With over 5400 registered visitors, the second international edition of Clean India Show – Clean India Pulire – saw a 19.3% increase in visitor turnout. Neither the threat of an impending cyclone nor the rains could dampen the enthusiasm of the visitors. The floor space was also increased by 22.6% over the previous edition. The exposition showcased products and services from more than 10 countries. Inaugurating the exhibition, Kripashankar Singh, President, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee, said: “Professional and mechanised cleaning brings dignity to the cleaning process. The Clean India Shows can create awareness about the need to keep our surroundings free of garbage and raise the overall national standard of cleanliness.” The highlight of the show was the two-day seminar on Housekeeping/Facility Management which was well-attended by top management professionals.
Apart from senior officers from housekeeping/FM companies, the seminar attracted facility heads from hospitality/healthcare industries and corporate houses and concerned officials from municipal corporations and government departments.
The topics included ‘Choosing the right service provider’, ‘Drawing of contracts’, ‘Availability of institutional loans for working capital and purchase of cleaning equipment’, ‘Restroom hygiene’ and ‘FM and products/systems’, ‘Eco-friendly housekeeping’, ‘Housekeeping-Entrepreneurship to professionally-managed company – operations and human resources’, ‘Industrial canteen’ and ‘How mechanisation reduces cost in the long run and helps sustainability’.
The show was supported by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the Council of the EU Chambers of Commerce in India, the Italian Trade Commission and the Italian Ministry of Economical Development.
Show, a source of information
Many visitors found the Show a platform to learn & understand cleaning as a science and know about the latest cleaning equipment and chemicals.
End-users from several industries, government & non-government organisations, banks, municipal corporations, service providers, schools and other institutions visited the exposition.
An official from Gujarat-based Patel Technology, a tank cleaning company, said, “I never expected so much. There are so many good concepts which I am taking back with me. Though I had come only for a day, I am extending my stay and coming back tomorrow.”
Durga Facility Management Services Pvt Ltd, that is engaged in more than 70% mechanised operations, was keen on buying the advanced steam jet spray for janitorial solutions. “We want to implement more advanced technology in our services. At present we are using hot-n-cold spray jets but steam jets can help in maintaining the hygiene levels in toilets,” said the Managing Director, B S Shetty.
Some companies were looking for specific solutions like Fourrts India Laboratories Pvt Ltd, Chennai, which faces the problem of dirty floors. Said K Sainath, Senior Manager, “Even though our in-house housekeeping team was vacuuming the shopfloor regularly, it did not meet the cleaning specifications of auditors. Hence, we resorted to periodic stripping of the floor. Instead of spending money on repeated stripping, we are going in for one scrubber-drier machine to begin with and soon will add more machines to clean the over one lakh sqft area.”
The Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Mira-Bhayander (Thane), Sudhir Raut was all praise for the stall layout, construction and the officials who took time to explain the various technologies at their stalls. “We have requirements for large sweepers, insecticides and larvaecides and de-odourisers for toilets. Some companies have already approached us and we will soon be placing orders.”
Students too benefited from the exhibits. “There are many housekeeping products which we got to see here,” said Aniket, a student of Ramnath Payyade College of Hospitality Management Studies. “The burnishing machine is something we don’t get to see in the common market. We can use this in our projects.”
Show, a must-attend event
CIP triggered the cleaning conscience of many industry professional and common people, who set aside time to make it to the show. The technical consultant from Sigma learnt about the show through the full page advertisement in the newspaper. He said “The visit to the show was unplanned but I rushed to the venue, as I wanted more information, particularly on hygiene and sanitation products. I plan to introduce some of the products in our organisation.”
Ralph Sunil, VP-Administration, Essar Steel Ltd, Hazira, who has been attending all the Clean India shows right from 2005, found the 2009 show by far the best of all. “A show like this helps spread awareness and give importance to technology. Many people think cleaning as a back-end job, but it is actually a front-end operation and everyone must come forward to support it.”
