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Cleaning up the Hovis bakery
Over one million Hovis loaves are produced each week at the Leicester based Premier Foods plant. Divided into three bread lines of white, brown and other, some 200 employees operate the 24 hour, 6.5 day week production line.
Kentucky mops were used to clean the floors of this substantial site until new site hygiene manager, Chris Bowen, was appointed in 2010. The Kentucky mops were messy, used a lot of water and operatives spent more time walking the length of the premises to fill up mop buckets than actually cleaning.
Taking the cleaning operation in house, Bowen wanted to utilise ultra microfibre cleaning to deliver high standards as well as potential time and cost savings. Having previously used and been very satisfied with the Vikan product range, he was keen to trial the Vikan ErgoClean system Following a site survey and closely monitored trials by the Vikan team, it became apparent that not only could 90% of the floor area be cleaned by ultra microfibre mops but also walls could be cleaned in less than a minute.
Bowen was particularly impressed with the ErgoClean trolley. Not only is it compact and easy to store but it can be instantly adjusted to suit all heights, aiding ease and speed of use. The trolley also contains such useful features as boxes with pre-prepared mops enabling the operator to move swiftly from one floor area to the other whilst also eliminating the risk of cross contamination. Pre-prepared mops also eliminate lifting and wringing of heavy buckets and mops.
The Vikan ErgoClean ultra microfibre system is designed and developed to be versatile and meet the demands of modern cleaning from floor to ceiling. In addition, one touch cleaning tools also reduce the risk of repetitive strain on muscles and joints.
Four Vikan trolleys, each with their set of different colour coded tools and equipment for food, non food, engineering and toilet areas, now form the basis of Premier Foods’ cleaning operation. Tools include ultra microfibre mops and cloths, scrapers and spray bottles.
Significant time savings have been achieved, confirmed Bowen, as the 16 cleaning staff no longer have to waste time filling and refilling buckets. “Rather than cutting the cleaning team, the ErgoClean system enables us to maximise the time saved by performing other cleaning tasks,” he said. It is estimated that cost savings on effluent, water, chemicals and materials amount to around £100 per week.
www.vikan.co.uk
Hat trick for waste solutions company
Specialist provider of waste container management, environmental services and waste recycling supplies, Alpha Waste Solutions, has recently enjoyed a trio of important developments that illustrates positive growth for the waste and recycling industry. The company provides waste recycling products and services to all commercial sectors from facilities management and education to local authorities.
The first development at Alpha involves a strategic name change for the company that has been involved in the cleaning, maintenance and refurbishment of wheeled refuse containers for over 10 years.
Originally known as Alpha Bin Care, the new name of Alpha Waste Solutions reflects the dual offer that it has developed - service coupled with a range of complementary waste recycling supplies.
It is the company’s objective to be the premier one stop shop within its field and as such it offers all manner of waste recycling supplies from waste containers and eco paper sacks to office and household recycling and document destruction products.
In line with this objective, last month Alpha acquired recycling bin manufacturer Astor Waste Systems. Peter Vernon, managing director of Alpha Waste Solutions, said: “We are delighted to introduce the Astor product range to the Alpha family. This acquisition is part of our long term growth plan and in immediate terms means that we are able to add secure document shredding products and services to our portfolio to further strengthen our integrated offer.”
The third component of the hat trick is Alpha’s appointment as UK master distributor for two leading manufacturers, namely Busch Systems and Segezha Packaging. Alpha will distribute Busch Systems’ range of plastic recycling products and from Segezha’s quality paper refuse products range it will drive sales of EcoSack biodegradable paper sacks.
www.awsltduk.com
Hygienic wall cladding solution
A refurbishment at Chesterfield Royal Hospital showed just how versatile Altro’s Whiterock hygienic wall cladding can be, with approximately 3000 square metres of the product used in a range of applications, helping to create a safe and pleasant environment. Altro Whiterock’s hygienic, durable and flexible properties mean that it can be deployed in a wide variety of areas, from corridor walls to toilets facilities and even decorative panels of artwork.
Chris Tann, head of estates and capital projects at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, said: “We looked at a number of products and decided Altro Whiterock would be the best to meet all of our requirements. As well as needing to be durable, our interior surfaces need to meet fire regulations and, of course, it is also essential that they offer hygienic properties to aid with infection control. An additional consideration for the hospital interior is to create a pleasing environment for patients, staff and visitors. To provide a positive environment for rehabilitation and recuperation we used Altro Whiterock Digiclad. This enabled us to print bespoke artwork onto Altro Whiterock, creating feature panels at the nurses’ stations on each level, in day rooms, behind each bed, in en-suites and in utility areas. The finished effect is stunning and we’re extremely pleased with the end result - so much so, we’re looking to use the product for future ward refurbishments.”
Joe Richardson from Richardson Cladding, the contractor who carried out the installation, said: “Estates and facilities managers in the healthcare sector have an unenviable job as they are tasked with maintaining an environment with constant movement of patients and equipment. Surfaces really take a battering - a freshly painted wall usually lasts just six months before it looks scruffy and needs redoing. We’ve found that Altro Whiterock is an ideal cladding solution, as it really stands up to the daily bumps and scrapes from trolleys and gurneys. It is also much cleaner and faster to install than tiling, meaning there is no need to evacuate an entire ward of patients whilst the work is carried out.”
Altro Whiterock is a semi-rigid PVC wall cladding range which has hygienic properties and has become the first internal wall finish in the world to receive an A from BRE (Building Research Establishment) global environmental rating in conjunction with a timber stud, plasterboard internal wall specification. With no grout or cracks, the seamless finish gives fewer areas for bacteria and moisture to accumulate. Altro Whiterock requires minimum maintenance - just a wipe over with water or a mild detergent - but is also robust enough to withstand the rigorous deep clean programme the NHS Trust has in place.
