The Interclean Trade Fair: It’s happening again!
It’s happening again! Although we’re slowly edging towards summer, this is not about holidays, but all about the Interclean Trade Fair. At last! after four years we can go back to an in-person event, the cleaning trade fair. Asian visitors and exhibitors may possibly have more difficulty in coming to Amsterdam, but that does not mean that Interclean Amsterdam will not be a true cleaning spectacle. Even having one exhibition hall fewer, it will barely be possible to cover everything at the largest cleaning fair in the world. Not having had a trade fair for four years, we can finally put on our trainers again to discover all the latest gadgets and innovations in hygiene and cleaning. One hall after the other. And nowadays, those gadgets are mostly digital and often they’re sustainable too. I was able to perceive this as a member of the adjudicating panel of the Amsterdam Innovation Awards.
Plenty on offer
There were 78 innovations for me to assess, and there were plenty of entries on offer in the digital and sustainable field. During the adjudication, it seemed as though there were no other topics left in the cleaning sector. At the time of writing, as an international adjudicating panel, we have undergone an adjudication process in which we reviewed and judged the nominated innovations live. There was a wide variety of entries. From wipes made of plastic bottles collected along the coast to environmentally-conscious cleaning robots or a spray bottle that turns tap water into ozone. Many of the innovations shown are often seen six months or a year later via suppliers, cleaning wholesalers or cleaning companies. In 2020, the winner was the LeoBot by LionsBot and this is now readily available from various cleaning wholesalers. In this way, innovations are gradually introduced into the practical field.
Smart solutions
What was particularly noticeable this time was that much more thought was being given to the use of plastic. What are its origins? How is it produced? How does it fit into a circular economy? In the process even plastic from the ocean is used to produce cleaning materials. Of course, we cannot ignore all these ‘smart’ solutions at the upcoming Interclean. Sensors are simply getting cheaper and cheaper, making them easier to install in buildings, as well as in machines and materials. In turn, they can be linked to the internet and here too, I expect to see huge progress at the upcoming Interclean.
Practical solutions
I like practical innovations that are immediately effective and which can be put into practice straight away. The more practical, the better. In 2020, Hermes introduced the VacuTronic, a wastewater collection system that was used for all façade cleaning applications. It was easy to place against the façade. Another innovation that could count on my appreciation was ToolSense, a device to digitise existing cleaning machines easily and affordably. The solution can be used with all brands of cleaning machinery. The more practical and the more impact the cleaning solution has on the cleaning industry, the more it is appreciated. From 10 to 13 May we will be able to feast our eyes again at the event, which we can't really miss in the cleaning and hygiene sector. At least, not if we take our profession seriously. This digital magazine is a sneak preview of what we can expect. I wish you plenty of reading pleasure and hope to meet you at the Interclean. The Service Management Team will keep you fully informed, both before and during the trade fair.
Ronald Bruins,
Hoofdredacteur Service Management
