Cleaning up the streets Kärcher helps Mitie to maintain critical infrastructure and become more agile.
Mitie is one of the UK’s leading facilities management and professional services companies, managing some of the nation’s most recognised landmarks. Having played a huge role in maintaining critical infrastructure during COVID-19 for sites including airports and key rail hubs, Mitie has had to become more agile in the delivery of services to clients.
Having worked with Kärcher over the years, and with several Kärcher machines on site, Mitie decided to enquire about a battery-operated pressure washer with a bowser. A bowser is a water tank connected to the pressure washer to allow the person operating the machine to move around site without the restrictions of a hosepipe.
Richard Insull, Strategic Account Director Cleaning Services at Mitie, commented: “We have Kärcher machines all over our rail sites but there was a missing piece to the set. Mitie had been working with John, our Kärcher representative, to fill this gap and the battery-operated pressure washer with a bowser is a real game changer, because no one had previously been able to supply us with any.”
Mitie manages and cleans a high number of sites for its client Network Rail, and has recently been tasked with deep cleaning the entire Fairfield Street outside Piccadilly Station in Manchester, aided by the HD 4/11.
Gerard Murphy, Manchester Piccadilly Facilities Manager, explained: “Our client, Network Rail, is more than impressed by the performance of the HD 4/11. Cleaning the entire street has been a huge job but with this piece of kit we are able to clean even the hard-to-reach outside areas of Piccadilly Station during the day, despite there being thousands of people travelling around the area, which is something we couldn’t do before.”
Prior to using Kärcher’s battery powered HD 4/11 pressure washer and bowser, Mitie staff used an electric pressure washer to clean the station approach, outside areas and car park. However, with no power or water points, workers had
48 | RETAIL AND DAYTIME CLEANING
to attach hosepipes and use extension leads, posing a risk to them and the public, so major deep cleaning jobs had to be done at night when fewer people were on site.
In comparison, the HD 4/11 pressure washer is equipped with two exceptionally powerful 36V lithium-ion batteries to guarantee long runtimes from anywhere. The addition of the bowser means it can even be used around the public because there’s no need for hosepipes or extension leads, which minimises trip and slip hazards so work can be completed during daytime working hours.
In addition, the old machines were not well equipped with tools to reach into the corners and the edges between the walls and floor, leaving these hard-to-reach areas not thoroughly cleaned. As a result, staff had to resort to using a deck scrub to get into these difficult areas, requiring a lot of bending over and working on your hands and knees which is very harsh on people’s joints.
Conversely, the HD 4/11 is highly mobile and includes an integrated carrying handle for convenient transport, a retractable push handle, and it is suitable for both vertical and horizontal operation.
Mitie has invested in three HD 4/11 machines to add to its range of Kärcher products at Manchester Piccadilly Station, but the relationship goes further than the quality of the products. Mitie’s investment in the machines is part of their ongoing commitment to implementing the latest innovations in cleaning to deliver assured, hygienic spaces for clients.
Richard explained: “Working with Kärcher means finding solutions that don’t just make our clients happy, but also support the health and safety of our staff and the public. COVID-19 has increased the demand and need for clean and hygienic public spaces and Kärcher equipment is helping us to meet this demand.”
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