Is Just-In-Time ordering still effective?

Just-in-time (JIT) ordering started in Japan in the 1970s and spread to many parts of the world about decade later. Essentially, it is an inventory management system with the objective of having just enough inventory readily available to meet current demand but avoiding excess.
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Not all refuse sacks are created equal

BPI Recycled Products, one of Europe's leading manufacturers of refuse sacks and Europe's largest recycler of waste polythene, is proud to be exhibiting at both the Manchester Cleaning Show and ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam 2016.
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Khemsoft offers environmentally sustainable non-destructive industrial cleaning

A new industrial cleaning solution offered by Khemsoft, dry ice blasting, is an environmentally friendly and sustainable cleaning method that can help any business improve their environmental impact. Whether the commercial business needs a dry clean, it is trying to reduce the amount of water or chemicals used or is trying to enhance sanitation or cross-contamination prevention programmes, dry ice blasting provides the environmentally sustainable answer.
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Anti-microbial product making washrooms and feminine hygiene units cleaner and safer

Welsh biosciences company Genesis Biosciences has developed what it says is anti-microbial technology for the facilities management industry, which provides protection to users of feminine hygiene units through a patented 'vapour technology', based on a natural active ingredient being supported under the European Biocidal Products Directive.
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New wipe meets growing need for touchscreen compatible products in healthcare environments

PDI's new Easy Screen cleaning wipe addresses the increasing use of touchscreen equipment in healthcare and the need for compatible cleaning products.
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Robots, apps and connected technology to star at ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam 2016

With only weeks to go until the 26th edition of the ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam show opens its doors on 10th May, RAI Amsterdam has revealed more details on what to expect at the show.

The 2016 show will feature over 800 exhibitors from over 45 countries, showcasing their cleaning and hygiene products and solutions in a total floor area of approximately 60,000sq.m. RAI also reports that more live demonstrations are to be given across the show floor than ever before, including in the Outdoor Cleaning Show and High Pressure Demonstration Area where visitors will be encouraged to 'try-it-yourself' with many of the products on display.
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Fourth year medical student scoops top prize in ETS 2015 Essay Competition

Fourth year medical student, Sarah Freeston, has scooped the prize in the 2015 European Tissue Symposium Essay Competition on the most hygienic way to dry your hands.
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Battery-powered Autovac wins Innovation Award at 2016 international cleaning show

Amid several competitors at this year's international Cleaning Show - held earlier this month in Bucharest, Romania, (said to be the sixth-largest city in the European Union and one of Europe's most prosperous cities), Kaivac's battery-powered AutoVac system won the top prize for the most innovative product.
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Climate change and lack of sanitation threaten water safety for millions: UNICEF

On Tuesday - World Water Day, UNICEF said the push to bring safe water to millions around the world is going to be even more challenging due to climate change, which threatens both water supply and water safety for millions of children living in drought- or flood-prone areas.
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Bonasystems wins nationwide slip management contract with Mitchells & Butlers

Bonasystems, a market leader in cleaning and anti-slip products, services and consulting, has won a prestigious contract with Mitchells & Butlers to provide slip prevention solutions to 400 of its outlets. Mitchells & Butlers is one of the UK's largest operators of restaurants, bars and pubs in the UK and its portfolio includes well-known brands such as Harvester, Toby Carvery, All Bar One and O'Neills.
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Easy-to-clean custom wall art could decrease hospital acquired infections

Hospital acquired infections are a rising concern. While experts debate HAI sources, it is universally accepted that increased rigour and frequency of surface cleaning is part of any prevention plan.
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Prestige Worldwide Group to seek initial public offering for its nationwide crime scene cleanup company - CrimeSceneCleanUp.com

