Rubbermaid Commercial Products announced at ISSA/ Interclean, Amsterdam the introduction of two new products, designed specifically to work in conjunction with one another, for a superior cleaning experience – the Pulse2-sided mopping system and the Flow backpack.

Both products have been designed with the end-user in mind. Remarkably light-weight and durable, the innovative new Pulse mopping system and Flow backpack allows the operator to move faster; and the Flow’s high-capacity reservoir, which can hold up to 7 litres of water and cleaning agent eliminating the need for a conventional bucket or heavy cart – impractical options, especially when cleaning spaces such challenging environments as stairways, high traffic transportation stations, trains and more, said Hassiba Boudia, RCP Cleaning Solutions Product Management.

The Flow is ergonomic and comfortable; combining adjustable chest and waist straps, comfortable padding and built-in pockets ensuring no unnecessary strain is placed on the shoulders. The backpack also has built-in venting channels throughout, so the operator remains dry and comfortable at all times, even when hard at work.

The Flow backpack comes with an easy-to-use “quick connect” connection to the Pulse mopping system. The Pulse mopping system includes a trigger handle, which dispenses the ideal amount of water and cleaning agent. The new double-sided Pulse mopping system is ideal for spot cleaning, making mopping tight areas – such as trains and lifts – as easy to clean as office buildings and open-plan facilities. The double sided mop covers twice the surface area of a conventional single sided mop, and with the specific combination of wet and dry double-side mops – which allow for dry mop dusting on one side and wet moping on the other – maximize productivity with one cleaning tool.With greater user-control and efficiency, the Pulse mopping system and Flow backpack can dramatically increase productivity and reduce labour costs.

“We are always thinking about practical solutions that make life easier for the end-user,” said Stephan Kopietzki at RCP. “The innovative new Pulse 2-sided mop and the Flow backpack allow a cleaning operator to work better and more productively, and cleaning hard-to-reach areas with real ease.”

RCP set to expand globally with rebranding activity

RCP announced that with immediate effect it was rebranding all existing Technical Concepts (TC) branded products to Rubbermaid Commercial Products. RCP acquired Technical Concepts Holdings, LLC (TC) in 2008. The TC products portfolio included touch-free and automated health, wellness and odour control solutions, as well as proprietary refills. RCP will no longer actively use the TC brand or sub-brand. All refills, dispensers, products, labels, collateral and advertising will begin to be rebranded as Rubbermaid Commercial Products only. To ensure that the transition is as smooth and easy as possible for all its customers, the company has resolved that there will be no SKU or ‘Part Number’ changes, and the rebranding will be phased-in as inventories of the existing TC branded products and materials are exhausted

The rebranding of TC is part of the company’s plans to better communicate a global strategy of providing solutions across the entire washroom under one brand, and also eliminate any confusion regarding products and branding messages by driving one global brand under the RCP name..

 Rubbermaid products win EU Ecolabel certification

Three products in the Rubbermaid Skin Care range have been awarded the prestigious EU Ecolabel. The European Ecolabel ‘Flower’ is the official ‘green product’ label for the EU, recognised throughout the region by customers looking to find greener, more environmentally friendly products. From September 2012, RCP’s “Free’n Clean”
Skin Care products will have the Ecolabel available for 3 dispenser ranges – the Flex, the Autofoam and the Manual Foam Dispensers.

Recent innovations on display Clean Look range

Introduced in March 2012, the Rubbermaid Clean Look range of contemporary dispensers allows the creation of smarter looking, and more hygienic washrooms. It comprises different products drawn from the Air Care, Surface Care, and the newly launched Skin Care system ranges, all carrying the same coordinated look and sleek, contemporary styling that is designed to deliver an enhanced washroom experience for the user. Each dispenser is available in black, white or chrome finishes.

HYGEN Clean Water System

Rubbermaid’s recent product innovations were also in focus at this year’s show. The Rubbermaid HYGEN Clean Water System, a nominee for the Amsterdam Innovation Award was featured in its own special display. The product features the first ever integrated water filter that generates cleaner water, cleaner mops and cleaner floors. This revolutionary system, which has also been awarded the prestigious Cleaning System Standards Certificate of Accreditation from the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), and features an integrated water filter bucket and wringer that not only greatly reduces the amount of water and chemicals needed for floor cleaning, but also generates cleaner water and, consequently, cleaner mops. One bucket fill of 15L allows one to clean up to 930m2. The filter bucket and wringer are matched with an integrated mop scrubber to remove debris from the eight specially engineered double-sided HYGEN microfiber mops.

The microfiber mops are proven to remove up to 99.9% of micro-organisms and the double-sided design means they can cover 45m² with one wring, the company claims. As well as offering greater productivity and cleaner floors, the superior durability of the mops – they last for up to 1000 launderings – means better cost-in-use. Since its launch in 2011, the Rubbermaid HYGEN Clean Water System has already been widely used across Europe in offices and institutional buildings, hotels, restaurants and catering outlets, retail premises, healthcare sites and many other locations with daily cleaning regimes.

RCP supports WaterAid
Company to donate 1% of the value of sales of
HYGEN Clean Water System to WaterAid

RCP and WaterAid are in a partnership deal as per which Rubbermaid will donate a minimum of 1% of the value of sales of its HYGEN Clean Water System to WaterAid for a period of three years. WaterAid is an international non-governmental organisation that has, over the past 30 years, reached 14.38 million people with safe water and, since 2004, 9.4 million people with sanitation. Anna Whitton VP & General Manager, EMEA for Rubbermaid commented, “Our heads and our hearts were moved by the amazing work that WaterAid is doing in providing clean, safe water. It clearly has made a difference to the lives

of many millions of people. Everyone agrees that clean water has to be more accessible and we are delighted to be able to play our part in bringing this ideal to those that need it most.” Jean-Pierre Van Lin, Corporate Partnerships Team Manager, WaterAid said, “The partnership is a great way for WaterAid to raise awareness on the issues of unsafe water, sanitary facilities and hygiene, and also to raise funds. In cooperation with Rubbermaid we hope to generate 45,000 Euros over three years which will help change the lives of several thousands of people.”

He said they were incredibly happy that global leaders like Rubbermaid considered the matter seriously and took active steps to reduce the use of water and detergents, at the same time helping WaterAid to help some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people. Apart from the funding, the branding and awareness regarding the cause has increased, Jean-Pierre stated. “WaterAid works with the world’s most disadvantaged communities with no provision of safe water; people who don’t know that water is not supposed to be brown. There are 750 million people who don’t have access to clean and safe drinking water. We currently work in 27 countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific region.”

WaterAid generates about 100 million dollars per year in funds and helps between one and two million people belonging to some of the world’s poorest communities each year. “But our main concern is to provide a sustainable solution. At least part of our efforts are focused on generating local awareness, creating local committees who will manage the installation of water taps, sanitary facilities and hygiene practices; so that, hopefully, when we leave, the communities can take care of their needs of safe water and sanitation,” he stressed.

Jean-Pierre said a recent study by UNDP on the efficiency of different types of interventions and their impact on communities is enough to impress upon people the significance of clean water, sanitation and hygiene. “The study reported that 1 dollar invested in water, sanitation and hygiene actually produced 8 dollars of return in increased economic activity and productivity in the local community. This is a message to the developed countries to invest in the local communities. And it is companies like Rubbermaid who respond to that. They understand the significance of investing in such projects, and if there is a product fit like the HYGEN system, we would like to cooperate in similar projects.”