FOCUS CLEANING
e icient, ensuring the cleaning path is
maximised on every pass; they can be
charged on o peak tari s, so they are not
only e icient but are more cost e ective
than conventional cleaning methods.”
Ortelli of 14forty says he can
certainly see cobots helping
them to achieve Net Zero by
2030 when it comes to their
cleaning services.
“The cobot we use,
manufactured by
Killis, uses 70 per
cent less water and
fewer chemicals
than traditional
cleaning products, for
example. This means
that we are not only
significantly reducing
our water waste, but we’re
also using more eco-friendly
products at the same time.”
TRAINING ISSUES
Of course, for cobotics to truly deliver
benefit it’s essential that cleaning teams are
on board with both utilising and deploying
the new technology. According to Kitchener
challenges can vary from operatives being
concerned that they are being replaced by
machines or how they are going to keep
up with the technology to operate these
machines and facilities companies not being
ready to take the next step in innovation.
30 JUNE 2022
“We have found that the key to
successfully integrating Cobotics is to
collaborate with the cleaning operatives
onsite to ensure that the machines become
part of the cleaning team and are not seen
as a threat or a separate function.
This requires fully involving the
front-line operators so that
they see the real value of the
machines as collaborating
with them, not replacing
them.
“In terms of training
to ensure that cobots
are used safely and
e iciently, at ICE
our training and
installation programme
is ever evolving with
the constant feedback
we are receiving both from
customers and ICE sta .
“We currently o er a three-part
training plan that covers everything
from daily maintenance to mapping and
safe operation. Following this, operators
can refer to our training and support packs
that are available via our App and online
training videos. We also o er top up training
on request as well as ‘Train the Trainer’
sessions so any new sta can be trained
to operate the machines e ectively and
e iciently.”
According to Bensi, training depends on
the cobot in question as all require di erent
forms of training or mapping. “The bigger
issue is how much time is needed to change
cultural and behavioural attitudes around
using robotics. In our experience, it takes
approximately five days of working with
cleaning teams before they readily adopt
the technology.”
Careful set up is critical to productivity
counsels Jean-Patrick Judson, Account
Manager at Anabas, with activities split
between the cobot and cleaner. “Cobots
can only be made active following careful
initial programming via a series of sensors
which tell the bot where to go. This requires
analysis of the workspace and a route to
be created. Cleaning operatives are also
required to maintain the devices, so they
are fit for use. Management information and
data analysis will need to be conducted by
cleaning operatives.”
He adds: “Extensive data will be provided
so operatives need to be upskilled to be
able to manage it. It’s not concentrated to
just cleaning teams though. Security teams,
for example, can be trained to operate
cobots during the evening when sites are
unoccupied.”
Of course, cobotics is not the only
technology being introduced to help
automate cleaning processes. During
COVID, the widespread adoption of sensors
and apps to monitor occupation, not to
mention innovations such as electrostatic
spraying were all stepped up. A new
Cleaning and Hygiene Centre of Excellence
was recently launched in Birmingham by
Mitie to showcase the latest products and
service innovations in the cleaning industry.
It has been designed to bring together
new equipment and solutions, test new
products, develop market leading training
for its cleaning colleagues, and trial new
sustainability initiatives.
“These technologies all now play
an important role for FM providers to
justify their KPIs,” says Venter. “Key to
these applications is the data obtained
to realise Management Information (MI).
The MI obtained is key to demonstrating
specification compliance to clients but is
also a powerful tool for FM providers to
maximise productivity.
“More recently, heat sensors are being
introduced to measure activity within
environments with a view to channelling
valuable resources on demand to areas
requiring cleaning. Where cobots cannot
be deployed, FM providers can e ectively
monitor cleaning operatives’ entry and
departure times, providing valuable timebased
activity and productivity data.”
As Judson concludes: “With the move to
smart buildings that integrate sensors and
apps, the future of cleaning will be much
more on-demand and congruent to how
the workplace is actually used, resulting in
greater e iciencies.”
The cobot we use, manufactured by
Killis, uses 70 per cent less water and
fewer chemicals than traditional cleaning
products, for example. This means that we
are not only signifi cantly reducing our
water waste, but we’re also using
more eco-friendly products at
the same time.”