RECENT STORIES IN THE CLE@NZINE

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8 Solutions completes £multi-million management buyout
 

Data centre cleaning service provider, 8 Solutions, has completed a multimillion pound management buyout with the help of private equity group Sovereign Capital. The deal releases funding worth over £15 million and allows acquisition negotiations to commence with a number of complementary, specialist cleaning businesses.
 
The MBO has been led by the company's current management team, headed by chief executive Amit Mehta (pictured) who previously held a senior finance role at US Fortune 500 corporation, Avery Dennison; having formerly worked in corporate finance with Ernst & Young. Amit is supported by financial director, Andy Welsh, sales & marketing director, Kaushal Doshi and chairman, John Pettifor.
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£2400 fine after cleaning injury

A Teesside food firm has been fined £2,400 after a worker’s hand was trapped between the rollers of a cooling conveyor while he was cleaning it.

The Baked Snacks Company of Middlesbrough, was also ordered to pay costs of £2,000 and a victim surcharge of £15 at Teesside Magistrates’ Court after it pleaded guilty of two breaches of The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
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ABCD Conference 2010 equipped delegates for forthcoming challenges

The Association of Building Cleaning Service Providers held its annual conference at Nottingham’s Crowne Plaza Hotel recently. The day was united by the theme, ‘What are the neighbours up to’, reflecting the changes and developments in the facilities management industry, as attendees were given the tools to prosper in what is becoming an increasingly diverse and competitive sector.
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Activeion announces opening of European Office



Activeion Cleaning Solutions of Minnesota, US, has announced its new European subsidiary, Activeion (Europe) GmbH. Activeion (Europe) GmbH will distribute and market the ionator EXP throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Activeion's ionator EXP is a handheld, on-demand, completely chemical-free cleaning tool that activates and converts tap water into ionised water, a powerful dirt-removing and bacteria-killing product.
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A date for your diary



The 2009/2010 Building Cleanability Awards scheme culminates with a prestigious Presentation Luncheon on Monday 12th July in The Great Hall of London’s famous Guildhall.

Promoted by the cleaning industry Livery Company – The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners – this biennial Awards scheme is designed to focus attention on the strengths and weaknesses of building design and construction which impact on levels of cleaning effectiveness – both from a cost and user-comfort perspective.
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Adler & Allan: absolutely A list



Adler and Allan, one of the UK’s leading oil and environmental service groups, has announced three major customer contract renewals..
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Advanced air disinfection technology to fight hospital Norovirus

One of the largest hospitals in the Midlands has chosen air disinfection technology from Milton Keynes based company Inov8 to combat the threat of Norovirus, which is currently affecting hospitals across the country.

New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton took delivery of 180 Air Disinfection Units in February for an initial three month rental to reduce the secondary spread of Norovirus across 14 wards, including intensive care and the emergency assessment unit.
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AHCP 2009 deemed "Best ever"



The Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals says that its 34th annual conference & exhibition, held last month in Glasgow, proved to be the most successful event to date, with record numbers of delegates and exhibitors.
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AHCP's 2010 Conference & Exhibition will be held in Bristol

Following its highly successful 2009 Conference & Exhibition in Glasgow this June, the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals has announced headline themes and a new format for its 2010 event, taking place 8th - 10th June next at the Bristol Marriott Hotel, City Centre.
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Car valeting company taken to the cleaners

In a recent employment law case the Court of Appeal decided that a group of 20 self-employed car valeters who worked for Autoclenz were actually employees. Qdos Consulting examines the details.

This judgement will raise alarm bells for those businesses that use sub-contract labour on a frequent and ongoing basis in the genuine belief that those workers are self-employed. The case further highlights the different approaches used in determining employment status when considering employment rights as opposed to tax.
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Celebrity Chef fronts Fattrap launch

Organic Absorbents, manufacturer of the Fattrap environmentally-friendly fat catching device, has pulled off a coup with the signing of celebrity chef Brian Turner, CBE to formally launch the product at a series of events across the country. A key part of his role will involve encouraging people to use the Fattrap as a clean, cost-effective and convenient way of disposing of unwanted cooking fats and oils, without damaging the environment.
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Charmin teams up with Broadway Cares to offer most-sought-after 'Seats' on Broadway

For tourists, local New Yorkers and avid lovers-of-the-arts alike, the best 'seats' on Broadway this holiday season are in the Charmin Restrooms! CProcter & Gamble's Charmin teamed up with non-profit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to present 'Bathrooms over Broadway', the first-ever Broadway show in a bathroom.
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Chemex expands international network

Chemex International is expanding its overseas network following a surge in demand for its cleaning and hygiene products. The company is set to open up distribution operations in the Middle East, Western Europe and South Africa.

Since it was formed 22 years ago UK based Chemex has grown to become a leading supplier of cleaning and hygiene materials in Europe with operations in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. Now it is looking to strengthen its European arm by expanding into Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain.
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Chemex supports Environmental Health Department's food sector hygiene campaign



Hygiene specialist Chemex is working with environmental health departments across the country as part of a campaign to help restaurants and food producers run safe and successful businesses.

Chemex and EHOs are staging a series of focus groups across the UK for butchers and meat producers to provide them with the latest information on hygiene systems and food safety standards.
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Chemical dispensing and dosing - consumer demand crossing to commercial, says PVA



Growing consumer demand for cleaning chemical solutions that do not require mixing and dispensing is crossing over into the commercial sector, says specialist provider PVA Hygiene.
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Chemstar's supermarket deep cleaning programmes combat Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli

Food retailers concerned about pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli in their perishable departments can now outsource deep cleaning services to Chemstar, a company that operates food safety and sanitation programmes throughout the US and Canada. In response to increased concern about food safety, Chemstar has expanded its sanitation services to include deep cleaning in perishables departments such as deli, bakery, meat, seafood, and produce.
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Cheshire recycling firm in court after worker loses leg under vehicle



A Cheshire recycling company has been fined £10,000 after a worker lost part of his leg when he was crushed by an 18-tonne vehicle.

The Health & Safety Executive prosecuted WSR Recycling after the incident, which led to the worker’s left leg being amputated below the knee.
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Chequers chocolate is a winner!

