages and disadvantages. We can categorise air fresheners into two main groups – powered and passive. ‘Powered’ means that an air freshener refill sits in a dispenser and needs either batteries or mains power to work. ‘Passive’ means that the air freshener works without a power source and instead needs just air to function. We can also categorise air fresheners by those that are continuous and those that are instant action.

Lasts longer Powered air fresheners include metered aerosol pump sprays, nebulisers, atomisers and diffusers. Each have pros and cons, depending on what the consumer is looking for.

Metered aerosol pump sprays are what we traditionally see in the public washroom. Aerosols contain two different substances - the liquid fragrance and a pressurised gas called a propellant that helps to push the liquid product out into the air in the form of a spray. There is a valve at the top of the can which has a spring to stop it staying permanently open. When you force the button down against the pressure of the spring, the valve opens and reduces the pressure at the top of the can, allowing the contents to escape. Release the button and the spring closes the valve again.

One benefit of an aerosol air freshener is that it usually comes in a fully

programmable dispenser, allowing you to programme it depending on location.

Some dispensers offer an extra fragrance boost during busy periods. Metered valves mean each spray delivers the exact same dose of fragrance each time. Dispensers are battery operated and battery life is good. Users can fairly accurately predict the end life of a cartridge, and programmable dispensers will tell you when a cartridge needs to be replaced.

The dispenser can be wall mounted which saves on countertop space and even though it is up on the wall, it should be fairly easy for whoever is servicing the dispenser to change the cartridge. Aerosol dispensers are usually lockable so that they can’t be easily vandalised.

Programmable dispensers The main negative is that there is a lack of torque due to being powered by batteries, resulting in a heavy mist or poor atomisation. Fragrance falls very quickly and can create ‘pooling’ beneath the dispenser (sometimes on countertops or fittings). Fragrance coverage is reasonable, but has a short ‘hang’ time so the impact of the air freshener is challenged. Aerosol sprays are prone to dripping from the nozzle especially when batteries are low.

They can also be moderately noisy on actuation (hands up who has been startled by an aerosol air freshener spraying in a quiet washroom). The use of propellants in aerosol sprays isn’t dangerous but it’s also not the most environmentally friendly, so many consumers are choosing to go ‘propellant free’ by using other forms of air freshening systems.

The technology behind nebuliser air fresheners, including vibrating mesh technology, originated from the medical profession. In medicine a nebuliser is a drug delivery device used to administer medication in the form of a mist inhaled into the lungs. In the air freshener market, nebulisers have the capability to fill large spaces with safe formulations of Continued page 38

AIR FRESHENERS high-speed aerosol of tiny droplets.

Solid air fresheners are a good example of ‘passive’ dispensers that don’t need batteries or mains power to work. Passive solutions include wicks (candle wicks for example), reed diffusers and gels. Gels are simply fragrance oil in a solid form – the evaporation process gradually releases fragrance oil into the air. Candles set the scene and can provide a wonderful atmosphere, but there is always the danger of fire, as well as concern over the nasty chemicals that candles can emit.

Reed diffusers look appealing but are open to being vandalised or stolen, and can also be dangerous to young children who might tamper with them.

Consistent, sophisticated fragrance. They convert liquid fragrance oil (without all the chemical ingredients) into a fine vapour which is pushed out into the atmosphere via a pump. In vibrating mesh technology, a mesh or membrane with 2,000 laser cut holes vibrates at the bottom of a reservoir, and thereby pressures out a mist of very fine droplets through the holes.

High performance The positive aspect of nebulisers is that they are very effective in terms of performance. Fragrance particles are much lighter and so linger in the air much longer. Units can be wall mounted but they can also be placed on countertops, which from a design sense, makes them more versatile. Refills are easy to change and easy to install. They are however not silent – in fact they can be quite noisy due to a motorised pump. They are most likely to need power from an outlet which means limitations on where they can be placed.

Manufacturers cannot guarantee the exact amount of fragrance used per delivery, and dispensers usually require a vertical ‘jet’ stream so need to be kept upright.

Ultrasonic diffusers are similar but they use water as a transference method – the fragrance oil sits on top of the water and ultrasonic vibrations are created to agitate the water causing the separation of the oil molecules, which releases fragrance particles into the air with a fine mist.

Essential oil diffusers can also act as humidifiers, but the amount of moisture added to the air is minimal. These types of Il existe de nombreux moyens de parfumer une pièce, car aujourd’hui les assainisseurs d’air sont proposés en différents formats : nuages, sprays, gels et formules solides. Quels sont les avantages et inconvénient de chaque format ? Quel est le mode de fonctionnement de chacun d’eux et quels sont les types les plus récents de diffuseurs d’ambiance à entrer sur le marché ?

38 | September 2019 | ECJ

air fresheners are good at scenting small spaces, but they are less effective in terms of fragrance strength and are limited in where they can be placed due to their design criteria.

The very first atomiser nozzle was invented by a doctor in Ohio, USA in the late 19th century, who produced a fine spray of liquid based on the venturi effect.

The venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section (or choke) of a pipe. Think of a straw in a drink – when you put your finger over the top of the straw and lift it out of the cup, the liquid is held in the straw until you remove your finger. His device was used for spraying medicine on the back of his patients’ throats.

The air freshener atomiser is a glass, metal or plastic container which operates in a similar fashion to an aerosol dispenser except that the actuator is a pump, which when pressed a few times creates the pressure to aspirate the fragrance from the container through a tube into the actuator and spray nozzle. The big difference is that the bottle contains just the liquid fragrance – there is no propellant at all. When you pump the trigger mechanism, you lower the air pressure in the tube running down into the bottle. Because there’s air inside the bottle, at the top, the liquid is forced up the tube. The pump mechanism forces some of this liquid out through the tube into a much smaller nozzle, so it turns into a Es gibt viele verschiedene und raffinierte Möglichkeiten, um einen Raum zu beduften, und die gegenwärtigen Lufterfrischer sind als Feststoffe, Nebel, Sprays und Gele erhältlich. Was sind die Vor- und Nachteile der einzelnen Formate, wie funktionieren diese Systeme, und welche Arten von Beduftungssystemen sind neu auf den Markt gekommen?

Solid air freshener systems provide continuous fragrance to small to medium sized spaces, in a safe and discreet dispenser. They can be made up of an inner core and an outer material, which can contain different fragrances, allowing for a multi-phasing effect. The ceramic is infused with high quality fragrance which evaporates at a different speed to the core. Consumers tend to appreciate the materials used in solid air fresheners, with ingredients like seaweed and materials like EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate). One big advantage of a solid air freshener is it is simple to use – there is little human interaction required and the system can be left to run by itself. It is ideal for use in smaller or harder-to-reach areas like lifts and corridors.

The downside of passive air fresheners is the inability to programme them.

The popularity of fully programmable technology is on the rise, with customers appreciating the ability to fully control their dispenser outputs. If a fragrance is too strong, they can turn it down, or vice versa. Consistency is also key—people want fragrance that lasts, mainly due to the fact that fragrances are becoming more pleasing. For an aircare dispenser to be truly consistent, it needs efficient fragrance dispersal, dispensing a fine mist with smaller particles that stay in the air for longer. Ultimately, sophisticated venues need sophisticated, state-of-theart aircare systems – and we continue to innovate to fill that need.

Esistono molti metodi diversi e ingegnosi per profumare una stanza e i deodoranti per ambienti di oggi sono disponibili in formato solido, a nebulizzazione, spray o gel. Quali sono i pro e i contro di ogni tipologia, come funzionano questi sistemi e quali sono i tipi più nuovi di fragranze che arrivano sul mercato?

PRODUCTS: AIR FRESHENERS Safer, greener

Hyprom says it has developed a greener, safer fragrancing technology that replaces aerosol without compromising on efficiency. BLO2 deodorises areas suffering with bad smells, while BLO2 Life is designed to create pleasant fragrance in living spaces.

Each comes in five dedicated fragrances and the dispensers allow for personalised programming. There are two designs and two colours (white/silver or black/silver) and one unit covers up to 120 cubic metres. A refill lasts for up to four months. www.hyprom.com

No batteries The Airplus Ellipse is a batteryfree, door-mounted air freshener solution for washroom cubicles. Developed by Kennedy Hygiene Products it boasts ease of service with easy loading and activation of the refill - the

cartridge has been designed to activate inside the dispenser using the action created by closing the cover.

The built-in wick technology allows a constant fragrance release over a 60-day period and five fragrances are available.

Airplus comes in four finishes - standard white and three premium versions: designer grey, chrome and satin. kennedy-hygiene.com

Provence scent JVD partnered with a French perfume maker to create four fragrances for Yaliss, its latest dispenser. This features four modes: continuous programming or day/night mode both available in two speeds, fast or regular.

An integrated fan ensures continuous and homogenous diffusion, and the fan can be programmed to function only when the light is turned on.

The dispenser features a double-walled cartridge. A waterproof side protects the cartridge and allows for a simple press to release the perfume. A microporous wall lets the scent through

and allows for constant fragrance release. www.jvd.fr

Dual purpose Fresh2Clean is a flexible washroom system because it combines two separate refills, one containing a biological cleaner and the other air freshening fragrance, through one dispenser.

This Delt Papir system can be set to deliver one or both products independently or simultaneously, to clean toilets and urinals automatically or create an odour-free environment, or both.

There are two separate refills to ensure performance of either product is not compromised.

And there are various operating modes - the dispenser can be programmed manually or there is a model with smart HygieneEye technology which enables remote monitoring.

Air freshening refills come in four fragrances that work with a built-in reservoir and wick for low VOCs and a fan that distributes fragrance further into the room. www.tubeless.com

• Les BLO2 et BLO2 Life sont des systèmes de diffusion proposés par Hyprom avec un souci de protection de l’environnement.

• Airplus Ellipse est un diffuseur d’ambiance sans pile monté sur la porte de cabines de WC. • JVD, le nouveau diffuseur d’ambiance de la société Yaliss, produit une fragrance délicate et de longue durée.

• Proposé par Delt Papier, le Fresh2Clean est un système à double emploi comprenant un nettoyant biologique et un assainisseur d’air.

• Bei BLO2 und BLO2 Life handelt es sich um Lufterfrischersysteme, die von Hyprom im Hinblick auf Umweltfreundlichkeit entwickelt wurden.

• Bei Airplus Ellipse handelt es sich um einen batterielosen Lufterfrischer zur Befestigung an Türen in Waschraumkabinen.

• Der neue Spender Yaliss von JVD wurde entwickelt, um kontinuierliche und langanhaltende zarte Beduftung zu bieten.

• Fresh2Clean von Delt Papir ist ein Zweizwecksystem, das ein biologisches Reinigungsmittel und einen Lufterfrischer kombiniert.

• BLO2 e BLO2 Life sono sistemi di profumazione dell’aria prodotti dalla Hyprom e sviluppati pensando all’ambiente.

• Airplus Ellipse è un profumatore per ambienti senza batteria, montato sulle porte dei cubicoli dei bagni pubblici.

• Il nuovo dispenser Yaliss della JVD è progettato per offrire una fragranza delicata costante e a lunga durata.

• Fresh2Clean della Delt Papir è un sistema a doppio uso che include un detergente biologico e un deodorante per ambienti.

September 2019 | ECJ | 39

PARTNERSHIPS

International innovation Phil Smith, group sales director for Excellerate Services UK - LCC and Templewood, highlights the benefits of international partnerships to transform cleaning provision.

The sheer volume of companies involved in the cleaning sector means competition for business is a constant. This has its challenges, but also means the sector is a hotbed for entrepreneurialism and innovation as people look to find their niche or set themselves apart from the competition.

Today’s business is also increasingly global in scope, so building partnerships or merging with a company that has international expertise can be a good proposition.

This can provide a company with added skills and capabilities which enable them to service existing clients in their home market better. This may also help to win new contracts in a competitive market.

Additional benefits include efficiencies from shared delivery systems, innovation from new methods, and long-term financial stability and investment in talent.

Know what you want to achieve Before you enter into any form of international partnership, be clear about what you expect from the arrangement.

An international merger or acquisition just because a company becomes available is a recipe for failure. Any partnership must be consistent with the strategic direction of the businesses involved. You need to know what you want to achieve, and which type of company is going to help you meet this strategy.

