Expand and contract
October 1st 2006 Simon Collins,National Sales Manager, UK & Ireland, for Truvox International, looks at how the need for office expansion and new design trends are growing the industrial floor market and what this means for contract cleaners Available space is a scarce commodity in the UK. Real estate is at a premium and expanding companies are in constant search of new office locations.The option of new builds and remote offices are one answer, but often costly and inconvenient. In response to this growing need older buildings, warehouses and factories are increasingly being converted and renovated from their original use to accommodate new offices. This practice has also sparked a new design trend with companies wanting the 'industrial look' in their offices and headquarters in order to produce a unique and creative working environment. Renovating and refurbishing these older buildings creates a challenging task, with years of wear and tear needing to be removed before new companies can move in.The most challenging area to restore in these buildings is often the flooring.Neglected industrial floors can be encased in set-in grime, dirt, grease, or rust depending on the buildings original purpose. This industrial flooring trend is creating a new market opportunity for the cleaning industry and contract cleaners. Industrial floors need specialist cleaning and as they become more widespread, so the need for specialist cleaning equipment grows. As the number of renovations continues to rise, the variety of industrial floor surfaces required for different applications is also increasing. Industrial flooring is defined as all types of surfacing products that are laid on concrete, sand and cement, granolithic or equivalent bases. Variety in this type of flooring does not end there. Sub-floors can be covered with several materials including ceramic tiles, chemical resistant bricks, epoxy resins, polyurethane, screeds and seamless flooring.Due to the increasing variety in industrial floor surfaces, including textured and uneven floors, contract cleaners are expected to clean an ever-growing range of floors that require specialised cleaning techniques. In order to renovate an old factory or warehouse specialist machinery will be required.As the first step in the restoration process, heavy-duty cleaning or scarification of an old surface needs to take place before a new floor can be laid on top of it. Cleaning contractors are increasingly turning to multipurpose floorcare machines such as Truvox's Cimex HD range.The capable Cimex HD machines have the ability to perform both floor preparation and heavy duty cleaning tasks. Cleaning of industrial floors, particularly older floors covered with years' of dirt and grime, is a difficult undertaking. Many surfaces will require the removal of stubborn impacted debris such as the hard baked icing sugar found on the floor of bakeries or the tough set-in grease deposits common on factory floors. The Cimex HD, featuring three-brush technology with a distinctive contra-rotating action, is ideal for cleaning and scarifying floor surfaces in a wide range of industrial environments from manufacturing plants and warehouses to garages and paint shops.The scarifying action of the Cimex HD effortlessly breaks down the debris left by years of industrial activity such as grease, paint, tyre rubber or adhesives. Maintaining industry floors once restored is the next challenge and three-brush technology is also excellent for this ongoing care. The Truvox Cimex Cyclone series of scrubber polishers for example, is highly effective for cleaning almost any floor type including concrete,wood, vinyl rubber, carpet and tiles. Its inclusion of a unique action where its three brushes are driven in one direction, while the carrier disc rotates the opposite way provides the Cyclone with its vigorous action capable of cleaning in all directions.This feature makes the Cyclone ideal for areas such as the grouting between tiles and around the contours of rubber studded non-slip floors. The introduction of three-brush technology for use on industrial floors has enabled contract cleaners to carry out a larger variety of industrial cleaning projects with greater ease. Contractors are increasingly looking towards a new diversified range of floorcare equipment, that combines high performance, versatility, ease of use and low operating costs. When specifying cleaning equipment, contractors need to consider the safety and ergonomics of the machine in order to make an informed decision.A well-designed machine, such as the Cimex HD offers excellent manoeuvrability and high levels of stability during operation, particularly when tackling heavyduty cleaning. For example the Cimex HD can quickly power through difficult stains such as hardened rust, oil or paint.The contra-rotating action of the three brushes naturally deflects the power cable and helps avoid accidents.The simplicity of operation means that cleaners with minimal formal training can produce outstanding results in most situations. Machine maintenance is another key requirement, which is crucial to the overall performance of the equipment being used, particularly if a contractor has a tight budget.With this thought in mind,Truvox designed the Cimex machines with an automatic reverse system that changes the direction the brushes rotate every time the machine is switched on.This feature is combined with a centrally mounted motor to ensure that even downward brush pressure is maintained, preventing unnecessary wear and prolonging brush life. Cleaning industrial floor surfaces should not prove tough if contractors invest wisely in the appropriate heavy-duty floor care equipment. In fact, industrial floor cleaning can provide contract cleaners with a new niche to corner in a growing cleaning market. Restoration and refurbishment of older buildings will continue to create new projects and investing in machines that utilise three-brush technology will not only save significant costs but increase overall productivity. 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