In a charity event and based on the popular Hell's Kitchen programme with Gordon Ramsey, professional and sustainable South London cleaning provider Chequers Contract Services emerged victorious.
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China and UN plan Carbon Exchange

China and the United Nations are working to set up a carbon trading exchange in Beijing - a move that would establish the Chinese capital as an important Centre for the multibillion dollar global trade in carbon credits, according to the UN's top official in China.

If successful, the exchange, which would be the first in the developing world, would compete with private sector carbon exchanges established in Europe and the US, and would help to open up further the lucrative Chinese market in carbon credits.

Reproduced with kind permission of China Clean Publication (CCP)

clean-china.com.cn

China's demand for recyclable materials helps boost prices

Greater demand from China is helping to increase prices for recyclable materials from the UK, Waste & Resources Action Programme's Director of Market Development, Marcus Gover, told an Associate Parliamentary group of MPs, Peers and industry sector representatives in London earlier this week.
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Five hospital officials have been sacked for their lack of action in containing infections in at the Jixian County Maternal & Child Care Service Center, the largest hospital of its kind in the Jixian county of Tianjin, northern China. The poor hygiene lead to the deaths late last month of five newborn babies, who developed breathing difficulties and died four days later. A sixth was still undergoing treatment as this news item was being prepared.
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To mark its 20th anniversary, Principle Cleaning Services held a celebratory event on 20th May for staff, clients, suppliers and guests. Valued client Christie’s - the world famous auction house, kindly played host and provided an exquisite room for the evening.
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‘Clean Hands Save Lives’ campaign kicks off in Malaysia

The 620-bed Malaysian hospital Sungai Buloh and Antabax recently launched the 'Clean Hands Save Lives' campaign, which is aimed at reducing the spread of airborne communicable diseases. More than 30 schools have been selected as hand hygiene training points, reports the Malaysian Star.
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Cleaning companies combine to flourish during downturn



Following the win of major energy provider NPower, cleaning companies Keep IT Clean and Eastern Knight Services have announced a new partnership whereby both companies will refer their existing and potential clients to each other. This is following the successful implementation of an initial trial period which has yielded promising results.
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Cleaning firms warned: You spend too much on fuel



Cleaning companies have been warned that they are probably over-spending on diesel and petrol. Steve Clarke, general manager of The Fuelcard People, said:

“Any cleaning firm without a fuel card will be losing money, while even those who already have one may be missing benefits. Anyone who thinks that all fuel cards are the same is wrong and almost certainly over-pays as a consequence. Every day, thousands of cleaners’ vans and other vehicles are refuelled at pump prices, although discounts of 10p per litre and more are available. It is financial madness to pay for fuel without enjoying discount pricing.”
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Clean Tile and Grout Training Centre up and running!



Clean Tile and Grout - the specialist providers of machines and services for tile and grout cleaning and Colour Sealing has opened its custom built Training School and retail outlet.
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Defying the downturn: Evans Vanodine exports janitorial supplies to over 60 countries

Preston-based Evans Vanodine, which exports its janitorial supplies to over 60 countries, is riding out the recession thanks to its robust international trade strategy, which is allowing it to continue expanding despite the economic climate.
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Demand for biological waste-to-energy plants grows

Local authorities in most countries are now being forced to find ways of recycling waste and the commercialisation of innovative and modern biological waste-to-energy systems and technologies is promoting a new wave of growth in the green energy sector globally. The biological waste-to-energy plant represents an excellent option to treat biological waste and produce energy. Indeed, many governments acknowledge that these plants offer an ideal solution for helping to fight climate change and guarantee energy independence. Driven by government regulation and support, demand for such plants in the world is growing and the market is becoming more competitive.
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Developing the right waste strategy

The new UK Government is to carry out a full review of waste policy in England, looking at the most effective ways of reducing waste, maximising the money to be made from waste and recycling, and how waste policies affect local communities and individual households.

Announcing the review at the Futuresource conference recently, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman admitted that there is both an economic and an environmental urgency to developing the right waste strategy and that although we've been slowly moving in the right direction with recycling rates, we need to go faster and we need to go further.

"The direction of travel is right – it’s the pace that’s the problem,” she said.
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‘Dire’ official jobs data "sends out clear SOS message" to government, says CIPD

Dr John Philpott, Chief Economic Adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development has commented on official labour market statistics published yesterday by the Office for National Statistics. These update the UK Labour Force Survey measures of employment, unemployment and economic inactivity to the quarterly period January-March 2010, the count of people unemployed and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance to April 2010, and growth in average weekly earnings to March 2010:
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Distributor says Greyland "just like us"

When asked why they decided to become a Greyland distributor, Exeter-based PVM Supplies are more than likely to reply, "Because they are just like us."

PVM Supplies was established by Paul Mather in October 1999, "starting literally from scratch."

On a visit to the Cleaning Show, where Greyland was exhibiting, Paul noticed that not only were they based in Stockport (from where his family originated), but that both companies were also established in the same year.
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Double sustainability coup for SCA

Tork washroom systems manufacturer SCA has again been included in two prestigious Dow Jones sustainability indexes.
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Do your cleaners work alone?

The British Security Industry Association has published a guide to help employers understand their responsibilities towards lone workers.

'Lone Workers - An Employers' Guide' provides employers with easy-to-follow advice about British Standard BS8484 - the Code of Practice for the provision of Lone Worker Services - and what they should look for when sourcing a supplier.
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Do your surfaces hold a dark and dirty secret?



If a surface looks clean, then it most probably is, right? Wrong! Many surfaces may look clean because they appear to be free from stains; however surfaces such as toilet seats are a common breeding place for a vast array of bacteria that can be very harmful to humans who come into contact with them. With the risk of Swine Flu on the increase, it is even more important than ever to make proper surface hygiene a main concern to stop cross contamination.
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Draught marks: a widespread problem with a range of solutions



Chemspec Europe's Julie Roberts explains those bands of grubby carpet often found alongside skirting boards - and - more importantly, just how to get rid of them.

Draught marks have a variety of causes but, essentially, are the result of the filtration of soiling that passes through the carpet fibres. The soiling is usually airborne, carried by draughts passing under doors or through the gaps between floorboards.
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Dry Fusion MD Appointed Executive Director of LMCCA

Shaun Bradbury, Lancashire based Managing Director of Dry Fusion UK, has been appointed European Director to the Low Moisture Carpet Cleaners Association (LMCCA).
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Dutch group Dreumex acquires Gent-L-Clean of Pennsylvania



Dreumex, of OSS, the Netherlands, has acquired Gent-L-Kleen Products of Pennsylvania, US.

