Darren Williamson, Head of Procurement at Robert Scott, shares his insights into some of the business’ latest product developments and areas of cleaning innovation that the company is helping customers explore.
There are many areas of cleaning technology that businesses can explore to find the right solutions to meet their cleaning and hygiene needs. From robotics and automation through to products that utilise the Internet of Things (IoT), new advancements are regularly coming to market and the level of innovation the industry is seeing is likely to continue at pace.
When considering any investment in new technology it’s important that companies remain objective and resist the temptation to get swept up in all that’s shiny and new, instead prioritising products that will deliver genuine improvements to their business in the quality of cleaning results, enhancing sustainability, and improving processes for janitorial staff.
As a fourth-generation cleaning manufacturer and distributor, Robert Scott has been developing and delivering cleaning technologies for nearly a century. Robert Scott’s reputation is built on the quality and experience of the company’s manual cleaning product ranges, including being Europe’s largest manufacturer of mopping systems, but it’s also a business that’s brought some of the most widely used cleaning technologies to mass-market.
For example, it was one of the first companies to introduce microfibre cloths and mops in the UK, and is the only UK distributor of Toucan Eco – a revolutionary sustainable cleaning system that uses just water, salt, and electrochemical activation to produce an eco-friendly disinfectant cleaning solution on demand. It’s a technology being used more and more by companies such as ESS (part of Compass Group), The Restaurant Group, Somerset House, and London Metropolitan University.
When it comes to product innovation, we work closely with our customers to understand which areas of their cleaning regimes could be improved with the application of technology. Genuine innovation shouldn’t overburden businesses but should always make processes more effective and efficient.
One such area we’ve found greater demand for is that of assisted cleaning – products that can help janitorial teams manage some of the more general tasks in their regime, allowing them to spend more time on the jobs that require a human touch.
One of our latest products launches in this area is called the Mini PowerZone. This is a powerful and environmentally-friendly odour and germ control system that uses UVC light to treat airborne contaminants passing through the unit, as well as producing purifying PhotoPlasma to effectively remove germs and odours at source in any room.
It can be used to combat odours caused by cigarette smoke, fire damage, urine, food, pets, and mould, as well as removing airborne viruses and surface bacteria such as Influenza, Salmonella and Streptococcus. Both elements of the UVC and PhotoPlasma technology have been tested and proven effective against human Coronavirus.
It’s lightweight and portable so it’s a fast and effective way to deodorise and disinfect any room so it can quickly be reopened for use, avoiding prolonged down time in busy areas. It also frees up janitorial staff to focus on other tasks as once the unit has been set up in a room where all doors, windows, and vents have been closed, it can be left to complete a clean in 30 minutes.
Above all, my advice for businesses before investing in any new technology is to carry out a full cleaning audit of their environment and the needs of their team, to ensure suppliers can provide the solution that will deliver cost-effective, superior cleaning results while also saving time for end users.