Prestige Worldwide Group, the parent company of CrimeSceneCleanUp.com, has announced plans to sell shares in its crime scene cleanup and medical waste company. "We are very excited to see investors on Wall Street become part of the first crime scene clean up company ever listed on the stock exchange," said James Michel, CEO of CrimeSceneCleanUp.com. "Our business is virtually recession-proof with very attractive profit margins."
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New Rubbermaid Lumecel technology says "No" to continually replacing batteries

Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) has launched the revolutionary Lumecel, a rechargeable energy cell which transforms light into power, meaning batteries will no longer have to be purchased or replaced.
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Report: More US companies reporting on sustainability

More US-based corporations are reporting the steps they are taking to become more sustainable, according to a recent survey from the Conference Board, an independent business research association working in the public interest, and Bloomberg News.
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Julius Rutherfoord launches groundbreaking biometric based time and attendance system

Managing a large number of mobile cleaners across hundreds of sites is a challenge. London contractor Julius Rutherfoord, has launched a groundbreaking biometric based time and attendance system, which helps safeguard the security of sites and the cleaning team, whilst ensuring clients receive the level of service they deserve.
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Honouring World Health Day by protecting indoor air quality

Avmor, Canada's leading manufacturer of professional cleaning solutions for the Jan/San and foodservice markets, believes that the professional cleaning industry should honour this day by focusing on ways to protect human health... and at the top of its list is indoor air quality.
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Cleaning makes BBC Breakfast!

Congratulations to all those who made it to Event City Manchester, yesterday at 06:30, to watch or take part in BBC Breakfast's coverage of The Cleaning Show. It was clearly great fun and gave the industry lots of valuable publicity - especially as it was shown regularly throughout the morning.
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BCC backs Tidy Britain APPG Westminster event

Members of the British Cleaning Council have been invited to attend an event at the House of Commons this month to discuss ways of tackling the UK's growing litter problem.

The event has been organised by Keep Britain Tidy in its role as part of the Tidy Britain All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and will be chaired by the BCC's voice in Parliament, Jim Fitzpatrick MP (Pictured here being interviewed outside the Houses of Parliament by ITV News.
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Unger's Stingray - a safe and simple way to clean indoor surfaces!

Paul Sherrington really looked as if he was enjoying his work demonstrating Unger's recently launched Stringray cleaning tool to the gathered audiences packing the stand throughout the Manchester Cleaning Show - and his enthusiasm was infectious.

Even we had a go and we have to say that the Stingray was as easy to use as it looked.
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Contract cleaning market to enjoy £100m growth for 2016

A new report from MTW Research suggests the contract cleaning market is set for £100 million growth in 2016, despite the new National Living Wage dampening market profitability.

Following a healthy 2015, the contract cleaning market is expected to experience solid growth in 2016, according to MTW's analysis of 70 top cleaning contractors. Contract cleaning sales are set for above inflation growth this year, boosted by a number of key end use sectors including health, care homes, education and private commercial markets.
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Med-X's Nature-Cide insecticide moves into Cannabis cultivation supply

Med-X announced this week that it has struck a deal with cultivation distribution venue GrowMinded to supply its Nature-Cide cleaning and pest control products to cannabis cultivators in several states throughout the US.

"The Nature-Cide products have been tested and utilised by multiple cultivators for pest management and pest prevention," stated Med-X COO and Nature-Cide co-developer Matthew Mills. "We are thrilled to have distribution partners like the GrowMinded team."
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i-Robot robotic floor cleaning machines now available from Vaclensa

We can expect to see a lot more from Vaclensa in the near future and the company's large stand at the Manchester Cleaning Show gave us a taste of things to come. What caught our attention was an area being buzzed around by the new Commercial i-Robot robotic cleaning machine, which has a really low profile for cleaning under cupboards etc.

The i-Robot is fast and powerful, very responsive and we watched it make short work of large pieces of grit. The company's Danny Cross told us that it was attracting a lot of attention.
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Papyrus Supplies acquires Veli Mark Oy and strengthens its position in Finland

Papyrus Supplies has acquired the family owned company Veli Mark Oy in Finland, the full service wholesaler within the professional cleaning and hygiene products sector, which uses the distinctive zebra print (and the animals themselves) in its branding.

