Clean and green: Today's challenge

The archetypal dirty factory floor is quite rightly a thing of the past. But how can companies keep up with the demand for ever cleaner premises and ensure that cleaning processes are competent, environmentally friendly and cost effective? Ben Quirk of Nilfisk-CFM offers suggestions

Industrial cleaning is undoubtedly the sharp end of the cleaning sector. Pressure for companies to conform to current health and safety regulations and improve visual standards is constant and customers, shareholders and employees increasingly expect clean facilities.

A cleaning consultant is likely to advise companies to start at the beginning. Identify the cleaning need and related factors before considering the cleaning methods available in the market place today.

For example is the waste to be collected hazardous in any way? Simple dusts like aluminium, fibre glass dust, titanium, epoxy powder paint, fine sugars, starch, whey and chocolate powder etc. are known explosion risks. When mixed with copious quantities of air as a cloud these dusts only require a simple ignition source to produce devastating results. Furthermore when collected by a conventional vacuum cleaner the machine is also at risk of exploding.

Conventional vacuum cleaners produce static electricity as the dust passes through the machine. The motors of such units also produce sparks from carbon brushes providing an ignition source to potentially light the touch paper.

Facilities operating in this arena have legal duties under the ATEX 137 Directive to conduct a risk analysis on cleaning processes and to then select ATEX approved equipment intended for use in high risk areas. This includes Safety Vacuum Cleaners that are designed for the collection of combustible dusts. The ATEX approval will be specific to the category of equipment and nature of the risk (combustible gas, vapour or dust etc) considering the particular hazardous zone (eg. zone 21, zone 22, zone 1 or zone 2.) Nilfisk-CFM is one of the specialists in this field and will gladly consult on individual requirements within an industrial facility.

Chemical free cleaning is another important consideration as companies calculate not only the environmental impact but the cost of water, power and chemical agents. Chemical free however is not always possible if the level of soiling is high.

Establishments vary; an industrial factory floor can hardly be compared to a commercial kitchen or a hospital corridor.

Nilfisk has a 'Green meets Clean' philosophy which has driven product development over recent years. Designing equipment which can clean to the same high standard, but use fewer resources has therefore been a challenge.

The Ecoflex system was born out of this philosophy. The Ecoflex concept allows the operator of the machine to match the machine's performance to the level of soiling and the amount of cleaning necessary to effect a good result.

All machines start in Ecoflex mode which uses minimal amounts of water, chemical and power. On encountering a soiled area the operator activates a one minute burst of power for extra performance. The machine then moves automatically back into Ecoflex mode retaining the capacity for more aggressive cleaning when required. Such flexibility is suitable for a facility where cleaning hot spots or regular spillages are common place.

The Nilfisk CS7000 is a multi-functional sweeper-scrubber that includes the Ecoflex system as an option. The unit is available in three models: LPG-Hybrid, Diesel-Hybrid & ePower Battery and is designed to reduce the cost of operation, labour and maintenance, while increasing fuel economy and run-time efficiency.

The simple power of hot water should not be underestimated so the CS7000 has the optional extra of water heating to 55°. The unit also has a 150 bar high pressure washer function.

Pressure washers are also well suited to industrial cleaning. The Nilfisk-ALTO range, for example, has a wide range of options enabling it be used in tough industrial applications.

Nilfisk-ALTO has recently launched the Poseidon range of industrial pressure washers which feature a 30mm steel frame.

Poseidon 6 and 7 models are heavy duty options. The Poseidon 6 FA has the new industrial NA6 ceramic piston pump with the Poseidon 7 FA using the C3 four, ceramic piston pump for intense applications.

All models in the Poseidon 5 and 6 series, have a twin detergent suction valve so the operator can switch between detergents dependent on the application. Two different tasks can then be completed without the need to return to base to change chemicals.

Standards for industrial cleaning will continue to rise alongside the advent of new manufacturing systems, materials and waste components. Those responsible for cleaning are advised to seek advice on all fronts.