Washing away the dirt and coming clean
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Clean vehicles can help improve a company's image. Mike Rutherford looks at some of the vehicle washing machines that are available
BRITANNIA automatic vehicle washing machines are designed and built by Smith Bros and Webb at its Alcester, Warwickshire factory.
Because vehicle washing needs vary markedly among operators depending upon fleet composition and size Britannia systems cover the most sophisticated washing requirements.
The Britannia Strong is a fully automatic mobile gantry vehicle washer of robust and rigid construction that offers operational flexibility — an important consideration for those with fleets that include large and small vehicles.
The Strong washes cars, small vans, larger boxvans, buses or rigid and articulated units. Three brushes (two vertical side brushes and one horizontal) provide an efficient all-over surface washing operation by following the contours of the vehicle, overriding most obstacles. A wide range of wash programmes is available that can be pre-set.
The Britannia Sprite is a ro
bust two brush wrap-round drive-through automatic vehicle washer, capable of washing the front, back and sides of vehicles. It will wash a boxvan, coach or bus — up to 12m long in less than a minute. The Sprite's low cost and fast turn-around ability makes this unit ideal for the smaller transport operator. Site preparation is simple, calling for little foundation work.
Britannia's TW brushless washer has been designed to provide a fast and simple means of washing mixed fleets of irregular shaped vehicles. It is an automatic system with a minimum of working parts.
Two separate spray arches, positioned to accommodate the largest vehicle, are the main feature. They apply a chemical solution followed by a clean water rinse. Simple, versatile and economic the TVV can wash an artic Jlated vehicle in less than two ninutes.
The system is popular with 'as, electricity and water luthorities, local government, )reweries and oil distributors, mys the manufacturer.
The Britannia Streamline is nobably the most popular frive-through brush washer in ise, according to Smith Bros Ind Webb. Designed specifically or passenger transport fleets, he Streamline four-brush unit landles single and double lecker buses and coaches in any lequence without adjustment. The system can cope with up o 60 vehicles an hour and its }perational costs are low. Due to ts speed the Streamline unit can landle the daily washing needs rf even large fleets.
The company's under chassis vashing unit forms an important ind useful extension to iritannia's washing systems by naintaining running gear in 'rime condition and reducing he expense of preparing rehicles for their annual tests. Britannia also offers a water ecycling unit as many cornmnies and authorities using iutornatic vehicle washing faciliies are finding it cost-effective o reclaim, filter and recycle their vater resource. Full or partial re;overy systems are available.
Smith Bros and Webb Ltd, Iritannia Works, Arden Forest Industrial Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire. Tel (0789) 763222.
The Warwick Pump and Engineering Co Ltd has introduced an addition to its range of hot water power washers called the H70, a 2hp machine with a throughput of 2.5 gallons (11.25 litres) per minute.
The H70 has been specifically designed for garage and transport areas and is suitable for cleaning down and degreasing vehicles and engines. The machine cover is made from brushed stainless steel as a guard against corrosion.
Efficiency and operator safety have been carefully considered as the outside surface of the coil, even at the highest working temperature, remains cool to the touch.
Operator control has also been enhanced with the fitting of a calibrated pressure reducing valve which ensures precise temperature control over the most frequently used working temperatures of 80-120 degrees C.
The H70 is lighter, more mobile and compact than its predecessors, claims Warwick. It is priced at £1,180 and is supplied complete with lance and single detergent systems.
The Warwick Pump and Engineering Co Ltd, Oxford Road, Berinsfield, Oxford 0X9 8LZ. Tel 0865 340322.
Established as both operators and manufacturers in the UK car wash market, the Reading-based Anduff Group has entered the field of heavy transport washing, with a machine claimed to be one of the most competitivelypriced available.
The Grenadier is a simple, robust drive-through wash for double and single-deck buses and other large box-sided vehicles. Its development results from close co-operation between Anduff and its European associates.