This year Dreumex celebrates 50 years as a major manufacturer of hand cleansing and hand care products and is one of the leading European suppliers in its field. Through its branches in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France, Dreumex manufactures and supplies products to over 30 countries worldwide.
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Dyson Airblade hand dryer receives Carbon Reduction Label

In news received late last night, Cleanzine learned that Dyson's patented Airblade hand dryer has been awarded the Carbon Trust's Carbon Reduction Label. It is thought to be the first hand dryer to earn the label. Furthermore, Dyson research has found that the manufacture of the new polycarbonate-ABS Dyson Airblade produces 50% less CO2 emissions than the aluminum equivalent launched in 2007.
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Early success of new digital laser label printer "Astonishing" says Greyland

Greyland, one of the leading cleaning chemical manufacturers in the UK, recently installed a new digital laser printer and already the new technology has had "Astonishing" success, according to Sales Manager Roger Davies, who himself ran a label printing business several years ago.
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EAU signs license agreement with Sani-Matic to distribute empowered water technology

EAU Technologies, a leading provider of electrolyzed water for high-volume, business-to-business applications, yesterday announced a non-exclusive commercial relationship with Sani-Matic of Madison, WI, US. Privately-held Sani-Matic, a market leader and expert in sanitation process cleaning equipment, has the rights to market EAU's non-toxic technology, marketed as Empowered Water.
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EC explains thinking behind illegal workers directive

The European Commission has defended its recent Directive which sanctions against employers of those it terms as 'illegally staying third-country nationals' or those who have no right to work in the country in which they're living.
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Electrolux vacuum redesign commemorates Swedish Royal wedding and helps charity



To commemorate the wedding between the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling, on June 19th, Electrolux has developed the new 'Swedish Crowns' design concept for some of its best and most popular products including one of its vacuum cleaners. The products have been covered with a retro design pattern that is very famous in Sweden, the blue and yellow 'Kronor' (crowns) pattern, which was created by Wanja Djanaieff for the Swedish participants in the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972.
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Elder Pharmaceuticals' tie-up with Sterisol AB improves product portfolio

Setting its sights on the fast growing infection control segment, the multi-billion turnover Elder Pharmaceuticals has formed a strategic alliance in this sector with M/s Chemische Fabrik Dr. Weigert GmbH & Co. KG, a German and European leader in equipment, services and technologies for infection control related to operating theatres, diagnostics, patient hygiene, patient handling and wound care. Elder is already well established in this segment by virtue of its existing tie-up with Ms Sterisol AB of Sweden.
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Emcor awarded contract extension with Natural History Museum

Emcor Group (UK) has been awarded a three-year extension of its facilities management contract with one of London’s most iconic institutions, the Natural History Museum.
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Emcor Group (UK) wins BSI first



Emcor Group (UK) has announced that it has become the first Facilities Management provider to be awarded PAS 11000 by the British Standards Institution.

The new Publicly Available Specification is the world’s first relationship management standard for creating and maintaining successful business-to-business partnerships and provides a foundation for benchmarking organisations internally and externally, which will drive performance across the industry.
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Employees now have right to request training

For the first time, employees in Great Britain have the right to request time for study or training, following legal changes that came into effect last week.

Time to Train will give workers in businesses which employ more than 250 people the legal right to request time off to take up relevant training. The right will be made available to all employees from April 2011. This phased approach will give smaller organisations and businesses more time to prepare for the introduction of the new right.
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Employee survey highlights mistrust of management, as redundancy takes toll on survivors
 
The damaging impact of redundancies on staff morale, combined with a fundamental lack of trust in senior management, threaten to undermine the performance of companies just as they are preparing to capitalise on early signs of economic recovery.  These are the findings of a survey of 3,000 employees for the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.
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Employee verification made fast and certain

VSG Verify, a new service now being offered by security services provider VSG, now makes it easy and inexpensive to carry out effective screening and vetting checks on existing and prospective employees, whatever their level or role in an organisation.
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Employers collaborate to take on 50 young cleaning apprentices

Cleaning and facilities management employers are being urged to take part in a new scheme offering cleaning apprenticeships to young people.

The programme is being run by the training arm of FM and support services company Jarvis, which has funding for 50 apprentices aged 16 to 18 years on the Cleaning & Support Services Apprenticeship.
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Emprise makes Perfectus purchase

Emprise Services, a specialist support services company focusing on cleaning and security, has acquired Perfectus and Perfectus (UK).
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Emprise Services acquires *Clarity



Emprise Services, a specialist support services company focusing on cleaning and security has purchased *Clarity, a niche cleaning company delivering diamond floor polishing and construction cleans in addition to daily cleans in the education sector.
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Encouraging news in the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry – but not for everyone

In encouraging news for the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry, 177 of the top 641 companies in the market are growing at more than 10% per annum and making healthy profits. However, according to industry analyst Plimsoll, while many of these companies are breaking new ground and leading a sustainable recovery in the market, there are 68 other companies whose headline grabbing sales growth masks something much more sinister.
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End to littering



Bill Bryson, OBE, US-born best-selling author and now resident of Norfolk, England, Chairman of the Campaign for Rural England, is incensed at the amount of money spent clearing litter from England's streets. Here he asks for support in persuading the Government to do something to stop the rot.

I should probably warn you, since the new year’s arrival my seasonal cheer has been composted along with the remains of Christmas lunch. The amount of money spent on cleaning England’s streets increased by £33m last year.
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England’s big clean up before the World Cup

The big World Cup clean up started even before the first kick-off in South Africa according to Rug Doctor as rental figures released by the company earlier this week showed a significant increase.

"Women appear to have cracked the whip to get those overdue jobs done around the house before their hubbies got too comfortable watching the World Cup. In B&Q alone we saw rentals up by almost 8% when compared to the same week last year," says Paul Fildes, Marketing Manger, Rug Doctor.

"Plus the recent introduction of our Rug Doctor Wide Track machines into these outlets has also proved hugely successful. Rentals in the DIY sector overall remain strong."
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Enter the Dragon - but do it adequately armed...

