What has changed in the commercial vacuum market?

- Gordon McVean of Truvox International reports on developments.

Trends towards lighter, quieter, more manoeuvrable machines that are easier to get into vans or lifts and more suitable for daytime cleaning have continued. Especially as both cleaning contractors and their customers adjust to changing markets and greater pressure for quieter, greener, more sustainable cleaning.

Compact machines that can be navigated easily through tight gaps between furniture and used easily to clean into corners are sought after more than ever before.  Contractors want lightweight, versatile machines that make less noise, need fewer consumables, pose fewer risks during daytime use and are easy to maintain.

To meet these needs, manufacturers are using more lightweight engineering plastics to replace metal components, reducing weight and lessening the noise made by gear trains and moving parts.  There are more battery-powered machines on the market, like the compact and manoeuvrable Truvox Orbis Battery Scrubber, to eliminate the risks of trailing leads and damp floors during daytime cleaning.

Greater manoeuvrability has become more important as cleaners have to work around people at work and have less space to spread themselves and their equipment.

This has produced a noticeable trend towards backpack vacuums, and particularly towards cordless rechargeable backpacks, although those relying on conventional mains power have also gained ground in market share. 

HEPA filtration reduces airborne dust

Another welcome trend is towards more filtration, particularly HEPA filtration to reduce airborne dust or pollen particles that might trigger hay fever irritation or asthmatic episodes in sufferers. 

Machines like the Truvox Valet Tub Vac, take compactness, light- weight and manoeuvrability to new levels. With a powerful 1400 Watt motor and 4-stage filtration including a HEPA 10 filter, the Valet Tub Vac keeps hold of all dust of 0.3 microns or larger, preventing it from escaping into the workplace air.

High productivity

The fact is, that commercial cleaning contractors are being put under ever-increasing pressure to provide more cleaning, to a higher standard, in a shorter time, at a lower price.  The only way that contractors can meet that challenge, while still making a profit – or, preferably, a bigger profit – is by achieving greater productivity.  Labour costs per job have to be cut, not by firing the staff, but simply by getting the job done more quickly without sacrificing standards.  The trouble is, customers (and some contractors) often overlook aspects of vacuum cleaner performance that need to be considered when selecting new machines to maximise productivity. Machines have become more specialised and need to be matched to the nature of the work to be done.

Some vacuums are better at the low-pile commercial carpets, usually found in offices or the communal areas of hotels than at deep-pile carpets and rugs encountered in boardrooms or penthouse suites.  You may find that a commercial vac designed for deep pile carpets has a brushroll that does not even reach a low-pile carpet.

Some vacuums can cope with unexpected hardware, such as paper clips, dropped screws or swarf walked into the office from the factory, while others cannot.  Always test any prospective new purchase thoroughly in varying circumstances.  Take the vacuum cleaner into the workshop and clean under work benches where there might be extraneous metal.  See if the machine (and the salesman) can take the strain.

It is quite likely that your business needs more different classes of vacuum cleaner than you have previously had.  Having exactly the right machine for a given job may well increase your efficiency so much in those circumstances and that kind of environment that you will be able to do extra jobs and make more money despite the additional outlay on equipment.

Large areas of carpet

Many contractors are also looking for high productivity vacuum cleaners that cut the time needed for effective vacuuming of large areas of carpet, such as those often laid in conference centres and hotels hosting large events.  The Truvox Wide Area Vac has been something of a hit this year because of its 70cm wide cleaning path, which provides 2.5 times more coverage than typical upright or tub vacuums.  With high efficiency twin 1000 Watt motors delivering 1600 mm vacuum lift and an 1800 rpm brush reviving the pile and loosening deep-down dirt, the Wide Area Vac delivers high-speed cleaning of large carpeted areas in timeings that would have been impossible a few years ago.  It also has 4-stage clean-air filtration that removes particulate down to 0.3 microns.

For further information about commercial vacuum cleaners phone Truvox on + 44 (0) 23 8070 6600, email sales@truvox.com or take a look at www.truvox.com.