Industrial floors – a growing niche for cleaning contractors?
October 1st 2004

Simon Collins, national sales manager – UK & Ireland, for Truvox International, looks at how the growth of the industrial floor market will affect UK cleaning contractors

According to recent research, sales of industrial flooring have risen significantly over the past five years, totalling £46.1 million in 2003.This rise coincides with the growing number of conversions of old buildings, such as factories and warehouses, which are being renovated for use as offices or residential areas after years’ of neglect.As a result, so-called “industrial” flooring surfaces are actually becoming more common in non-industrial applications.This trend is gaining further momentum as designers opt for industrial flooring surfaces as an alternative to traditional floorcoverings such as vinyl and carpets.

So how does this affect the cleaning industry? Industrial floors need specialist cleaning and as they become more widespread, so the need for specialist cleaning equipment is growing.

It is undeniably true that industrial floors present a challenge to most cleaning contractors.As the number of renovations continues to rise, the variety of industrial floor surfaces required for different applications is also increasing.According to the Market and Business Development UK Industrial Flooring Market Research Report 2004, industrial flooring is defined as all types of surfacing products that are laid on concrete, sand and cement, granolithic or equivalent bases.These sub-floors can be covered with a wide variety of materials including ceramic tiles, chemical resistant bricks, epoxy resins, polyurethane, screeds and seamless flooring.Contract cleaners are increasingly expected to clean an ever-growing range of different floors including textured and unusual industrial floors that require specialised cleaning techniques.

Taking the example of an old factory or warehouse conversion, specialist machinery will be required to enable heavy-duty cleaning or scarification of an old surface before a new floor can be laid on top of it.

Cleaning contractors are increasingly turning to multipurpose floorcare machines such as Truvox’s Cimex HD range, as they have the ability to provide both floor preparation and heavy duty cleaning tasks.

The actual cleaning of industrial floors, particularly those older floors covered with years’ of dirt and grime, is a tough job. Many surfaces will require the removal of stubborn impacted debris such as the hard baked icing sugar found on the floor of bakeries to thick ice build-up located on the floors of cold stores.Machines such as Truvox’s Cimex HD take the strain out of heavy-duty cleaning tasks due to their scarifying action that effortlessly breaks down stubborn contaminants such as grease, paint, tyre rubber or adhesives. Featuring three brush technology with a distinctive contra-rotating action, the Cimex HD is ideal for cleaning and scarifying floor surfaces in a wide range of industrial environments from manufacturing plants and warehouses to garages and paint shops.

The use of three-brush technology is also excellent for the ongoing maintenance of industrial floors once they have been laid.The Truvox Cimex Cyclone series of scrubber polishers for example, is highly effective for cleaning almost any floor type including concrete, wood, vinyl rubber, carpet and tiles. Its inclusion of a unique action where its three brushes are driven in one direction, while the carrier disc rotates the opposite way provides the Cyclone with its vigorous action capable of cleaning in all directions,making it ideal for areas such as the grouting between tiles and around the contours of rubber studded non-slip floors. The development of triple brush technology has enabled contract cleaners to carry out a larger variety of industrial cleaning projects with greater ease.Contractors are increasingly looking towards a new generation of floorcare equipment, that combines high performance, versatility, ease of use and low operating costs.

Health, safety and ergonomics are other factors that contractors need to consider when specifying cleaning equipment. A welldesigned machine, such as the Cimex HD can offer excellent manoeuvrability and high levels of stability during operation, particularly when heavy-duty cleaning is required to remove substances such as grease, rust, oil, paint and debris.The contra-rotating action of the three brushes naturally deflects power cables and helps avoid accidents.The simplicity of operation means that cleaners with minimal formal training can produce outstanding results in most situations.

Additional features such as a deadman’s switch provide extra safety for users.

Maintenance is another key requirement, which is crucial to the overall performance of the equipment being used, particularly if a contractor has a tight budget.Machines such as the Cimex HD feature an automatic reverse system that changes the direction the brushes rotate every time the machine is switched on, which combined with a centrally mounted motor ensures that even downward brush pressure is maintained, preventing unnecessary wear and prolonging brush life.

Cleaning industrial floor surfaces should not prove tough if contractors invest wisely in the appropriate heavy-duty floor care equipment. Investing in machines that utilise triple brush technology will not only save significant costs by increasing productivity, it will also help contractors to take advantage of the growing market for cleaning industrial floor surfaces.

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