Ireland steams ahead
April 1st 2007 In the business of steam cleaning, sales in Ireland are booming, despite the closure of the Dimplex factory a year or so ago. OspreyDeepclean's sales director,Mike Osiadacz, says its three distributors in the country are doing brisk business The three distributors are strategically located in Cork in the West,Dublin in the South, and Belfast in the North, and although all three are fairly new distributors for the company, sales in a few short months have already exceeded all forecasts.Cleaning Matters took a look at the three distributors: Cork-based Cleaning Solutions was the most recent to be appointed, and aiming to provide a one-stop shop for its customers, naturally consumables and spare parts play a major part in the business, together with a busy machine maintenance service that keeps four vans out on the road almost continuously, taking care of pretty much any type of cleaning machine that you can imagine. Cleaning Solutions owner Jason O'Driscoll took the decision to sell steam-cleaning equipment having sold some small machines in the past and realising that steam cleaning and sanitising was becoming very popular with customers. Visiting ISSA Interclean in Amsterdam with the specific purpose of finding a supplier, Jason was impressed with OspreyDeepclean's wide range of machines as well as the commitment to market and the service back up provided by the company. "We've seen people before who were keen on selling their machines, but a year or so later when parts or service was needed, they just weren't interested.We are not going to make the same mistake and so have positioned ourselves as a reliable, serviceoriented supplier. "OspreyDeepclean has the same point of view, and so we were happy to do business.To date, the quality of the equipment and training is impressive." The company's first order of ten machines rapidly sold out and the follow-on order was doubled.Cleaning Solutions has always sold industrial vacuums with HEPA filters and stainless steel bodies to its existing customer base, largely contract cleaners, hotels, and shops, but the addition of steam cleaning has widened the scope for additional sales quite considerably – as well as opening up new markets, particularly with hospitals and clinics. Cleaning Solutions can be reached on 00353 21 4309147 Industrial Cleaning Equipment in Dublin targets contract cleaners, facilities managers, local authorities, and shopping centre management companies.Also a member of the Jangro network, ICE took the decision to commit to GumBusters distribution as well, very shortly after taking on the sales and service of OspreyDeepclean machines. According to ICE's Mike Doherty,"It was the type of equipment that would fit in nicely with our existing range of machines and with our current distribution, so we could see the opportunity to develop sales further." Industrial Cleaning Equipment can be reached on 00353 14601277. North of the border, Norchem & Co, Belfast, is a 15 years established business that signed simultaneous distributor agreements with OspreyDeepclean and in particular with GumBusters, says the company's Ken Moody. "It is clear from legislation that there will be restrictions in use of bactericides in all areas of healthcare and the food processing industry," says Moody."Dry steam has enormous advantages. It is the new bactericidal because at 110° or more, bacteria cannot survive. "The market for steam is no longer niche, and we have had an enormous number of enquiries since becoming a steam cleaning machine and GumBusters distributor, particularly from the healthcare sector. It's true to say that we have become pleasantly surprised at the interest." All three distributors are supported by OspreyDeepclean's Steam Education Department for on-site training. OspreyDeepclean says its steam cleaning machines are a proven method of cleaning and sanitising any surface – in any sector - in seconds. In tandem, its GumBusters technology effectively deals with discarded chewing gum – and, claims the company, can be used in the daytime with no obstruction or inconvenience to passers by. For further details on steam cleaning machines, distributorship opportunities or gum removal, call the number on the right. More articles from Osprey Deepclean Ltd: | 