China is one of the great economic success stories of the last 25 years. From an almost closed society it has blossomed into one of the powerhouses of the modern world and the last five years have seen a significant increase in the number of UK businesses entering the market.
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Envac scores at Wembley

Already a major player in over 30 countries, Swedish company Envac's rubbish removal system has now successfully transferred to the landmark Wembley City development in the UK where it is removing rubbish via underground vacuum pipes. The development involves some 85 acres of land surrounding the new Wembley Stadium, and will eventually comprise up to 10 million sq.ft (929,000 sq.m) of residential, retail, commercial and leisure space as well as extensive public open space and 4,200 homes.
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EUnited Cleaning fights alleged intellectual property rights violation

At its most recent annual General Assembly, held at the ISSA/Interclean exhibition in Amsterdam, EUnited Cleaning (The European Cleaning Machines Association) discussed some important issues. The first was an alleged violation of intellectual property rights at the show itself...

"During the show a few major European manufacturers became aware of a Chinese manufacturer who was exhibiting copied machines from different manufacturers," reports the Association. "With support from EUnited Cleaning, representatives of the concerned companies began legal action and discussion with ISSA representatives aiming at the removal of those machines.
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Eurest Services substantially expands international contract with Shell



Eurest Services, part of Compass Group, has signed one of the largest international food and support services contracts of its kind with the global energy and petrochemicals company, Royal Dutch Shell.
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European workers face new and increasing health risks from hazardous substances

Contact with a wide range of chemicals and other hazardous substances at work is endangering the health of workers across Europe, and nanotechnology is one of the risks causing most concern to experts from 21 European countries.
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Europe's top companies need to learn lessons of past recessions, says report

One in three companies across Europe is preparing to cut its full-time workforce, according to a survey by The Boston Consulting Group and the European Association for People Management. But business leaders risk doing long-term harm to their companies if they repeat some common mistakes made during the last recession, warn the report's writers.
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Facilities Management market set for change in 2010

The Facilities Management market will continue to see a dramatic shift toward multi-service provision in 2010, according to a new market report from MTW Research, with FM clients following ‘flight to price’ procurement strategies to reduce outsourcing costs.
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The latest in-depth study from consultancy and research specialist AMA reports that the Facilities Management market has shown good growth since the early 1990’s, and that this is influenced by the desire to control operational efficiencies and costs, as well as more recently a trend within the private sector for companies to refocus their business to concentrate on core competencies.
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Falling company values in the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry
 
An incredible 249 companies in the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry have lost over a third of their value in a year according to new research by analysts Plimsoll.
 
In fact, out of the top 642 companies analysed and valued in a special edition of the Plimsoll Analysis – Cleaning Equipment & Materials, 411 companies are worth less than they were last year.
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Fast, safe infection control - wherever you need it



When infection outbreak threatens your business, your staff and your sales, one call to SitexOrbis can get your offices, your warehouse and your vehicles totally disinfected in a matter of hours from your call, so that 99.99% of all viruses and bacteria present are eliminated.
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FCC approval for Chicopee J-Cloth wipes



In this ever changing marketplace where hygiene is one of the most important factors we face, J-Cloth can give you the cutting edge difference, for it is stronger then ever and now has Food Contact Clearance approval according to the latest EU regulations.

J-Cloth wipes have been recently granted the Certificate of Compliance by the German test institute ISEGA for direct food contact.
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A campaign to give females improved choice, dignity and safety in continence care is promoting the use of female urinals.
 
While it is standard practice for male patients who are unable to access toilet facilities to use urinals, and devices are widely available both in hospitals and the community, the use of urinals by women is very limited.
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GMB Scotland - the Union that represents many of the lowest paid workers in the public sector, such as cleaners, road sweepers and refuse collectors - has welcomed the latest step in the fight to remove low pay in the public sector.
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The Health & Safety Executive has warned of the importance of using safe working procedures when cleaning machinery, following the prosecution of East Lancashire Box Company of Rishton, Lancashire after a 16-year old employee's hand was dragged into a printing machine while he was cleaning it. The company was fined a total of £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,451 costs.
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Firm fined £180,000 after recycling site fatality

The Health & Safety Executive issued a warning this week about the potential risks to those working in recycling centres, after a major industry player was fined over the death of an employee at the Kingshill Recycling Centre at Cricklade, Wiltshire.
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Flintshire rangers scoop Tidy Wales Award

Since their launch in 1990, the Tidy Wales Award ceremonies have recognised individuals, businesses, schools and voluntary organisations that have gone the extra mile to make real and lasting improvements to their local areas.
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Flushing our forests down the toilet

Worldwide, the equivalent of almost 270,000 trees is either flushed or dumped in landfills every day and roughly 10% of that total is attributable to toilet paper. Meanwhile, growing populations, adoption of Western lifestyles, and sanitation improvements in developing countries are driving the increased use of toilet paper.
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Flush-wiser from PHS Washrooms supports Loo of the Year Awards 2009

Leading washroom services provider PHS Washrooms, has announced that its award-winning WC flush-control device, Flush-wiser, is supporting this year’s Loo of the Year Awards.
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FM Employers plan to create thousands of new apprenticeships

A new apprenticeship is being fast-tracked that will enable thousands of young people to be taken on in facilities management.

Around 10 major FM companies including Interserve, MITIE, Carillion and OCS have called for the new qualification following the government’s recent push on apprenticeships fronted by Sir Alan Sugar. It comes as Apprenticeships Minister Lord Young this week announced a further £7 million to fund more apprentices during the downturn.
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FM expertise needed to help deliver vocational qualifications

There are calls for facilities management and cleaning professionals to become industry assessors for a range of new vocational qualifications.

It follows moves by Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for FM and cleaning, to establish a pilot Virtual Skills Academy for Business Services, to help deliver a range of new vocational qualifications and apprenticeships, developed in consultation with industry.
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FM Outsourcing, Central & Local Government Markets report 2009-13, now available

The Facilities Management market has shown good growth since the early 1990's, influenced by the desire to control operational efficiencies and costs across a wide variety of sectors, as well as more recently a trend within the private sector for companies to refocus their business to concentrate on core competencies.
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FM to benefit from £25m to fund NHS apprentices

The Government has announced funding for facilities management apprentices in the NHS just as the new apprenticeship in FM is officially approved. The money is part of a £25 million package to more than treble the number of apprenticeships in non-clinical roles such as estates and facilities management, catering and IT support and clinical roles such as dental nurses and pharmacy support workers.
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Further integration of Proventec Group companies

As part of the further integration of the OspreyDeepclean, Contico and Frank brands into the Proventec Group of companies, from the 1st June 2010 the OspreyDeepclean Cheltenham facility will be dedicated to provide a Customer Care only function for the Proventec Group UK and international businesses.

