The company retains its position in its sector of having the highest number of British Damage Management Association qualified senior technicians.

ServiceMaster Clean specialises in disaster restoration services alongside commercial cleaning expertise. Its Restoration Response™ service guarantees fast response within a few hours of an emergency to start putting the property back to pre-damage condition. Registration is free, so that if an unexpected emergency such as water, flood, fire and smoke or malicious damage to buildings occurs then help can be quickly provided. Customers registered to the scheme are guaranteed on-site service within 2-4 hours of an emergency.

The team adheres to professional standards of care and codes of practice, underpinned by technical and corporate training and provides support to both the customer and the insurance industry, working closely with claimants, brokers and adjusters.

Malcolm Holmes, Head of Commercial Support for ServiceMaster Clean explains the importance of this accreditation, stating:

“Our focus is to go above and beyond customer requirements and we ensure the audit process is seamless for both the customer and the insurance sector. Queries are dealt with by knowledgeable personnel who have a detailed understanding of water and fire damage, making the claims management process and restoring a property as straightforward as possible.

“We are the first in our industry to offer this level of support. Not only that, but Hannah is, in fact, one of only a handful of female BDMA Senior Technicians in the UK. ServiceMaster Clean continues to ensure all its staff are qualified to the highest possible standards.”

For further information about Restoration Response™, please visit www.restorationresponse.co.uk  or call 0845 762 6828.

ENDS

Deutzmann, who first joined Unger back in 1995 as a marketing assistant, worked his way up through the company performing a variety of roles, most recently general manager. During his time at Unger he has been involved in a number of key projects such as shaping strategic direction, launching innovative products such as HiFloTM Pure Water cleaning systems, and developing and growing the sales force. This latest move will see him using his considerable experience, in both the industry and the company, to oversee all activities in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Commenting on his appointment Mark Unger, President of Unger Enterprises, said:

‘Torsten’s outstanding track record at Unger speaks for itself. We have no doubt that he will be a great success in his new role, continuing to add value to the brand and taking the lead in developing new opportunities for the company.’

Deutzmann said:

‘Having spent a fantastic 17 years with Unger I feel I know every product and customer inside out. I will use this knowledge to provide even better value products and services to our distributor and end user clients. I am extremely grateful to be given this chance and am looking forward to the new challenges ahead.’

www.ungerglobal.com

ENDS

For press enquiries please contact: Emma Fleetwood-Jones – Ceris Burns International

t: +44(0)1825 714329   e: emma@cbimarketing.com  www.cbimarketing.com

Flooring machines and flooring technologies are changing fast. Industrial Cleaning Equipment is setting standards for the way in which organisations can meet their strict hygiene requirements through technologically advanced cleaning equipment and innovative services combined with a unique customer-focused service model.

The key requirements for cleaning profitability in tough and highly competitive times are speed, reliability, high productivity and energy efficiency, whilst minimising health and safety risks. Cleaning equipment needs to be increasingly versatile to improve the cleaning process, and should be easy to maintain inexpensively.

Changing the customer/supplier relationship

Industrial Cleaning Equipment has been working direct with clients across a wide range of industry sectors including retail, leisure, commercial and public service sectors for over forty years. In order to maintain our position as the largest independent industrial cleaning specialist we have a clear focus to provide the very best service infrastructure.  In addition to product innovation, we have changed the way customer and supplier work together by providing servicing repair of all equipment brands, regardless of manufacturer or condition. Industrial Cleaning Equipment helps take cost out of the client’s business by amongst other factors, streamlining agreements and supply and ensuring clients are compliance ready.

Leading Technology as Standard

At Industrial Cleaning Equipment, we believe that investing in research and development is essential to maintain the highest standards in product innovation, floorcare and customer satisfaction. Working closely with major manufacturing suppliers, we regularly drive new product development to ensure that our clients enjoy cost savings and the latest advances in cleaning technology.

