Introducing NEXT-GEN Smart Technology for Washroom Hygiene

[box type=”shadow” ]Washrooms have definitely made headway with hightech automation, providing seat warming, lighting, self-cleansing, sensor-based washing, fancy faucets and so on. Nonetheless, a bathroom basically requires smarter technologies to make the space hygienic to use. Unravelling a marvel machine, enabling minimum human intervention and doing away with the need for multiple equipment to clean washrooms, Schevaran launches WonderJoeTM, a Swiss-made multitasking product adapted to Indian specifications by Cleanfix, the global leader in manufacture of cleaning machines with presence in over 90 countries. [/box]

The story of WonderJoeTM was conceptualised last year, when Schevaran India raised the need for an easy-tooperate washroom cleaning machine meeting Indian needs which could achieve a higher level of hygiene. “In five months, Cleanfix engineers came up with a product that was ready to be launched in the market. We did not have the need to experiment with our Indian customers, as we used the best technology from previous machines and we had inputs from Schevaran India, the market pioneers in the domain in India with 30 plus years of experience. Hence, WonderJoe works with 100% efficiency from the very beginning,” says Felix Ruesch, Director-International Sales, Cleanfix Switzerland.

“Any product for the Indian market should be innovative without being too complicated for the operator to use. We know that the operator tends to make mistakes and would require adequate training. Therefore, alongside keeping WonderJoe simple and easy, training will be provided when sought by experts trained in Switzerland,” adds Sam Cherian, Managing Director of the Mysuru-based Schevaran India, who envisioned ecofriendly cleaning and a hygienic India three decades ago.

WonderJoe

WonderJoe, manufactured completely at Cleanfix plant in Henau, eastern Switzerland, is an easily manoeuvrable 40kg machine which dispenses two chemicals; an acid foam to be sprayed on walls, urinals and WC’s and rinsed with water at a pressure of 10 bars, followed by a disinfectant and vacuuming, all performed by a single operator. It has two chambers, one of 35 litres for clean water and the other of 40 litres to collect dirty water, leaving behind a dry washroom.

While the average washroom needs about 30 minutes to be cleaned, WonderJoe can complete the task in less than 15 minutes. The dosage of chemicals depends on the chemical used, and is measured out by a colour-coded metering tip.

The advantages of using WonderJoe are manifold: Its scrubbing brush reaches under the rim of the toilet, a difficult-to- reach area. An Indian WC can also be cleaned without the cleaner having to go down on his hands and knees, with a wand specially designed for the purpose. Since it is electricity-powered and not battery-powered, it is lighter, and easier to move. Its reduced operation time means deep-cleaning, which usually happens once a week, can be done on a daily basis. It is easily manoeuvrable and can squeeze into tight corners. Last but not the least, the dignity of the janitorial staff is protected. Cleanfix intends to launch this product in other Asian markets such as Japan, Singapore and China as well with adaptations as necessary.

“We are making a special launch offer at the Clean India Show from February 13 to 15, 2019,” informs an overjoyed Sam Cherian, during the soft launch of the product in Bangalore.

“Cleaning washrooms has been a major pain-point as far as the facility head is concerned. WonderJoe makes this job simpler as it goes into the washroom like a professional, and slides out leaving it clean, sanitised, and dry in no time; without having to manually scrub surfaces or squeeze out water out of mops. This machine does the work of five machines: wet vacuum cleaner, jet spray machine, hand-held scrubber and two foamers,” explains Benjamin Alexander, Director & Business Head, Schevaran India.

The versatility of WonderJoe, is more pronounced in today’s facility management industry, which has a vast portfolio demanding multiple work completion in a limited time frame. Many of the FM companies took to the machine instantly during the soft launch with Tirumala Rao, CEO-KVR Best Property Management, placing orders on the spot for the first machine and handing over the cheque to Sam Cherian. “It is a wonderful machine. I am thoroughly impressed,” he says.

Comparing Schevaran’s services to the proverbial cherry on top of the cake, V. Babji, Regional Director-JLL, avers that “In the industry, there are certain basic expectations which you have to fulfil regularly, everyday, with a certain quality of service. Beyond that, you go further and offer festive discounts or have an annual sales event and offer something extra. But there is a part that is unexpected, which is the ‘cherry on top’ for our customers. After some time, people get used to the ‘cherry’ level of service as well, and you need to find something better to keep your client continually interested; that’s where Schevaran has mastered the game.

“We are here for the launch of WonderJoe that will make things better for us and will make the FM industry smarter,” adds Babji.

Capt. Satish Upahaday, General Manager (Administration), TCS, who launched WonderJoe at Bangalore, is extremely happy and pleased with the performance demo of WonderJoe. “It is a privilege to be present at the launch of WonderJoe and I am very impressed. I plan to instruct my vendors to deploy one machine each at every location in Bangalore,” he declares.