The company say that this is a strategic development that will strengthen the business and improve customer service levels with a greatly expanded Service, Conferencing, product display and on-site Training facility.
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Gap yawns between the sick and the healthy in UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials market

The first snapshot of how the cleaning equipment & materials market is changing as a result of the UK economic slowdown has just been released by industry analyst Plimsoll Publishing.
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GBM makes shoppers feel secure



GBM Support Services Group has again been recognised for its good work - this time at the SCEPTRE Awards.
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Georgia-Pacific Professional expands 'Green by Design' platform with Ecologo certified products

Earlier this week, Georgia-Pacific Professional announced EcoLogo certification of a broad selection of the company's tissue, towel and napkin products. This designation by the EcoLogo Program - a third party environmental certification organisation, is another building block in the company's 'Green By Design' programme.
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Germany's cleaning industry in the downturn: the experts' views

At a press conference last week, a group of Germany's cleaning industry experts gave their take on how the economic downturn is affecting the industry. They warned that the trades providing building cleaning services are expecting a general downturn in the frequency and scope of cleaning work as a consequence of the economic crisis.
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"Get a grip," says CIPD

An alarming number of UK organisations do not calculate how much they spend in total on remunerating staff (including base pay, variable pay, benefits and employer national insurance contributions), according to this year's Annual Reward Management Survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. Almost half of the organisations surveyed (46%) fall into this category.
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iDCS, the specialised hospital and healthcare deep cleaning service division of leading cleaning contractor CK Group, presented an infection control masterclass at the Infection 2010 Conference, which took place in London early February.
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While many of those living in the UK are angry that their weekly bin collections are going to be reduced to once a fortnight, those in Shanghai have for some time been facing a different problem: how to get rid of illegal rubbish collectors.
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Impact of cleaning up after the night out

Measures to combat the impact of alcohol on communities have been unveiled by both Labour and the Conservatives, as the two main parties target excessive drinking to help fund the additional cost of policing and cleaning up after nights out.
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Important changes regarding the British Cleaning Council

From 1st July, the contact details for the British Cleaning Council will be: 478-480 Salisbury House
London Wall
London
EC2M 5QQ

T: 0207 920 9640
F: 0207 638 6990

Improve cleaning and greening while cutting costs

Xpedx, one of the largest US distributors of cleaning and maintenance supplies and equipment, says it can show property owners and managers how they can reduce total cleaning costs while improving building cleanliness, health, safety and sustainability.
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Incentive FM acquires Quality Assured Services



Leading independent facilities management company Incentive FM has acquired Quality Assured Services, in a move designed to complement its existing FM business and further strengthen its presence in the commercial cleaning sector.
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The Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana, India has invited tenders for the supply of 35 sewerage cleaning machines, which it hopes will help solve the problem of the city's 'choked sewerages'. Cleanzine understands that four private bidders have applied for the tender.
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The Indian Minister of State for Ministry of Railways, Dr. R. Velu, has announced stringent guidelines to keep the Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation's catering, or 'pantry' cars clean and hygienic. He warned that punitive action will be taken, if the pantry cars are found the to be in an unhygienic condition.
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Initial Washrooms make 10% energy savings with Gem traps

Initial Washroom Solutions is fulfilling its environmental pledge of reducing energy usage by installing the award winning Venturi orifice traps from GEM. Trialled at the company's new Reading plant, which has a number of on- site steam meters, Initial Washroom Solutions was able to verify a 10% saving in energy consumption despite there being no failures with the plant's mechanical traps.
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Irish hospital first to fight HAI's with copper

An Irish hospital is thought to be the the first in the world to specify hygienic copper door handles throughout in a bid to reduce healthcare associated infections such as MRSA.
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ISSA & CSSA renew strategic alliance

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, has renewed its business alliance with the UK's Cleaning & Support Services Association.

The agreement allows for CSSA members to have access to ISSA’s vast collection of cleaning industry articles and publications and also to purchase educational products at discounted rates.
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ISS and Canary Wharf go for extended rally at squash tournament

The upcoming ISS Canary Wharf Classic has been buoyed by the news that leading international facilities services company, ISS, will be extending its association with the event for at least another two years.
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ISSA calls for innovation awards entries for this Autumn's ISSA/Interclean show

ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, has announced the return of its popular Innovation Awards programme, which this year is taking a new online format. The competition, which recognises the cleaning industry’s most innovative products and services as voted on by industry end-users, was last hosted at the ISSA/Interclean North America 2008 trade show in Las Vegas. This year’s programme is open to all manufacturers and service providers throughout the cleaning industry worldwide and is available exclusively online.
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ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam 2010 brought forward a week

Amsterdam RAI and its worldwide alliance partner ISSA have announced new show dates for ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam 2010. The show, which will now take place from 26th through 29th April 2010, will be one week earlier than initially planned.
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ISSA/Interclean Innovation Awards: nine finalists selected

The international trade jury of the ISSA/Interclean Innovation Awards has selected nine candidates from a total of 82 entries (a 7% increase in comparison to the 2008 edition). This increase underlines that innovation is viewed as one of the principal elements of successfully running a business, even in times of crisis.
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ISSA launches green cleaning university programme

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, is to launch a new sales-education programme called ISSA Green Cleaning University, with a view to helping members better understand and utilise green cleaning in their sales activities.
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ISSA launches Spanish-language website

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, has officially expanded its global member services by launching a Spanish-language website dedicated to the association's Spanish-speaking membership base. The new site serves as the only comprehensive website dedicated to the Latin American cleaning market, providing regional news updates, educational videos, ISSA membership and services information, and much more.
www.issa.com/latam

ISSA putts its way to success

The inaugural ISSA UK Cleaning Industry Golf Day was held at the end of June 2009 at the Toft Golf Club in Lincolnshire. ISSA, the world's leading association for the cleaning and sanitary services industry, hosted a sociable day of golf for its members including industry-leading firms such as Truvox, Vectair, Chemex, Greyland, Numatic, Radal Technology and SRS Clean. The line-up was completed by players from the CHSA Council, CPD and ex Council Member, Colin Haynes.
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ISS amongst the world’s very best in outsourcing



ISS has been ranked as the seventh best company in the world among the best service providers and advisors. The list of the top 100 outsourcing companies has just been published in the American Fortune Magazine, known for its Fortune 500 lists of the largest US and international companies.
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ISSA releases first European-language educational quick clip video

In an effort to expand its educational offerings to European members, ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, has released the first in a series of Educational Quick Clip videos recorded in European languages with English subtitles. The video, 'Advancing the Industry in Poland', was recorded in Polish and features Polish Cleaning Association (PCA) President Marek Kowalski.
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'Manners maketh the man', the saying goes, but 'motors maketh the man' could be a lot nearer the target. Why? Because your car says as much about you as a well-tailored suit or the latest gadget (and our headline may not be as ambiguous as it seems!).

