FEATURE
Sustainability and the cycle industry: Clean and green in the workshop
How Rozone is helping bike shops improve their environmental credentials
After a decade of supplying parts washers to the bike trade, Rozone has entered a new era with its eco-friendly focus
packaging to plastic use. Some of the biggest brands in the world are now driving hard
W
to cut back on their harm, by implementing more sustainable practices, but it’s not just down to the major players. The change can begin in the workshop.
Since it was founded in 1996, cleaning solution specialist Rozone has been working across the aerospace, automotive, government sectors, and for the last 10 years, has been distributing parts washers to workshops across the UK bike industry. As part of its new focus on sustainability, and a drive to
replace potentially hazardous chemicals with water or solvent- based solutions Rozone, based in Wednesbury in the West Midlands, recently introduced the Rowasher – a bioremediation washer designed to reduce waste fluid. But why reinvent the washer? Account development manager
at Rozone, Carl James, said: “The original parts washers had not developed for some time. Customers were asking us for a more sustainable cleaning solution – reduced running costs, power consumption, and consumable usage, with a fluid that stays cleaner for longer. As a distributor our hands were tied. We were also aware of our huge carbon footprint importing machines. We took the decision to partner with the University of Wolverhampton to design,
36 | April 2022
hile the bicycle itself is essential in the green revolution, there are plenty of processes in the wider bike trade that are far from perfect – from
develop and manufacture the new generation Rowasher and Rowash consumables.” The Rowasher uses bioremediation – a process that employs
microorganisms to break down contaminants – to reduce the environmental impact in the workshop, and there are business benefits to considering a new way of washing. According to Rozone, their machine breaks down 83% of oil in the system, and with energy bills set to rocket in the UK, the energy saving mode could reduce electricity bills by 42% compared to other washers. The solutions involved can also help improve your environmental credentials, Rozone said, as the Roswasher’s fluid is pH neutral, biodegradable and solvent- free. While of course there is an upfront cost to bringing in a parts washer to your workshop (the Rowasher retails from between £1,200 up to £1,700 for the top-end model), Rozone argues that the increased efficiency is worth it, as the Rowasher cleans 50% faster than spray and rags. James said: “The Rowasher ticks the boxes for workshops looking to improve on sustainability. At Rozone, we’re on the same journey, looking at ways to be more sustainable in our products, our packaging and in our manufacturing processes – small steps for longer term impact. We are now a climate positive workforce, offsetting our employees’ carbon emissions. We want to cultivate a company legacy that balances our people and our planet with our profits.” ■
The Rowasher uses a process called bioremediation to break down contaminants
www.bikebiz.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
