CFM News

Darenas Machine Repair Services is now concentrating on the distribution of Comac scrubber dryers to cleaning contractors. Cleaning Matters takes a look at their new structure and products.

If you had visited the premises of Darenas Machine Repair Services at any time up to the end of March 2002 you would have found a company that spent the majority of its time designing tailor made vacuum based solutions to industrial manufacturing process problems. From dust removal in waste treatment complexes to ultra sensitive de-dusting installations in pharmaceutical plants, the design expertise of Darenas's engineers was always being stretched to discover new answers to problems. From the end of April this highly specialised business was sold back to CFM SpA of Zocca, the specialist industrial vacuum manufacturing and distribution unit of Nilfisk Advance Group.

MD Andrew Henman comments "It made great strategic sense for both CFM SpA and ourselves to transfer this highly specialised expertise back to its manufacturing parent. In recent times nearly every single vacuum sale required extensive personalisation to meet the exact needs of the industrial application. Moreover this gave us the possibility to re-invest the proceeds of the sale back into our contractor service business."

The move also gave the possibility for CFM UK to reinforce its long-standing links with Comac group, a leading European manufacturer of scrubber-dryers, now incorporating Ruffo rotary machines and TMB commercial vacuum group. CFM UK has been the exclusive UK distributor for Comac brand for more than ten years and in the past sold machines, primarily to industry and usually after an industrial vacuum sale had been made. As a result comparatively few Comac scrubber-dryers have been sold to cleaning contractors despite the fact that across Europe Comac has a leading share in every market. Supported by Comac group, CFM UK now becomes the exclusive distributor for all Comac group products in the UK, supporting a complete range of scrubber-dryers, rotaries and commercial vacuums with national 7/365 service.

As the previous managing director of Ecolab in the UK, Andrew Henman understands the service needs of larger multi site operators, "Contract Cleaners have told us that they are looking for robust machines, as easy to use as possible, backed by service at a known cost, provided at the same level as the working rota. In retail this therefore means seven days a week including bank holidays." While 7/365 service is easy to say it requires extensive organisation and, as Henman says, "Service is not just the business of turning up at a given location at a certain time but an attitude which you discover when you speak to anyone in the company. While providing service in this way is new to us, we believe that we are building up a new culture in the company."

Comac manufacturers a large range of scrubber dryers, in particular the company has specialised in small machines ideally suited for small retail, local authority and education customers where there is a need for battery powered machines, with daily use up to two hours at prices below £2000. The Comac Abila and Simpla ranges fit this criteria.

Further up the range there are pedestrian machines from 56cm to 107cm with 24 volt or 36 volt electrics to balance machine cost with daily cleaning hours required. At the top of the range is a series of medium weight Tripla ride on machines from 65cm to 85cm with industrial C class machines from 85cm to 130cm. There is a large combination of track size, cylindrical or planetary brush, with or without pre sweep, mains electric, battery, LPG or diesel powered available in the Comac range.

Ruffo rotaries are available in 43cm and 51cm sizes either standard speed, twin speed or high speed with an ultra high speed machine available from September 2002. As the workhorse machine in small cleaning environments, particularly within the public sector, they are designed for long life and simplicity of maintenance. The TMB vac range from the smallest 11 litre dry tub vac to the largest multi motor wet and dry machine, including specially designed small hospital machines and wet extraction carpet cleaning machines.

So what makes Henman think that a new player in an already competitive market can succeed? On this he's particularly clear, "The contractors who have already started working with us have done so because they have either been dissatisfied with the service of other suppliers or because they wish to spread their risk by having two or more primary suppliers to keep each performing at the optimum level. With Comac group support we offer a true one-stop-shop for all machine types and an attractive alternative when considering supplier splitting or sharing."

Cleaning Matters, September 2002