January 2018 - Cleanhire

Nilfisk is a leading manufacturer of industrial vacuum cleaners that provide a unique experience and high value. Their vacuum cleaners are specially designed with the operator needs in mind. The compact design of their industrial vacuum cleaners makes their machines easy to use and highly manoeuvrable for enhanced reliability year after year.

Last year, the company ran a competition seeking to find out the oldest working Nilfisk cleaning machine. The competition was meant to put to the test the confidence that the company has in its cleaning machines. After the competition, Nilfisk GAE vacuum cleaner which has been in operation for over 60 years was crowned the oldest working Nilfisk cleaning machine.

The Nilfisk GAE Vacuum Cleaner

The Nilfisk GAE Vacuum Cleaner was specifically designed to be used in the dangerous industrial environment mainly to collect dust and debris. For over 60 years, the machine has been in use serving different clients across the UK. The vacuum cleaner can be used both onsite and offsite.

Built from the strongest materials, the Nilfisk GAE Vacuum Cleaner is a real manifestation of the quality and durability of industrial cleaning machines designed by Nilfisk. The GAE vacuum cleaner has stood the test of time to become the oldest working vacuum cleaner in the country.

Highly Portable

The last thing you can worry about when using the Nilfisk Vacuum Cleaner is excess weight. The machine is lightweight and highly portable which provides the much-needed convenience. Its exceptional versatility and durability provide a unique performance that is required by the operator.

Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner can be used in both stationary and portable applications. The GAE vacuum cleaner is still an unparalleled cleaning icon in different industries. It is easy to use, and it allows the operator to quickly vacuum some of the common areas such as the stairs and corridors.

An Efficient Vacuum Cleaner

Unlike other vacuum cleaners that tend to leave behind dust and debris, the GAE vacuum cleaner is efficient and will leave you with a clean surface without any dust traces. The GAE’s unique and dynamic filtration system features a two and a quarter gallon capacity paper bag, High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) exhaust filter, a microfilter and an extra-large main filter.

Maximum Particle Retention Capacity

The Nilfisk GAE Vacuum Cleaner is also capable of retaining at least 99.97% of all particles including those that are 0.3 microns in size.

The strong and unique combination of its quiet performance, powerful sanction, and greater filtration capabilities makes the vacuum cleaner suitable for use in a wide range of industrial applications including but not limited to hazardous dust removals such as lead and asbestos, contamination control in research labs and other dust-sensitive areas within the premises.

The vacuum cleaner also features an optional Ultra Low Penetration Air (ULPA) exhaust filter capable of retaining up to 99.99% of all particles including those that are 0.11 microns in size.

Combustible Dust

In February 1999, an explosion in a Massachusetts Foundry killed three people and injured nine. The same scenario repeated itself in January 2003 when an explosion in a pharmaceutical plant located in North Carolina killed six and injured 38 individuals. The same year, another explosion in a Kentucky acoustics insulation manufacturing firm killed seven and injured 37. Five years later, an explosion took place at a Georgian sugar refinery that ended up killing 14 and injuring 38 people. The list seems endless. However, in all these explosions and many more, one thing was clear. The culprit was dust.

What are Dust Explosions?

A dust explosion is defined as the fast combustion of small particles suspended in the air, most notably but not always in enclosed locations. Dust explosions could take place in locations where dispersed combustible materials are present in high concentrations in the atmosphere or any other oxidising gaseous elements such as oxygen. Tiny particles of metal dust and metal particles are the by-products of the manufacturing process, and a cloud of them requires a spark to explode – which, in turn, can loft even more dust that triggers further explosions.

Dangers of Dust Explosions

Dust explosions are dangerous and harmful. Since 1980, more than 133 people have been killed by dust explosions in the United States alone. Despite killing people, these sorts of explosions have the capability of destroying buildings and hurling individuals across a room. Individuals caught in dustexplosions are often burned by the intensity of heat within the burning cloud of dust or get injured by flying objects and other falling structures. Furthermore, reports of people who have lost their sight or the ability to hear clearly as a result of dust explosions are not new. These are some of the dangers of dust explosion.

How to mitigate Dust Explosions

Dust explosions continue to kill and injure people. The statistics and staggering figures on the number of people killed or injured by these explosions are worrying. Something needs to be done urgently to eliminate incidences of dust explosions.

First of all, it is important for industries to invest in industrial vacuum cleaners among other industrial cleaning equipment tocontrol fugitive combustible dust. These equipment collect combustible dust into disposable bags which could then be piped outside. Furthermore, to avoid such explosions, the following needs to be done:

• Heated surfaces and systems should be separated from dust
• Dust residues should be cleaned at regular intervals
• Cleaning methods that do not generate dust clouds should be adopted
• Only approved vacuum cleaners for dust collection should be used
• A hazardous and dust inspection, housekeeping, testing, and control program needs to be developed and implemented
• Industries should utilise surfaces that minimise the accumulation of dust while facilitating cleaning
• Escape of dust from ventilation systems or process equipment should be minimised.

Industrial floor cleaning If you are looking to hire a cleaning company in the near future, it is vital to understand the differences between industrial and domestic floor cleaning. This will enable you to make an informed decision on the type of cleaning service to procure.

The primary difference between the two modes is their area of operation. Domestic floor cleaning takes place in residential homes while industrial floor cleaning is carried out in commercial buildings. Commercial buildings include shopping centres, hospitals, banks, supermarkets, warehouses, and retail stores.

Here are some other differences between the two:

Cleaning Equipment used

Domestic floor cleaning has a lower level of sophistication as compared to industrial floor cleaning. As such, the equipment used is less sophisticated. Also, the surface area being cleaned is smaller and doesn’t require a host of equipment to clean. For example, for domestic carpet cleaning, only a vacuum cleaner is used to remove the debris from the surface.

For industrial cleaning, industrial cleaning equipment is used to cover a larger surface area in good time. For example, commercial carpet cleaning is done by steam where hot water is sprayed into the carpet and a vacuum removes any debris and dirt.

Floor cleaning technique

In domestic floor cleaning, floor polishing is done with tools such as mops, hand buffers and buckets. For smaller spaces, these equipment are enough to complete the job effectively. However, the technique is different for industrial cleaning; industrial cleaners use a range of equipment to scrub and polish the floor. This equipment can clean large surfaces in a shorter time compared to the domestic ones.

Cleaning time

Domestic cleaning can take place at any time provided both the cleaner and the homeowner agree on the time. This is because it takes lesser time and there is minimal disruption. Industrial cleaning usually takes place during off-peak hours such as in the evening. This ensures that there is minimal disruption of the staff working there and that the cleaning can be completed in good time.

At Cleanhire we are the ideal supplier of top-notch industrial cleaning equipment and machinery. Our main focus is on the sale, hire and lease of industrial cleaning machines. Over the years we have helped UK industrial spaces maintain high levels of cleanliness while using our equipment. We take pride in our happy clients, and we would love you to have you on board. Contact us today for top-performing, reliable industrial cleaning machines to buy or rent.