And yet, as a Karcher survey reveals, 40% of us only wash our car every few months.

Other findings show:
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K-CP donates supplies to assist flood cleanup efforts

Kimberly-Clark Professional is donating thousands of health and hygiene products to help businesses and residents in Fargo, ND, US, clean up from the extensive damage caused by the recent Red River flooding.
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K-CP's European factories now meet ISO 14001 environmental standard

Leading washroom and hygiene products supplier Kimberly-Clark Professional has achieved ISO 14001 certification at each of its European manufacturing sites. Certification to the internationally accepted, independently audited standard demonstrates that the company has introduced an Environment Management System within its tissue mills.
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Kent Council determined that 'Garden of England' won't be rubbished

Kent County Council is set to become the first county council in the UK to use SmartWater, an innovative crime reduction strategy which will help in the fight against fly tipping. SmartWater incorporates state of the art forensic technology which will be used strategically as part of a proactive drive by Clean Kent to try and eliminate this type of environmental crime by bringing those responsible to justice.
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LCC Support Services gets some Northern soul



LCC Support Services, the national independent contract cleaning specialist, has made its first acquisition as part of its plan to open new bases around the UK to service its national clients.
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LCC helps keep healthcare regulator clean 

LCC has won another contract for its growing healthcare office cleaning business.  

The latest win is the Nursing & Midwifery Council offices in Portland Place, London W1. The cleaning work includes daily office cleaning, periodic cleaning, window cleaning, day janitors and provision of consumables.
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Following a highly successful pilot project, leading support services business, LPM Group, is expanding the coverage of Vision Site Manager across many locations throughout the UK. Indeed, this clever software solution is now such an integral part of the overall LPM support service offering that the company has rebranded it as 'LPM Vision'.
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Police in Gwent, Wales, believe that a chemical leak at a South Wales specialist liquid laundry detergent plant was caused deliberately.

Officers called to Eastern Valley Chemicals on the Gilchrist Thomas Industrial Estate in Blaenavon, early one morning last week, discovered that valves had been deliberately turned on - causing large quantities of various chemicals to spill from containers.
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Lincoln College fined after window cleaner falls from roof

Lincoln College has this week been fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £9,500 towards prosecution costs, after a window cleaner fell four metres - suffering broken ribs and a serious back injury.

James Theaker, 50, from Lincoln, was employed by A Nicoll & Son, when he was contracted to clean windows at Lincoln College, Monks Road in the city in November 2008. He accessed the roof of the main reception building using a ladder and leaned against the building to clean nearby windows, when he fell.
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Lockheed Martin awards Incentive QAS key contract



Leading global security company Lockheed Martin has awarded a three year contract to Incentive QAS, part of the Incentive FM Group, to provide cleaning & support services at its high security site in Ampthill, Bedfordshire.
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London's litter blitz underway



A three-metre wall of waste kick-started London's latest litter blitz... The 1,000 bag Trafalgar Square rubbish site represented 1% of all litter found on the capital's streets every day and it gave a clear message to Londoners to take action and join the Capital Clean-up campaign.

As part of the campaign, litter pickers will be unleashed across the city at events including 140 clean-ups led by McDonald's and the intensive graffiti and litter cleanse of the Grand Union Canal in Camden (26th/27th May).
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London universities under pressure to pay cleaners a living wage

London universities are being asked by students and community groups that make up Citizens UK, to support a campaign to pay cleaners a 'living wage' - at £7.60 per hour deemed to be the threshold that is needed to survive in an expensive city such as London. Students say the gap between high-paid university bosses and low-paid cleaners is "shocking".

They say that a cleaner on the legal minimum wage of £5.80, working 40-hours a week, 52 weeks a year, would have to work more than 33 years to earn the annual pay package of the provost of University College London.
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Lowest EPA toxicity rating meets food industry demand for defence against germs

Further to the item in last week's news about the launch of the Pure Bioscience IV-7 hard surface sanitiser, Pure has announced that the product has this week been awarded US Environmental Protection Agency approval as a food contact sanitiser. The company told Cleanzine that it will begin selling product to food processing plants, restaurants, school cafeterias and hospitals throughout the US later this month, as state approvals begin to be issued.
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Luxury loo cleaning for the image conscious

Seasonal fashion trends are no longer restricted to the catwalks of Milan and Paris, but are featuring in the loo too. Two new limited edition toilet cleaning ranges, influenced by consumer tastes and fashion trends, will be launched by Jeyes this May. They could work well in smaller washrooms, such as those found in shops, bars, restaurants and hairdressing salons etc, as well as in executive washrooms.
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m2r wins gold bucking the trend and an invite to no 10



A familiar name to many Cleanzine readers, industry sales and management recruiter m2r has been invited to no 10 Downing Street to talk about its successful export strategy in the Middle East.
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'Made in Italy' brand growing in the Egyptian cleaning market

Italian Cleaning recently participated in an economic mission aimed at broadening the client base of member companies through new contacts with major companies operating in the Egyptian cleaning market.

No sooner than it had returned from ISSA/Interclean, Italian Cleaning left again to participate in the economic mission to Egypt, which was sponsored by Promex Padova, a Padua Chamber of Commerce company.
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'Magic' works for new Queen Elizabeth Hospital

With the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham opening in June 2010, senior managers at both Sellyoak and Queen Elizabeth hospitals have already decided to look to the future and invest in 125 of the new Magic trolley systems to accompany their microfibre mopping operations. The trolleys are currently being used on the Selly Oak site prior to the move next year.
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Major companies say 'employee engagement' is key to post-recession growth

Engaging staff could help the UK thrive in the upturn, is the unanimous verdict of 150 CEOs and HR Directors from companies employing over one million UK employees, polled for a business leaders' conference held today by employee engagement survey specialist ETS.
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Make sure the sanitisers you are using to combat swine flu are capable of doing the job

Mike James of Bio-Productions, writes...