Most recently, Industrial Cleaning Equipment has introduced the technologically advanced Cleanfix Robo 40. This new, robotic compact scrubber dryer is one of the most developed cleaning systems available today, with an automatic navigation system and infrared sensors, meaning obstacles are driven around.  Its powerful performance is ideal for cleaning large areas without any manual intervention, leaving personnel free to work on other areas. It is environmentally friendly as the unique battery technology reduces battery recharging to just three hours and provides a six hour runtime and it uses minimum water content to clean and dry.

Instant repair and servicing updates

Customers expect excellent levels of service and support. With this in mind, Industrial Cleaning Equipment has introduced a web-based system, Service Smart™, which provides customers with instant updates on repairs and servicing at the touch of a button. The system also provides a comprehensive asset management tool displaying real time updates on the inventory status; from individual machine to specific location or across the entire estate.

Environmentally friendly solutions

We work closely with our customers to provide them with energy efficient solutions that meet their own environmental pledges. Industrial Cleaning Equipment provides water-efficient cleaning machines, recyclable batteries and machinery refurbishment. Our cleaning equipment uses 100% recyclable batteries, our battery chargers use 25% less electricity than conventional chargers and our Aqua stop system featured in a selection of our products use up to 50% less water.

Industrial Cleaning Equipment helps customers slash their capital outlay by refurbishing current stock and returning it to the fleet of cleaning equipment as good as new. With a large stock holding of parts and good relationships with suppliers, we can refurbish nearly any machine in any condition.

Training

Training people to operate cleaning equipment is vital for increased efficiency and to ensure flooring retains its appearance, safety and comfort. We provide operatives with high levels of training and installation to British Institute of Cleaning Science standards.

Site surveys

We work closely with the customer to recommend appropriate machines and techniques for floor care. Working with our supply partners, each site is surveyed to gain an understanding of the various challenges and opportunities faced.
For further information about Industrial Cleaning Equipment’s products and services please call free phone 0800 085 4384 or visit our website http://www.ice-clean.com/home.html

Outsourcing food production site cleaning to hygiene specialists ensures your site is audit ready at all times, whilst allowing the food manufacturer to focus on the core task of food production.

A relationship of this magnitude requires partnering with a trusted organisation which has proven specialist cleaning expertise for food production sites. This will save management valuable time and resources, whilst minimising downtime. ISS Facility Services experience in this sector includes working within particularly high risk environments.

ISS Facility Services staff will be on hand throughout the show to explain about its full range of services including cleaning of the plant processing equipment and the food manufacturing environment; technologically advanced low pressure wash down systems;  the latest safe and effective chemical products; periodic deep cleaning programmes, waste management services; data management and strict auditing procedures.

ISS Facility Services hold a licence from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority which is a legal requirement if you are using workers to provide a service e.g. clean the food production line, or clean food waste that is to be further used (e.g. in pet foods).

The GLA regulate the supply of workers to industries involved in the processing and packaging of foods. This legal requirement demonstrates that businesses can prove ethically sound treatment of workers as well as impeccable health and safety standards.

For more information about the comprehensive range of food production cleaning and hygiene services available from ISS Facility Services please visit www.uk.issworld.com or call 0121 779 1500 or email Antony.Thompson@uk.issworld.com.

Ends

For press enquiries please contact Michelle Eastty, Ceris Burns International
t: +44(0)1825 714329
e: michelle@cbimarketing.com
www.cbimarketing.com

About ISS

ISS Facility Services is the Operating Division of ISS UK, part of the global ISS Group, providing full facility services to the Public and Private Sector, employing around 43,500 people across the country.

First impressions in the private sector really count and the presentation of your facility says a lot about your organisation. Boardroom carpets, reception area hard floors and upholstered reception sofas should be regularly and professionally cleaned to give a positive message about the quality of your company. It makes economic sense too, as appropriate cleaning and treatment will lengthen the serviceable life of these surfaces. This will also provide a healthier environment for staff, helping reduce work absenteeism.

