COVER STORY
customers, after consulting with our team of experts and finalising the solutions they need, to seamlessly transfer their saved quote directly to the shopping basket, making it quick and easy to place their order and get started.
Q: So, what are FMs asking for
support on currently? Over the past few months, we’ve had customers asking for support to get into more regular maintenance routines. For years, we’ve recommended FMs to complete structured site inspections and approach maintenance and repair jobs more proactively, and we are getting requests that suggest that shift is happening. We know that particularly on the warehousing and logistics side, many FMs have been gearing up for their peak season so we’ve had requests for support around line marking and getting repair jobs completed before traffic increases considerably. I want to point out here though, maintenance and repair jobs don’t stop in the peak season or winter period. It’s important that FM teams are equipped and prepped to complete these year-round otherwise the impacts can be significant on safety and smooth operations.
Q: With air temperatures plummeting in the coming months, what can FMs use to ensure that repair products
cure fully? Yes, air temperature is an important consideration to plan how much downtime an area would need, but cold-cure formulations are available that are designed for this exact purpose. For example, our Concrex Sub Zero can be used for concrete floor repairs in temperatures as low as -20°C. The formulation incorporates polyaspartic technology and is exceptionally durable for heavy traffic areas – ensuring minimal disruption during the winter season once cured. We have a range of products specifically formulated for sub zero curing that FMs can use when the air temperature gets too low for traditional repair materials.
Q: They sound great. If you could only give FMs one piece of advice for
the season ahead, what would it be? Don’t deprioritise maintenance and repair jobs. In busy periods, we know it can be hard to carve out time for site inspections and repairs, but we see time and time again how much more complex, costly and time-consuming repairs can get when surface damage is left to worsen. For example, the winter freeze-thaw cycle increases the size of potholes in the car park, which as well as creating trip hazards and damage to vehicles, will significantly worsen during winter weather.
An approach that I’ve been told FMs find useful is to have a central reporting approach for damage and hazards, because particularly in peak season, there are more people moving around the facility so if they can quickly report anything they see – FMs can focus on the repairs side. The system doesn’t have to be sophisticated, even a logbook kept somewhere that everyone has access to, or a number that team members can send a message to.
www.tomorrowsfm.com
Q: One final question, what should readers be looking out for from
Watco in the coming months? We’re currently working hard on extending the colour choice available for our core coatings catalogue. A new manufacturing approach means we have more flexibility in the colours we can offer – including matching to specific custom colours. We’ve found this is interesting for those that want to incorporate their brand colours in a facility painting project.
Additionally, we have been working on making our online resources as useful as possible. When you’re not experienced in floor repairs or maintenance, we know how daunting it can be. So, we’re focused on extending the practical advice and help that we provide – whether that’s practical checklists, eBooks or application videos. Keep a look out for exciting developments to come in the new year.
www.watco.co.uk TOMORROW’S FM | 23
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