MEPs to vote this week on regulation of robots

From drones to medical and cleaning equipment, robots are increasingly becoming a part of our everyday life. But although some 1.7 million robots already exist worldwide, their use is still not properly regulated. Members of the European Parliament are currently debating and are about to vote on a report calling for rules to regulate the use of robots, including creating a separate legal status for robots.
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Sodexo reveals trends shaping the global workplace in 2017

Sodexo, a world leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations, has released its 2017 Global Workplace Trends report, detailing the most critical factors affecting the world's workers and employers. The report is an insightful tool for employers navigating the changing workplace to push toward success.
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Growing healthcare sector to boost global industrial cleaning market through to 2021

The global industrial cleaning market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of close to 5% during the forecast period to 2021, according to Technavio's latest market research.

In this market research report, Technavio covers the market outlook and growth prospects of the global industrial cleaning market for 2017-2021. The market is further categorised into five segments based on the chemicals used, including surfactants, enzymes, builders, fragrances and processing aids.
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Older workers are not only wiser - they're more productive

A survey that compares the working habits of different age groups among 3,000 office workers across Europe has thrown up some unexpected findings. Among them it suggests that with age not only comes wisdom, but also greater resilience to extra demands and higher levels of productivity than their younger co-workers.
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Vectair Systems' in-house sales support team can service EMEA customers in nine languages

As a multi-award-winning global hygiene manufacturer servicing more than 100 countries from its head office in Basingstoke, UK, Vectair Systems has always strived to provide the language skills so that staff can communicate with customers in their mother tongue wherever possible.
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Henkel reported to be in talks to buy Sealed Air's Diversey professional cleaning business

A story in yesterday's New York Post reports that Henkel - which in the 90s, as Henkel Ecolab, was one of the leading names in the European professional cleaning market, is in talks to buy Sealed Air's professional cleaning business, Diversey.

The talks are said to have been revealed by two sources, but have yet to be confirmed by either company, according to the publication.
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Creating a facilities management programme: 'Do's' and 'Don'ts'

Developing a comprehensive approach to facilities maintenance is not always an easy task to accomplish. While there are many best practices for creating an FM programme, the path to finding and implementing a plan that meets the specific needs of your facility or facilities can be challenging.
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Fight Norovirus and keep schools open

With the recent outbreaks of Norovirus causing school closures in the US, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has published guidelines including the recommendation of cleaning and disinfecting contaminated surfaces with a disinfectant registered as effective against Norovirus by the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Clorox Professional introduces new portfolio of odour control products

Four out of five cleaning industry professionals say that removing odour from the air is their biggest cleaning challenge (79%), according to a recent survey from US-based Clorox Professional Products. However, the survey also finds that the odour elimination products currently on the market are not fully addressing professional cleaning needs.
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Teens wow officials with train coach cleaning system

Eight students in Mumbai have developed a novel vacuum cleaning system for train coaches, in a project said to have impressed cleaning officials even attracted the attention of railway minister Suresh Prabhu. The students - five of whom are US citizens and all aged 12-14 - visited Vadodara and Mumbai stations to study the rubbish disposal in train coaches before devising the cleaning system.
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Top Danish law firm picks ISS Denmark as its facility services partner

One of Denmark's leading business law firms has selected ISS to run its facility services at the firm's new, high-profile corporate headquarters in the heart of Copenhagen.
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New system uses predictive technology to alert staff that dispensers should be refilled

Gojo has launched Smartlink Service Alerts, an Internet of Things solution that through the use of predictive analytics, helps to ensure hand soap and hand sanitiser are always available for critical hand hygiene events in a healthcare facility.
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Last chance to register for ACI's 2nd 'Future of Surfactants Summit Europe'

Registration is closing tomorrow for ACI's 2nd Future of Surfactants Summit Europe, which is taking place 8th & 9th February 2017 in Antwerp, Belgium, with an exclusive pre-conference site visit to the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. The organizer tells us that there are only a few spaces remaining.

The event will give you the chance to meet senior representatives from key companies in the industry, currently confirmed from the following:
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CMS Purus Innovation Awards to debut at this year's Show

At the international cleaning trade fair CMS 2017 Berlin, the CMS Purus Awards, which have been presented since 2005, will become the Innovation Awards, signalling a new direction. The CMS Purus Innovation Awards (PIA), will honour 'intelligent products and solutions', recognising products, tools and systems that feature excellent usability and an outstanding overall design.
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Singaporean hotel's waste management system up for 'Most Green Collaboration' Award

A food waste digestion system that has successfully reduced food waste at a smart Singaporean hotel, may have won those involved an Award. The project has been selected as one of three finalists in the 'Most Green Collaboration' category, by the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, for its 2017 SICC Awards celebrating collaborative innovation.
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Cleaning services market to reach $74,299 million, globally, by 2022

A new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, 'Cleaning Services Market-Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts, 2014-2022', projects that the global cleaning services market is expected to garner $74,299 million by 2022, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% (2016 to 2022).

