Special Report A £ trillion opportunity!


Julian Stoneman, CEO of Traffik UK Ltd, contemplates a huge opportunity which could and should benefit us all.


Stop Press! A property manager’s shock statement: “I want to make sure this new carpet lasts and, for its entire lifetime, con- tinues to look like it does now.” For the first time in our 25 years of trad-


ing in the floor maintenance business, a manufacturer service partner’s customer has decided to invest in the best quality carpet and then insists on maintaining it from the day it is laid! Most consumer product lifespans have


been reducing year on year for decades - from shoes to ships. Shoes end up in land- fill and ships on Indian beaches where they inevitably pollute the local waters used by the residents for fishing. This has always been so, one could assume, but you would be wrong. Built-in obsolescence has been incredibly profitable for manufacturers over the last 50 years and allowed us all to buy goods cheaply and in accelerating volume. However, as we run out of space to dump the stuff and raw materials become scarcer and consequently more expensive, a sense of responsibility seems to be emerging, whether it be avoiding T shirts for £1.80 or chickens at the same price for Sunday lunch. Billions of pounds worth of opportunity


will come with this change in attitude and the companies that embrace this shift will prosper, while those that don’t will expire as the dinosaurs did when their climate


changed. The cleaning industry is no ex- ception and will have to wake up to its clients requirements for office chairs, safety flooring, carpet and partitions to out- last warranty periods and deliver on the in- creased investment made in quality assets. And, of course, the client needs to support this by spending money on the care of these assets, by paying cleaners realistic sums to actually clean thoroughly and not just go through the motions. Delivering on this shift from replacement


to retention will require investment in the best technology available, inevitably sound- ing the death knell for the mop and bucket,


Julian Stoneman, CEO of Traffik UK Ltd: “Delivering on this shift from replacement to retention will require investment in the best technology available, inevitably sounding the death knell for the mop and bucket, bleach and hydrochloric acid, but boosting enzyme cleaning, high tech fibre mops/cloths and top specification vacuum cleaners etc.”


bleach and hydrochloric acid, but boosting enzyme cleaning, high tech fibre mops/cloths and top specification vacuum cleaners etc. In Traffik’s experience the cheapest


equipment long term has been the most expensive to buy initially, but comes with readily available spare parts that enable the machine to work as well after 15 years as it did on day one. This approach to quality, the ability to upgrade, and longevity is now being built into everything from JCB earth movers to vacuum cleaners. There are even moves within the fast moving mobile phone industry (where the lifecycle is around 18 months before we upgrade to the latest model/colour) to change contracts to serv- ice based offers where handsets are auto- matically replaced in the same period with the phone providers exchanging new for old and recycling/repackaging the outdated model, avoiding waste and giving us the latest technology. Such business models will emerge all


around us over the coming years and those companies that embrace the transition will be those that benefit from the shift from consumption to conservation. The financial rewards will be huge and ongoing for those that do and disastrous for those that don’t. Working together with clients and suppli-


ers for the long term should bring back some loyalty, higher wages for skilled staff, and an appreciation of the value that can be delivered by such a shift in approach. www.traffik.uk.com


Kärcher Academy Cleaning Tips: Portable pressure washing


Contract cleaners need pressure washers that are easy to transport, quick to set up and easy to store. Although many profes- sional-grade cold water pressure washers on the market fulfil the basic require- ments of shifting dirt and being possible to carry, cables and hoses are easily tangled, and loose accessories like extra nozzles and washing brushes can easily be lost. This poses several issues to the contract cleaner: increased time to prepare for cleaning, and increased safety risk to op- erators because of trip hazards and diffi- culty carrying awkwardly-shaped machines - all of which could result in lost productivity and increased costs. Kärcher has updated its popular HD 5/12


and 6/13 C cold water pressure washers to solve these problems, providing better mobility, easier handling, and more practi- cality. The new models feature a distinctive new design that incorporates a carry han- dle, enabling the machine to be carried like a suitcase, making it easier than ever to move the machine from one job to an- other. The machines can now also be op- erated in a lie-flat position, giving extra stability and safety, while the new hose storage system ensures the high pressure hose stays in better condition, reducing


range is designed to be as environmentally friendly and cost-efficient as possible, by use of high concentrations to reduce pack- aging, and special additives to separate oil from water. Using the right accessories can have a


tangles and mess. On-board storage en- sures that all accessories - like the Dirt Blaster nozzle and optional hard surface cleaner - are always quickly accessible. This high level of practicality and conven-


ience is complemented by simple controls and tough components throughout, includ- ing a professional-grade motor, a brass cylinder head with brass water inlet, stain- less steel pistons inside the pump, a stain- less steel spray lance, and a heavy-duty wire-braided hose.


The right accessories to speed up the job


Of course there will always be times when detergents are necessary, and Kärcher’s


Kärcher has updated its popular HD 5/12 and 6/13 C cold water pressure washers, providing better mobility, easier handling, and more practicality.


major impact on productivity, costs and time. Simple devices such as washing brushes and Dirt Blaster power nozzles can really improve cleaning performance and can now be stored on the machine. Hard surface cleaners are ideal for con- tract cleaners as they provide a very uni- form finish and drastically reduce the amount of time needed to clean floors and walls. The highly innovative FRV 30 hard surface cleaner works with the HD 6/13 C and CX models and attaches to a pressure washer to clean floors and walls quickly and very thoroughly, and features a unique venturi system that automatically pumps cleaning water away - meaning that the object being cleaned dries more quickly but with no extra power or water being used, and making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use. For more information about how the new HD Compact can make a difference to your business, visit www.karcher.co.uk or call 01295 752142.


www.cleaninghub.net l APRIL 2014 l C&M l 33


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