Altro Whiterock Digiclad is a unique service that allows you to print your choice of image directly onto Altro Whiterock. From adding a stylish backdrop to a room or simply incorporating your company logo, you can create your own distinctive designs. These washable murals use durable, cured inks to provide enhanced resistance to wear and tear in busy, hygienic areas and are available in either a high gloss or satin finish and with extra coatings available for very busy areas to ensure your walls stay looking good for longer.
www.altro.com
Creating a ‘greener’ Science Museum
Servest Multi Service Group - which delivers bespoke facilities management services to the visitor attractions sector - has helped the Science Museum save costs and improve environmental performance by introducing a range of biologically based cleaning products.
Servest has been responsible for cleaning the Science Museum for the past 15 years - along with a range of additional specialist services including grounds maintenance, window cleaning, pest control and portering. Now, Servest and the Science Museum as a partnership have shown their commitment to environmental sustainability through the introduction of this innovative range of cleaning formulations.
Following a successful performance for the Servest Group in South Africa, the ph-neutral Nu-Kleen range developed by Innu Science was selected. All of these cleaning solutions are produced according to good practice manufacturing guidelines, certified by EU Ecolabel, and exceed the criteria of all other known certifying bodies. They boast ultimate biodegradability of over 90% in 14 days and 99% over 28 days, are tested according to OECD standards and also contain no VOC's, EDTA, SLS or SLES.
This innovative approach means high performance cleaning while leaving the smallest ecological footprint possible. All the products used at by Servest at the Science Museum have neutral pH levels and include de- scaler and polish, stain remover, urine odour eliminator, multi- surface cleaner and floor cleaner.
For Sue Dixon, visitor experience operations manager at the Science Museum, it is crucial to have a service provider that adopts a partnership approach integrating fully with the museum team. It must also deliver added value through bundled services while providing expertise and costs savings whilst offering one contact for all requirements.
Another key attribute of Servest is its proven ability to provide proactive solutions to aid its clients’ commercial performance. This was first demonstrated when it introduced a joint waste management procedure for the Science Museum in conjunction with another client, the locally based Natural History Museum. The result was greater efficiency and reduced costs for both parties. Now, with this latest introduction of cutting-edge cleaning techniques, Servest has again combined raised standards while saving money.
Sue Dixon said: "Servest has been working with the Science Museum, South Kensington for the past 15 years. The last contract was awarded in May 2008 for a further three years and extended (before the term was served) for a further two years in 2010. The nature of our building - which is spread across seven floors, several office blocks and, most importantly, galleries which are open to the public - requires a diverse approach to ensure that cleaning standards are maintained to a high level. In addition, as we regularly hold evening corporate events, they need to be flexible around the times the cleaning can be undertaken. Servest has successfully delivered the requirements of the contract in a professional way and played a part in the museum achieving World Class Service accreditation during which cleaning standards were assessed. On this latest development, we are extremely impressed with the smell and the quality of the cleanliness since adopting the new cleaning products. Commercially, the cost savings are beneficial and most notably it helps us in our ongoing aim to reduce our environmental impact across all aspects of the museum.”
www.servest.co.uk
£1 million a month growth
LCC Support Services has been growing at the phenomenal rate of £1 million for each of the last seven months. Increased business over the last seven months is £7.5 million and growing. The new contracts are largely national programmes with fees from £0.5 to £2.9 million and number of sites ranging from nine - for The Arts Council across the UK (for Vinci Facilities) - to cleaning 64 Post Offices in the south east and 31 in the north for existing client The Royal Mail.
In association with Carillion, LCC has started work on 28 Land Registry sites from Plymouth to Hull. Centrica is the single largest financial gain at £2.9 million and covers 39 UK premises.
In the manufacturing industry, LCC has won the contract for Coty, manufacturers of Rimmel make-up at Ashford in Kent.
Following its successes for various university and college student residences, LCC has added the cleaning and landscaping of 78 sites for London social housing organisation Places for People.
New retail business includes 21 sites in the south east of England for fashion chain H&M - Hennes & Mauritz UK Ltd.
LCC’s executive chairman, Bob Vincent, said: “This has been the most rewarding period of LCC’s existence. It proves that there is work to be gained in a recession if you can provide high service levels at realistic prices.”
www.lccss.co.uk
WCEC co-hosts birthday dinner for Duke of Edinburgh
The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (WCEC) co-hosted a special dinner on 28 June to celebrate the 90th birthday of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who is an Honorary Freeman of the company.
The event, held at the Fishmonger’s Hall in London, was jointly hosted by the Fishmongers’ Company (of which HRH The Duke of Edinburgh is a member) and a number of other city organisations with which he has particularly strong associations. This included a number of livery companies, including the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, The City of London Corporation, The Bank of England and The Baltic Exchange.
Her Majesty The Queen attended with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and The Princess Royal, Liveryman of the Fishmongers’ Company, was also a guest. The Lord Mayor was represented by Alderman Lord Levene of Portsoken.
The Prime Warden of the Fishmongers Company introduced Peter Holt, Master of the WCEC, to each of the royal guests, and he, in turn introduced Peter Robb, Senior Warden, Maureen Marden, Junior Warden and Neil Morley, Clerk of WCEC. Peter Holt said: “We were delighted to be part of a select group of guests at this prestigious event and show our appreciation for HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s involvement in our company and our achievement of a Royal Charter in 2010.”
The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. During this anniversary year, the company hopes to raise at least an extra £25,000 for its charity fund which makes grants to support the advancement of education and training within the cleaning industry.
www.wc-ec.com