Specialised cleaning
The persons contracted to clean and maintain flooring and carpets must be competent to do so. ServiceMaster Clean is a trusted, national specialist cleaning company with over 50 years’ experience. Our full range of services include commercial carpet, hard floor and upholstery cleaning services and daily office cleaning; green cleaning; a specialist capture and removal cleaning system to remove dust, dirt and debris,; a range of infection control measures offering protection against harmful bacteria such as MRSA and E-Coli; and a specialist disaster restoration service.

Too often, individuals without any specialist training are given the task of cleaning. Different surfaces and fabrics all have varied cleaning requirements. For instance, with floorcare, some vinyl floor surfaces may require deep scrubbing using a rotary machine and a suitable brush head to properly clean the floor. Other floors may benefit from having damaged seals removed and fresh coatings applied. Our qualified experts have the expertise to remove scratches from marble, granite or limestone flooring or restore a high polish.

Frequency of carpet and upholstery cleaning
Without regular, expert cleaning, carpet or flooring that could remain fresh and bright for 30 years will be dull and worn after as little as ten years. Which is why investing in programmed maintenance from an expert cleaning service makes sound financial sense.

If the outside environment is particularly dusty or muddy it is more likely that dirt will be walked in, or carried through the air, which will increase the frequency requirement for cleaning.

• Vacuuming: A commercial grade vacuum cleaner should be used daily in all areas. 
• Spot Cleaning: Our trained professionals use the correct techniques and ensure the right cleaning solutions and quantities are used.
• Interim Maintenance Cleaning: High traffic areas in the building may require either weekly or fortnightly cleaning.

Restorative Cleaning
It may be necessary for restorative cleaning to be carried out on a quarterly basis to remove deeply embedded dirt; improve the indoor air quality; remove any residues from interim maintenance cleaning procedures and refresh carpeting texture and fibres.

Refurbishment
The extent of refurbishment depends upon the level of damage and type and the location. For example, if the building is high-rise, in some cases truck mounted equipment may not be able to reach certain areas. The technology for dealing with surfaces that were previously considered beyond repair has improved dramatically, demonstrating the cost effectiveness of using trained professionals. Instead of tearing up damaged floors and throwing upholstery out and supplying and laying new materials, it is now possible to carry out full restoration.

Preventative measures
To minimise wear and tear, it is important to implement preventative measures to reduce the amount of dirt in the building. Soil and debris trodden into surfaces are often the main culprits of a dirty carpet or floor. Textured synthetic mats or metal grids should be placed on the outside of entrances to allow visitors to scrape off soil before they enter the building.

A unique offering if disaster strikes
Our Restoration Response® service is a unique 24/7/365 emergency response service with free membership for our customers. Offering peace of mind that in the event of a fire, flood or other peril, Restoration Response® is the helping hand to get your premises up and running again as quickly as possible.

Trying to sort out flooring that has been damaged after a fire or flood is an unappealing task.
ServiceMaster Clean adheres to professional standards of care combined with technical expertise and is a member of the British Damage Management Association (BDMA). We’ve helped private sector companies affected by flood water, using professional pumping equipment and powerful water extraction machines to minimise damage. If a carpet has been directly subjected to flames it may be a right off, but for smoke damage and odours, our specialist restoration can help.

How to choose a reputable provide – a checklist for the private sector
The day-to-day running of a business can be tricky enough without having to worry about the basics like cleaning. We understand that there are more important things to think about which is why our 50 years experience in cleaning some of the largest organisations in the world has made us experts in our field. When hiring a specialist cleaning service you should check the following:

• Ensure your supplier is competent to deliver the service they say they’ll deliver – request references and check out testimonials. Make sure the company is highly trained and has evidence of certification
• Choose a supplier who can offer you a comprehensive service, allowing organisations to focus on their core business. Increasingly, companies are looking for a single manageable contract for their building requirements, serviced by one reputable and dependable provider.
• With outsourcing there is no need to buy expensive equipment or supplies as a reputable company will bring all their own equipment. In addition, a growing number of companies provide green cleaning techniques which are safer for the environment and your staff.
• Make sure the selected service provider carries adequate insurance to cover any damage or other potential liability. Have they provided risk assessments, method statements and permits to work?