Through this acquisition, Papyrus Supplies says it is further strengthening its Nordic position in the field of cleaning and facilities management supplies.
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Airplus - the new air freshener system from Kennedy Hygiene

Kennedy Hygiene Products has unveiled its latest air-freshener system - the Airplus Ellipse - at the Manchester Cleaning Show.

A simple, battery-free, door-mounted air freshener solution for washroom cubicles, the Airplus Ellipse offers maximum ease of service with easy loading and activation of the refill: the cartridge has been designed to activate inside the dispenser using the action created by closing the cover - thus avoiding any possible fragrance spillage.
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Singaporean washroom association moves closer to becoming 'Toilet Hub' in 2016

In 2015, the Restroom Association (Singapore) reached new milestones with the launch of its World Toilet Day Commemoration Fund, Happy Toilets @ Preschools Programme and Guide to Better Preschool Toilet Design, Maintenance and Education.

RAS president Tan Puay Hoon tells us that the Association is already actively gearing up for its 5-year action plan of evolving as a Toilet Hub - a hub for all toilet matters concerning building owners, cleaning attendants and public users.
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Show visitors in race to buy Morclean's Bin Wash

Morclean's Green Apple Award-winning BinWash machine has clearly created a stir because as the Manchester Cleaning Show's doors opened, two organisations made a beeline for the stand and asked to buy the machine on show.

Bearing in mind that the doors opened 15 minutes early as there were so many people outside waiting to get in, two machine sales before the show's official opening time must be something of an industry coup - and we're not talking about something in the mop & bucket price range either!
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WFBSC announces first Berlin meeting for CMS 2017, as Thomas Dietrich takes over presidency

For the first time, the World Federation of Building Service Contractors will be gathering cleaning industry decision-makers from around the world for a meeting in Berlin.

From 18th to 20th September 2017, the Federation will be holding its congress alongside the international cleaning trade fair CMS Berlin 2017 - Cleaning.Management.Services in the German capital. The headline topic of the international conference is 'Cleaning in the digital world - processes, people, technology.'
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Greyland new launches at Manchester Cleaning Show

New products seen on the Greyland stand include Cotton Fresh air freshener trigger spray, Bathroom Cleaner and Limescale Remover trigger sprays formulated with anti-limescale for hard water areas, and their 1L angle neck Spring Toilet Freshener. We'll be bringing you more detailed information on these new products very soon.

A good way to teach and test driving skills...

It's all very well having state-of-the-art cleaning equipment but unless your operating skills are up to scratch, you're not going to do the best job, are you? Karcher has been running a competition at the Manchester Cleaning Show to see who can negotiate its tight course the quickest, without knocking over any of the bollards (which incurs penalties) using both walk-behind and ride-on machines.

It occurred to us that a course like this actually offers a great way of training users in how to operate the machines while negotiating potential obstacles, before setting them loose on contracts... If you're a cleaning contractor, is this something your company does, or would consider doing?
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Win a pallet of cleaning chemicals at the Manchester Cleaning Show

Work is work, fun is fun, but golf is golf. Now you can combine all three by visiting the Greyland stand E01 at the Manchester Cleaning Show!
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See in action independent inspections that underpin CHSA's Accreditation Schemes

The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) has released a video of its Independent Inspector, Martin Yates, at work, proving the rigour of the auditing process that underpins the CHSA's Marque of Quality.
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Contractor champions 21st century facilities for 18th century London buildings

Julius Rutherfoord has won a cleaning contract with Howard de Walden Estates to maintain a number of prestigious heritage buildings across 92 acres of Marylebone, central London.
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British Library books Emprise for five more years

