Water shortages demand fast solution
April 1st 2006

As the fear of water shortages become a reality in 2006, proposed drought orders have burdened facility and maintenance managers with finding environmentally friendly cleaning solutions. Tennant says its FaST solution is the answer

Providing a clean and hygienic surface is essential - regardless of what restrictions are imposed upon facility and maintenance managers. With drought orders possibly becoming a yearly trend, the need to find a cleaning solution that can provide a long term environmental benefit has become a necessity rather than an option.

The tasks associated with maintaining hard floor surfaces have been pretty well proven over the years-primarily because the methods haven't changed much. Historically maintenance consisted of the 'glug, glug'method of detergent calculation into a bucket of water and then wet mopping.

Where an evolution has occurred, is in the implementation of these tasks. This evolution includes a movement toward automation and technology that is resulting in new-found best practices and hard surface maintenance programmes that are more effective.

However although the delivery systems have evolved, the amount of core elements required to clean - i.e. water and detergent - remain a key environmental factor.

The answer

Tennant claims its patented FaST (foam active scrubbing technology) is the latest and most effective solution to emerge for the efficient consumption of water and detergent for hard floor cleaning.

The patented cleaning system integrates foam technology with scrubbing automation. Through an onboard automated chemical dispensing system, the exact amount of pre-measured chemical-to-water dilution is dispensed. Air is injected into the solution to create foam, and the automated scrubber delivers the foam to the floor surface.

FaST reduces both water and detergent usage by 70 per cent: Because it uses less water and less detergent than conventional automated cleaning systems, the system provides a floor that is both cleaner and safer. It also increases productivity by 30 per cent by reducing the number of empty-fill cycles per operation by 70 per cent due to less water usage.

Foam benefits

Whether using foam to clean your hands, as preparation for surfaces or a floor, there are several inherent benefits to its use. First, foam dramatically reduces the amount of water used to create the cleaning solution - less water is used, and less water is wasted. As a result, foam by its very nature, is environmentally friendly. Secondly less chemical is used to create the cleaning solution, which allows for smaller packaging.

Smaller packaging means the chemical can be easily stored on a shelf and easily handled by operators.

As it relates specifically to hard surface floor cleaning, foam, again, offers several inherent benefits. First, the foam bubbles provide superior delivery of the cleaning solution to the floor surface. Second, because it uses less water, foam is less slippery than traditional cleaning agents - and foam doesn't migrate or spatter. As a result, foam is a safer choice for obtaining a cleaner, safer, drier floor.

Chemical dispensing

Tennant believes the development of chemical dispensing systems is an evolution of Darwinian proportions in the commercial floor care industry. FaST technology provides an automated chemical dilution and proportioning system which, the company claims, is more effective and safer than traditional dispensing methods.

The real benefit of the FaST dispensing systems is two-fold. First, automated chemical dispensing systems ensure that the proper amount of chemical is used on the floor, which protects the floor surface from potentially damaging chemicals. This also saves on chemical costs by eliminating over use, and it reduces waste. In the old days, the 'glug, glug' method of pouring chemicals almost always guaranteed that too much chemical would be used, resulting in a myriad of problems, including higher chemical costs, the premature removal of the floor finish, and a sticky or slippery floor. With the automated dispensing system, the integrity of the floor finish is maintained and less chemical is used to get the job done, ultimately leading to a safer floor surface.

Second, FaST provides for safer chemical handling by equipment operators, as they no longer need to come in contact with the chemical.

Back to the 'glug, glug' example - with this method, the operator was often coming in contact with caustic or high-alkaline chemicals. But with the emergence of automated dispensing systems, chemicals are dispensed without human touch, reducing operator exposure and risk.

Proven technology

As the summer draws nearer - and the pending drought orders are likely to be imposed - the need to switch to technology that works and technology that makes a positive difference to the environment is obvious. FaST has been tried and tested and has proven itself to be a real solution.

For further information visit the dedicated FaST website at: www.the-fast-track.com or use the enquiry system below, or log onto www.cleaning-matters.co.uk to enquire direct online.

More articles from Walter-Broadley Machines Ltd: