CHTMAG.COM FUTURE FEATURE Robo-Clean DECEMBER / JANUARY 2016 27 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY Popular Mechanics predicted that people would one day shake hands with robots, and the information contained in that handshake would be transmitted to a doctor miles away who would diagnose what was wrong with the person. In 1955 Alex Lewyt, president of Lewyt Vacuum Company, confidently predicted that hoovers would run on nuclear power by 1965. In the 60s the Jetsons tv cartoon painted a picture of a world where robots had pretty much removed anything remotely resembling hard work from domestic chores. Obviously none of these things have come true, although the Jetsons still have a few decades left before they’re proven wrong. In fact the entire cleaning industry can be accused of lagging somewhat behind the times, especially when it comes to technology, and when compared to other sectors such as manufacturing. Vince Treadgold, FM MD at Servest doesn’t shy away from acknowledging this. Treadgold told CHT that the cleaning sector is missing a trick. “The technology is there.” He says. “Some of the things that would be revolutionary in the cleaning sector are just everyday in other spheres. I mean, microfibre cloths have been around for ten years, but people still talk about them as if they’re cutting edge.” However there are signs that things might be beginning to change course. Treadgold attributes this to the impact of the Living Wage, at least in part. “The Living Wage is a fantastic idea.” He says. “It will benefit the industry, the companies and the cleaning staff themselves. But with the wage rising to £9 per hour over the coming years we will see much more emphasis placed on technology and how this will benefit the industry.” KINKS Of course it wasn’t smooth sailing all the way. There were issues with radio signals and breakdowns. But the most important lesson was that staff had to be properly shown how to use and benefit form the technology. “We need the right staff to use it, and for them to know how to use it.” Treadgold explains. “People do get worried about machines taking people’s jobs. But I think the overall impact of technology will be beneficial to the staff. The industry will be a better place to work. There will be fewer part time workers just phoning it in, we will have committed, career orientated staff working in conjunction with technology. “We will be able to improve standards. Machines like Brian will be able to do the routine cleaning leaving people to perfect the corners and the edges, areas that would otherwise take up huge amounts of time. But it will take time to infiltrate the whole industry. I know really forward thinking people who are still sceptical about the benefits that technology can bring.” BRIAN Servest have already taken their first steps toward embracing this change. Two years ago, when bidding for a large contract, Servest looked for something to set them apart from the crowd. Realising there was limited innovation in the industry Treadgold and a colleague flew to Switzerland to take a look at the latest tech being developed. The robot, which Servest staff have nicknamed Brian, after the Confused.combot is a medium sized scrubber drier which can learn its environment and make its way around happily. (Yes robots feel happy. Yes robots dream of electric sheep.) It all operates in a similar way to a self-driving forklift truck. “Brian is efficient without impacting on quality.” Treadgold says. “We literally bought the first available model, straight off the production line. No one else was innovating this way so we felt it would set us apart.” Even in Servest’s own corridors of power there was scepticism though. Thanks to the cheap cost of labour in the cleaning sector many people didn’t grasp the benefits of products like Brian. “You need the money to develop it.” Treadgold admits. “But we are now gaining a huge amount of momentum. Brian was only rolled out around 9 months ago, but I think the staff would be devastated if we took him away now.” microfibre cloths have been around for ten years, but people still talk about them as if they’re cutting edge.”
CHT December/January 2016
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