In our own case two recently merged cleaning, FM and security specialists LCC and Templewood Services have been able to enhance the breadth and depth of our offering in the UK through our respective acquisitions by Excellerate Property Services. Headquartered in South Africa, our parent company is well established

as a major property solutions company across sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and now brings its best practice business processes to the UK. Presenting our combined capabilities under a single brand is an exciting new chapter in our UK development.

Our new partnership has, for example, enhanced offerings in cleaning and FM provision, whilst our existing security expertise in the UK is now significantly extended by introducing Excellerate Service’s experience – as one of Africa’s largest security organisations - of providing integrated risk management solutions.

Whilst it’s important to recognise all of our clients have a unique set of challenges that require a bespoke approach, a good group partnership enables organisations to deliver a tailored solution based on combined specialist products and services.

Cultural and strategic fit Each company brings a different set of sector focuses, priorities, resources and competencies to the partnership. The challenge of any partnership is to bring diverse contributions together, linked by a common vision in order to achieve shared goals. A strong senior management team must be in place to oversee the strategic positioning of the business moving forward and develop opportunities to work more closely together to grow the group.

It’s important that the international business or businesses that you enter into a partnership with has a similar philosophy to your own, and systems and processes that complement yours. Our three companies, for example, have a shared focus on innovation and continuous improvement to ensure quality client care and a strong emphasis on sustainability.

There are, of course, challenges in any shared decision-making process and the need to build consensus by making changes, but this does not need to be complicated. Time and effort must be put into exploring, establishing and managing the partner relationships. In some instances, it is represented by a different way to do

business more efficiently, through fresh attitudes and approaches.

People The working environment and culture play an important role in the success of any international partnership. The organisation needs to challenge and provide opportunities for talented people to shine and take responsibility, as it’s people that make a successful business.

One of the benefits of international partnerships is that there is a wider pool of talent, including technical expertise and experience, to draw upon. Working alongside others in different countries can help to enhance people’s professional skills and competencies. However, one of the challenges is that people need to adapt to being part a larger business. Open communications between both individual employees and their managers and teams and other teams (for example, purchasing and production, or sales and customer services) is vital.

It is important all colleagues receive fair pay and on-going training. This helps to build the right environment for innovation. The individual being trained will gain confidence from learning new and important skills and from the investment that has been made in them. Their increased knowledge will help to reinforce best practice and help them achieve their full potential in the workplace. At the same time, clients benefit from having a reliable, professional and motivated people. If a company is widely respected as an ethical, fair and honest employer, it will nurture and retain the high calibre workforce it needs for success.

Continuous improvement The pace of change is relentless, and the cleaning sector is making huge progress. To continuously improve cleaning service provision, there is a wealth of new ideas to consider implementing across multiple vertical sectors. Sharing international best practice and challenging Continued page 42

September 2019 | ECJ | 41

PARTNERSHIPS International innovation (continued) accepted trends, is one way to guarantee innovation is truly championed.

As well as having access to a broader combination of specialist property solutions, our existing and new clients, for example, will benefit from Excellerate’s technology platforms and extensive IP around providing integrated services. Designed to deliver a transparent and efficient service, this includes the Velocity system which enables biometric management of labour, digital management of service level agreements and real-time contract management.

Eye to the future It is important the management team has a clear business strategy that can be communicated to staff, customers and other key stakeholders. We are focused on further enhancing the customer experience De nos jours, les activités de propreté prennent une dimension toujours plus mondiale faisant que l’établissement de partenariats ou la fusion avec une autre entreprise de surface internationale peut s’avérer une démarche utile.

September 2019 | ECJ | 42

and continuous improvement, enabling us to be recognised as leaders in integrated services provision.

The commitment to our UK business from another continent comes at a significant time as the full impact of Brexit is yet to be known. We believe that

a stronger support services market will benefit both the buyer and the supplier by providing value, rather than being driven by cost alone. This will improve the overall sustainability and success of the cleaning and FM sector and the global economy as a whole.

Bei heutigen Reinigungsfirmen handelt es sich in zunehmendem Maße um globale Unternehmen, sodass der Aufbau von Partnerschaften oder der Zusammenschluss mit einer Firma, die über internationale Kompetenz verfügt, ein guter Vorschlag sein kann.

Al giorno d’oggi le attività di pulizia sono sempre più di portata globale quindi creare delle fusioni con delle imprese che hanno esperienza internazionale può essere una buona prospettiva.

CARPET CARE

Does carpet type matter?

How far does the type of carpet in an office, hotel, restaurant or other facility impact on the method used to clean it? We ask manufacturers what dictates the cleaning regime: the type of carpet, the type of soiling - or a mixture of both.

It is therefore apparent the type of carpet should be borne in mind when coming up with a cleaning plan. But is the type of carpet a more important consideration than the type of soiling in question?

Both factors should be considered equally according to Prochem Europe sales manager Phil Jones. “Different cleaning methods have been developed to remove different types and amounts of soiling,” he said. “For this reason, some carpet and carpet tile manufacturers specify a certain cleaning regime to maintain their product.”

Fibre sensitivity There was a time when most carpets were made from wool – a natural material that was hard-wearing, easy to dye and easy to source. However wool was also relatively expensive which meant carpet manufacturers were motivated to start looking around for alternatives.

These became widely available in the 20th century in the shape of synthetic fibres such as nylon, polyester and polypropylene. Nylon was durable and hardwearing while polyester was hydrophobic, which made it inherently resistant to staining. And polypropylene was a good all-round material and cheaper to source than most other alternatives.

But over recent years the carpet industry has snowballed and new materials have started coming on stream at a rapidly-increasing rate. These days it is not uncommon to come across carpets made from bamboo, viscose, natural sea grass, coir, coconut or sisal for example.

Having such a wide choice of materials has led to the market becoming buoyant and dynamic. But it has also caused headaches for the carpet care companies because each material reacts differently to cleaning. For example, some vegetable materials shrink when wet while others discolour. Wool tends to hold on to waterbased stains but release oil effectively.

Meanwhile, polypropylene releases water easily but retains oil-based stains - and nylon holds on to both.

For example, manufacturers may discourage spray extraction cleaning but recommend using a dry compound instead, he said. “In some cases this may be to protect the carpet backing material, or it may be due to the sensitivity of certain fibres such as jute or sisal,” he said.

“However most carpet fibres can usually be wet-cleaned.”

He says the type of carpet in question has a decided impact on the cleaning method. “Cleaning a shagpile carpet would bring certain changes to the methodology, for example, whereas an extraction detergent would be beneficial when cleaning a cotton carpet,” he says. He suggests the use of Prochem B109 Fibre and Fabric Rinse as an extraction detergent in this instance. “This has the potential to help prevent any cellulosic browning from potentially being released and leaching on to the surface,” he said.

The easiest and safest maintenance method for cleaning wool or synthetic carpets is encapsulation, according to Jones.

“Deep pile carpets will hold more soil and may require full hot water extraction cleaning,” he adds.

Different cleaning methods are designed to remove different amounts of soiling depending on whether the carpet requires a maintenance clean, a deep clean or a restoration clean, he said. “For instance, If the carpet or carpet tile has a loop pile then bonnet skimming or brush-

ing may not be the most suitable method, since the friction caused by a rotary method may cause abrasion to the looppile carpet,” he said.

The type of environment in which the carpet has been laid can also make a difference to the cleaning methodology, he says. “For example, a wool carpet that has been laid outside the kitchen area of a popular restaurant would have hundreds of visitors walking over it and potentially dropping greasy food on to the carpet,” he said. “As a result it may become black and thick with grease which will be trampled in by the constant traffic. This type of carpet would then need special attention by a technician.”

He says a strong, alkaline pre-treatment such as Prochem’s S789 Power Burst would effectively tackle large amounts of deeply-ingrained grease. Once this grease has been released from the fibres the carpet should then be treated with an acidic rinse detergent such as Prochem B109 Fibre and Fabric Rinse, he said.

“The same wool carpet in a domestic environment would not have the same footfall as the commercial area so would not have the same levels of soiling,” he said. Here he would recommend a less alkaline, softer pre-treatment such as B107 Prespray Gold before rinse-extracting with Prochem B109 as before.

Many methods According to Jones, carpets may be cleaned and maintained using a wide variety of methods. “Options range from very low moisture systems to hot water extraction methods,” he said. “But the actual amount of moisture used by the operator needs to be carefully thought through: there needs to be enough to release the soiling contained within the carpet but not so much as to cause the carpet to shrink, ripple or initiate cellulosic browning.”

He believes the safest - and potentially the quickest - method of carpet cleaning in an environment such as a commercial office is to bonnet skim the area. “HowevContinued page 44

September 2019 | ECJ | 43

CARPET CARE Does carpet type matter? (continued) er, this will only remove the surface soiling and leave deeper soiling in place,” he said.

“This method therefore needs to be built into a full maintenance programme that also includes periodic hot water extraction cleaning to allow water and detergents to go deep and clean further down.”

Companies like Prochem work closely with carpet manufacturers to advise on available cleaning techniques, says Jones.

“We will also train our customers on how best to maintain their choice of floor covering – something that often represents a high investment,” he said.

Legend Brands Europe executive general manager Paul Brown says there is usually no need to change the cleaning method according to the type of carpet in question.

“It is only the cleaning solutions that need to be different,” he said.

Identify the carpet The type of soiling will determine the solutions used along with the type of carpet, he adds. “Both factors should be given equal consideration,” he said. “I would recommend hot water extraction for cleaning all types of carpet, and the only time you would use a different cleaning method would be for a light maintenance clean or if the carpet is not wet-cleanable.”

However he adds it is important to identify the type of carpet prior to cleaning.

“For example, for a wool carpet you would use wool-safe products,” he said.

According to Brown, vacuuming should be part of the process in all cases. “Prespray solutions should be used when cleaning heavy traffic areas, followed by a hot water solution extraction via portable extractor or truckmount,” he said.

He says delicate cleaning is required on some new types of carpets such as sea grass, rayon, viscose and silk. Legend Brands Europe offers a range of carpet cleaning solutions and spot removal products under the Chemspec brand.

It is not only the newer types of carpet material that cause problems for manufacturers, says Diversey’s global Taski portfolio manager Lawrence Osborne.

“Expensive wool and wool-mix carpets are well known to shrink or even bleed colour if too much water or chemical is used,” Dans quelle mesure le choix d’un tapis déterminera-til le choix de son procédé de nettoyage ? Dans quelles situations faut-il recourir au nettoyage par injectionextraction ou à l’aspiration simple, au nettoyage par point, au shampouinage, à l’application de produits chimiques, etc. ? Nous proposons une ventilation des méthodes de soin de tapis et moquettes en fonction du type de revêtement de sol et explorons l’influence que les évolutions les plus récentes de la technologie des tapis et moquettes exercent sur le marché.

44 | September 2019 | ECJ

he said. He suggests using encapsulation a comparatively new application designed for intermediate cleaning - to help protect against this problem.

“Encapsulation generates millions of bubbles to avoid over-wetting,” he said. “It has a very short drying time and the application may be used for cleaning the top and middle levels of the carpet fibre as frequently as once a week.” Diversey’s Taski Procarpet 30 and 45 offer two applications in one machine including carpet encapsulation.

The chosen carpet cleaning method should always be based on the structure, density, material and backing material of the carpet along with the type of floor and adhesive used, according to Kärcher trainer Alexander Kendel.

“Depending on the type of dirt in question the operator may choose to carry out a maintenance, intermediate or deep clean,” he said. “In some cases - such as with press boards, jute backing and waterbased adhesives - only damp intermediate cleaning may be carried out so as not soak the carpet.”

He recommends the use of an upright brush-type vacuum cleaner or carpet sweeper for maintenance cleaning and the iCapsol with a microfibre pad for intermediate cleaning.

Wool is a special case because wool carpets are bonded with animal fats, he said. “These serve as a protective layer and should not be removed,” says Kendel.

“Excessive machining of wool carpets can cause the fibres to felt, while strongly alkaline carpet cleaners can destroy the fibres. And only cleaning agents with the Woolsafe certificate are suitable for cleaning wool carpets.”

Plant-based fibres such as cotton, jute, sisal, flax and hemp are sensitive to acids below pH 3 and resistant to alkalis above pH 10, he says. “They are also resistant to organic solvents as well as being temperature-sensitive,” he said. “And almost all synthetic fibres besides polyamides are resistant to acids below pH3.”