During the past months there have been a number of articles in national newspapers, magazines and trade journals about the growing resistance to 'super-bugs' or viral strains such as Swine Flu which have become progressively more tolerant to disinfectants and sanitisers.
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Making a Splash when it comes to conserving water



Offering car owners quality professional car washes that reclaim and recycle treated water for future wash cycles, while discharging effluent to a sanitary sewer system, has led to certification under the International Carwash Association's WaterSavers programme for Splash Car Wash of Conneticut, USA.
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MITIE secures FM contract with Durham University



MITIE has secured a four-year integrated facilities management contract with Durham University. The contract, which has a total value of approximately £5m, will cover both of Durham University’s locations in the city of Durham and at its Queen's Campus in Stockton.
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More companies to take zero-tolerance approach to vehicle damage recharges

More companies are planning to tighten up employee accidental damage recharge policies as a Masterlease survey reveals that almost 95% of businesses regularly receive cars back with unexplained dents and scrapes.
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Moscow's 11th international cleaning exhibition incorporates 8th laundry & dry cleaning show



The 11th International Exhibition for the cleaning industry, ‘ExpoClean’, will be held on from 18th through 20th November in the Olympisky Complex in Moscow. The 8th International Dry-Cleaners & Laundry Exhibition will be held at the same time. The events are organised by Primexpo (St. Petersburg), part of the ITE Group (UK).
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Most successful RWM ever heralds expansion for environmental sector event

“Recession? What recession?” was heard up and down the aisles at this year’s Recycling & Waste Management exhibition. Confirming its place as the number one recycling and waste management exhibition in the UK, RWM 09 attracted more visitors and exhibitors than ever before.
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Mouse nest found on policeman's desk

Exterminators called in to deal with a mice infestation at a London police station found a nest on one officer's messy desk.
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Mr PC Clean appointed UK’s CleanSafe distributor

Staffordshire based computer cleaning specialist Mr PC Clean has been appointed the UK’s lead distributor for the CleanSafe range of specialist cleaning products.

The CleanSafe range is designed for home and commercial use and the product is widely chosen by professional computer cleaning specialists, not only in the UK but around the world. It, therefore, richly deserves its reputation as being “the professional’s choice”.
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MRSA and C. difficile quarterly update

The Health Protection Agency's quarterly epidemiological commentary on trends of MRSA bloodstream infections and C. difficile infections from October 2007 to December 2009 has show marked decreases in both.
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MRSA survivors rally for action and awareness

MRSA Survivors Network with MRSA survivors, family members and other victims of healthcare-acquired infections will unite across the globe and on World MRSA Day, October 2nd, 2010, in a grassroots movement to raise awareness and push for more mandated reporting of infections, MRSA screening laws, funds to raise awareness and educate the public on prevention, which will save lives.
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Muscle and joint pain costs European economies up to €240 billion a year

A new study has found that musculoskeletal disorders (the umbrella term covering over 200 conditions that affect the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, peripheral nerves and supporting blood vessels, causing pain and functional impairment to sufferers account for nearly half of all absences from work and 60% of permanent work incapacity in the European Union.
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Naming and shaming improves hospital hand hygiene 300%

In a presumably sterile environment such as a hospital, diligence of staff washing their hands when moving from patient to patient can easily be taken for granted. Yet, according to The Joint Commission, handwashing failures contribute to healthcare-associated infections that kill nearly 100,000 Americans each year and cost U.S. hospitals $4 billion to $29 billion annually to combat.
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National business award for redundant worker who invested wisely



A former factory worker who used his redundancy payment to start a new business and a new life has had his achievements recognised with a national award.
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Nearly 40% of CEOs worldwide plan to increase workforce in 2010

With their worst fears of prolonged recession behind them, CEOs' confidence for future growth has bounced back from the gloomy prospects of a year ago, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers 13th Annual Global CEO Survey, released on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos.
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New application helping keep London’s streets clean

Londoners can now use their smartphones to notify London Councils of the dirtiest areas they encounter.

The online application LoveCleanStreets.org enables people to load pictures of litter, vandalism or urban decay, directly from their phone onto an online map. Contributors to the site can then monitor the response of the local authorities’ street cleansing teams via the site.
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New approach to hygiene needed to control disease and reduce costs, says new report

Three key measures could help to reduce the burden of infectious disease in a sustainable way, according to a report published last week by the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene.

Infectious diseases continue to exact a heavy toll on the health and prosperity of the European community. Preventing infectious diseases must involve everyone. It needs must be a shared responsibility. The report warns, however, that we are in danger of putting environmental and other concerns – important though these are - before the need to prevent the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. What is needed is an approach which is both effective and also sustainable.
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New Association formed for bio recovery professionals

The British Bio Recovery Association has been formed in response to industry and commercial demand with a view to developing and promoting professional standards and recognised training and education.

The British Bio Recovery Association (BBRA) represents those professional practitioners and organisations, both large and small, specialising in the recovery, remediation and management of biological hazards and contamination within the outdoor and built environments.
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New Certification Standard for HEPA filters

The growing asthma & allergy friendly Certification Programme in the US announced on Tuesday that it has developed and adopted a certification standard and testing protocol for HEPA, (high efficiency particulate air) Air Cleaning Devices.
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New cleaning regimes improve prognosis for a Kent hospital Trust

A Kent hospital that was at the centre of an investigation in 2007, following the deaths of an estimated 120 patients from C.difficile, has made "substantial improvements", according to a report issued by the Healthcare Commission last Friday. The report says that the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust must maintain momentum and make further improvements.

