Last week, Kline attended the ISSA Interclean Show in Chicago, and it was great to see so many exhibitors and clients. It seems that the industry is starting to catch up to technology with the release of floor care robots. Sealed Air Taski’s Intellibot Aerobot 1850 and Minuteman’s Autonomy Roboscrub machine were of the more prevalent robots roaming around and cleaning floors. In addition to being a first-time exhibitor at the show, the Autonomy by Brain Corp. product won the “Innovation of the Year” award from ISSA. The company’s concept is to further the knowledge towards autonomous, machine-learning systems. However, the question remains as to how this will affect contract cleaning and if these machines are intelligent enough to clean floors as well as humans—or will they merely be another tool in an arsenal of cleaning products?
Kline is planning to publish a new report on Floor Care Machinery and Equipment in Q3 2017 to understand the emerging trends in floor surfaces, the care of floors, and how that impacts sales of floor care chemicals.
Another common theme at the show was green cleaning products. The industry is slowly making headway towards using concentrated forms of products, which require less chemicals and packaging. While this is not “green” in nature, it is helping to reduce the carbon footprint of some of the chemicals being used. Manufacturers are now looking for ways to improve their products in this concentrated form to appeal to end users. There were also several products that were touted as a greener alternative, including essential oils. The Lebermuth Company had a booth showcasing its oils. Other companies that dominate the category, like Seventh Generation and Nyco, also had large booths demonstrating their products. Nyco ensures that its products are in line with environmental standards by adhering to certifications, such as Green Seal and the EPA.
This is a topic covered in detail as part of Kline’s research with over 1,000 end users for its Janitorial and Housekeeping Cleaning Products study, which will also be published in Q3 2017. Understanding the trends and what is important to end users when it comes to water and energy conservation and worker safety helps suppliers make more informed product development decisions.
Air care and odor control have long been staples of facility management. Rubbermaid Commercial Products exhibited its Scentelligent Wide Area Air Care that features Yankee Candle scents for the management of air care in wide commercial areas. We expect to continue to see a convergence of consumer cleaning and air care products with those used in commercial facilities. The category of odor care seems to be moving in a steadfast direction in an attempt to appeal to end users creating a more pleasant experience no matter where the location. This particular product was a “Visitor’s Choice” award winner for 2016.
For more details about Kline’s many market research studies serving the I&I industry, please contact us.