According to Kendel, carpeted floors are becoming in greater demand today due to an increased range of patterns, designs and structures on the market. “With proper cleaning carpets are also suitable for allergy-sufferers as they hold the dust well compared with hard floor coverings where the dust is raised with the slightest of breezes,” he said.

But he adds it is always crucial to consider the cleaning and care instructions before tackling a carpet cleaning task. “A precise knowledge of the properties of the carpet and its cleanability are essential,” he said.

In welchem Maße wirkt sich die Wahl des Teppichs auf die zur Reinigung verwendete Methode aus?

Wo ist Sprühextraktionsreinigung oder ein einfacher Staubsauger am sinnvollsten, und wo sollten Fleckentfernung, Shampoo, Chemikalien usw. einsetzt werden? Wir analysieren die Teppichpflege anhand der Art des verwendeten Bodenbelags – und finden heraus, in wieweit die neuesten Entwicklungen bei der Teppichtechnologie den Markt beeinflussen.

Fino a che punto la scelta del tipo di moquette influenza il tipo di metodo utilizzato per pulirla?

Dove ha più senso la pulizia a estrazione spray o la semplice pulizia a estrazione, e dove si dovrebbe usare smacchiatura, shampoo, prodotti chimici ecc?

Prendiamo in esame le fasi di cura della moquette in base al tipo di materiale utilizzato e scopriamo fino a che punto gli sviluppi più recenti nella teconologia delle moquette influenzano il mercato.

Wool special case

PRODUCTS: CARPET CARE Upright Kärcher has revised its CV 30/1, CV 38/2 and CV 48/2 upright brush-type vacuum cleaners to make them more comfortable to operate.

Thorough cleaning of carpets, deep into the fibres, is done with the electrically driven roller brush – at the same time the pile is straightened up. Thanks to the machines’ low height they can reach under beds or shelves.

The brush can be released and removed without any tools, and

there is a new quick-change system for the power cable.

An indicator light highlights when the setting of the roller brush should be changed so the best result is achieved for different carpet pile heights.

All models can be switched on and off at the handle, which has been redesigned to make it more ergonomic. www.karcher.com

pellency and protection against oil and water-based soils and spills - with the added benefit it can also be used on upholstery. www.prochem.co.uk

No cables

Protection Prochem’s Fluoroseal CF carpet protector uses cationic fluoropolymer technology for durable soil and stain resistance and comes ready-to-use without dilution on most wet-cleanable fabrics and carpets after extraction cleaning.

Application is straightforward, using a pressure sprayer fitted with the correct fan tip spray and a suitable carpet or upholstery brush. It coats and protects fibres, offering high re-

The battery-powered vacuum cleaner Monovac Freedom has a running time of 45 minutes on full charge, says Wetrok, and can be charged simply and swiftly.

The on/off function is controlled by purely touching the handle - when the operator lets go it switches off. This Touch ’n’ Clean technology can reduce power consumption by up to 30 per cent. www.wetrok.com

• Pour un nettoyage d’entretien approfondi et rapide, Kärcher a révisé ses aspirateurs balais CV 30/1, CV 38/2 et CV 48/2.

• Le Fluoroseal CF de Prochem est un produit pour la protection de tapis et carpettes contre l’encrassement et les souillures.

• Le Monovac Freedom de Wetrok est un aspirateur à sec alimenté par une batterie à ion de lithium.

• Zur gründlichen und schnellen Unterhaltsreinigung hat Kärcher seine Teppichbürstsauger CV 30/1, CV 38/2 und CV 48/2 überarbeitet.

• Fluoroseal CF von Prochem ist ein Produkt zum Schutz von Teppichen vor Schmutz und Flecken.

• Bei Monovac Freedom von Wetrok handelt es sich um einen Trockenstaubsauger mit Lithiumionenakku.

• Per la pulizia di manutenzione a fondo e veloce la Kärcher ha modificato i suoi aspirapolveri verticali a spazzola CV30/1, CV 38/2 e CV 48/2.

• Fluoroseal CF della Prochem è un prodotto per proteggere le moquette e i tappeti da sporco e macchie.

• Monovac Freedom della Wetrok è un aspirapolvere a secco alimentato a batteria agli ioni di litio.

September 2019 | ECJ | 45

PRODUCTS: CARPET CARE

• CCI a développé un pulvérisateur embarqué pour sa gamme de machines à brosses contrarotatives.

• L’autolaveuse CT15 Roller de la société IPC peut se convertir en un nettoyeur de tapis.

• Whittaker a mis au point le système d’encapsulage Smart Care TRIO pour le nettoyage à faible taux d’humidité et tapis et moquettes.

• CCI hat ein integriertes Sprühgerät für seine Produktreihe mit Reinigungsgeräten mit gegenläufigen Bürsten entwickelt.

• Bei CT15 Roller von IPC handelt es sich um eine Scheuersaugmaschine, die in einen Teppichreiniger verwandelt werden kann.

• Das Einkapselungssystem Smart Care TRIO wurde von Whittaker für die Teppichreinigung mit geringer Feuchtigkeit entwickelt.

• La CCI ha sviluppato uno spruzzatore integrato per la sua gamma di macchine a spazzole controrotanti.

• CT15 Roller della IPC è una lavasciuga pavimenti che può essere trasformata in una macchina per il lavaggio della moquette.

• La Whittaker ha sviluppato il sistema di incapsulamento Smart Care TRIO per la pulizia della moquette a bassa umidità.

46 | September 2019 | ECJ

Onboard sprayer

Because of higher demand for low moisture carpet cleaning, CCI (Carpet Cleaner Industries) has created an onboard sprayer for its line of counter-rotating brush machines. The company’s existing models can be upgraded with the sprayer and it allows users to spray cleaning agents directly from the machine.

The sprayer can be used for both interim and deep cleaning, bringing time savings says CCI. www.cciaustria.com

into a carpet cleaning machine in seconds with the addition of the injection/extraction kit. It washes and dries in any direction of travel.

The company also offers a range of multipurpose carpet extractors for heavy-duty cleaning of large and small carpets. www.ipcworldwide.com

Hard or soft

Well drained

IPC Group’s CT15 Roller is a compact walk-behind scrubber dryer that can be transformed

Whittaker has developed the Smart Care TRIO low-moisture encapsulation system. The

three cylindrical brushes boast maximum mechanical action and cleaning productivity, while the quieter operation and low-moisture process ensures minimal disruption and the ability to return areas to use quickly.

There is an integrated collection hopper for debris pick-up, lite-touch control for easy use and landing gear to protect the brushes when not in use.

The system is available in four sizes and is designed for use with Whittaker’s line of Crystal Chemistry, which includes options for daily spotting, interim cleaning and deep cleaning to support ongoing care. www.whittakersystem.com

PRODUCTS: CARPET CARE Three steps

No rinsing

Diversey says it offers all the necessary products for the three-step carpet maintenance process. For daily treatment of spots and spillages, for example, it developed spot removers and more specialist formulas for oils and chewing gum.

Carpet encapsulation can be used for intermediate cleaning and the company’s TASKI pro carpet 30 and 45 offer two applications in one machine. They can also be used to deep clean the dirtiest carpets using the extraction function. www.diversey.com

Novatep is a new carpet cleaning product from Kleen Purgatis that does not require rinsing, particularly when the extraction process is used.

This means lower water consumption, less textile damage and reduced drying times.

Because Novatep contains no enzymes, tensides, optical brighteners or solvents carpets are cleaned sustainably and no residues are left behind. www.kleenpurgatis.de

Ultra light LB4 L-ion Digital Pro is the new ultra light battery backpack vacuum cleaner from Lindhaus.

Equipped with a new Rotafil brushless digital motor this

model weighs 450g, operates at 62-65 db(A) and can run for 60 minutes continuously. There is a ‘turbo’ function for one minute of super-suction if necessary.

The remote control has a number of functions: on/off, three-speeds switch, full bag light, motor over temperature light and battery level. There is six-stage filtration and blower function is also part of the standard package. www.lindhaus.it

• Diversey propose des produits pour le nettoyage quotidien, l’entretien intermédiaire et le traitement périodiques de tapis et moquettes.

• Novatep est une nouvelle formule intégrale, proposée par Kleen Purgatis et n’exigeant aucun rinçage, pour le nettoyage par injection-extraction.

• La société Lindhaus a introduit l’aspirateur électrique à dos LB4 Superleggera L-iion, qui ne pèse que 4,9 kg.

• Diversey bietet Produkte für die tägliche Teppichreinigung, Zwischenreinigung und regelmäßige Behandlung.

• Bei Novatep handelt es sich um eine neue MehrzweckFormel von Kleen Purgatis zur Extraktionsreinigung, bei der kein Nachspülen erforderlich ist.

• Neu von Lindhaus ist der RückenStaubsauger LB4 Superleggera, der in den Ausführungen L-ion und Electric erhältlich ist und nur 4,9 kg wiegt.

• La Diversey propone prodotti per la pulizia quotidiana delle moquette, la manutenzione intermedia e i trattamenti periodici.

• Novatep è una nuova formula “tutto in uno” della Kleen Purgatis per la pulizia a estrazione che non richiede risciacquo.

• Il nuovo prodotto della Lindhaus è l’aspirapolvere a zaino LB4 Superleggera L-iion/Electric che pesa soltanto 4,9kg.

September 2019 | ECJ | 47

Become our strategic country partner

Your platform for used cleaning machines buy/ sell / rental Visit cleanmachines24 at the CMS 2019 in Berlin from 24. – 27. September 2019.

We are going international: We are looking for strategic partners who would like to conquer the market of second-hand cleaning machines in your country with us.

If you are interested, please contact us for further information.

www.cleanmachines24.com

You will find us in hall 2.2 at booth 105.

BUSINESS: MODERN WORKING

No more nine to five?

Working nine-to-five may soon have meaning only as a Dolly Parton lyric screeched out at karaoke bars. Employees today are singing a different tune craving greater flexibility in their lives. Hartley Milner looks at how one business granted its people their wish.

Evolving technologies are transforming the world of work in ways we would have dismissed as science fiction not so long ago. Who of us could have seen the emergence of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data storage in a cloud? All were dreamt up to help us function more smartly.

Yet we cling on to some work-related traditions that are anything but smart.

It seems barely credible, for example, that we still put ourselves through the indignities of the morning commute.

Where is the joy in being ensnared in gridlocked traffic or standing in a stuffy rail carriage wedged between the student blaring out scratchy music through headphones and the guy who sprinkles garlic on his cornflakes?

Online recruitment site Totaljobs found that the average UK worker spends 400 days of their life commuting…enough time to listen to the Beatles’ entire back catalogue 990 times (through noise-dampening headphones, please!).

Meanwhile, workers travelling into London lose 559 days out of their life. Commutes into the capital cost on average €335 a month, €216,000 over a lifetime.

Then when you arrive at your place of work, fatigued and fuming, you find you have simply exchanged one stressful environment for another. Efficiency already impaired, you now have to plough your way through your day’s workload, perhaps to a tight deadline while being constantly distracted by trivial issues, constant noise and interminable meetings.

As your anxiety levels soar, you may start to question whether you fully understand your role and responsibilities, and become less engaged with projects and your position within the company.

Less productive All this impacts on your productivity and you feel compelled to take work home to catch up, which means less time for things that really matter in life… family, friends, leisure and your personal wellbeing.

There are ways out of the madness.

You could do a Reginald Perrin and fake your own death, leaving your clothes and personal effects on a beach before going off to work in a piggery. A less drastic step might be to ask if your employer would allow you to work from home. The boss may surprise you, when he sees the business benefits.

This was the path Shia Brockway took following the arrival of her first child in 2009. Towards the end of her maternity leave, Shia began to question whether she wanted to return to her London-based job headhunting talent for the global science and technology sectors.

New priorities She said: “Naturally, I was thrilled to become a mum. I slipped easily into motherhood and found it amazing. But I quickly developed a new set of priorities.

At the same time, I loved my job, just not the hassle surrounding it. So, I asked if I could work from home, part-time to start with. After a period of reflection, my employer agreed to it on a trial basis.

It took a little setting up, but over the following months I took on increasing amounts of work and before long I was fully back into my stride.

“Not having to face a long rail journey into the City and back has made such a difference. In all, it has added around three hours to my day, which means I can more equally share my time between my career and family life. No more 5.45am starts. My working day typically begins at around 7.30 when I get my two children up, breakfasted and packed off to school.

