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While there are many great products that have withstood the test of time in the jan/san industry, manufacturers are striving to make cleaning faster, easier and safer. Creating new and innovative products is necessary for any industry's survival.

For the fourth consecutive year, the ISSA will hold the "Product Innovation Competition" at the annual conference in Las Vegas. The products being showcased are by no means the only innovations produced by the jan/san industry over the past year. However, they are a good indicator of the innovation taking place in the industry.

Purleve by Xela Innovations

It is estimated that 80 percent of infectious illnesses are transmitted by touch, yet studies have shown that one in three people don't wash their hands after using a public restroom.

"Touching the bathroom door when leaving nullifies the no-touch flushers, faucets and soap dispensers being installed to combat cross-contamination in restrooms," says Todd Muderlak, president of Xela Innovations.

The Purleve is a sanitary handle solution utilizing a proprietary automatic sleeve dispenser technology. The Purleve automatically advances an antibacterial sleeve over the handle after every use. The product will be available for push-pull, lockable and latch type doors.

"This is not the only solution available for door handles," says Muderlak. "However, sometimes a simple solution is the most innovative."

The product is easy to install and functions and reacts exactly as regular door handles. According to Muderlak, the push-pull handle allows for over 3,000 uses per refill at a price of .006 to .007 per use. In addition, the product's hassle-free design allows for refills to be installed effortlessly.

"The product offers a completely new sleeve with an antibacterial element, so bacteria growth is reduced and the user has a cleaner, safer experience," says Muderlak.

Adphibian by Nilfisk-Advance

With budgets being tight, there is a real challenge in the cleaning community to do more with less. For floor cleaning, the Green movement has also caused facilities to cut back on their water and chemical use. In addition, productivity needs have gone up. Equipment is being forced to clean quickly and be ready to be used again.

The Adphibian walk-behind carpet extractor/automatic scrubber enables cleaning staff to use only one machine to prespray and extract carpet as well as scrub hard floors. In 30 seconds, operators can switch between extracting and scrubbing with a push of a button and the change of a hose.

"The goal was to have a machine capable of doing multi-surface cleaning," says Ted Hershey, product manager of the Adphibian. "This machine can go from hard to soft surfaces almost instantly."

The machine uses Advance's LIFT (low moisture, indirect spray, fast dry times and true cleaning) technology. This minimizes the amount of water used in extraction and increases per tank productivity. The result is clean and dry carpets in less than 30 minutes.

"An AXP open chemical system allows you to use any chemical solution you want -- no matter what mode you are running in," says Hershey.

A large engineering hurdle was designing the brushes for the dual machine. They ended up with softer bristle brushes containing a microbial agent for hard floor cleaning.

SmartStock Cutlery Dispenser by Georgia-Pacific

Hygiene and waste are two important concerns for the foodservice industry. Cutlery bins are a major contributor to poor hygiene and product waste.

The SmartStock cutlery dispenser and refill system provides an individual piece of single-use cutlery at the push of a lever, while reducing the customer's touch points compared to standard self-serve cutlery bins.

"This product offers operational efficiency through a 20 percent reduction in cutlery use," says Kirsten Hadley, category director, meal service solutions for Georgia Pacific. "Most people grab two or three items from a standard bin. With one-at-a-time dispensing we have found that customers think twice about tapping the lever more than once."

The system is comprised of three individual dispensers, one each for forks, knives and spoons. The carousel rotates full circle, making it easier for customers and for staff to refill.

According to Hadley, the refill system makes it 60 percent quicker to reload. Each refill contains 40 utensils that can be easily dropped in and cut open. The transparent dispenser also helps employees determine if a refill is necessary. Each portion of the dispenser holds 120 utensils.

"This is a category that has received very little or no attention. But better hygiene and reduction in use are benefits all foodservice customers are seeking," says Hadley.

ProSpeed by JohnsonDiversey

Applying floor finish is an art. Quickly providing a consistent appearance is not easy.

The ProSpeed floor finish application system simplifies the process with an ergonomic application tool. The system includes a simple trigger delivery control for the finish, a 2.5-liter bag in a box (BIB) of finish and an application pad.

"Mops are hard on users. You have to move around a heavy 5-gal. bucket and wring out the mop," says David Collette, product manager for ProSpeed. "Our ergonomic, auger design makes it easier to use. You just swing it around like ballroom dancing and the weight sits on the pad."

Waste is also a problem when it comes to floor applicators. Mops and backpack systems must be cleaned after every use. Unused finish cannot be saved.

With the BIB system, no finish is wasted. Every BIB is OSHA compliant and can cover up to 400 sq. ft. If finish is left in the BIB, it can be stored for later use. In addition, cleanup is easy because everything that touches the finish is disposable.

"This product delivers results and increased productivity. It reduces the amount of experience necessary to apply a good finish," says Collette.

Tank Toilet Hygiene System by Technical Concepts

Toilets create a special cleaning challenge. They are frequently used, but are generally only cleaned by personnel once a day. While a toilet bowl cleaner will do a good job on visible surfaces, they generally don't clean under the rim.

Consisting of two unique components, the Hygiene System for tank style toilets keeps toilets flushed and provides around-the-clock cleaning and drain maintenance.

The SaniCell Tank is a fuel cell technology that delivers a 30- or 60-day continuous and metered dose of Purinel. This concentrated cleaner prevents the buildup of uric scale in pipes and hard water deposits.

"This technology came from the medical industry's IV fluids use," says Oscar Wientjes, global marketing director at Technical Concepts. "The drain cleaner displaces fluid in the chamber and causes a continuous drip. It cleans the fixture wherever the water travels."

The AutoFlush Tank is a touch-free system that ensures toilets are always flushed. A wireless smart sensor detects the user and flushes the toilet five seconds after the visitor has left the sensing zone.

"The wireless sensor talks to the motor that is installed on the overflow pipe. These two unique systems make up a truly hygienic system," says Wientjes.

Motorized Tilt Trucks by Rubbermaid Commercial Products

When it comes to transporting and maneuvering heavy loads, safety and ease of use are two important factors. The motorized Tilt Truck has a drive speed of 1 to 3 mph. It offers up to five hours or 15 miles of operation on a single charge with only an eight-hour recharge requirement.

"Now our customers can move heavy loads without running off to find a pallet jack or forklift, or worse, ask an employee to manhandle heavy bulk," says Mike Onderko, product manager for Rubbermaid Commercial Products.

The tilt trucks feature an ergonomic steering handle with two paddle controls that can only be operated with two hands. This makes it safer to steer and maneuver.

Ultra Long Roll Towels by Kruger Products

When it comes to roll towels, more is better. Nothing can be worse than to run out when you need them. For maintenance personnel, not having to continuously replace rolls is also a tremendous advantage.

The 1,200-ft. White Swan Ultra Long Roll Towels are the longest towels available in the market. They can be used on conventional dispensers and are the standard 8-in. diameter.

"Because they are such a big roll, they use 25 to 50 percent less packaging," says Emile DeLazzer Meunier, away-from-home brand manager, towels, handcare and wipers for Kruger Products. "There are fewer run-outs and it reduces labor for changeouts."

The towels are Ecologo certified and are made from 100 percent recycled fiber.

"We were able to use the basic sheet with the longer roll. They have the same thickness with all the other advantages of our 800-ft. rolls," says Meunier.