Emprise Services has been awarded a new five-year contract with the British Library, where it has provided its services at the Library's sites at St Pancras in London and Boston Spa in West Yorkshire since 2003.
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New analysis of UK recovered plastics gives clarity to market situation

The latest data and in-depth information about UK plastics recycling and reprocessing was published on Tuesday in an updated Plastics Market Situation Report. Compiled by the UK's resource efficiency expert WRAP, it includes detailed analysis of recovered plastic flows, prices and the sustainability of end markets, including the risks and opportunities.
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Rail fastenings manufacturing firm won over by exceptional service

Exceptional customer service backed by impressive service support has convinced a long-established manufacturing firm to invest in the latest cleaning technology from Hako.
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Sharing the benefits of being a Living Wage employer

The increased costs of paying higher wages are a concern to many businesses, so London Living Wage employer CAM Specialist Support - a commercial high-level cleaning and building maintenance business - was happy to share its experiences of the benefits with a group of local businesses recently.
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NCCA courses - some new dates

There have been some changes made to the dates of training courses run by the National Carpet Cleaners Association. The new schedule is:

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning:
13th - 14th May
8th - 9th July
16th - 17th September
18th - 19th November
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Farewell HaFSA; hello Courtauld Commitment 2025!

In June 2012 at the launch of the Hospitality & Food Service Agreement (HaFSA), 70 hospitality and food service organisations committed to collectively deliver targets on food and associated packaging waste prevention, as well as increasing recycling rates.
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Business owners fear that National Living Wage won't increase productivity

70% of businesses are supportive of the new National Living Wage, though they do not anticipate that it will bring any improvement in productivity.

The findings come from the latest results from the Close Brothers Business Barometer, a quarterly survey which gauges sentiment from CEOs, MDs and other management from around the UK and Ireland.
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Recycle Week - change of date

Following the announcement of the date for the EU Referendum, Recycle Now has decided to move the date of Recycle Week for 2016 from June to 12th - 18th September. The organiser has consulted with a number of its partners and stakeholders and they agree that the intensity of activity around the EU Referendum may have an impact on the success of a Recycle Week in June.
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Cordant Cleaning doubles work with Metroline

London bus company, Metroline, has extended its contract with Cordant Cleaning and more than doubled the scope to include an additional six locations, making a total of nine within North West and West London.
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Industrial cleaning equipment specialist celebrates 50 years in business

To celebrate 50 successful years in business, Harrison Hire & Sales is welcoming past, present and future customers to its Anniversary Open Day at the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington near York.
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Incentive FM Group makes strategic acquisition

Facilities services company Incentive FM Group has acquired Specialist Window Cleaning in a move designed to enable the business to self deliver additional services to its rapidly expanding portfolio of customers.
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CCM proud to become UK distributor for Waterkracht

Columbus Cleaning Machines (North East), which specialises in effective, efficient and environmentally friendly professional cleaning equipment, has recently been appointed the sole UK distributor for the Waterkracht brand of trailer pressure washers.
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Ideal Response supports The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army recently took part in Europe's largest disaster training exercise in Dartford, Kent, feeding over 2000 first respondents across a four-day period. Needless to say, the Emergency Response Units that were used to feed the first respondents, required a thorough clean before being fully ready for the next job.
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10 reasons to start tracking your vehicles

Giselle Bigsby, sales manager of TrackVehicles365, writes...

Vehicle trackers are a small device that can be fitted to any sort of vehicle, and through tracking the vehicle via a GPS signal they offer businesses are huge amount of benefits.
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ISSA Pulire 2025
27-29th May 2025
Rho Fiera Milano
Italy
Website

CMS
23-26th September 2025
Berlin
Website

INTERCLEAN
22-24th October 2025
Shanghai
Website

Hygienalia
4-6th November 2025
Valencia
Spain
Website

ISSA Show North America
10-13th November 2025
Las Vegas
Website

INTERCLEAN
14-17th April 2026
Amsterdam
Website