The machine comprises two overlapping vertical brushes, each mounted between swing arms pivoting from independent support pillars. The arms can move through 180 degrees thus providing a full wrap-around wash for any vehicle.
The Grenadier is not only easy to install but also offers particular flexibility in layout to suit the types of vehicles to be washed and the available space. It is a compact machine with an overall height of 5m (16ft 4in) and requires an overall operating length of 6.4m (21ft).
The brushes can be 'parked' leaving a clear drive through lane for manoeuvring vehicles when the machine is not in use.
Atypical vehicle washing time of one minute with a water consumption of approximately 70 litres (15 gallons) can be achieved by the Grenadier. It has been designed for use with a streak-free detergents which require no rinsing and is therefore claimed to be economical.
Anduff also supplies water recirculation equipment which provides up to . 50 per cent saving in overall water consumption. For such installations, a rinse arch can be supplied for the Grenadier.
Anduff Car Wash Ltd. Tel Geoffrey Beckett, Reading (0734) 582753.
A new self-contained cleaning unit has been designed and produced by chemical spray specialist, Spray Systems.
The new Rotobrush is a long reach, lightweight rotating brush unit designed to rapidly and thoroughly clean any generally flat surface, but is particularly effective on "soft-sided" trailers where the vigorous scrubbing action of the brush ensures thorough removal of traffic grime.
A detachable 16 inch diameter cone shaped brush is mounted at the end of a variable length tube and is rotated by a mechanically driven shaft inside the tube. Chemical fluid can be pumped through the centre of the brush while it is rotating, to wet the soiled surface.
By selecting the appropriate hard, medium or soft brush grade, the most effective cleaning action can be achieved, claims the manufacturer.
Fluid is pumped to the brush head from a 25 litre container mounted in a wheeled base unit which also houses the electric motor, providing mechanical drive to brush via a five metre flexible drive shaft.
Easily handled by one person the Rotobrush is compact enough to fit into a small estate car and can be used anywhere that has a 200 or 110 volt electricity supply.
Spray Systems Stoke Poges Lane, Slough, Berks SL1 3NN. Tel Slough (0753) 78248 or 36004.
A new heavy duty version of its Monsoon commercial vehicle underbody and wheel wash has been developed by Wickham Autowash Ltd.
Designed to operate under the most arduous conditions, Monsoon consists of a heavy duty steel grid fitted with eight oscillating booms which wash all faces of a vehicles wheels and underbody. Water is pumped by a 30kW electrically driven pump unit, producing 400 gallons per minute.
When a lorry approaches the grid the machine starts automatically. It takes about 20 seconds to wash an average size vehicle and as it drives away the machine stops automatically and the driver does not leave his cab.
Effluent water flows into a lagoon where it settles before being pumped and filtered back into the water storage tank. The filter is fitted with an automatic back wash facility to keep the system clean and relatively free from maintenance.
Wickham Autowash Ltd, Nor
ton Road, Stevenage, Herts. Tel 0438 4041.
Tammermatic washing systems are manufactured in Tampere, Finland, in a modern factory which was origianally built in 1966 and has now been substantially expanded.
The complete range of machines is marketed in UK by Technorizon International Ltd. The simplest machine is the Tammermatic Capri 50 Mk II a push button coin or token operated machine for cars and small vans. This is a low cost 3 brush roll-over unit.
Other standard models are the Marina, a more sophisticated fully-clad and fully automatic model, if required.
There is then the Tammermatic Rainbow which will wash all sizes of vehicle and can have all kinds of specialised attachments for individual applications. Finally there is the spaceeconomy XJ1 range of drive through models.
Most of these versions are multi-program fully automatic with solvent, pressure and brush wash with dryers if required. Tammermatic is well known for its advanced current-relay controlled brush operation which senses obstacles, like wing mirrors, and retracts brushes automatically.
To meet special requirements Tammermatic also produces the Rainbow Nordic, an advanced machine for tanker and train washing and this comes with water reclamation and filtration units to recover water and valuable chemicals.