Expressing similar sentiments, Shamsher Puri, MD of DTSS, says, “WonderJoe is a great product and will definitely remove a lot of complexity and inefficiency in the operation. We look to scale this in our offering to our clients.”

Capt. Bandi Kanna, MD & CEO 24 X 7 Facility Service Connect, is equally impressed. “I find WonderJoe to be very versatile and I am sure it will create wonders in the washroom”.

Cleanfix-Schevaran

Cleanfix, the family-owned Swiss company founded 42 years ago, manufactures cleaning machines in Switzerland. “We do not produce cheap, sub-standard machines.

“The R&D departments of other companies create machines according to what they think the industry needs; we go the other way. We ask what the end user needs, what the market needs and what the person doing the cleaning needs. Cleanfix today has presence in 90 countries,” adds Felix.

[box type=”shadow” ]“WonderJoe is a time tested NextGen Swiss technology innovated to Indian conditions. It makes sense to invest in a product that is durable and reliable, reducing repair costs and stress levels as well, and priced to fit the pocket.”[/box]

Cleanfix manufactures its machines in-house, thus ensuring they adhere to the highest quality standards. Cleanfix has a special warehouse for spare parts which delivers directly to the customer. If, by chance, a part is not available, the production line is automatically intimated, and the part made available within minutes. About 98% of all products are Swiss-made, guaranteeing their quality for years.

Schevaran Mysore plant, on the other hand, markets and offers sales and support services for all Cleanfix machines parts in India, making them more affordable. Praising the ease of doing business in India, Felix says that ‘things are more organised, and move fast here’. Schevaran already has over Rs.10 crores worth of cleaning machines operating across India, just 10 months into launching the vertical. Sam Cherian reiterates that anyone involved in operating these machines will receive training from Cleanfix engineers at Schevaran cost. Adds R. M. Prabhu Prasad, Schevran Factory Manager and Service Head, “It is a simple construction and hence repairing is also easy. And as a backup service support, we will do the repairs. We have Swiss-trained technicians to answer all distress calls. And we have all the spares required warehoused at Mysore, and will localize the stores as per need.”

Constantly providing newer solutions for the FM industry, Schevaran had brought to India the Robotic cleaning machine from Cleanfix last year. “A cleaning robot never forgets a square metre.” Robots provide reports and can be controlled from a mobile phone, which eases the work of a facility manager.

Why WonderJoe

Explaining the applications of WonderJoe, the NextGen cleaning solution, Bejamin states that it could be specific and varied. “When it comes to maintaining the 400 toilets of Delhi airport or any other airport with multiple toilets, the time consumed to clean & maintain is challenging and is a big task. A regular upkeep session takes at least 15-20 minutes, while deep cleaning takes about 30-35 minutes. With WonderJoe, a standard washroom with three urinals, three WCs and two wash basins can undergo a deep-upkeep in 12-15 minutes.

“WonderJoe cuts down on manual work; consequently, fatigue levels of the cleaning staff reduce. An added advantage of a toilet being cleaned by a sophisticated machine is that it looks much better.”

Machines and chemicals with multitasking capabilities have remained a long-time demand in housekeeping and facility management. When a single machine can perform multiple tasks, the added advantage is the least number of manpower required to complete the task. With WonderJoe, a single janitor can completely clean the washroom effortlessly.

“It is going to make the life of the janitor easy and reduce the physical exertion. Janitor becomes a machine operator from a cleaner. WonderJoe lends dignity to his job as he is only operating a machine with minimum human intervention. In short, the janitor remains clean after his cleaning,” explains Hemant Hardikar, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Schevaran India.

Says Sachin Rasal, Sales Head (Equipment Division) Schevaran India, “Cleaning machines available in the market today include highpressure jets and steam cleaners for washroom cleaning. This requires multiple manpower to do washrooms. The cleaning industry is facing a big problem of skilled manpower. Further for many cleaning staff – especially the educated ones – find it demoralising especially keeping toilets clean. But with WonderJoe, a janitor can walk in, plug in, switch it on, and clean in one go. There is a sense of pride attached to the work when it comes to using machines like WonderJoe.”

“This method is costeffective by saving on manpower, detergent and water, as well reducing cleaning time by up to 30%. We are targeting corporate offices, schools, colleges and hotels, which tend to have 10-12 toilets per floor. With the reduced cleaning time, these toilets can now be cleaned more than just once a day,” Shankar V Iyer, Regional Manager, Schevaran India, adds.

Concludes, Shyla Yogish, Business-Head, Order to Cash, Schevaran India, “WonderJoe minimises human intervention in washroom cleaning, optimises use of chemicals, conserves water (AquaSave®) and reduces time. Washrooms differ from country to country. The requirements as needed for Indian conditions were given by Schevaran to Cleanfix. WonderJoe completely meets Indian needs.”