Further information about ServiceMaster Clean’s full range of services can be found at: www.servicemasterclean.co.uk or by calling 0845 762 6828.

Increasingly companies are implementing low carbon, sustainable options for their buildings.  This not only reduces costs but uses resources in a manner that doesn’t damage the environment or people in it. To reduce energy consumption and associated costs companies should implement interior and exterior LED lighting.

The key benefit of LED lighting is that it generally uses one tenth of the energy required to power other lighting sources.  This reduces electricity costs by up to 70 per cent, significantly reduces C02 emissions and energy bills. LED lighting is now available which can be used at 60 per cent consumption after midnight to help reduce energy even further. Savings can be made by choosing a company that is a Carbon Trust approved supplier. If companies want to reduce costs and save energy, unsecured interest free loans are available.

Fit and Forget
Substantial investment is required to maintain traditional lighting schemes. Traditional lighting has to be changed regularly and, if the lighting is in hard to reach areas, specialist equipment may be required, adding to maintenance costs. In contrast, the long life of LED lighting means that lamp changing and lamp failures are a thing of the past. LED lighting life is up to 100,000 hours. In a typical UK night time burning situation, this equates to approximately 25 years. No routine maintenance is required to ensure continued performance, thus costs are reduced  and the possibility of missed maintenance is avoided.

Clarity and Security
Traditional lighting sources utilise monochromatic spectrums which do not allow identification of colours clearly. When viewing colours under sodium lights, the shades of orange appear normal, but other colours appear lifeless and dull. This is because only the colours that match the light being emitted are picked out.

In contrast, white LED’s provide superb optical control and colour definition.The current generation of white LED’s have high outputs and are ideal for external areas. If you compared the safety of a car park area lit with LED lighting with one lit by general lighting, you would feel safer parking in the one lit by LED lighting.

Health Benefits

Internal and external LED lighting does not produce ultra violet light which can be detrimental to health and cause potential damage to decoration. Nor do LED lights contain toxic heavy metals or mercury.

Life-cycle Sustainability

Some companies claim to be sustainable by offering LED lighting, but this may be imported from another country, such as China. Source your LED lighting from a company which manufactures and sources products locally. For example, CAM Specialist Support uses the services of Remploy, which increases the employment opportunities for disabled people, to manufacture locally sourced LED fittings.

Use a reputable provider
Use a supplier that uses quality LED lighting. Internal lighting should meet CE standards and standards for the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS). Lighting should also be manufactured to ISO and TUV accreditation. You should also choose a company which is able to consult about the various lighting options available and which would be the most appropriate option for your business requirements. Always choose a reputable company whose staff is trained and experienced in building maintenance whilst working at height.

LED lighting options available

There are a number of different external and internal LED lighting options available, depending upon the size of your business and your requirements. For example, if you need to identify walkway areas, the LED lighting bollard provides a safe, secure passage for customers, employees and other pedestrians. Other options available include the Marlin Street light which offers up to 70 per cent reduction in carbon and energy. For flood lighting, an option provided by CAM Specialist Support is the Stingray LED floodlight, which is an extremely high performance luminary.

For a free LED lighting assessment please contact CAM Specialist Support by telephoning 020 3411 7210 or email info@camsupport.co.uk.
See www.camsupport.co.uk for further information.

The full range of Segezha products includes paper sacks for commercial, confidential office and domestic applications where low environmental impact consumables are among buyers’ key prerequisites, without compromising their waste management systems.
Peter Vernon, MD Alpha Waste Solutions said of the deal, “It is our objective to be the UK’s leading one-stop shop for commercial and household waste recycling supplies.  Working with Segezha, to ensure its products reach the widest possible market, represents a step closer to that goal.”
The confidential waste EcoSack is available in bundles of 25 to 200 bags per pack. The single ply 100gsm white EcoSacks are perfect for the storage of shredded confidential waste prior to disposal. The key advantage of using this product is that both bag and content can be destroyed without having to separate out the two different materials.  This makes the EcoSacks a much more secure and cost effective solution than plastic bags. Handling time is also reduced. High volume users have the option of printing their logos or other details on to the bags.