I may then flit around the house with my faithful lambswool duster and carry out a few other household chores before ‘commuting’ to my office in our spare bedroom for the 9.15 video catch-up with my team. From then on, it’s nose to the grindstone until the kids get back from school demanding their tea.

“Of course, working remotely brings its own distractions. I may need to work into the evening and at weekends to make up any lost time dealing with domestic matters. But overall I find I am more focused on my work, re-engaged with it and therefore more productive. The negative pressures that left me lethargic, not wanting to do much and even a little tetchy at the end of the day have long since evaporated, along with the guilt I felt about being this way. I now have

bags of energy for sharing activities with my family and friends and for some ‘me’ time doing things I love, like swimming and my community work. Life is so much better.”

But Shia cautioned: “However appealing it may seem, working from home will not suit everyone. You have to remember, you are in a position of trust. Your employer will need to be assured you have the selfdiscipline, commitment and motivation to function independently…and not sneak off to the golf course or for a pampering at your local beauty spa.”

Bonaro Boschetti, Shia’s team leader at Missing Link Global, said: “Frankly, we were relieved when Shia said she wanted to return to us. Experienced headhunters in our highly specialised field can be a nightmare to replace, especially those with her multi-lingual skills. We all had days when we needed to work from home for reasons unrelated to work, but this, as a permanent arrangement, was a complete departure for us.

“Our decision to agree to Shia’s request was not motivated purely by altruism.

The more we thought about it, the more advantages we saw for the business as well. So we set up a 12-month pilot with Shia with the idea of eventually offering remote working to all 11 of our UK-based employees and perhaps moving out of our expensive office suite. There was much to consider.

Laws on homeworking “First off, we looked at UK employment law on homeworking. While not exactly a minefield, we had to tread carefully with regard to our contractual obligations, tax implications, data protection, statutory employee entitlements… and, as importantly, workplace safety. For example, when an employee works from home, it becomes their place of work. This means the employer needs to treat the employee’s premises as they would their own. Health and Safety says the employer has to carry out a risk assessment of the premises to make sure it is suitable for homeworking. The employer is responsible for any equipment it supplies and for ensuring it is adequately insured for third party risk. It is the employee’s responsibility to rectify any flaws in the home highlighted by the assessment.

Once the home workplace is passed as Continued page 50

September 2019 | ECJ | 49

BUSINESS: MODERN WORKING No more nine to five? (continued) safe, it is down to the employee to keep it that way.”

Other essential checks included verifying that homeworking is covered under the terms of the employee’s home insurance, mortgage or rental agreement. The space used has to have a secondary purpose, perhaps as a guest bedroom, to avoid paying business rates and capital gains tax on the sale of the property.

“In theory, we could have circumnavigated many of our responsibilities by asking our people to work from home on a self-employed basis, which would save us a wad of money,” Boschetti continued. “But this would be fraught with danger under the law. We would effectively be dismissing them from our employment and once in selfemployment we could not insist they work exclusively for us.

“For the pilot, we were advised to Travailler de neuf heures à six-sept heures pourrait bientôt appartenir passé compte tenu de la demande croissante des employés à bénéficier d’horaires flexibles. Hartley Milner, de notre revue, examine le cas d’une entreprise qui a fait droit à cette demande.

50 | September 2019 | ECJ

amend our standard employment contract to reflect Shia’s changed circumstances. Negotiating with her, we reached an agreement that was equitable for both parties.

Smooth transition “At our cost, we equipped Shia’s home office with all the technology she needed to facilitate her in her work, along with essential security software. Some things, such as a PC, laptop and smartphone, we had already provided. However, we updated her to fast broadband, call-forwarding, webmail and video conferencing to help her stay in contact with her team and clients. Another important addition was a secure VPN (virtual private network) connection for logging in to our office database. Shia was then given training in using the technology and keeping it secure.”

Der geregelte Arbeitstag gehört möglicherweise bald der Vergangenheit an, da die Arbeitnehmer heutzutage mehr Flexibilität in ihrem Leben möchten.

ECJ-Korrespondent Hartley Milner betrachtet, wie ein Unternehmen seinen Mitarbeitern ihren Wunsch gewährte.

The company’s remaining employees were kept briefed about the trial and on its completion were polled on whether they would be interested in transitioning to homeworking. “Overall, the response was positive,” said Boschetti. “To allay any concerns, we brought in a management consultant to address them on the pros and cons. In the end, everyone for whom it would be practical was won over.

“This left two employees we could not accommodate. We no longer required a receptionist, so we sought a similar position for her elsewhere. Our office administrator was retained as our first point of contact with clients at the small serviced unit we now lease.

“There were a few small teething issues, but generally it has been a win-win…our employees have the flexibility they were seeking and the business has significantly reduced its overheads.”

Lavorare dalle nove alle cinque portrebbe diventare presto una cosa del passato in quanto i lavoratoti dipendenti di oggi desiderano più flessibilità nella loro vita. Hartley Milner di ECJ prende in esame come un’impresa ha esaudito il desiderio dei suoi dipendenti.

CMS PREVIEW

CMS Berlin hosts World Summit during show CMS 2019 - the professional cleaning exhibition for Germany - takes place in Berlin from September 24-27.

More than 18,000 visitors from 77 countries attended the last CMS in 2017.

This year the organisers are seeking to make the event even more attractive to visitors from outside Germany, with the hosting of the CMS World Summit, taking place from September 25-26.

The themes are: Cleanliness and Hygiene in a Sustainable World; and Future Technologies and Business Opportunities. Subjects being covered on the first day include AI; circular economy; setting ECJ présente une avant-première du CMS, le salon allemand de la propreté professionnelle, qui se tiendra à Berlin du 24 au 27 septembre. Nous jetons un coup d’œil sur les manifestations de ce salon et sur les produits nouveaux qui y seront lancés.

the course for the future of employee development; power pricing/price management; and a panel discussion about the fair award criteria of cleanliness and hygiene in general contracting. And on the second day presentations will address managing disruptions and challenges in digital transformation; shaping the future of cleaning; digital solutions; and a panel discussion called Inject innovation, Cleaning 4.0.

The first day of the exhibition will also see the presentation of the Purus Innovation Awards (PIA). www.cms-berlin.com Das ECJ bietet eine Vorschau auf die CMS, die Internationale Fachmesse für Reinigungssysteme, Gebäudemanagement und Dienstleistungen, die vom 24-27. September in Berlin stattfinden wird. Neben den wichtigen Ereignisse, die im Rahmen der Messe veranstaltet werden, betrachten wir auch die neu vorgestellten Produkte.

ECJ fa un’anteprima della CMS, l’esibizione tedesca del clening professionale che si terrà a Berlino dal 24 al 27 settembre e prende in esame gli eventi importanti che avranno luogo alla fiera e i nuovi prodotti che verranno lanciati durante l’evento.

September 2019 | ECJ | 51

CMS PREVIEW

• Numatic a ajouté deux modèles à sa gamme d’équipements de soin des planchers GelTech et à ses chariots ReFlo. • Le visiteur au stand Brightwell verra la gamme de savons et distributeurs Myriad, ainsi que les doseurs de produits chimiques ECO. • La CT5, la dernière autolaveuse mini du groupe IPC, est légère et compacte.

• Numatic fügt der Produktreihe GelTech mit Bodenpflegeprodukten und der Produktfamilie ReFlo mit Reinigungswagen neue Modelle hinzu.

• Besucher am Stand von Brightwell können neben der Produktreihe Myriad mit Seifenund Handtuchspendern auch ECO Dosiersysteme für Chemikalien sehen.

• Die neue Mini-Scheuersaugmaschine CT5 von IPC Group ist leicht und kompakt.

• La Numatic ha introdotto nuovi modelli nella sua gamma di prodotti per la cura dei pavimenti GelTech e nella sua linea di carrelli ReFlo. • I visitatori della stand della Brightwell vedranno esposte la gamma di saponi i dispenser Myriad e i proporzionatori di prodotti chimici ECO. • La nuova mini lavasciuga pavimenti CT5 prodotta da IPC Group è leggera e compatta.

52 | September 2019 | ECJ

Numatic

Numatic’s GelTech scrubber dryer range continues to grow.

This is a new type of battery technology developed using the industrial 24V truck design boasting durability, long life and low maintenance. It is used on TwinTech machines.

New to the trolley and mopping range, ReFlo technology uses up to 97 per cent recycled plastic and it can be combined with the Nu-Design configurator to enable users to create a tailor-made design.

And Numatic Hepa joins the vacuum cleaner line, with a three-stage filtration system. www.numatic.com

Brightwell

IPC

Visitors to Brightwell’s stand will see the company’s latest soap, paper and chemical dispensers, along with dosing systems.

The latest soap and paper dispenser range is Myriad, and Brightwell has also upgraded its Quantura dishwash dosing systems and the Eco range of chemical proportioners.

The new mini scrubber dryer CT5 from IPC is designed for small areas and is said to be easy to drive - also in reverse for drying. Its lightweight and compact design, with adjustable handles, means it can be transported and stored anywhere.

For the hotel sector, IPC has developed the Brix Hotel line of trolleys. Available in different colours and shapes, these models are designed to be durable, reliable and functional.

For cleanroom cleaning the 41 BF 57 RR vacuum is ISO class 5 with a HEPA filt˙er. And finally, a prototype of the Titan 151 rideon scrubber dryer with all-wheel drive is on the stand. www.ipcworldwide.com

Also on display are no-touch soap dispensers, the mechanical Autocut paper towel dispenser and new twin micro jumbo toilet roll dispenser. www.brightwell.co.uk

Special report on schools cleaning - see page 67

S U T I VIS lin C MS B

er

7, 2019 2 – 4 2 Se p 230 / 212 + 2 .

4 l l Ha

The new Origo 2 The most innovative cleaning trolley we’ve ever built Achieve perfect cleaning results faster, safer, cleaner, smarter, greener and with more flexibility.

Discover the details at: origo2.vileda-professional.com

CMS PREVIEW Tennant T350 with Click-Cart stand-on scrubber dryer from Tennant is a scrubber dryer with cleaning trolley attached. This allows operators to optimise cleaning shifts by having both tools and machine readily available when they need them.

There is a new line of dry canister vacuum cleaners, and some wet/dry vacuums. And the autonomous T7 Micro-Rider scrubber is also on the stand. www.tennantco.com

All Care All Care specialises in washroom dispensers and accessories bins, hand- and hair dryers - for office and industrial environ• Parmi les produits exposés par Tennant figurent une nouvelle gamme d’aspirateurs et la T7, une autolaveuse robotique autonome • Parmi les nouveaux produits All Care figurent une table de changement de couches et les distributeurs de savon PlastiQ. • De Witte a développé une bouteille transparente, fabriquée en polyéthylène recyclé, pour sa gamme de pulvérisateurs à gâchette Tex-Spray.

• Unter den Produkten am Stand von Tennant sind eine neue Produktreihe mit Staubsaugern und die robotische Scheuersaugmaschine Autonomous T7.

• Unter den neuen Produkten von All Care befinden sich ein Wickeltisch und die Seifenspender PlastiQ. • De Witte hat eine durchsichtige Flasche, die aus recyceltem Polyethylen hergestellt wird, für die Produktreihe Tex-Spray mit HandSprühgeräten entwickelt.

• Fra i prodotti esposti sullo stand della Tennant ci sarà anche una nuova gamma di aspirapolveri e la lavasciuga pavimenti robotica Autonomous T7.

• I nuovi prodotti della All Care includono un fasciatoio per bambini e i dispenser di sapone PlastiQ. • La De Witte ha sviluppato un flacone trasparente prodotto in polietilene riciclato per la sua gamma di spruzzatori a pistola Tex-Spray.

September 2019 | ECJ | 54

ments, healthcare institutions and food preparation areas.

New at CMS are baby change tables in stainless steel and white plastic, and the new PlastiQ range of black and white dispensers which can be provided with refillable or cartridge system for soap, foam and spray. And logo printing is free until the end of 2019. www.all-care.eu

The winners of the 2019 European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards will be announced at a gala dinner in London on October 17. Visit echawards.com to reserve your ticket

De Witte A new 600 ml bottle made of recycled polyethylene is being launched by De Witte, which lends itself to the company’s Tex-Spray range of trigger sprayers.

Graduations at the bottom indicate the amount of water while graduations at the top indicate the amount of product concentrate that has to be added in order to attain a certain dosage.