Cleaning services market trends are expected to be progressive over the next few years. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest pace during the forecast period and account for around 30% of the overall cleaning services market revenue by 2022. The growth is primarily driven by the upsurge in demand from China, Japan, and India.
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Health & safety 'top of agenda' at Cleaning Show

With 27.3 million days lost due to work-related ill health or injury in the UK last year, health & safety will be top of the agenda at next month's Cleaning Show, where the Health & Safety Executive will be running a session of free workshops to help employers protect their workforce and reduce costs attributed to managing staff absence.

Over 550,000 musculoskeletal disorders were caused or made worse at work in 2016 according to the HSE, with lifting and moving people or equipment, chemical and biological substance use, repetitive movement and slips, trips and falls, the main physical strains facing workers.
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Seventh consecutive Norovirus-free year in Merton schools thanks to meticulous cleaning

Julius Rutherfoord's expert cleaning standards and focus on health & safety have effectively eradicated Norovirus outbreaks from London borough of Merton Council Schools and Families premises for seven consecutive years.

Norovirus or the 'Winter Vomiting Bug' became a serious issue in Merton in the Winter of 2007/08 with unacceptable numbers of cases, followed by another debilitating Winter of outbreaks in 2008/09.
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One in four UK abattoirs fails to meet basic hygiene standards

One in four slaughterhouses is failing to take basic hygiene precautions to stop contaminated meat reaching the public, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism can reveal.

An analysis of government audits carried out at more than 300 abattoirs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland identified major hygiene failings in more than a quarter of the meat plants. The failings could expose consumers to serious food poisoning illnesses such as E.coli, salmonella or campylobacter. The true situation may be even worse.
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Keeping food clean and safe to eat

Matt Montag, distribution sales manager for CleanCore Technologies, which manufactures aqueous ozone cleaning systems used in the food service industry, writes...

"According to public health officials, there are three primary ways that food in restaurants and food processing facilities can become contaminated and unsafe to consume. These are:
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Hunt for CHSA's 2017 undergraduate scholars begins: up to three bursaries available

Following the successful reintroduction of its undergraduate bursary, the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association has expanded the bursary: there will be up to three lucky winners in 2017.
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Meet Moptimus Prime, the latest recruit to Mitie's cleaning team!

Mitie, has introduced a state-of-the-art cleaning robot to its cleaning service at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. The robot cleaner, launched last month, is custom-made for the hospital and in the shape and appearance of an ambulance.

Moptimus Prime uses a mapping system to guide it round the hospital, completing pre-programmed cleaning duties, freeing up staff to focus on more complex tasks. Fitted with a motion sensor, it is able to detect if anyone is in front of it and stop moving.
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Kleen-Tex acquires a leading UK residential mat brand

Kleen-Tex Holdings (UK), the UK subsidiary of Kleen-Tex in Europa GmbH, has announced the acquisition of The Turtle Mat Company, owner and marketer of one of the most recognised residential doormat brands in the UK.

"With Turtle Mats, we are gaining a strong retail brand for our company portfolio, especially in the UK market," explains Jürgen Teubenbacher, managing director of Kleen-Tex in Europa GmbH. "For both companies, there are very positive synergies - on sales, marketing, and distribution."
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Reconfigurable work platform combines the flexibility and strength

The Lobo System is a re-configurable work platform product that combines the flexibility and strength of traditional scaffolding with the simplicity and mobility of tower systems.

This combination provides a versatile access system that has applications right across facilities management and maintenance.
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65% of SME businesses not ready for tax digitalisation

A recent survey by the UK200Group, the membership association of independent chartered accountancy and law firms, showed that 65% of its members' SME business clients do not currently use software to manage their accounts.

They will be forced to adapt significantly in order to use software to comply with HMRC's 'Making Tax Digital' project, which aims to see businesses reporting tax digitally by 2018.
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Company fined after young worker suffers 'life changing' injuries

A waste management company has been prosecuted after a worker was left with life changing injuries. Chippenham Magistrates Court heard how the 19-year-old worker and his colleagues had cleared a blockage from the waste picking line, when his gloved hand got caught in the conveyor belt. The roller fractured his right hand, dislocated his wrist and radius and he had to spend two weeks in hospital following the incident.

The investigation by the Health & Safety Executive found that there was no effective guarding around the conveyor belt to prevent workers' hands from being caught up in the mechanism.
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Selden Research acquires Premiere Products

The Directors of Selden Research are delighted to announce the acquisition of the brand, assets and goodwill of Premiere Products from James Briggs (Hygiene), saying:
 
“We recognise this as a tremendous opportunity to develop what is one of the longest established and most respected brands in our sector. The Premiere Products portfolio is a perfect fit into the Selden offering; distribution channels are similar; manufacturing requirements are similar, methods and ethos are similar also.
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Making the choice between an apprenticeship and university - is the UK realising the benefits of on-the-job learning?