“This show should be promoted through schools and colleges too,” said Father Rodolf of St Xavier School, Powai. “Every parent and every family should know about the cleaning technology. The cleaning standards of the US and Europe can be achieved in India too in the next five to 10 years provided the right sectors are tapped, especially the educational institutions.” Adding to his views, St Pais D’souza of St Xavier said, “Unless we have shows like Clean India, we cannot become Shine India.”
The team from Parle Biscuits Pvt Ltd found the show a good platform to view all cleaning equipment and hygiene products at one go. “Being in the food industry, we need to know the latest development in hygiene products.”
Show, for one and all
A noticeable trend this year has been the increased response from both the big and small hotels. All hotels today are on the look out for some cleaning equipment or the other in order to stay ahead. “This is the place where you get to see it all,” said a representative of Hotel Ambassador, Mumbai. “Earlier, mostly German machines were visible, but I am getting to see so many more companies from different countries here. The scene is changing.”
Aji Joshua, Executive housekeeper from Grand Sarovar Premier Hotel, subscriber of CIJ, was excited with the new technologies on display. “It is a very informative show. We are interested in some of the machines and have already called for demo at our hotel.”
Neha of Hotel Ashish Plaza felt that she could learn a lot through this exhibition. “I actually came looking for vacuum cleaners for the hotel.”
ITC Grand Central’s Pratik Majumdar and Pran Raina were equally excited with the world class international show. “We have gathered many new materials and information. We have to go back and see how we can implement them at the hotel.”
Show, a trading ground
All the exhibitors agreed on the high quality of visitors and the business transacted at the show. A cleaning chemical distributor from Delhi said, “I came looking for tools, as there is a bigger market for them in northern India.” Shridhar Rao, Business Head, Alano Mecmoto Pvt Ltd, said, “The exhibition has come at the right time and the excellent response we received at the show is proof enough for that.”
Some of the new entrants from abroad found it equally fruitful as they could meet up with prospective distributors under one roof. Haug Bürsten, Germany, exhibited its variety of brushes for specific applications for the first time in India. It was looking for distributors. Italian companies, some new to India, came with plans to establish themselves in the growing Indian market and meet Indian distributors at the show.
Changing market trends
As Jayaram Nair, Chairman, Virtual Info Systems Pvt Ltd, rightly said, Cleaning is not just for the upper strata of the community, it has to percolate down to the lower end too. CIP noticed many visitors from smaller cities and smaller hotels looking for solutions. Besides the keenness to gather information and knowledge about the cleaning technology, the trend highlighted a few more aspects:
- Demand for vacuum cleaners, scrubber drier and single disc machines
- Solutions through cleaning agents
- De-odourisers and other aerosol products for toilets
Among the innovative technology that noticeably attracted attention included the janitorial toilet seat, indigenous power sweeper machine, waste management units and specific housekeeping tools. More than 60% of the buyers were from the housekeeping and facility management companies. Newer technologies were looked at as cost effective and time-saving solutions. In keeping with the changed trend, besides specific cleaning agents, all-purpose agents and sustainable cleaning solutions generated interest.
There was a noticeable change in the attitude of the people, said Hydros Jassem, Technical Concepts. “Earlier, people used to enquire about the cost of the product, but today if the buyer finds the system meeting his requirement, he just goes for it.”
Said Gilles Troff, Karcher, “Ten years ago, it was more of manual cleaning, but today people are ready to invest in equipment for cleaning as it is more cost-effective and time saving. The awareness levels have improved.”
“The CIP show needs an applause, as it is the only show that brings the cleaning industry together,” said Archana Bhatnagar, Haylide Chemicals, adding that the response to the show had been very good. “It’s absolutely fantastic and incredible show and we are delighted to be exhibiting here. The visitors have been very responsive to our range of products,” said Joe Ovenden, Sales Director, Vectair Systems Ltd.