Tex-Sprays are chemical resistant and have an adjustable nozzle that can be set from spray to pin stream. They also work upside down. www.dewitte.com

CMS PREVIEW

Kärcher

tion; real-time monitoring and reporting of working hours; digitalised HR information; working plans and schedules; quality and complaint management. www.vileda-professional.com

DiBO One of the highlights of Kärcher’s stand is the digital product ONE, a digital platform allowing building service contractors to record and organise all processes via apps - from ordering through to invoicing.

All data relevant to the cleaning operation is gathered in real time, making for a dynamic cleaning plan that takes into account current conditions.

A new scrubber dryer model is also being added to the Classic range, the BD 80/100 W walkbehind. This battery-operated model boasts simple operation and robust design and is an economical entry level option. www.karcher.com

Vileda According to Vileda its Origo 2 series is the most innovative cleaning trolley it has ever built, offering better efficiency, improved hygiene and greater safety. It also allows the full integration of tablets and digitally aided cleaning devices.

DiBO’s JMB-S is a mobile hot water high pressure cleaner on a trailer and the company is launching a + version at CMS. Features include track & trace system; electronic level monitoring for the fuel and water tank; electronic gas control with automatic idling; and a Real-Time Monitoring System (RTMS) that enables the owner to see the exact status of the machine on a smartphone, computer or tablet.

There are also four new cold water models - ECN-M, ECN-L, PTL-M and PTL-L - designed to be robust and impact-resistant in powder-coated steel. www.dibo.com • Kärcher a introduit le produit numérique ONE, qui permet aux entreprises de nettoyage d’organiser leurs opérations à travers des applis.

• Vileda présente des solutions destinées à faciliter le travail quotidien des agents de nettoyage.

• DiBO a introduit la remorque de nettoyage compacte JMB-S/S+ high pressure.

• Neu von Kärcher ist das Digitalprodukt ONE, mit dem Reinigungsunternehmen ihre Reinigungsarbeiten über Apps organisieren können.

• Vileda präsentiert Lösungen, die die tägliche Arbeit von Reinigungsmitarbeitern vereinfachen.

• DiBO stellt den kompakten, anhängermontierten Hochdruckreiniger JMB-S/S+ vor.

MicroTuff Easy combines the advantages of microfibre with the simplicity of a semi disposable cloth and comes housed in a practical dispenser box.

The iQonnect app solution enables contract cleaners to digitalise core operational processes. Functions include time and attendance registra-

• La novità della Kärcher è il prodotto digitale ONE che permette agli operatori del settore del cleaning di organizzare il loro lavoro utilizzando le app.

• La Vileda presenta delle soluzioni che aiutano a semplificare il lavoro quotidiano degli addetti alle pulizie.

• La DiBO introduce il carrello compatto di lavaggio ad alta pressione JMB-S/S+.

September 2019 | ECJ | 55

CMS PREVIEW

• Les derniers lancements d’Unger concernent le système de filtrage d’eau HydroPower Ultra et l’outil de nettoyage en intérieur Stingray OS. • La tête de balayage humide à plat Ultrasafe, de TTS, s’utilise sur des surfaces antidérapantes.

• Ghibli a étendu sa gamme de machines mono-disque par l’adjonction de deux nouveaux modèles.

• La Scrubmaster B45i est la machine de nettoyage autonome de Hako, dont la production devrait être lancée sous peu.

• TVH stocke plus de 66 000 pièces et accessoires pour machines de nettoyage de planchers.

• SpaceVac International est un spécialiste des systèmes de nettoyage au-dessus de la hauteur de tête.

• EZshine expose sa gamme la plus récente de tampons diamantés de nettoyage des parquets.

• Bei den Neuvorstellungen von Unger handelt es sich um das Wasserfiltersystem HydroPower Ultra und das Reinigungswerkzeug für Innenräume Stingray OS. • Ultrasafe ist ein Mikrofaser- und Polypropylen-Flachmopp von TTS, der zur Verwendung auf rutschfesten Oberflächen konzipiert wurde.

• Ghibli hat seine Produktreihe mit Einzelscheibenmaschinen um zwei neu vorgestellte Modelle erweitert.

• Bei Scrubmaster B45i handelt es sich um die autonome Reinigungsmaschine von Hako, die bald in Produktion gehen soll.

• TVH hat mehr als 66.000 Teile und Zubehörteile für Bodenreinigungsmaschinen auf Lager.

• SpaceVac International ist auf Reinigungssysteme für übermannshohe Anwendungen spezialisiert.

• EZshine zeigt die neueste Produktfamilie von Bodenreinigungspads, die über eine Diamantschicht verfügen.

• I più nuovi prodotti della Unger sono il sistema di filtraggio dell’acqua HydroPower Ultra e l’attrezzo per la pulizia degli interni Stingray OS. • Ultrasafe è un mop piatto in microfibra e polipropilene prodotto dalla TTS e progettato per essere utilizzato sulle superfici antiscivolo.

• La Ghibli ha ampliato la sua gamma di macchine monodisco con il lancio di due nuovi modelli.

• Scrubmaster B45i è la macchina di pulizia autonoma prodotta dalla Hako che entrerà in produzione molto presto.

• La TVH ha uno stock di oltre 66.000 parti di ricambio e accessori per le macchine per la pulizia dei pavimenti.

• La SpaceVac International è specializzata in sistemi per le operazioni di pulizia in posizioni elevate.

• La EZshine espone la sua nuova linea di dischi diamantati per la pulizia del pavimenti.

September 2019 | ECJ | 56

Unger

Ghibli

Unger’s latest developments are the water filter system HydroPower Ultra, the indoor cleaning system Stingray OS and the QuikPad. HydroPower Ultra is a pure water cleaning technology, which boasts up to 50 per cent savings in time and labour costs.

Ghibli has expanded its single disc machine family with the launch of the O 143 S 10 and O 143 Spray. Thanks to the orbital technology on these machines the oscillating head adapts to all surfaces and enables the operator to work easily and with minimum vibration, even on uneven floors.

O 143 S 10 is designed for everyday cleaning operations such as washing, stripping, polishing, spray cleaning and shampooing. For use on more delicate surfaces such as fitted carpets and rugs there is the O143 Spray. This machine’s spray system features a 12-litre tank, pump and two adjustable nozzles. And because there are many optional accessories it is also suitable for washing and shampooing hard surfaces. www.ghibliwirbel.com

The FloWater Technology 2.0 in each Ultra Resin Pack guarantees efficient water flow through the entire tank, and the formula for the deionisation resin has been optimised for glass cleaning.

There is also a new generation of the Stingray cleaning tool for interior glass cleaning. Stingray OS has an easy-to-fill tank that can be used with regular glass and surface cleaners. And the QuikPad disposable pad keeps surfaces hygienically clean. www.ungerglobal.com

TTS TTS has expanded its mopping line with Ultrasafe, a microfibre and polypropylene flat mop suitable for R10/11 non-slip surfaces - kitchens, swimming pools and spa resorts’ floors.

The abrasive action of polypropylene removes stains and stubborn dirt while the microfibre’s mechanical action captures and retains micro particles of dirt, removing up to 99 per cent of bacteria. Minimal use of chemical solutions is required. www.ttsystem.com

Hako Hako is demonstrating some of its digital innovations such as Hako-Fleet-Management - which offers transparent operation of cleaning machine fleets - and QR codeequipped machines.

With the Scrubmaster B45i the company has developed an autonomous scrubber dryer that is currently being field tested and expected to be available on the market soon. www.hako.com

TVH TVH boasts a stock of over 66,000 parts and accessories and a database of over one million known references for scrubbers and sweepers - including squeegees, floor pads, sweeper brushes and vacuum motors.

Replacement parts are suitable for most machine brands and the company offers assistance in 37 languages plus a same-day shipment, next day

delivery service.

The online catalogue makes finding the right part easy, says TVH. www.tvh.com

SpaceVac

SpaceVac International has built its range of high-level cleaning equipment around a range of carbon fibre poles combined with a safety locking mechanism. A selection of tools, heads and brushes is available.

The company has recently introduced some systems designed for particular price points and specific markets, including food manufacture and ATEX certified explosive atmospheres. spacevacinternational.com

Have you reserved your seat at the 2019 European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards in London on October 17?

Visit echawards.com to find out how

EZshine For all floor care tasks EZshine offers a range of diamond floor pads that work with all floor care machines. www.ezshinepad.com

CMS PREVIEW Lavorwash

Diversey

Dart is Lavorwash’s new small scrubber dryer suitable for areas up to 1,200 square metres such as gyms, car showrooms, retail, hospitals and schools.

Features include narrow body design; automatic brush attachment and brush discharge; removable dirty water tank with a large inspection window for simple maintenance; and large non-marking wheels. www.lavor.it

The Taski Aero line of vacuum cleaners from Diversey is being expanded with the launch of the Aero BP backpack - this can also be transformed into a leaf blower or compact tub vacuum.

The Swingobot autonomous scrubber now features a more powerful Intellipath teach-andrepeat function and better navigation. The closed Taski Protect trolley, meanwhile, provides better safety features for use in areas where open trolleys cannot be used. www.diversey.com

Arcora

The Pu-Pad, says manufacturer Arcora, is tough and unbreakable thanks to its polyether and polyester composition and high density per cubic metre - all materials are recycled. It can clean up to 5,000 square metres and is suitable for use on most floors with all single disc and scrubbing machines.

The company’s Future Pu-Mop can clean up to 40 square metres and the weave technology W-Weaving Easy Glider makes for fatigue-free working, it says. The PU-reinforced back ensures durability. www.arcora-group.com

• La Dart 36 est la petite autolaveuse de Lavor, destinée à traiter des superficies de jusqu’à 1 200 mètres carrés.

• Diversey se présente au visiteur sous le slogan « tout auprès d’un guichet unique ».

• Arcora propose le Pu-Pad, un tampon de nettoyage présenté comme étant robuste et à l’abri des ruptures.

• Dart 36 ist die kleine Scheuersaugmaschine von Lavor, die für Bereiche bis zu 1.200 Quadratmeter konzipiert wurde.

• Diversey präsentiert sich Besuchern unter dem Slogan „Alles aus einer Quelle“.

• Laut Angaben von Arcora sind die neuen Reinigungspads Pu-Pad robust und bruchsicher.

• Dart 36 è la lavasciuga pavimenti di dimensioni ridotte della Lavor per le aree fino a 1.200 metri quadrati.

• La Diversey si presenta ai visitatori con lo slogan ‘tutto da un unico fornitore’.

• La Arcora afferma che il suo nuovo disco di pulizia Pu-Pad è robusto e a prova di rottura.

September 2019 | ECJ | 57

CMS PREVIEW

• Les autolaveuses BMg et MxL de Fimap incorporent chacune le système iD (Intelligent Drive).

• Les pulvérisateurs Accu-power de Birchmeier sont proposés avec une lance de grande longueur pour le nettoyage de façades et toitures.

• Kleen Purgatis expose ses derniers produits chimiques de nettoyage écolabellisés et des solutions durables à tablette.

• Die beiden Scheuersaugmaschinen BMg and MxL von Fimap sind mit dem iD (intelligenten Drive) System ausgestattet.

• Accu-power Sprühgeräte von Birchmeier sind mit einer langen Lanze zur Reinigung von Fassaden und Dächern ausgestattet.

• Kleen Purgatis demonstriert seine neuesten, mit dem Umweltzeichen ausgezeichnete Reinigungschemikalien und nachhaltige Tablettenlösungen.

• Le lavasciuga pavimenti BMg e MxL prodotte dalla Fimap sono entrambe dotate del sistema iD (Intelligent Drive).

• Gli spray Accu-power prodotti dalla Birchmeier sono disponibili con una asta lunga per la pulizia delle facciate e dei tetti.

• La Kleen Purgatis espone i suoi più nuovi detergenti chimici con marchio Ecolabel e le soluzioni di tavolette sostenibili.

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Fimap

and the My.Machine app which provides all information about cleaning operations to a smartphone. www.fimap.com

Birchmeier Ride-on BMg and MxL walkbehind scrubber dryers from Fimap feature the same iD intelligent Drive system which allows the operator to set machine functions through an intuitive touchscreen display.

The iD also features video tutorials offering guidance on how to act in any situation, and all functions can be managed via the display. So the operator can adjust water, detergent or pressure - alternatively they can simply select one of the set programmes such as Eco Mode or Power Mode for example.