Garden waste sacks and 140/240 litre wheelie bin liners are two more products within the range. Domestic users and small businesses can benefit from small bundles of only 25 sacks per pack, with other bundles available with up to 200 sacks per pack. The sacks are moisture and puncture resistant and provide a sturdy transportation solution for users. They are also strong enough to withstand the rigours of kerb side collections.  Local Authorities can order both garden waste sacks and wheelie bin liners in large quantities and have them supplied in pallet loads. These volumes can also be custom printed to order.

Local Authorities running food waste collection schemes know that householders value kitchen caddy liners because they reduce odours by enabling the caddy to be closed easily between uses and making transportation to the kerb side easier. The major benefit for local authorities is that the paper is completely biodegradable and adds structure into compost by providing Lignine rich material into a largely Nitrogen rich waste: both are vital in the composting process. Available in 8, 10 or 25 litre versions, the paper sacks can also be used as a standalone solution.

ENDS

For further information about Alpha Waste Solutions, contact Peter Vernon via email: pvernon@awsltduk.com or call him on telephone 01634 838 540. The company’s website can be found at www.awsltduk.com

For press enquiries please contact Mary Collins – Ceris Burns International  m: +44(0)7769 670516
t: +44 (0)1825 714329 e:  mary@cbimarketing.com www.cbimarketing.com

Editor’s notes:
Alpha Waste Solutions is a wholly owned company with over ten years’ experience in the industry, providing expertise in the areas of waste management products and consumables, plus wheeled bin cleaning and maintenance services.

It undertakes large nationwide servicing contracts in addition to local projects in London and the South East using its specially fitted industrial bin cleaning lorries. It provides services to all waste producers, facilities managers, local authorities, the NHS, private medical practices, leisure centres, hotels and all other large commercial organisations.

Additionally, Alpha provides an online shop selling recycling and waste sorting products plus an extensive range of low environmental impact waste consumables such as the EcoSack.
The company is a master distributor for Busch Systems and Segezha.

Alpha operates to the highest standards, is fully licensed by the Environment Agency, and works with other regulatory bodies including The National Association of Wheeled Bin Washers and the Water Authority, to ensure a safer, cleaner environment for everyone.

Added to this, David Cameron stated in May 2010 that he had ambitions to head the ‘greenest government ever’ when he addressed a meeting at the Department of Energy and Climate Change during the 10:10 campaign to reduce emissions by 10% in 2010 (which it did, actually reducing emissions by 13.5% that year).

However, the publication ‘Government Review of Waste Policy in England 2011′ disappointed the sector and proponents of the environmental agenda across the UK. Only the CBI offered general support of the government’s focus on harnessing waste as a resource, pointing out that it is a “much wider issue than household bin collections”. It would seem that although the government wants to be seen as ‘Green’, the complexity of the matter has stopped it making any true progress. It knows ‘there is no silver bullet to solve the waste issue’ (as Environmental Secretary, Caroline Spelman, states in the policy foreword) so what the government really wants is to get businesses, charities, voluntary groups and other civil society groups to deal with waste, while it gets the fiscal debt under control.

Indeed it would appear to be a reasonable standpoint because, as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Environment Minister Lord Henley pointed out at a recent meeting; ‘Twice as much waste comes from commerce and industry than householders’, meaning businesses are firmly in the sights of government when it comes to dealing with the waste problem. In short, the government is saying – we’ve got our hands full; what are you doing about your bit?

The government’s review highlights some particular sectors where it would like to see businesses picking up the mantle: hospitality, textiles (including the supply chain for retail) and construction, but overall it wants a general change of attitude to waste and resource management.