Apprenticeship schemes are becoming increasingly popular as people look for more cost-effective, debt-free routes to gaining experience and full-time employment.
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Demand for drone technology lifts off at Mitie, with clients recognising efficiencies and cost savings

Mitie client, Hammersmith & Fulham Council, is welcoming innovative drone technology to help survey its homes and identify repairs.
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Sikafloor provides durable, high-gloss surface fit for a Ferrari

Thanks to Sika, a vehicle workshop involved in the repair and maintenance of some of the world's most expensive cars has been supplied with a durable, high-gloss floor to protect the high-powered, high-specification machines it services.
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GV Health wins contract with Compass Medirest and Bunzl to supply over 30 UK hospitals

GV Health announced yesterday, two major new collaborations with logistics operator Bunzl Catering Services and outsourced food, catering and soft FM services supplier Compass Medirest. Under the deal, Bunzl will supply hospitals with an extensive range of GV Health products including clinical and non-clinical waste bags, spillage kits and environmental hygiene solutions including wipes and disinfectants.
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Slips and Trips / Falls Prevention course being held in London 9th March 2017

Health & Safety Laboratories is to run a one-day course on Slips and Trips / Falls Prevention in London's Marble Arch, on 9th March 2017 and it appears to be a worthwhile course to attend, since previous attendees have reported a reduction in incidents of up to 50%.
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ISS to provide FM at new Ocado HQ

ISS is commencing a new contact with online supermarket Ocado. ISS will provide an integrated service solution to Ocado at its new Head Office address in Hatfield, which includes catering & hospitality, building maintenance services, cleaning, waste, energy & environmental management and health & safety management.
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CHSA: Driving up standards for 20 years

The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association is this year celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Scheme for Soft Tissue.

For 20 years, the Association has been active in driving up standards, making sure that what's in the box is on the box. Today the marque of the Soft Tissue, Plastic Refuse Sack and Industrial Cotton Mop Accreditation Schemes means buyers can be certain they get what they pay for.
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Greyland awarded new Environmental and Quality Standards

Leading cleaning chemicals manufacturer Greyland announced that they start the New Year with two new ISO standards after being awarded the ISO 9001:2015 Quality and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental standards.
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BPI Recycled Products announces new name, RPC bpi recycled products

Following the acquisition of BPI Recycled Products by RPC Group, the new name for the business has been formally announced as RPC bpi recycled products. The company was part of British Polythene Industries until it was purchased by RPC Group in August 2016.
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Julius Rutherfoord designs bespoke cleaning solution

London's reopened Design Museum, which is set to become the world's leading museum of contemporary design and architecture as it reopens in a spectacular new location, has chosen Julius Rutherfoord as its specialist cleaning and soft FM services contractor.
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Welsh cleaning company nears final stage of school project

A Welsh cleaning services company has recently completed the third of a four-phase project for Afon Taf High School in Merthyr Tydfil. Clean Sweep has been contracted by Interserve, the international construction and support services group; conducting a live renovation of the high school; to complete cleaning services on each phase of the ongoing project.
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Scientific breakthrough reveals unprecedented alternative to battery power storage

Groundbreaking research from the University of Surrey and Augmented Optics, in collaboration with the University of Bristol, has developed potentially transformational technology which could revolutionise the capabilities of appliances that have previously relied on battery power to work.
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Alliance Paper and Tissue premises burns down

Large quantities of paper were still burning under controlled conditions and under the watchful eye of 25 fire services crew last Thursday night, at the scene of the fire which started late the previous night at the old Alliance Paper and Tissue premises in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton.
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BCC Chairman hails Cleaning Show seminar programme

BCC Chairman, Simon Hollingbery, is urging visitors to the Cleaning Show in March to attend at least one seminar, as he says there is a wealth of information available that will be relevant to anyone running a UK cleaning business.
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Floorbrite completes Mannequin Challenge

Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge, which involved having a bucket of icy water thrown over you? Well now it's the turn of the Mannequin Challenge, where at a given time, those taking part have to pretend they're mannequins; sticking to the pose they're in when the challenge begins - as shown in this video produced by Floorbrite.
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ISSA Pulire 2025
27-29th May 2025
Rho Fiera Milano
Italy
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CMS
23-26th September 2025
Berlin
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INTERCLEAN
22-24th October 2025
Shanghai
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Hygienalia
4-6th November 2025
Valencia
Spain
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ISSA Show North America
10-13th November 2025
Las Vegas
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INTERCLEAN
14-17th April 2026
Amsterdam
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