Optional extras include Fimap Fleet Management (FFM)

Birchmeier is demonstrating its sprayers and foamers suitable for HACCP applications. One of the latest additions is the AccuPower range of sprayers which are used together with the lance XL8 for cleaning of facades and roofs without the use of a ladder. www.birchmeier.com

Kleen Purgatis Cleaning chemicals specialist Kleen Purgatis is focusing on Ecolabel products and sustainable tablet solutions. New is the Quin Tab range of tablet solutions for all-purpose cleaning - Quin Tab Clean and Quin Tab Care.

These tablets feature little packaging and are easy to use with minimal staff training.

Packaged in recycled boxes, they are wrapped in soluble foil for user safety. They can be used in buckets or small machines. www.kleenpurgatis.de

CMS PREVIEW CWS The CWS SmartWash is a mixing tap that guides the user through a fixed hand washing process.

The patented mixing head inside the fitting automatically mixes water, air and soap. At the end, the device rinses clear water over the soaped hands. This means users cannot wash their hands without soap.

The admixture of air in the fitting ensures water consumption is reduced says CWS. SmartWash requires one glass of water, compared to a standard tap consuming two litres. The unit is sensor-controlled for optimum hygiene and savings in resources.

Also on the stand is CWS CleanPlan, a facility management solution to manage washroom cleaning, and ecoilet, the label it uses to distinguish sustainable washrooms. www.cws.com

Wetrok

SCI-Services The stainless steel line of dispensers from SCI-Services has been expanded with the addition of a papercut model for paper roll hand towels in a fully inox housing, and a multifunctional model.

These two new units join the range encompassing soap dispensers, folded towel dispensers, toilet tissue dispensers, waste bin and toilet seat cover dispenser.

The multifunctional dispenser can be used for either foam or liquid soap; as a folded paper towel dispenser; and an air freshening system with timer. www.sci-services.ch

With its two interchangeable tanks the Discomatic Bolero from Wetrok does the job of two machines in one - a high capacity scrubber dryer for large areas and a more compact model with low vertical clearance.

The KeyCar is a 100 per cent lockable cleaning trolley whereby the entire unit is locked rather than individual components. www.wetrok.com

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• Proposé par CWS, le SmartWash est un robinet mélangeur guidant l’utilisateur à travers un processus fixe de lavage des mains.

• SCI-Services a étendu sa gamme de distributeurs en acier inoxydable en y ajoutant deux modèles.

• La Discomatic Bolero de Wetrok est une autolaveuse munie de deux réservoirs interchangeables aux contenances différentes.

• SmartWash von CWS ist eine Mischarmatur, die Benutzer durch ein festgelegtes Handwaschverfahren führt • SCI-Services erweitert seine Produktreihe mit Edelstahlspendern um zwei neue Modelle.

• Discomatic Bolero von Wetrok ist eine Scheuersaugmaschine mit zwei austauschbaren Tanks, die unterschiedliche Kapazitäten aufweisen.

• SmartWash della CWS è un rubinetto miscelatore che guida l’utente attraverso una procedura prefissata di lavaggio delle mani.

• La SCI-Services ha ampliato la sua linea di dispenser in acciaio inossidabile con l’aggiunta di due nuovi modelli.

• Discomatic Bolero della Wetrok è una lavasciuga pavimenti con due serbatoi intercambiabili di diversa capienza.

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CMS PREVIEW

• Les paillassons Waterhog de Mountville Mills peuvent se nettoyer à l’aspirateur, au nettoyeur haute pression, et avec d’autres machines de nettoyage de planchers.

• Columbus a lancé deux autolaveuses accompagnées, et une autoportée.

• Bonastre se spécialiste dans les tampons utilisés pour le nettoyage, le polissage, la restauration et l’entretien.

• Waterhog-Matten von Mountville Mills können mit Staubsaugern, Hochdruckreinigern und anderen Bodenreinigungsmaschinen gereinigt werden.

• Neu von Columbus sind zwei handgeführte Scheuersaugmaschinen und eine Aufsitz-Scheuersaugmaschine.

• Bonastre ist auf Bodenpads zum Reinigen, Polieren, Instandsetzen und Pflegen spezialisiert.

• Gli zerbini Waterhog prodotti dalla Mountville Mills possono essere puliti con gli aspirapolveri, le idropulitrici e altre macchine per il lavaggio dei pavimenti.

• Le novità della Columbus sono due lavasciuga pavimenti con operatore a terra e una macchina con operatore a bordo.

• La Bonastre è specializzata in dischi per pavimenti per pulire, lucidare e fare riparazione e manutenzione.

60 | September 2019 | ECJ

Mountville Mats Matting manufacturer Mountville Mats is demonstrating its Waterhog family of products, which can be cleaned with vacuums, high pressure cleaners and regular floor cleaning machines.

This means cleaning companies can offer a mat leasing option to customers without the mat having to be collected for washing, says the company.

Mountville can also individually print logo mats, with free online tools available to create designs. www.mountville.eu

Columbus

New from Columbus are two walk-behind scrubber dryers and one large ride-on scrubber.

The RA 55|B 40 and RA 55|BM 40 are manoeuvrable all-rounders with a 40-litre fresh water tank and have been designed for small and medium-sized areas.

For medium and large industrial areas the RA 85|BM 90 walk-behind has a 90-litre capacity with traction drive. This model can also be fitted with batteries for time-intensive

work shifts of up to five hours.

The ARA 100|BM 200 is a 200litre ride-on model for heavy duty applications. Features include double cylinder or disc brushes; adjustable brush pressure of up to 100 kg, all-wheel drive for inclines of up to 20 per cent, pre-cleaning side brushes, water and chemical dosing system, spray lance and protective canopy. www.columbus-clean.com

Bonastre Floor pads from Bonastre can be used for cleaning all types of floor with water only. For large areas the company has just launched a one-step solution to cleaning and polishing - the Duo Xtreme.

For restoring floors that are in very bad condition there is the Bonastre Pro pad, which works with any machine with water only. www.bonastre-system.com

Tracked Aerial Platforms available on models

LL26.14 LL33.17 PERFORMANCE IIIS HINOWA S.p.A. www.hinowa.com

- info@hinowa.com

Via Fontana • 37054 Nogara • Verona • ITALY Tel. +39 0442 539100 • Fax +39 0442 539075

MATTING

Making an entrance A visitor’s first impression of a hotel, restaurant, office or retail centre is formed immediately upon entering the facility. Ann Laffeaty asks manufacturers about the important role played by the mat in terms of enhancing the facility’s appearance and making a good impression on the visitor.

When someone steps into a public building, the first thing they see will be the mat.

So however subliminal, their first impression of the facility is likely to be formed on the basis of what lies beneath their feet.

This puts a huge amount of pressure on matting manufacturers to deliver attractive, aesthetically-pleasing products that will impress the visitor – while also removing the dirt and water from their shoes. But how important are aesthetics in a mat compared with other factors such as effectiveness and durability?

Very, according to director of marketing EMEA at Notrax Giselle Dirckx. “The entrance to a building provides the visitor with their first impression of that facility, and as with any introduction – whether it is to a person, a place or product – that first impression is critical,” she says.

But she adds that an entrance mat should also offer a good level of functionality and be able to cope with a high throughput of traffic as well as having an attractive design.

“The constant tracking-in of dirt to a building is a prime factor in the wear and tear of interior floors and carpeting,” said Dirckx. “And wet, slippery floors are dangerous, which means entrance mats need a high water absorption rate to properly dry people’s shoes.”

On the other hand, a mat that features an image, logo or message can be a powerful branding tool, she adds. “The entrance mat then becomes a sizeable promotional opportunity that will enhance a company’s identity and truly welcome guests - because most people primarily look at the floor as they come in,” she said.

Notrax mats can be printed with multicoloured logos, designs, artwork and photos as well as 3D images, according to Dirckx.

Business manager of COBA Europe Danielle Cooke also believes the matting system to play a crucial role from an aesthetic point of view. “The importance of first impressions should not be ignored because it is all about tapping into the potential customer’s sub-conscious,” she said. “In business terms – particularly in the retail sector - this could be the difference between converting the visit into a sale or not.”

She says the all-important customer experience begins at the entrance to a building. “With today’s choice of entrance mats it is possible to be creative while also providing a product that is functional in terms of trapping dirt and moisture to keep interior floor surfaces clean and safe,” she said. “Even the smartest of buildings will be compromised if the matting at the entrance is looking tired or dirty.”

Clean and fresh Matting needs to be clean and freshlooking without showing signs of wear, she says. “That is why it is important to specify a matting system that suits the demands of the premises while ensuring the chosen product is sufficiently durable to withstand the volume of footfall,” she said. COBA has developed a mobile application called Entrance Architect to aid this process.

According to Cooke, today’s vibrant colours and striking designs – coupled with the ability to create customised logo mats – can be used to stunning effect.

“Whether the customer chooses simple

mats, custom-manufactured products in different shapes and sizes, or tiles laid in different configurations to form patterns, entrance matting can be used to great effect when it comes to creating an impressive entrance,” she said.

Visitor welcome A shabby-looking foyer is simply not welcoming for the customer, she adds. “If the matting is dirty or has become worn, or the pile has been crushed and compacted through wear and tear, it can send out a negative signal to visitors and suggest that standards in the building are not as high as they should be,” she said. “Furthermore, this type of mat won’t be effective for trapping dirt and moisture nor will it perform efficiently in terms of keeping floors clean. And it will compromise hygiene while also potentially increasing the chances of slip-related accidents.”

Investing in a good entrance matting system can help to prolong the lifespan of interior floor surfaces and coverings, says Cooke. “It will also reduce the amount of time spent cleaning and other associated costs while playing a crucial part in dirt and hygiene control,” she said.

COBA’s Logomat Precision mats are said to combine a stylish appearance with a heavy-duty polypropylene structure that provides good scrubbing and moisturewiping capabilities.

According to Cooke, most customers are seeking both function and beauty in the form of attractive, branded mats that also protect floors.

“Branded mats are popular and we have invested in techniques that allow us to integrate logos into many of our entrance mats,” she said. “Mats should no longer be considered boring and should be factored into the overall design of a reception area in any building.”

Country manager of Mountville Mills Arnaud Dewitte agrees first impressions are paramount. “People make up their minds about someone in the first seven Continued page 64

September 2019 | ECJ | 63

MATTING Making an entrance (continued) seconds of their meeting – and the same can be said of entrances,” he said. “When we judge a store, restaurant or hotel we often use the floor as a reference point for overall hygiene.

“Matting solutions will help to keep your facility clean and safe, but the state of the mat is also very important.”

He says low-cost mats often have a low pile that are ineffective at trapping dirt and water and allow these substances to be tracked back inside. “In addition, a lot of cheap matting solutions contain PVC which will curl up, break and quickly gain a very worn appearance which will give your customers a negative impression,” he said.

“Colours, design and messages will all make a good impression whereas a badly maintained, worn-out mat will not be looked upon favourably. And if the borders are breaking off, the colours are faded or the mat is torn or worn, the visitor will wonder why.”

All Mountville Mills mats can be laundered and are said to be resistant to oils, grease and chemicals. The company’s matting options include Colorstar and Waterhog products that allow for a detailed logo print.

September 2019 | ECJ | 64

An important function of any mat is to communicate professionalism according to Alexander Glatzer, senior floorcare product manager at CWS. “Visitors quickly form an opinion about the rest of the facility based on a wellmaintained entrance space, so the mat should create a sense of well-being, appreciation and welcome,” he said.

Orientation function “Mats can also indicate the way to important features such as lifts, reception areas, information desks and tills. They guide visitors through a building and help them find their way, giving them a sense they are being well looked after.”

On the other hand, an entrance area that is dirty or neglected will cause visitors to associate those qualities with the business as a whole, he says. “Multifaceted mat systems are an effective way of preventing issues such as the visible appearance of dirt, dull stone floors and worn carpets,” he said.

According to Glatzer, rental mats help to ensure a building’s entrance retains a smart, clean appearance. “While many mats will retain their well-maintained look

for a long time, regular washing is still necessary,” he said. “Businesses renting dust control mats no longer need to bother themselves with the ongoing care of the products: mats are simply collected, reprocessed and delivered again. And worn-out mats are replaced which means good aesthetics are guaranteed at all times.”