The review’s main point then is this: Waste prevention is key to reducing the waste problem and it wants everyone to repeat the mantra Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Dispose. This waste hierarchy can be considered best practice for resource and waste management; supported by many in the environmental sector, from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Plan) down.

The Waste Policy Review also points out that there is a great deal of confusion over what is law, what is best practice and what is practical when it comes to dealing with waste. Added to which it highlights the previous government’s move to criminalising the disposal of waste if done incorrectly, something that the Coalition believes is often disproportionate to the crime. It is likely that there will be a move away from criminal to civil penalties for transgressors, but with businesses signing up to Voluntary Responsibility Deals (more on this later) there should be no need for new regulations on waste during this government’s office. So out goes the idea of ‘bin snooping’ and taxation if you don’t recycle and in comes the ‘harm to local amenities test’ (Although details are a little vague at the moment on how this is measured.) and the targeting of persistent offenders such as people that fly tip or illegally take in waste onto land without proper licences.

Taking this on board, the government is pushing for ‘life-cycling thinking’ – resource efficient product design and manufacture as well as targeting high carbon impact waste streams such as food, metals, plastics and textiles. It plans to reward innovative initiators for businesses wanting to do the right thing (i.e to follow the code)

So what does this mean for businesses in facilities management, office managers reading this will be asking?

As you would expect from a largely Conservative government, a reduction in red tape and legislation which will make it easier for you to do ‘the right thing’. The most interesting element of the policy is that there is more expectation for local authorities to help local businesses meet waste management responsibilities and to recycle more.

Under the previous administration, local authorities prevented business from disposing of their waste or recycling in household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) – even though these were clearly the most well run facilities and able to dispose of a greater range of waste arisings. This was because of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme that local authorities are measured on, allowing the trade of biodegradable waste between authorities. (business waste essentially skewed the figures making it harder to trade spare capacity). The LATS is being scrapped from 2012/2013, effectively removing a barrier for business recycling at a local level. You will still have to work within the legal framework that lays out what can and cannot be disposed of, or how to dispose of types of waste, but the upshot of this move should mean lower disposal costs for smaller businesses (because you can take your waste to the HWRC rather than have it collected).

Another barrier to recycling is seen as the confusing array of legal requirements for different types of waste. Although the framework remains, training and advice will be readily available from the Environment Agency, WRAP and via schemes run by local authorities, delivered by experts in the field.

The other major idea in the review is the Voluntary Responsibility Deal, which is hoped will raise awareness of waste prevention and sustainable waste management, as well as helping businesses explore ways of increasing the take up of recycling services. The heart of the Deal is educating businesses in designing out waste from the start of a project – either through better design, or processes. Using the reduce, reuse, recycle guide, a new code of practice will be jointly developed between Defra and private enterprise. Defra is also carrying out early research on how the code is working in the real world and from its findings, it will decide if the code of practice will become mandatory.

Most of this new code relates to waste sorting by local authorities, but this is very likely to percolate down to businesses too: Waste sorting prior to recycling is a simple method of getting the best prices for materials, so the incentive for all businesses is to carry out sorting on site and hopefully, reduce the costs for removal and disposal.

One other element contained in the review is getting paid for your business recycling. WRAP is currently looking at this option for businesses that manage retail or business parks, shopping centres or operate cash and carry retail operations. Tesco has already committed to taking full responsibility for municipal recycling banks it houses on its sites and car parks. It has worked out that the sorted waste it controls is a revenue stream with a low overhead. You could say they are the only UK banks that are providing money for business.

Generally, business does pretty well with recycling. Defra’s 2010 survey shows that recycling rates are around 52% from industry and commerce compared to the 2002/3 figures of 42%. Householders only managed a 40% recycling rate in 2010. The idea of the Voluntary Responsibility Deal is to cover all areas of resource management but it does highlight three main waste streams where more can be done by businesses to reduce environmental impacts.