Better standards of cleaning and staff training - helped by an extra £1million allocated to the cleaning budget - have been identified as key improvements. Extra cleaning staff have been appointed, new audit systems implemented, and urgent cleaning needs are being more rapidly addressed.
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New cleaning resources help reduce cross infection in school toilets

Professor Hugh Pennington has called for local authorities to set up a programme of audits to ensure that all schools have adequate toilet and hand washing facilities. The recommendation comes in his report into the September 2005 outbreak of E. coli in Wales and has been welcomed by hygiene consultant Mike Burton.
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New commercial buildings cement IFM's prospects in Vietnam

The Vietnamese integrated facilities management services market is poised grow, thanks to a spate of construction activities, especially in the commercial office space in cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In fact, in Ho Chi Minh City, grade A office space is likely to increase to three times its current size between 2009 and 2011. Hanoi is also expected to experience signification expansion of office space in 2009, and the overall occupancy is projected to be around 90%.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan Integrated Facilities Management Services Market in Vietnam, finds that market earned revenues of $1.2 million in 2008 and estimates this to reach $12.9 million by 2015.
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New Contract Wins for Temco

Following closely on from its contract wins in the defence sector earlier this year, Temco continues to power ahead with four new awards. This includes Fluor in the engineering sector, Cobham in defence again, Renesas in software and RSA in security.
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New desktop and data cleaning business to target increased demand for specialist IT services

Initial Facilities Services has combined its PROtech IT Hygiene and HItech Cleaning Solutions businesses to create what is believed to be the UK's largest desktop and data cleaning services provider. The move follows an increase in the demand for computer and telephone hygiene services following the Swine Flu outbreak and the growth of specialist cleaning sectors such as the £40 million data centre market.
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New DVD teaches safe use of portable ladders and waterfed pole systems

In addition to its 'Cleaning Windows Safely' Institute of Occupational Safety & Health-accredited training launched in 2008, The Federation of Window Cleaners has launched a New Training DVD: 'Safe use of portable ladders and Waterfed Pole systems'.
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New film shows how Tork saves time and money for FMs


Click the image above to watch the video

A new film launched by Tork manufacturer SCA shows how Tork products and services can make life easier for the facilities services manager.

'An introduction to Tork' demonstrates the time and cost savings that can be made using Tork systems.
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New Honorary Freeman for the WCEC

Alderman Michael David Bear, BSc (Eng), MBA, Alderman of the Ward of Portsoken and a former Sheriff of the City of London, has been installed as the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners' newest Honorary Freeman. His installation took place at the meeting of the company's election court held at Armourers' Hall.
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New HMRC team targets employers who flout Minimum Wage laws

This year heralds a new strategy in the fight to rout out rogue employers who flout the National Minimum Wage regulations. HM Revenue and Customs’ new Dynamic Response Team will work on the most high profile and complicated National Minimum Wage cases faced by HMRC, particularly in areas where employers are using migrant labour to undercut competitors by paying below the minimum wage.
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New national insurance policy better for small firms and jobs, says Forum of Private Business

The Forum of private Business is welcoming the new Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition government’s decision to scrap the planned 1% hike in employers’ national insurance for many staff members,- a policy that had been met with strong opposition from business groups.

The ‘tax on jobs’ had been scheduled to take place in 2011 – when many analysts anticipate small businesses will be seeking to recruit in earnest in order to meet renewed demand.
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New networking sessions added to 2010 SDA Convention

Attendees at The Soap and Detergent Association 2010 Annual Meeting & Industry Convention will have more business networking opportunities than ever before at the cleaning product industry’s acclaimed business forum.

The new location for the meeting will only increase these opportunities, as well as provide more attractions for registrants who want to bring their friends or family.

The Convention takes place January 26-30, 2010 at the Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. But the clock is ticking for companies wanting to qualify for early bird registration: discounted registration ends on January 1st.
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New Orleans' French Quarter will once again be getting down and dirty

Budget constraints are likely to bring the much lauded expanded sanitation services in New Orleans' French Quarter to an end at the end of January and the Quarter's residents and visitors are upset.

Mayor Ray Nagin's administration has asked contractor SDT Waste & Debris to stop rubbish bin patrols, mechanical sweeping and street washing from 31st January, saying New Orleans no longer has the money to pay for the services, which cost the city about $3 million a year.
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New Peterborough City Hospital chooses Pland Stainless



Peterborough’s new 612 bed super-hospital is benefiting from a range of healthcare products and emergency equipment supplied by Pland Stainless. Stainless steel healthcare products were specified for the surgical and clinical areas of the hospital because they provide a durable, easy to clean and hygienic surface.
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New public sector NVQ for hospital staff



Cleaners, caterers, porters and housekeepers at a Hampshire hospital have been the first to gain from a new training programme aimed at raising skills in public services, which we announced in Cleanzine in June.
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New qualifications set to strengthen facilities management

Work to ensure facilities management has a highly skilled workforce with the know-how to deal with a fast changing industry is underway through the development of new qualifications.

As well as fast tracking an Apprenticeship in response to employer demand, Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for FM, is also seeking to make available the new raft of vocational awards.
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The University of Miami UM-JMH Center for Patient Safety has successfully launched a Hand Hygiene Compliance pilot project with the help of two Michigan-based technology businesses - Dynamic Computer Corporation - a healthcare real-time locating solutions systems integrator, and Versus Technology - whose patented, automatic infrared-radio frequency technology HHC systems are deployed in hundreds of hospitals for automating patient workflow events.
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New technology kills bacteria and inactivate pathogenic viruses without chemicals

Orbio Technologies, Tennant Company's chemical-free technology arm, announced today that working together with its license partner Activeion, they have discovered how to kill bacterial cells and inactivate pathogenic viruses without using chemicals. The technology, which is based on irreversible electroporation, is known as Orbio-E.
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Options for microfibre laundries

by Emma Phillips, Product Manager, Personal Care & Laundry, Diversey



Recent advances in laundry technology have led to health service and care home operators facing an increasingly wide choice of options when selecting a system to deliver the best possible combination of cleaning performance, infection control, sustainability and value-for-money. The variety of laundry tasks has also grown to include specialist fabrics and microfibre as well as traditional linen and clothing.
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OspreyDeepclean announces Steam Scrappage Scheme

OspreyDeepclean announces the new Steam Scrappage Scheme in which owners of older or non-working steam cleaning machines may scrap them in favour of new models at 20% discounted prices.
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Outpatient infection rates cleverly controlled

Cancer treatment leaves patients with weakened immune systems... So it would seem obvious that an outpatient cancer clinic would be a prime breeding ground for infections because of the constantly revolving door of patients, visitors and staff, all of whom could be exposed to bacteria and viruses at home or in the community. After all, infections are among the most common causes of illness and death among cancer patients.
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