Though India is one of the biggest car consumer markets of the world, when it comes to car care, the country has a lot to catch up with. The tremendous response the Car Care Expo 2016 received, shows that the demand for professional car wash and maintenance is on the rise. This is in tune with the increasing number of motorized vehicles and the awareness for saving water and energy and of course time. The visitors to the expo include car wash/ service centre operators, petrol pump operators, suppliers, mall operators, and other car wash professionals.
The Expo saw the launch of some stunning new products. When it comes to car cleaning, high pressure cleaners take the lead. R+M Suttner, the 44 year old German brand launched ST-164 easy foam two chemical injector with bypass for the professional car wash in the Indian market. This device aims to cut back on water consumption and reduce chemical usage. Made out of a combination of stainless steel and special high performance plastics, all versions are suitable for addition in high pressure from approx. 80 bar up to max. 350 bar. Rinsing function up to 60lt/min can be done without any drop in pressure.
Manmachine Works has lined up two new products. Anil Sethi, MD-Manmachine Work Pvt Ltd said, “Our steam machine is a real contribution to the prime minister’s vision of Swachh Bharat because this is an innovation by which we can clean a car with just four-five liters of water without compromising on the quality of cleanliness. This is going to change the way we are washing our cars in India.” Speaking about the technology, B.P. Tyagi, GM, Manmachine Works Pvt Ltd: “The Steam Jet Car Wash & Wax Machine Model FX 1D, are innovative products that give both water jet spray and wax coating simultaneously to the car’s exterior. The Rotary Underbody Vehicle Wash system is designed to wash cars without using the car lift. This has a stainless steel frame and can be used under a standing car.”
ATS ELGI’s mechanized automatic cleaning kits that are already in the market serve as exclusive business models as the ROI extends to not more than two years. With its tunnel wash already making waves, the company has launched 150 kits. “We are planning to launch 100 more kits in the market,” said Majaz Ahmad, ATS ELGI.
Uttam Chavan, MEP Manager, Bata India Limited who was at the earlier edition of the show too, expressed his happiness in seeing such a large space being devoted to sections like Car Care.
Speaking about the Show Karan Thapar, Director- Inventa Cleantec Pvt Ltd said, “We have returned to the Clean India Show after 2012, and we are very happy with the kind of responses we received over the three days. Having the entire range of latest car care solutions, we are confident to bring good ROI. We are hoping to have a bigger and better stall next time.”
When it comes to cleaning chemicals, meeting the demand and the efficiency of cleaning are aspects that matter. Compared to the generic ones, Saffron Equipments’ new chemical range that was launched in the show dries quickly, gives a lasting shine without leaving any stickiness on the dashboard. The glass cleaner cleans with no misting on the windscreen. “Car wash in India is driven by fixed perceptions,” said Shivom Kapoor, Saffron Equipments, one of the exhibitors at the Expo. “People mistake foaming for complete washing. Ideally, cars need to be foamed, washed, waxed and maintained.”
On the other hand, cleaning tools industry is driven to satisfy customers by meeting their expectations. “The multi-purpose cleaning cloth from Sheen & Shine Solution is a perfect, everyday cleaning tool to clean all the parts of the car. It absorbs water and oil and is lint-free. The product is available across Maharashtra, Karnataka, UP, Punjab and many other states too,” said Sumaimia from Sheen & Shine Solution. “The product is accepted and approved by customers with 200% satisfaction and is used on all kinds of cars from BMW, Voolkswagen, Toyota and Ford.”
Professional mobile and stationary cleaning and detailing services are changing many perceptions. Using mechanized cleaning as the main component, car care brands are working diligently towards bringing new solutions to break through the market. Right now the industry’s focus lies in innovating products that are sustainable and consuming less water, chemicals and man-hours.
Car care as a profitable business model
Alongside the exhibition, an engaging round table discussion on “Car Care as a profitable business model” was organized with industry experts discussing opportunities for new start-ups in car care business, mobile car wash and most importantly, generating ROI in the business.
The panelists were Bomi Zarolia, Vice President, International Business-Cleaning Systems Inc, USA; Anil Sethi, MD-Manmachine Works Pvt. Ltd; Karan Sethi, Director-Manmachine Works Pvt. Ltd; Arun Thapar, CMD-Inventa Cleantec Pvt. Ltd; and Karan Thapar, Director-Inventa Cleantec Pvt Ltd.An apt audience from the garages, petrol pumps and auto industry participated in the interactive session.
IFS EXPO 2016 Exhibitors Speak
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Siraj Siddaqui, MD-Fablas: We represent French company Spontex into India. The USP of their products are natural, antibacterial, hygienic and biodegradable; they are used for baby care products, personal care, home care, housekeeping, car care and other B2B retails segments. This event is quite successful for us. We have got not only enquires from endconsumers, but also have got many confirmed orders on the very first day of the exhibition with advance payment. There is awareness about cleaning and now the exhibitors are also very aggressive to spread this further. Another 10 – 15 years are very bright for this industry.
Sanjiba U Tripathy, Promoter & CEO, Global Hospitaity & Management Solution: We provide facility management services to hospitals, Corporates, malls, housing societies, townships and so on. It is the best platform to reach potential clients. The facility management industry itself presents a challenging environment- the work is a thankless one. So it becomes necessary to create your own benchmark in the industry. Recently, the industry has started growing and becoming more organized.
A C Sharma, Head- All India Marketing, All services Global: Having got good response in the exhibition, we can say that the industry is now ready to adapt to more solutions. We are majorly into road cleaning and are associated with Corporations in Surat, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. This is a demanding industry with high quality cleaning standards expected on an ongoing basis 24/7. The management is also involved directly in the operations to help the brand deliver its best.
Manjunathan M, MD-Tego Services Pvt Ltd: We manufacture floor mats and have a sound presence in South India. This exhibition has given us opportunity to connect with people from rest of the country. We have entrance mats for commercial establishments, hospitals etc. We have anti fatigue mats for industrial usage, particularly for those areas where people stand and work. These are approved by the American Podiatric Association. There is another anti-skid variety suitable for swimming pools and dishwashing areas. The mats are made of natural rubber. We have photo imprinted mats with jpeg images printed on the mats. These mats are also durable. We also have nylon entrance mats. These safeguard the floor and also prevent the space from dust and dirt and reduce the cleaning cycle. These have multi filament that aids in scrapping and absorption and can withstand a load of 1.5 lakhs footfalls. Generic PVC mats do not meet specific requirements. Our pattern, design and branding sets us apart. We also give brushes for cleaning.
