C&


M Special Report What’s in a name?


Neil Nixon reports from Elan Sales Ltd, exclusive UK importer and distributor of the Factory Cat range of machines.


The name ‘Factory Cat’ con- jures up images of big, rugged machines suitable only for the concrete expanses of factories and warehouses. This, howev- er, is not the case. Yes, the machines are highly engi- neered to be strong and durable, but they are designed to be equally at home on the ward of a hospital or the aisle of a supermarket as they are around a factory.


Factory Cat products are manufactured by the RPS Corporation in Wisconsin, USA and the range comprises battery floor scrubbers and sweepers. The company has been in the industrial floor cleaning machine business since 1980, has over 300 dealers worldwide, and boasts


a turnover in excess of $65 million per annum.


The exclusive UK importer and distributor of Factory Cat machines is Elan Sales, based in Romsey, Hampshire. Elan has a strong reputation in the cleaning market, having been established in 1987 to supply industrial cleaning and maintenance chemicals in the Wessex area. A machinery range was added over the years, selecting manufacturers who provide the best value for money and after sales service. The company now covers the whole of England specialising in the sale, service and hire of battery powered sweepers and scrubbers - most importantly, for the last two years, the Factory Cat range. Elan’s hire


division offers equipment on both long and short term lease, adding greater flexibility to the product offering. Dean Smith runs Elan Sales, having taken over from his father who founded the business. He said: “The battery powered floor scrubber and floor sweeper models offered by Factory Cat are


exceptionally well received, and are the reason the company claims to be the fastest growing industrial floor equipment manufacturer in this business, globally. At present, Factory Cat manufactures some 40 models, including walk-behind and ride-on sweeper and scrubber models. We are offering the UK market the


most popular models in the range, and are enjoying significant success. In fact, such is the quality of the machines, that we are winning the majority of the competitive tenders we enter.”


The range


All Factory Cat machines are built with ease of maintenance in mind. Every part of every machine can be accessed easily


and without obstruction, enabling thorough cleaning and simple maintenance. Each machine comes with a three year warranty. In brief, the Factory Cat range offered by Elan Sales includes:


• The Minimag - 17-28” walk behind scrubber dryer. This machine is available with a large battery package and 17- gallon tank. There are multiple scrub paths available, both in disk and cylindrical brush versions. Smith continued: “The disk machines offer nearly 35% more power than our competitors. Brushes are driven by powerful motors, and are gimbal-mounted, to improve cleaning on uneven floors. The cylindrical brush machines have the added benefit of sweeping up debris while scrubbing. This may eliminate the need to presweep an area, increasing productivity.”


Brush pressure and water settings are automatically maintained at one of five settings, while the LCD provides diagnostics and hour meters, covering ‘transport’, ‘scrubbing’ and ‘key-on’. As with all Factory Cat machines, the Minimag has a ‘manager’s lock-out’ function, enabling each machine’s functions to be preset by a manager, but not accessed by the operator. • The Magnum - 26-34” walk behind scrubber dryer. This machine comes with a large battery package, a 30- gallon tank, and is available in multiple scrub paths - in both disk and cylindrical brush versions. It has all the construction benefits and functionality of the Minimag - just larger and more powerful. • The GTX Rider - 26-36” ride-on scrubber dryer. This machine is manufactured with oversized motors, heavy duty components and a solid steel chassis. Stainless steel fittings are used where possible to prevent corrosion and aid maintenance. The GTX range is available with disc and cylindrical brush decks. The Central Command II system includes an LCD readout, on- board diagnostics, and three hour meters. If the batteries become too discharged, the machine automatically shuts down all systems except ‘transport’, allowing the machine to be returned to the charge station.


• The XR Series - 36-46” ride-on scrubber dryer. Dean Smith continued: “These rugged and high performance scrubbers offer the productivity of the industry’s largest equipment, but in a more manoeuvrable package. With two specialised cleaning systems and five deck sizes to choose from, the XRs offer the results and capacity required to clean any application. The disk XRs offer gimbaled brush drive and 45% more scrubbing power than competitive brands. The cylindrical units


10 C&M July 2010 Left, the


cleaning power of Factory Cat machines is clearly


demonstrated by the GTX Rider.


Far left, the Minimag, a 17- 28” walk behind


scrubber dryer.


reduce or eliminate dust mopping by sweeping and scrubbing in a single pass.” • Model 34 - walk behind sweeper. Factory Cat’s sweep- ers are compact rather than light-duty. They are all-steel construction, and use over- sized components throughout. Factory Cat’s side brooms pick up dirt in the corners, and a huge tubular main broom under the machine sweeps up the dirt and debris from the floor and packs it into a steel hopper. Meanwhile, the sec- ond stage vacuums up the dust and traps it in a


polypropylene felt ‘baghouse’ filter. Smith added: “Factory Cat’s industrial floor sweepers can pick up whole bags of cement without leaving a trace of dust behind. The filter is cleaned by an on-board mech- anism, and in most cases will last the life of the machine.” • TR Series - ride-on sweeper. Featuring all the benefits of the Model 34 above, but with the comfort, convenience and productivity of a ride-on machine.


And finally...


‘Factory Cat builds its machines to last,” concluded Dean Smith. “Each machine is designed to give 25 years of useful service, and they require very little maintenance along the way. In the two years we’ve been supplying the machines to the UK market I have never once had to com- plete a warranty claim form! I’ve been selling scrubber dry- ers for many years and these are, without doubt, the best machines I’ve ever seen.” Don’t take Dean’s word for it - test them for yourself. Trevor Cornish, production & packing supervisor at A.E. Rodda & Son Ltd, Cornwall, did. He said: “I was set a challenge to identify a floor scrubber that would meet our requirements and not cost the earth! I shortlisted the manufactures that met our requirements and invited them in for a demonstration. For a couple of weeks we viewed different machines but the Factory Cat was the only unit that really impressed, so we invited them back in again for another demonstration - which clinched the deal. The unit is operator friendly, very robust and well designed - even the service contract is a good deal - so what’s not to like? In short, the floors have never been so clean, and I would whole-heartedly recommend Factory Cat.” The teams at Factory Cat and Elan Sales are very confident that you won’t be disappointed.


www.elansalesltd.co.uk


NB: Elan Sales is looking for specialist machinery


distributors in key parts of the UK. Please contact Ian Poulsum if interested.


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