ISSA/INTERCLEAN 2016 began with much excitement at Amsterdam today (May 10) with the announcement of the Innovation Awards. Augmented Reality: Suma Revoflow from Diversey Care is the overall winner of the Amsterdam Innovation Award 2016.
Out of a total of 110 entries, the jury agreed that this technology had not been seen in the professional cleaning sector before and that facilities managers can perhaps go some way to tackling a number of the problems associated with the industry’s high employee turnover – which include training, knowledge transfer, development of skills and reduction of errors.
Michelle Marshall, chair of the Award 2016 jury stated that there were most diverse entries and the number of new products now being developed that incorporate ‘smart’ technology in its various forms – whether it is to save on energy and water use, produce real-time data about staff and cleaning machine fleets or monitor room occupancy in order to streamline cleaning operations is on the increase.
The Winners of the Amsterdam Innovation Award 2016 are
The winner under the Machines, accessories and components category is Robot RA 660 NAVI from Cleanfix. Cleanfix worked closely with users over many years to develop a machine that is now in use across Europe – many units have been sold. The jury was particularly impressed with its navigation system, which uses laser, and its efficiency in mapping rooms, putting in place virtual walls, and ease of use for the operator. And it can clean to the narrowest of corners.
The winner under Equipment/tools for cleaning, care and safety category is Quick & Easy System from Werner & Mertz Professional. The jury was impressed with the ultimate portability, simplicity and practicality of Quick & Easy. The operator wears the system on a belt and can move from room to room with five different chemicals, interchanging between them quickly and easily. There is no need for installation and the operative does not come into direct contact with the chemical, making it completely safe.
Overall winner Sealed Air Diversey Care
Kärcher won the Visitor’s Choice Award with 45% of the votes for BRC 40/22 C. This is the cleaning sector’s first walk-forward carpet cleaning machine with a 200 degree rotating brush and vacuum head. Traditional carpet cleaning machines operate backwards so this new development brings about significant productivity gains.
The other winner in the machine category is Sealed Air Diversey Care TASKI Swingobot 755 – This is a robotic scrubber dryer launched by Sealed Air Diversey Care following its purchase of Intellibot in 2015. Compact and user-friendly, it is designed to cut wastewater and chemicals by 85%.
