Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 28th November 2024 Issue no. 1140
Your industry news - first
The original and best - for over 20 years!
We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
Purus Awards winners announced at CMS Berlin
The six winners of this year's Purus Innovation Award (PIA) were honoured at the CMS Berlin opening evening on Tuesday.
Jury chair Tanja Čujić-Koch, a member of the board of the Bundesinnungsverband des Gebäudereiniger-Handwerks and managing partner at Čujić Gebäudedienste GmbH, was able to draw some a positive conclusions from the competition:
"I am thrilled with the expertise of my fellow jury members and their valuable contributions in the jury sessions," she says.
"I was particularly impressed by the versatility and richness of ideas of the competition entries - even within one award category. Today, I presented the Purus Innovation Award in the 'Large Machines' category. The 'Scrubber 50 Pro' cleaning robot impressively demonstrates that sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand: The robot uses AI to target stains for dirt removal, saves water and can even recycle it."
For the first time, there were six categories.
Floor-cleaning robot: very low water consumption and efficient AI-controlled spot cleaning...
In the Large Machines category the winner was the Scrubber 50 Pro from Gausium (Gaussian Robotics Holdings), an AI-controlled floor-cleaning robot whose features include independently detecting and removing dirt spots. Its AI-controlled spot cleaning was considered by the jury to be "an impressive, sustainable and innovative feature". According to the manufacturer it makes the machine up to four times more efficient. The jury was also impressed by the battery's long running time and the built-in water recycling system aimed at reducing freshwater consumption by up to 80%. Together, these features prolong cleaning times. Furthermore, when fitted with cylindrical or disc-shaped brush extensions, the robot can be used to clean narrow spaces.
Walk-behind scrubber-drier - also for cleaning narrow spaces and under cabinets...
The jury was equally impressed by the Scrubmaster B5 ORB 430 from Hako GmbH which won the Small Machines category. The walk-behind scrubber drier features an ultra-flat, triangular cleaning head capable of cleaning narrow spaces or areas up to 120 mm high under cabinets. The jury praised "the machine's light handling and excellent ergonomics which make it easy to manoeuvre." The Hako scrubber drier features "an excellent scrubbing system and impressively flexible handling". Other convincing points were "a quick-exchange battery on the cleaning head", its flexible cleaning capability and operator support.
An all-purpose mop: dry, damp and wet cleaning on a range of surfaces...
In the Equipment category the winner was the Universal One mop cover from Vermop GmbH. According to the jury, "the Vermop One allows dry, damp and wet cleaning on a mop with low grammage". With its "excellent absorption of dirt particles," the mop can also be used in hygienically sensitive areas, even with the Twixter system. Advantages include the low purchase cost and sustainable material usage: the Universal One consists of 75% recycled plastics.
Recyclable: hygienic paper from miscanthus...
In the Washroom Hygiene category, which was held for the first time, the Purus Innovation Award went to BlackSatino GreenGrow hygienic paper from WEPA Professional GmbH. This hygienic paper is produced from renewable raw materials, which makes it sustainable according to the jury. BlackSatino GreenGrow consists of 50% recycled paper. The remaining 50% comes from miscanthus, or Chinese silver grass. Miscanthus is a fast-growing plant with a high biomass yield which can be put to many uses, as an energy source, building material or packaging for example.
Flexible planning for optimised cleaning schedules...
In the Digital Tools & Systems category the award went to Soobr AG for its AI-driven Soobr - Smart Cleaning planning tool. The jury praised the Smart Cleaning platform for its optimised and needs-orientated building cleaning planning and for ensuring transparency with its online service directory. Soobr Smart Cleaning's aim is to replace inefficient, rigid cleaning schedules with flexible planning. AI-driven data analysis means that cleaning now only takes place when strictly required. This allows companies to adapt to fluctuating office building occupancy for example. The cleaning staff obtain their schedules from an app, which also receives their feedback.
The Cleaning Products category is another newcomer to the Purus Innovation Award, and was won by Ecolution Floor Pods from Dr Schnell GmbH & Co. KGaA. The pods, which dissolve in water, contain a cleaning concentrate which reduces the carbon footprint, avoids packaging waste and reduces storage space, was how the jury recorded its decision. According to the manufacturer, the transport and storage volume of the highly efficient pre-portioned pods is reduced by 50% , packaging waste by 90% and the carbon footprint by at least 44%.
A total of 83 entries took part in this year's competition, more than at any previous event. The Purus Innovation Award is among the most coveted honours in the cleaning industry. It recognises products, tools and systems which feature excellent usability and an outstanding overall design.
At the end of the Awards ceremony, the jury gathered on stage with all six winners for a photocall.
The Show continues through to the evening of 22nd September.
21st September 2023