INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM
Kristine Collins Product Manager, SEBO Australia How was 2020 for SEBO? What were the highlights? What were the challenges? At the beginning of 2020 we had plans to showcase a number of new products at exhibitions both local and overseas. Instead we brought the products to market via a ‘cyber’ launch event. All four new vacuum cleaners – SEBO XP10, XP20, XP30 and SEBO Professional G5 were designed in mind to suit hospital, aged care, and healthcare sectors featuring our superior SEBO S-Class filtration system. To meet the S-CLASS standard the filtration system has to remove a minimum of 99.97 per cent of particles of 0.3 microns and ensure that the fine dust particles and allergens stay in the closed vacuum cleaner system. This high-performance filtration system improves indoor air quality (IAQ) for occupants as well as protecting the Operator’s health and safety too. SEBO vacuums are the perfect choice for correct soft floor care and maintenance in premises where high IAQ is of paramount importance. Strong marketing and educational campaigns produced significant sales results over the past two quarters. Where it was initially reported at the start of the pandemic households would ‘tighten their purse strings’, the government assisted cash injections, people working from home, a greater focus on health, hygiene and domestic cleaning duties, SEBO website traffic tripled and we ran out of stock. Fortunately, we had containers on the water and we could once again meet the high demand.
How did SEBO adjust to the impact of the pandemic? Providing a safe environment for our customers and staff will always be our number one priority. In the interests of staff and customer safety, and as part of ongoing efforts to give customers’ access to the SEBO products they need, SEBO offered staff the ability to work off site using the existing network in place. 58 INCLEAN January / February 2021
With more than 50 per cent of our workforce female we identified early on in business the importance of flexible working hours and conditions especially for those who were returning to work from maternity leave. With these provisions already in place it was very easy for us to implement a COVID safe plan with flexible working conditions, if required, for those staff members who were returned traveller’s, parents home schooling or caring for family members who were considered high risk in regards to health issues.
human eye so no longer can society turn a blind eye and accept ‘if it looks clean, it must be clean’. According to the National Asthma Council Australia, around two out of five Australians have allergies, including most people with asthma. Using a vacuum cleaner, like SEBO with an electric driven brush roller, that can extract maximum debris, dust and allergens from soft floor covers and seal them in an airtight system is paramount for improving IAQ. SEBO vacuums not only clean the floors you walk on but also the air you breathe!
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What challenges and opportunities do you see for the industry over the next 12 months?
It’s time for business leaders to seize the moment and consider how they want to evolve their workplace to be fit for the future.
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We experienced little disruption to our overall business activities. I congratulate the entire SEBO team both local and overseas who remained committed and compliant during this unprecedented time.
What will be the immediate focus for SEBO in 2021? We have always placed high importance on providing industry specific education and tailored cleaning programs for our customers. We remain committed to giving advice on the correct cleaning methods for soft floor care. Global media coverage has put a spotlight on harmful pathogens and allergens that cannot be detected by the
Most companies have already pivoted to a ‘new normal’, however, maintaining a high level of cleaning as the ‘norm’ across all industries is of great importance. Consistent messages from health authorities, the government and cleaning experts as well as the need for tailored health education programs of which we in the cleaning industry can contribute and promote, to improve levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The saying goes ‘Old habits die hard’. The cleaning industry must lead by example and consistently maintain a highlevel cleaning standard. Using correct cleaning equipment to suit the application and operator is instrumental to protecting society and supporting the workforce and the economy back to recovery.
How has the pandemic changed public attitude and behaviours in respect to hygiene and cleaning standards? Do you expect these changes to continue post-COVID? The mitigation of COVID was highly dependent on cooperation and compliance of the whole of society. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices people (including