Paper
This is by far the most easily recyclable material in the UK with well developed systems available for removal and reuse. Defra believes there are still improvements to be made, particularly in targeted areas such as direct mail. The Direct Mail Association is working on a new industry standard for sustainable production in this sector aimed at reducing unwanted, unsolicited direct mail and calculating the carbon impact of what is being sent.

Food
16 million tonnes of waste are produced a year, a landfill nightmare when it rots producing greenhouse gases. No wonder there is a focus on reducing this. The hospitality sector produces around 3.4 million tonnes of food waste and is seen as a major contributor to the problem. Government departments and agencies such as WRAP are tasking this sector to find more efficient food management techniques (such as better portion control and other preventative measures) and alternative methods to landfill disposal such as anaerobic digestion. WRAP’s recent report provides details of the issues and recommendations in how the hospitality industries could be saving £740 million a year for themselves with better management. Other options for food waste include composting systems for soil conditioning or drying systems prior to burning for energy production.

Packaging
According to the Environmental Agency, 7.7 million tonnes was recycled in the UK last year, beating the target of 6.8 million tonnes set by the government. The government is working with businesses to increase the use of recycled content in packaging as well as to make it more recyclable. A new consultation process will also take place, getting businesses to reduce packaging use over 2013 to 2017. A series of impact assessments will be run before the consultation and these will determine the scale and reach of packaging reductions. There is also a focus on a sub category of packaging; glass. Various groups are looking for reuse applications for this material including re-melting it for new product manufacturing. There should be more details about technologies and opportunities for this in the 2012 budget.

Other areas of concern are textiles and construction. For the former, a roadmap for sustainable clothing is being proposed covering design, clothing use behaviours and reuse/up-cycling. The supply chain is likely to come under scrutiny too. For the latter, the current downturn means less waste is coming from this sector, but there is still a great deal to do. The advent of site waste management plans on developments of over £300,000 has enabled better categorisation and sorting of waste and help with recycling.
ends

To maintain a full high gloss on the marble floor, while carrying out maintenance during daylight hours, the management of West Midlands Safari Park purchased one of the recently introduced Truvox Orbis UHS Cordless Burnishers through Janitorial Direct in nearby Kidderminster.  Janitorial Direct Managing Director Julian Gaze explained that the West Midlands Safari Park has been a regular customer for janitorial supplies for years, and contacted him when the huge task of rebuilding Spring Grove House, which, among other roles, is the head office of the company running the safari park, was almost complete.

The company’s essential requirement was for a reliable high-speed rotary burnisher capable of maintaining a high gloss on the marble reception floor area, without posing health and safety risks to staff or visitors, who were present while polishing was being carried out.  Recognising this description as that of the Truvox Orbis Cordless Burnisher, Julian quickly organised a demonstration, which was carried out by Bob Orrock, Midlands Regional Sales Manager for Truvox International, based in Southampton.

Battery powered

Bob Orrock showed them the Orbis UHS Cordless Burnisher, the model was eventually bought for the task at Spring Grove House.  Equipped with two 12 V rechargeable batteries, and with a built-in charger and charging lead, the machine is powered by a 480 Watt motor that routinely propels the 43 cm diameter head at 1500 rpm while maintaining a pad pressure of 3 gm/cm², ideal for polishing marble, for 2 hours on one single charge.  With sound emission of only 56.6 dB(A), the Orbis UHS can be used while people are working or visiting without problems – and, should somebody rush by while the machine is working, there is no risk that they will trip over a power lead, because there isn’t one.

“The Truvox Orbis UHS delivers a great finish and is superb for our needs” said Paul Hewesterne, Park Services Manager at Spring Grove House.  “The entrance hall gets more traffic than you would expect with all the conferences we host during the week, weddings at the weekends, and everybody coming to the restaurant.  It takes a good machine to maintain a high gloss despite all that”.

Conference Centre

As well as being the headquarters of the business that runs the West Midlands Safari Park, Spring Grove House is a fully equipped conference centre and wedding venue, with a first-class restaurant, an excellent chef and catering staff and even a bridal suite.  The presence of a great variety of African wildlife just outside offers major potential for pleasure to delegates at conferences during lunch breaks and non-business hours.