CWS offers a mat rental service and takes on responsibility for the life cycle of its products. The company’s mats can be printed in a wide range of colours in almost any design and be made to a customised shape.

“Curved mats add new energy to spaces while also being able to accommodate unusual structural features,” he said. “And mats can also be employed outdoors for effective dirt and moisture management.”

He claims that multi-coloured mats in different shapes have been in high demand for years. “They tell you a lot about the corporate culture of a company: brands that are dynamically communicated to the outside world no longer stop at letterheads but are making their way on to the matting systems,” he said.

“And there is a growing trend towards the use of mats for orientation within

MATTING buildings - mats that point the way to lifts or used to designate certain areas for example.”

On the other hand, more conservative businesses are still opting for elegant, timeless models such as dark grey dust control mats, says Glatzer. “The reasons for using mats are as varied and multifaceted as the mats themselves: safety, cleanliness, floorcare and reduced cleaning costs,” he said.

So, should matting manufacturers prioritise aesthetics over functionality?

Mountville Mills’ Arnaud Dewitte says there is no reason why a mat cannot look good while also being highly functional.

“It’s our belief that a customer should not have to compromise: they can have

C’est quand il pénètre dans l’établissement que le visiteur se forme la première impression d’un hôtel, d’un restaurant, d’une banque ou d’un immeuble administratif. Et la première chose qu’il remarque sera la paillasson. Il importe donc que le dessin et l’agencement du paillassonnage soient élégants, attrayants, bien conçus et incorporent si possible le logo ou le slogan de l’entreprise. Quels sont les derniers systèmes de paillassonnage destinés à impressionner que le marché propose actuellement?

an attractive mat that also gives the best possible floor protection,” he said.

Alexander Glatzer from CWS says aesthetics and functionality share equal importance. “Making a good impression on visitors can secure the success of a business, while protecting valuable floors avoids expensive costs and also contributes to this good impression,” he said.

Safety role “However, mats have other important functions as well: they help to increase safety by reducing the risk of slipping and they make less work for the cleaning staff which in turn helps to cut costs.”

COBA’s Danielle Cooke agrees health and safety should be high on the list of priorities when installing a matting system.

Der erste Eindruck, den Besucher in einem Hotel, einem Restaurant, einem gepflegten Büro, einer Bank usw. erhalten, entsteht gleich beim Betreten des Gebäudes. Und das erste, was sie sehen, ist die Fußmatte. Daher ist es wichtig, dass das Mattensystem in solchen Einrichtungen elegant, attraktiv und gut gestaltet ist. Vorzugsweise sollte es auch das Logo oder den Slogan des Unternehmens zeigen. Welche neuen Mattensysteme sind auf dem Markt, die gestaltet wurden, um zu beeindrucken?

“Having a mat in place that controls the ingress of dirt and moisture is imperative – and to achieve this, matting needs to be correctly specified and regularly cleaned and maintained,” she said. “And if it looks good too, so much the better.

“With today’s choices it is possible to achieve both these things in a costeffective manner and have the best of both worlds – individual, custom-designed matting combined with functionality and a good cleaning performance.”

Visit www.echawards.com to book your ticket at the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2019 on October 17 La prima impressione che si fanno i visitatori di un hotel, ristorante, ufficio smart, banca ecc. avviene nel momento in cui entrano nell’edificio. E la prima cosa che vedeno è lo zerbino. E’ quindi importante che il sistema degli zerbini di ingressi di tali strutture sia elegante, accattivante, ben progettato e che preferibilmente contenga il logo o lo slogan dell’attività in questione. Quali sono i sistemi di zerbini più nuovi sul mercato progettati per fare colpo?

September 2019 | ECJ | 65

Advertisement Feature

CLEANING IN SCHOOLS

A matter of wellbeing Cleaning of schools has been in the news recently in the UK, as budgets are cut and newspaper reports suggest cleaning is being carried out by teaching staff in some cases. ECJ meets Chan Mehta, founder of The Cleaning Company, which has many schools cleaning contracts. She explains why having professional cleaning staff within the school environment is so vital.

The cleaning of schools has been the focus of a number of negative stories in the UK press over recent months. Headlines such as ‘Poor hygiene causes primary school pupils to shun the toilets’, ‘Dirty schools pose a health risk’ and ‘Budget cuts force school heads to clean toilets’ have alarmed parents, teachers and cleaning professionals alike.

If this is true - if there really is such a lack of knowledge and awareness around the importance of a clean and healthy school environment - it’s time for cleaning sector professionals to speak out. That’s according to Chan Mehta, founder of The Cleaning Company. Her contract cleaning business serves many schools in the area where it operates in the south of England.

“Lack of investment in a proper cleaning regime – carried out by motivated, trained staff - leads to under-performance on so many levels,” she believes. And there are so many negative issues around teachers taking responsibility for cleaning duties, she says. “They are not trained, they are demotivated by having to do the cleaning at all and last but not least, the school has a duty of care to its staff and pupils.

If staff carrying out cleaning duties are not trained properly in infection control, for example, there could be serious consequences.”

Cleaning is also a massive contributor to safety in schools, Mehta emphasises.

All Cleaning Company staff are trained in ‘safeguarding’ for example. ‘Safeguarding’ is defined as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

“Our cleaning staff are often around the school buildings when pupils are present and they are trained to spot when something is not quite right with a child, or a child may even approach them to share a concern they have. That is an invaluable support role.”

Any cleaning operatives working specifically in schools must be fit for employment in that environment, insists Mehta.

“The actual building is just part of that story,” she continues. “The focus is on the end user, the client, and the pupils of the school. And it’s just not an option for the job not to be done properly in my view.”

What are the particular characteristics of schools when it comes to cleaning them? “Flexibility is vital,” replies Mehta.

“The governors are looking for much more than clean premises. We may have to deal with an accident, over-running meetings, etc.

Communication vital “And today’s schools no longer operate simply within traditional school hours.

They are often community hubs, hosting after-school clubs and other evening activities. There is much scope for infection control requirement, and containment is essential.”

She continues: “One of the most important elements in our business is communication - letting our clients know what is going on and what we’re doing at all times. We also have meticulous monitoring – if we have a two-hour shift, for example, how can we make most productive use of that time? And we have a very detailed schedule of tasks.

“We know budgets are tight so we try not to waste time, with cleaners walking long distance for instance. And certain tasks do not need to be done every day – all contracts are tailored according to the nature of the buildings and the number of pupils.”

Mental and physical wellbeing Mehta is highly concerned by recent reports about children avoiding using the toilets at school because the facilities are so inadequate. “Washrooms are a high priority for us,” she insists, “and we always make sure soap and toilet tissue is available for pupils.” This is fundamental when considering the duty of care each school has to its pupils. “It’s about their mental and physical wellbeing.”

Within the schools environment, cleaning and hygiene is not simply a tick-box - and Mehta understands that budgets are often a challenging issue. “All of our contracts are bespoke according to services required and budget available,” she explains. “We have to be realistic and offer the best service with the budget we have. Sometimes we do have to strip back and alter the service provision but we are always honest about what we can offer.

Often, budgets are quite low but we can give the maximum service for that budget.

- with the overall objective to improve standards. We may suggest our clients buy their own cleaning supplies and consumables, for example, and that will save them some money.”

The expertise of a well-trained cleaning operative in carrying out their day-today role also cannot be underestimated.

“Cleaners know why they do what they do,” says Mehta. “We go into a lot of detail with cleaning around risk areas, and we prioritise those high-risk areas. The consequences of not cleaning properly are very serious and it must be carried out by skilled professionals - depth of knowledge around infection control is vital too.”

Why has the situation in UK schools Continued page 68

September 2019 | ECJ | 67

CLEANING IN SCHOOLS A matter of wellbeing (continued) become so worrying? Is the value of professional cleaning not understood? Mehta thinks not. “Schools do definitely see the value of cleaning but they often just don’t have the budget. If a cleaning contractor can go in and advise them, make some positive suggestions, that could make a significant impact.”

Her concluding advice is: “Start with the pain points and make the absolute best of the resources you do have. Be methodical and organised and focus on the needs of those end users.”

Woodford Green Preparatory School is an independent co-ed school for children aged between three and 11 years and has been one of The Cleaning Company’s clients since 2017.

ECJ spoke to Paul Neagle, its bursar and company secretary. “As an independent fee-paying school, we have to offer our parent body a clear value-added proposition in terms of educational quality, pastoLe nettoyage des établissements scolaires a été récemment à l’actualité au Royaume-Uni, car les budgets ont subi des coupes sévères et le nettoyage est parfois assuré par le personnel enseignant. ECJ rencontre Chan Mehta, fondateur de The Cleaning Company, qui a conclu de nombreux contrats avec des établissements scolaires. Elle explique pourquoi il est vital de recourir à des professionnels du nettoyage dans tout environnement scolaire.

September 2019 | ECJ | 68

“Teachers and administrative staff in all schools are under pressure to ensure that high standards are maintained in all these areas, and it would not be in the school’s interest to divert them from their primary responsibilities onto other tasks such as cleaning services.”

Neagle continues: “A professional cleaning company is much better placed to maintain both a high service quality and compliance with regulations such as COSSH rather than relying on other staff whose core skills are better employed elsewhere. They are also better placed to ensure that quality standards are main-

tained including staff training, and that there is full compliance with regulations relating to health and safety and to employment.”

How important is it to him to ensure a clean environment is maintained? “Above all, parents need to feel their children are being cared for in a safe, secure and hygienic environment,” Neagle replies “and very high standards of maintenance and cleanliness are therefore a vital part of our health and safety culture.

“We are educating, caring for and feeding pupils from the age of three upwards, who are naturally inquisitive and not yet worldly-wise, and we are acutely aware of the health risks to young children that can arise from an unhygienic environment in terms of illnesses, which can be easily transmitted, and absences from school.

It is also important for our staff to feel that the school is taking their welfare and wellbeing seriously.”

In Großbritannien ging vor Kurzem die Reinigung in Schulen durch die Nachrichten, da Budgets gekürzt werden und die Reinigung in manchen Fällen vom Lehrpersonal ausgeführt werden muss. Das ECJ trifft Chan Mehta, Gründer der The Cleaning Company, die viele Schulen unter Vertrag hat. Sie erläutert, warum es so wichtig ist, in der Schulumgebung über professionelle Reinigungskräfte zu verfügen.

Nel Regno Unito, la pulizia delle scuole ha fatto di recente notizia in quanto ci sono stati dei tagli nei budget e le operazioni di pulizia vengono, in alcuni casi, eseguite dal personale insegnante. ECJ incontra Chan Mehta, fondatrice della The Cleaning Company, che ha contratti con molte scuole. Chan Mehta spiega il motivo per cui avere del personale professionale per le pulizie nell’ambito scolastico sia così importante.

ral care and extra-curricular opportunities that state schools are finding it increasingly difficult to provide in the current financial climate, and this is likely to get harder rather than easier in the next few years,” he explains.

Highest standards

E-COMMERCE

Polish your online offering The rise of online purchasing has permanently shifted our shopping habits, including within the business-to-business (B2B) sector. to Sam Rutley, managing director at e-commerce agency PushON, looks at how cleaning supplies retailers can optimise their e-commerce offering.

The rise of online shopping has permanently altered our shopping habits – a fact particularly true for B2B retailers. Indeed, up to 93 per cent of B2B consumers say that they prefer to shop online, with selfserve information, direct from vendors.

This shift towards online shopping is naturally changing customer expectations of what to expect from their retailers. For those that rely on B2B trade in particular, it’s now more important than ever to keep up with the changing market and ensure they’re offering the best e-commerce experience possible.

Cleaning supplies is a particular growth industry for online retail. As it stands, just over half (53 per cent) of janitorial and sanitation (JanSan) suppliers have an e-commerce site, pointing to a major opportunity for those that proactively make e-commerce a priority now.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at how cleaning supplies retailers can optimise their e-commerce offering.

Adopt a mobile-first mentality No longer merely a peripheral sales channel, mobile commerce is now an extremely important consideration for any retailer looking to drive sales in an increasingly competitive market. Mobile commerce has grown steadily over time and by 2021, this channel is predicted to account for more than half (54 per cent) of total e-commerce sales.

This growth has also been recognised

by Google, which last year began its ‘mobile-first indexing’ initiative. This means

businesses that see their mobile site as a secondary consideration will see their SEO suffer as Google will now use the inferior mobile version to determine where their website sits in search rankings.