“It has also enabled us to make new contacts in the Indian market and we are looking forward to establish our cleaning systems in the coming two years,” said Nicola Negro, Marketing Manager, Idrobase Innovative HP Washer, Italy.
‘Why people throw so much ‘kachra’ these days?’
That’s precisely what has been worrying Alu Dewa, the oldest female conservancy worker of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, who was felicitated at the Show. At 86, it was a moment of pride and honour for her to be presented with a shawl and a gift cheque by Clean India Journal, amid a crowd of national and international delegates. Frail and old, Alu Dewa never felt cleaning or sweeping the roads was a menial job. “It’s just like cleaning our homes. But, at that time, there was not much littering on the roads either. I wonder how people throw so much garbage on the roads today. We, of course, did manual cleaning then but we have the machines to clean today making things much easier.” Taking up the cleaning job in 1946 was a necessity for Alu Dewa. She began with Rs65 per month and ended her career in 1981 with a salary of Rs300.
They kept the venue Clean
While CIP was on, there were two companies working behind the scene to keep the premises clean and hygienic as per international standards. Best Practice Washrooms Pvt Ltd maintained the restrooms and All Services Under 1 Roof (India) P Ltd managed the housekeeping of the show area. Clean India Journal appreciates the special contribution made by both the companies.
Two-day Seminar on FM/Housekeeping
The seminar hall was fully packed with more than 200 delegates who came looking for specific solutions and guidance to enhance their business performance. FM heads, housekeeping service providers, corporate houses, pharma companies and others joined the interactive sessions conducted by prominent speakers, including Keith Monteiro, VP-Central Administration, Reliance Industries Ltd; Siddharth Kanakia, Partner, Hariani & Co. Advocates & Solicitors; Ramaswamy Gopalakrishnan, VP Local Commercial Bank, CITI Bank; Smita Mahale, Manager Housekeeping, Knight Frank India Pvt Ltd; Hydros Jassem, Business Manager, Middle East, Africa & South Asia, Technical Concepts; Jolly Kochery, Country Manager, ISS Integrated Facility Services Pvt Ltd; Dr Sreenivasan, CEO, HR Strategist; Ashwin Bhosale, Deputy GM, Housekeeping & Facility Services, Sodexo Food, Facilities and Project Management Services; Gilles Troff, Category Manager, Alfred Karcher GmbH & Co. KG; Samit Sanyal, Head-Marketing (I&L) JohnsonDiversey India; and Amrut Bhadale, National Head Manufacturing, Eureka Forbes Ltd.
CIJ partnered with Roots, Tenant, Lions Service and Aquair to host the seminar.
Ajey D Naik, the administration in charge or Bursar of the Hansraj Morarji Public School and Junior College, found the seminar very useful and outstanding, as he maintains 18 buildings, 4000 children’s requirements, hostel buildings and dining hall.
“It provided a platform for the participants to evaluate themselves or their organization with the benchmarks of the industry,” said Keith Monteiro.
Marilyn Bhutani, Deputy Chief Manager, Administration, Times of India, was excited with the “absolutely amazing” and “fantastic” seminar. She particularly found solutions for maintaining the corporate office. “The feminine hygiene session has been useful and we are installing the system at our office,” she said.
The session on HR presented by Dr Sreenivasan, was very interactive, as it gave new ideas and points on how to deal with staff. “Besides, it kept us attentive all through,” said Sandeep Bamonia, Senior Executive, Housekeeping, Unising Projects Pvt Ltd (Unitech Ltd), on a lighter note.
There was so much to learn and share that B Sudhakar, Facility Manager, Lancor Maintenance & Services Ltd, conducted a training back home in Chennai and passed on the information gathered at CIP to his colleagues.
While all the speakers supported and much appreciated the seminar sessions, Naushad Panjwani in a nutshell said, “well-organised, good response, good crowd, good job”.