The Safari Park provides opportunities for families to see rhinos, rare white lions and white tigers, timber wolves, cheetahs, giraffes, meerkats, African wild dogs and creepy crawlies galore.  There is an African village, with free-range Somali sheep and pygmy goats.  In the African Village, people can visit an exciting exhibit called ‘Walking with Lemurs’.  Details of the safari park are at www.wmsp.co.uk.

For more information about the Truvox Orbis UHS Cordless Burnisher, phone 023 9070 6600 or go to www.truvox.com.
For more information about Janitorial Direct Ltd, phone 01562 512870 or go to www.janitorialdirect.co.uk.

ENDS

For press enquiries please contact:
Ceris Burns – Ceris Burns International   t: +44(0)1825 714329   e: ceris@cbimarketing.com
http://www.cbimarketing.com

Why is branding important?
Ultimately brands are created to avoid the commoditisation of products and services which leads to purchasing decisions being made on price alone.  The buyer expects to pay a premium for a number of perceived benefits from a recognised supplier or brand. Brands can lend a sense of authority to the purchasing decision and in some cases a particular product or service might even be specified by a company as it has been placed on their preferred supplier list.  In this case branding helps lock out the competition.

International branding
Branding is the most visible of a company’s activities and this is even more the case when applied on an international scale.  Branding allows customers to identify products and services across multiple markets which will guarantee their satisfaction as they provide specific benefits.  These benefits might be based upon performance, price, quality or image.  For the company, brands provide a point of differentiation from their competitor’s products and are also a way of adding value to the company.  There is potential for the company to add value through one or more ways such as:  Premium pricing – brands allow higher prices to be charged compared with non-branded products, Higher volumes – branded products can generate higher volumes if they are positioned at standard rather than premium price levels. Lower costs – higher volumes lead to cost reduction from economies of scale which improves competitiveness. Improved use of assets – high sales levels should lead to the optimum use of assets such as equipment and supply and distribution channels.

Brand Components & Strategies
A brand can be made up of tangible (for example ‘product reliability’) and intangible (the purchaser experiences a specific feeling as a result i.e prudent decision making or professionalism) benefits.  In business to business environments, decision making tends to be more rational and as such branding is created around product or service attributes such as specification and performance.  A brand builds confidence with customers in situations where it might be difficult for them to assess the differences between competitor products.

In international markets, due to different cultures, customer expectations and market development, the appeal of a branding approach may be more appropriate for a similar product.  For example in some cultures, product or service attributes will be more important  while in others aspirational branding may appeal.  Another challenge for companies wishing to market their products overseas is to gauge to what extent the intangible benefits of branded products and services vary between countries, cultures and individuals.

When wishing to promote a brand overseas the first decision has to be which type of branding to adopt.  There are several types of branding and these include: Umbrella branding – one brand which supports several products, Product branding – each product has a unique brand, Line branding – a number of complementary products share the same concept, Range branding – similar to line branding but includes a broader range of product concepts, Sourcing branding – products are double branded with a corporate or range name and a product name, Private branding – products are supplied to a third party for sale under their own brand name. In recent times, in part due to the economic climate, there has been an increase in private branding because private brands are perceived as being value for money. Whichever strategy you decide to take, your choice is likely to be based upon whether the benefits of a shared identity outweigh the importance of differentiation between individual product brands.

Positioning
Positioning is related to brand strategy and implementation and is concerned with how a product or service is to be differentiated from the competition. In the case of international marketing it should be remembered that perceptions of certain aspects of a product’s positioning may vary across countries. It is also necessary to establish in the customer’s eyes exactly what the product stands for and how it differs from existing and future competition by creating an identity which clearly represents the value of the product. Differentiation could be based upon price, quality, product or service attributes, specific applications or even direct comparison with a competitor.

For more information about international branding or positioning contact Ceris Burns ceris@cbimarketing.com
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