It’s worth noting that, despite the perception mobile commerce is a largely B2C-centric retail channel, more than half (60 per cent) of B2B buyers cited mobile devices as having had a “significant role” in a recent professional purchase. This further highlights just how important it is for B2B retailers to ensure they offer a fully optimised mobile commerce experience.

B2B retailers should ensure they adopt a similar mobile-first mentality, with a mobile site that has a simple, usability-focused layout, loads quickly and is responsively designed so that on-site content fits seamlessly across both desktop and mobile devices.

Clear product information is key B2B e-commerce pages generally need to include more detail about the products they sell than their B2C equivalents, due to business customers’ need to ensure they’re purchasing exactly the right tool for the job.

On this note, it’s important to make product information as clear, accurate and as close to the manufacturer’s original description as possible. Product titles – on both category and individual product pages – should also be easy to understand and keyword-laden, making it as easy as possible for customers to find and select the right product immediately.

While product information can (and should) contain information about the product’s various features and benefits, it’s also important of the relevant technical information is included too – particularly in the cleaning sector, wherein many of the products sold may be hazardous or contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

Prioritise usability One in four business customers cite a website’s usability as the single most important factor deciding where they shop –

over both user reviews and even product choice – meaning usability should be an equally important priority for the retailers that serve them.

A key usability factor is ensuring customers can find the products they’re looking for with minimal hassle. If customers cannot find exactly what they are looking for quickly and easily, they’re likely to click away in search of a competitor. Not only does this harm conversion rates, it also makes it less likely the customer will visit the site again – once they’re gone, they’re often gone for good.

Site speed is also crucial. Not only can a slow-loading site negatively impact SEO – Google takes page speed into account in its ranking algorithms – a slower site can lead to cart abandonment and bounce rates skyrocketing. Indeed, recent research found a slow website can increase abandonment by as much as 75 per cent.

There are many easily actionable ways to improve a site’s load speed and subsequently usability, conversion rates and sales. These include reducing the volume and size of images (saving a graphic as a JPEG rather than a PNG can cut its file size in half), structuring the HTML to prioritise immediately visible, above-the-fold content and reducing server response times.

Customer-centric retailers thrive A key consideration in the B2B retail space is not just attracting customers initially, but also retaining their business in a world of choice. Given this, the age-old business mantra of “the customer is king” holds particularly true for B2B retailers, where repeat orders are common.

This need to put the customer first in order to retain their business is a key source of competitive advantage for forward-thinking B2B retailers; particularly those that combine technology and a customer-centric mindset to take their online offering to the next level.

For example, retailers should consider allowing their customers to build specific, Continued page 70

September 2019 | ECJ | 69

E-COMMERCE Polish your online offering (continued) customisable product catalogues in line with their budget. Through this, businesses of all shapes and sizes can quickly and easily request bespoke quotes and purchase supplies that best fit their changing needs, without the usual hassle of multiple layers of customer service interaction.

To this end, another key feature to implement is a dedicated customer service portal where customers can view all their relevant account information – such as invoices, account balance and order history – in one place. Not only does this streamline the customer browsing journey, subsequently improving retention rates, it can also save resources which would previously have gone towards customer support staff; particularly crucial for smaller suppliers where resources may be tight.

Many of the products purchased through cleaning suppliers, such as microfibre

cloths, centrefeed rolls and disinfectant, are likely to be purchased in bulk. With this in mind, taking steps to facilitate frictionless purchasing, such as investing in one-click ordering, faster re-ordering and a speedy checkout process are all invaluable ways to engage and retain business.

Offer flexible payment options While offering a range of payment options is an advisable feature for any e-commerce store, it’s particularly crucial for B2B businesses. Unlike B2C retailers, cleaning supplies companies often have an long-standing relationship with their customers forged through months, or even years, of repeat business. This in turn means it’s important to remember long-standing customers’ buying preferences and when it comes to payment, not everybody will prefer for their payment to

be processed online.

So retailers should also offer offline payment methods such as purchase orders via their e-commerce site, which must in turn be flexible enough to accommodate this. Ideally, the platform should also enable retailers to make specific payments available to specific customers, split into demographics such as location, order value or customer group.

So while providing a consistently excellent experience across both online and offline channels is likely to remain crucial to B2B commerce success, there is little doubt e-commerce is quickly becoming the shopping channel of choice for business customers. Retailers who invest in their ecommerce offering now are likely to enjoy long-term growth in sales, conversions and – crucially – customer loyalty. www.pushon.co.uk

For a rundown of the finalists for the 2019 European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards see page 3 of this issue L’essor des achats en ligne a modifié en permanence nos habitudes de shopping, y compris au sein du secteur interentreprises (B2B). ECJ se penche sur les moyens pour les détaillants de produits de nettoyage d’optimiser leur offre dans le cadre du commerce électronique.

September 2019 | ECJ | 70

Die Zunahme bei Online-Einkäufen hat unsere Einkaufsgewohnheiten auf Dauer geändert, und das trifft auch auf den Business-to-Business (B2B)Bereich zu. Das ECJ betrachtet, wie Einzelhändler von Reinigungsmitteln ihr E-Commerce-Angebot optimieren können.

L’aumento degli acquisti online ha permanentemente cambiato le nostre abitudini di acquisto e ciò avviene anche nel settore business-to-business (B2B). ECJ prende in esame come i rivenditori di forniture per il settore del cleaning possono ottimizzare le loro offerte e-commerce.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Squaring the circle Recycling our used hand towels should be a no-brainer in these environmentally-aware times. Yet the first ever hand towel recycling service only recently emerged.

Service provider Essity talks about the challenges and the potential of Tork PaperCircle.

As a society we are becoming increasingly resistant to throwing things away when a more sustainable option is open to us.

Reusing, repurposing and recycling are all among the new, highly positive terms that

have entered our vocabulary as we move further and further away from yesterday’s ‘disposable society’ model.

Yet there are countless disposable products that we still regard as essential to our everyday life. How would we manage without tissues or toilet paper, for example? Also, no-one could deny the convenience of disposable nappies or kitchen towels. And in specialist environments such as the healthcare sector, single-use items such as syringes and gloves are quite literally a life-saver.

Meanwhile in the public washroom, paper hand towels have been a common hand drying solution for decades because the very fact they are thrown away after

use makes them more hygienic than textile alternatives.

But with the issue of sustainability becoming increasingly prominent in many companies’ business models there has been a growing resistance to adding to the waste burden in this way. The time was clearly ripe for a recycling solution.

Customer demand In fact it was customer demand that led Tork manufacturer Essity to pioneer its new hand towel recycling service, Tork PaperCircle. This takes away customers’ used towels and recycles them, turning them into products such as toilet paper Continued page 72

September 2019 | ECJ | 71

CIRCULAR ECONOMY Squaring the circle (continued) and couch rolls.

Tork PaperCircle enables businesses to “go circular” by closing the loop and providing a sustainable solution to a niggling problem, according to Essity. And the company believes that its solution is also a world first.

However, the service was four years in development. So why has this seemingly obvious solution been such a long time coming? “When launching a service rather than a product you need to be cautious,” explains Essity’s global brand innovation manager Asa Degerman. “So we had to take it step by step.”

Hurdles to overcome The fact the original idea came from a customer alerted the company to the fact there was a clear demand for such a scheme. But Essity needed to consider a number of issues and overcome a series of hurdles before reaching the launch stage of Tork PaperCircle.

For example, where would the towels be recycled? How far would they have to travel, and how would this impact on the sustainability of the operation? And how many customers would be required to make the scheme viable?

Another challenge lay in convincing customers to sign up to the scheme in the first place. After all, why should they care about what happened to their used hand towels once they left their premises? And then there was the issue of persuading washroom users to recycle their towels rather than simply throwing them away in the bin as they had always done.

When Essity embarked on the project it began by approaching a number of companies and asking to set up pilot schemes at their premises. These customers were chosen carefully since in order to be viable, the towels needed to be recycled close to where they were used. So pilot projects were set up at locations close to Essity mills in Germany and the Netherlands.

Persuading potential customers that a hand towel recycling service might benefit them was not a problem as it turned out, says Degerman. “There has been a general shift towards this type of sustainable thinking,” she said. “But in any case, Tork PaperCircle offers key benefits for the cusLe recyclage de serviettes usagées pour le séchage des mains s’impose à l’évidence à notre époque sensible à l’environnement. Et pourtant, ce n’est que cette année qu’a été lancé le premier service de recyclage de serviettes, une activité dont la mise au point a pris quatre ans. Le prestataire de ce service, Essity, évoque les défis et le potentiel de Tork PaperCircle.

72 | September 2019 | ECJ

tomer. For example, it can help them to cut the carbon footprint of their hand towels by 40 per cent. This helps them to meet their sustainability targets while making an important statement to both employees and visitors.

“Using Tork PaperCircle also allows them to draw attention to their own sustainability via creative communication in the washroom. This then builds awareness and helps to positively enhance their brand.”

The pilot schemes proved successful and customers include large international airports both in Germany and the Netherlands, plus one of the world’s largest professional service companies.

The second potential sticking point persuading washroom users to recycle their hand towels instead of throwing them away - was a major issue, according to Degerman. The Tork PaperCircle concept incorporates bespoke hand towel recycling bins that are placed in prominent locations in the washrooms. But how can one persuade washroom visitors to use them?

“It is a big challenge to ensure people don’t simply throw their towels away or put their general waste in the hand towel recycling bin,” said Degerman. “The content of these recycling bins needs to consist of 98 per cent pure paper towels in order to achieve the most efficient result at the mill.”

chance to get it right and persuade people to dispose of their towels in the dedicated hand towel bin,” said Degerman. “Most people are on autopilot when they visit a washroom, so we use naïve messages to show them the most obvious things they need to do and where to do them. This draws attention to actions that are otherwise performed unconsciously.”

Nudging system

Essity has overcome this issue by using clear signage to remind people of the need to use the hand towel recycling bins. The company works with ‘nudging experts’ to help change people’s behaviour and has come up with a nudging concept called “Everything in its right place”.

Clear blue signs direct visitors to the water supply, the soap – even the toilet itself. Signs on the back of cubicle doors then introduce visitors to the fact that hand towels are recycled in this facility.

The paper towel recycling bin is highlighted by another blue sign while the bin for general refuse is marked with a contrasting yellow sign.

The fact the blue signs outnumber the yellow signs four to one means the yellow sign inevitably draws more attention.

“In a public washroom you have one

This gentle ‘nudging’ system seems to be working. “In environments such as airports we are achieving recycling rates of around 97 per cent,” said Degerman. “And in offices – which receive high numbers of recurring traffic – we are hitting our 98 per cent target.”

Tork PaperCircle is now successfully up and running in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. “We are also seeing a strong interest and demand from other potential customers,” said Dagerman. “We have been running more pilot schemes and scaling it up during 2019.”

Since towels need to be recycled close to the customer’s premises in order to be sustainable, only those customers situated near to Essity’s mills are able to join the scheme. But how close they need to be will change as the scheme becomes more successful.

“At the moment, Tork PaperCircle customers all have to be situated within a 500 km radius of one of our mills to make the scheme viable but the more customers join up, the further away from our mills they can be,” said Dagerman.

Essity believes that the service will gather momentum over the coming years as support from customers, end users and the public continues to grow.

“People are ready for a hand towel recycling scheme,” said Degerman. “We are discovering that an increasing number of environments such as large offices, universities and similar facilities have the ambition to improve their sustainability.

They want to be at the forefront in terms of recycling and are really keen to sign up.

“We will continue to work in close collaboration with our partners and key stakeholders, and we believe the potential is huge. Eventually we hope to be able to offer this service outside of Europe as well.”

Das Recycling von Handtüchern sollte in diesen umweltbewussten Zeiten ein Kinderspiel sein.

Dennoch tauchte der erste Recyclingdienst für Handtücher erst dieses Jahr auf – und die Entwicklung beanspruchte vier Jahre. Dienstleister Essity spricht über die Herausforderungen und das Potential von Tork PaperCircle.

Riciclare gli asciugamani di carta usati dovrebbe essere un lavoro facile in questo periodo di consapevolezza ambientale. Eppure il primo servizio in assoluto di riciclo degli asciugamani in carta è emerso soltanto quest’anno e ci sono voluti quattro anni per svilupparlo. La fornitrice di servizi Essity ci parla delle sfide e il potenziale di Tork PaperCircle.

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