The company markets all over the world from severe condi tions in northern Norway to Ja maica and the Middle East. Over 2,000 Tammermatic machines are currently in use in England alone. The company is a whollyowned subsidiary of Electrolux.
Technorizon International Ltd, 54 Angel Hill, Sutton, Surrey.
Laycock Engineering produces a range of high pressure wash ers including its high pressure hot and cold water Minimaster mark 2. Available as a high pressure water and detergent spray unit or a steam cleaner the Laycock KWE 1500 is a com pact unit that can easily be wheeled through a 762mm (2ft 6in) door opening.
The water wash machine weighs only 182kg (400 lb) and the steam cleaner 166 kg (3641b).
Laycock also produces its Hurricane gun Number KWE 430 which is claimed to be ideal for removing road grime from underbody and chassis areas as well as mud from construction site vehicles. The Hurricane gun uses compressed air to increase the presssure of water at its nozzle.
Laycock Engineering Ltd, Arden Road, Sheffield S8 OJY. Tel 0742 368221.
Esquire Kleindienst markets five different washing machines in the UK suitable for all sizes of commercial vehicles including psv. Machines are available with one, two or three brushes and features available include fully automatic and electronic control systems.
Esquire Kleindienst has washers suitable for cleaning vehicles up to 4,850mm in height. The Kleindienst NUTA 6674 is able to automatically wash all types of vehicles from cars to coaches to artics — simply at the press of a button.
Esquire Kleindienst & Co Ltd, Dome Works, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9AE.
AVW-Wilcomatic Ltd supplies a wide variety of commercial vehicle washing equipment and a highly specialist range for coach and bus washing.
The latest addition is a drive through, twin brush CV wash which is priced at £7,000, £4,00C less than many conventional machines.
Capable of washing coaches, the new machine has been ex pressly designed for the smaller fleet operation with a dozen or so vehicles.
The machine is capable oi washing light vans as well as larger commercial vehicles.
The top of the range AVW-W 1
matic Gantri machine is suffimtly flexible to undertake phly efficient washing of all -nmercial vehicles including aches and double-decker ses.
The complete washing operan is fully automatic. The 'chine measures the length of vehicle being washed, travelg only the distance required, Ire is therefore no wasted le or water (except when shing open back trucks or :s). The time of the washing ?ration is dependent on the licle size. The approximate sh time for a large commer1 vehicle or coach is six mins.
rhe Rotobus commercial iicle and bus washing system been developed by AVW comatic Ltd for the small fleet erator with simplicity in ?ration and low running costs nind.
: has a single vertical rotating Ish protected by a full length sh guard and is suspended m roof mounted tracks. The sh incorporates a tilting pivot enable inclined and curved ad vehicles to be washed effi 1 use, the vertical brush is iply guided around the iphery of the vehicle. It can moved around large driving • rors and the brushing action be repeated over exception. dirty areas, to ensure thorjh cleaning.
The vehicle driver merely drives into position under the roof racks, presses the operating button then guides the rotating brush around the sides of the vehicle. The brush guard ensures that the washing water does not splash adjacent areas.
Six standard Rotobus models are available ranging in height from 11ft 6in to 16ft lin to wash vehicle heights from 10ft 2ins to 14ft 91n respectively. Prices start at £6,000.
AVM Wilcomatic also offers vehicle washers on a rental basis. Its range is as follows: Rotobus manually guided single vertical brush for small fleets; National 11 two brush drive through for small to medium fleet operators; Crusader twin chemical spray arches for awkwardly shaped vehicles; Monarch, Gantri, Fleetwasher three brush roll over units for fully automated washing of mixed vehicle fleets; Fleetline 1V four brush drivethrough for fast washing of medium to large fleets of buses; Marathon Fleetmaster unique units specially designed for efficient washing of tankers and bulk carriers.
AVW Wilcomatic Ltd, 10 Dock Place, Edinburgh EH6 6LU. Tel 031-554 5559.