Industrial cleaning is undoubtedly the sharp end of the cleaning sector. Pressure for companies to conform to current health and safety regulations and improve visual standards is constant.
Customers, shareholders and employees increasingly expect clean facilities. The archetypal dirty factory floor is quite rightly a thing of the past.
But how to keep up with the demand for ever cleaner premises and ensure that cleaning processes are competent, environmentally friendly and cost effective?
A cleaning consultant is likely to advise starting at the beginning. Identifying the cleaning need and related factors, before considering the cleaning methods available in the market place today.
For example is the waste to be collected hazardous in any way? Simple dusts like aluminium, fibre glass dust, titanium, epoxy powder paint, fine sugars, starch, whey and chocolate powder etc. are known explosion risks. When mixed with copious quantities of air as a cloud these dusts only require a simple ignition source to produce devastating results. Furthermore when collected by a conventional vacuum cleaner the machine is also at risk of exploding.
Conventional vacuum cleaners produce static electricity as the dust passes through the machine. The motors of such units also produce sparks from carbon brushes providing an ignition source to potentially light the touch paper!
Facilities operating in this arena have legal duties under the ATEX 137 Directive to conduct a risk analysis on cleaning processes and to then select ATEX approved equipment intended for use in high risk areas. This equipment includes Safety Vacuum Cleaners that are specifically designed for the collection of combustible dusts. The ATEX approval will be specific to the category of equipment and nature of the risk (combustible gas, vapour or dust etc) considering the particular hazardous zone etc. (e.g. zone 21, zone 22, zone 1 or zone 2.) Nilfisk-CFM are specialists in this field and will gladly consult on individual requirements within an industrial facility.
Chemical free cleaning is another important consideration as companies calculate not only the environmental impact but the cost of water, power and chemical agents.Chemical free however is not always possible if the level of soiling is high. Establishments vary enormously, an industrial factory floor can hardly be compared to a commercial kitchen or a hospital corridor.
Nilfisk have a ’Green meets Clean’ Philosophy which has driven product development over recent years. Designing equipment which can clean to the same high standard, but use fewer resources has therefore been their greatest challenge. Their goal has been simple, minimal impact on the environment; accomplish more with less – simultaneously reducing costs for customers whilst improving their environmental behaviour.
The Ecoflex system was born out of this ’Green meets Clean’ Philosophy. The Ecoflex system recognises that it is not necessary to sacrifice cleaning results for environmental issues; a cleaning solution should not be just “green“ but clean too.
The Ecoflex concept allows the operator of the machine to match the machines performance to the level of soiling and the amount of cleaning necessary to effect a good result. All machines start in Ecoflex mode which uses minimal amounts of water, chemical and power. On encountering a soiled area the operator activates a one minute burst of power for extra performance. The machine then moves automatically back into Ecoflex mode retaining the capacity for more aggressive cleaning when required.
This amount of flexibility within a scrubbing machine is ideal for a facility where cleaning hot spots or regular spillages are common place.
The Nilfisk CS7000 is a multi-functional sweeper-scrubber that includes the Ecoflex system as an option. The unit is available in three models: LPG-Hybrid, Diesel-Hybrid & ePower Battery and is designed to reduce the cost of operation, labour & maintenance, whilst effectively increasing fuel economy and runtime efficiency.
The simple power of hot water should not be underestimated so the CS7000 has the optional extra of water heating up to 55 degrees. The unit also has the advantage of a 150 bar high pressure washer function for when the need arises. All in all a ‘one stop’ cleaning power house.
Pressure washers are also well suited to industrial cleaning. The Nilfisk-ALTO range is robust, easy to use and combines award wining design with excellent productivity with a wide range of options which can be used in the toughest of industrial applications.
Nilfisk-ALTO has recently launched the POSEIDON range of industrial pressure washers which feature a strong 30mm steel frame. The POSEIDON 6 and 7 models are the real heavy duty options. The POSEIDON 6 FA incorporates the new industrial NA6 ceramic piston pump with the POSEIDON 7 FA utilising the well known C3 four, ceramic piston pump for the most intense of applications.
Those responsible for industrial cleaning are advised to seek advice on all fronts, check the latest requirements with those whose businesses rely on being at the cutting edge of their sector.
Interested parties should contact 01768 868995 for more information www.nilfisk.co.uk www.nilfisk-cfm.co.uk
