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::: MADE IN ITALY: carpet machines
by Chiara Merlini
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Textile flooring
solutions, more than
others, require
careful maintenance
using suitable
machines in order to
guarantee their
beauty and hygiene
over time
Versatile, strong, an element of furnishing
… there are many reasons why
people go for carpets rather than other
floor coverings.
A popular solution in Italy in the 1970s, carpets
and rugs have since fallen into disgrace,
parquet, terracotta and tiles now being the favourites.
However, carpets have recently started
to come back into vogue, thanks also to
developments in fibre technology, a wider
choice of patterns and types, guaranteed to
satisfy every taste and style. Things are different
in Anglo-Saxon countries, the Middle East
and America: carpets and rugs have always been
the preferred choice, while it’s the other
types of flooring that are trying to win over
the buyers.
::: Correct maintenance
While it’s true that carpets and rugs call for
different forms of care and attention than other
floor surfaces, the widely spread belief that
they trap dirt and mites needs to be disproved
(in view of the current trend for “exasperated”
hygiene, this has become a priority!).
If the right care and attention is given to their
upkeep (and not just when the dirt can actually
be seen!), using specific machines and products,
people can really enjoy all the many benefits
carpets and rugs offer: eclectic style, silence,
a feeling of warmth…
Carpet sweepers and cleaners are, therefore,
necessary for correct cleaning: loose fibres need
to be removed, dirt must not be allowed
to build up and – on a regular basis (not just
exceptionally!) – various methods should be
used to wash them. Correct maintenance means
carpets and rugs last longer and keep their
original beauty, at the same time guaranteeing
the hygiene we normally associate with other
forms of flooring.
 ::: Carpet machine production
In recent years production of machines for
carpet-care (carpet sweepers and cleaners)
has been more a case of market settling rather
than an actual rise. Like most Italian manufacturing
of machinery, this is thanks to growing
exports: of the 71,780 items produced in 2007
(according to data supplied by AfidampFAB, the Italian Association of professional cleaning
Machine, Products and Tools manufacturers)
80% are exported, worth 12,550,524 Euros.
More than an actual rise in output, the trend
over the years has been for consolidation of
the market share: poor dynamism is partly attributed
to the current economic climate, where
price is always the main factor, and so people
tend to choose the cheapest machines
(perhaps for domestic use, rather than professional
use). This often leads to improper
use, as people fail to obtain the required level
of suction and correct cleaning capacity by
using the most suitable and adequate type of
machine. Plus the influx of imported products
from the Far East with their low technological
content just adds to the confusion, damaging
the market for serious producers with expertise
from years of experience.
The role of exports for these machines is even
more important than for other market segments
and “Made in Italy” quality is much appreciated.
Although, at the risk of repeating
ourselves, price is a crucial factor, people tend
to look to serious producers when optimal
performance is required, as their competence
and great experience is seen as a guarantee.
Ductility is the keyword here: diversified
production on the carpet sweeper market offers
various types to suit the flooring, while
the markets for carpet cleaners prefer multifunction
machines, i.e. those that can be used
as both dry and wet floor cleaners and of a
smaller size than those in the past. The main sector requiring these machines is that of
professional cleaning firms, following by industry
and HORECA (hotel-restaurant-catering).
::: The offer and comments on the market
Santoemma, of Milan, has specialised over
the years in the production of injection/
extraction machines, compact machines,
foam machines and foam/
rinse/suction machines. At the recent
Interclean Amsterdam it presented its
Charis, a carpet cleaner that’s ideal for
both routine cleaning and deep cleaning
thanks to a system that regulates the gradual
delivery of the water and suction
power. It also offers pre-brushing (normally
with a single-brush). What’s more, thanks
to the patented Click System, by pressing a
button on the grip, a roller drops at the front
to make it easier to move the machine, making
life easier for the user (less effort).
Michele Massaro, of Lindhaus, confirms
the “shrinking” trend in this market. He says
that the use of vacuum cleaners without mechanical
action is one of the many factors causing
the carpet cleaning market to shrink. Machines
that are not really suitable for the purpose,
but cheaper. Plus machines produced
for the home are now being used for professional
applications. Not to mention the many
cut-price Chinese products now flooding the
market. “What’s more,” adds Massaro, “there
is a general lack of care for textile surfaces.
Those who travel have direct and unpleasant
experience of this: dirty, stinking carpets in hotels, even the most luxurious ones.” His
companies top machines are the LW for the
European market, RX Hepa for the USA, Canada
and the UK and the Dynamic for Japan
and the UK.
Leoncini overseas production has been increased
(the LM 12 is their top-of-the-range
machine). As Alberto Leoncini stresses: “There
has been a drop in the popularity of carpets
in Italy in recent years, non textile flooring
being the preferred solution. However,
thanks to the multiple applications of modern
extraction carpet cleaners, we have absorbed
this fall in sales and our exports have easily
made up for it.”
Someone who claims the trend is different is
Luca Gola, of Lavorwash. “Our sales in this
sector are growing rapidly. I believe that this
positive result is due to the market’s general
appreciation of our policy for continual improvement
of our products, plus the development
and extension of the Lavor Pro range
dedicated to specialists in the cleaning sector.
The pay-off we have chosen to stress our disposition
to work in close partnership with
our customers is “Lavor Pro – Works For You”.
I know that our customers have clearly perceived
our spirit and appreciate our flexibility.”
The best-selling Lavorwash model is the
Costellation IR, a vacuum cleaner/carpet cleaner
with a 78 litre stainless steel body and tilting
emptying system. It has two independent
silenced 2-stage 2000 W motors (max 2400 W)
offering 108 l/min air flow and fast-coupling
and anti-static systems.
The drop in demand, however, is also confirmed by Cilmas, which has recorded a fall in
sales across the market, especially in Europe.
However demand continues to be high in Anglo-
Saxon countries, the Middle East and America.
In line with the specific needs of the market,
the machines in the Mirage 250-600, Spinning
and Crystal lines (mains or battery-operated)
are the most popular. The 510-710 and
the 62-LBT series are, on the other hand, most
popular in North Europe.
“Tecnica is present on all the main trade areas,
especially its upright machines on those
markets where carpets are traditional floor coverings
(the USA, Canada, the UK…). Multifunction
versions (flexible, detachable electric
brushes and carpet sweepers) are popular in
Europe and many emerging countries”, says
Stefano Vidoni. He also says that the XT,
Commercial, CRX, XTR and XTRh machines
are in most demand on the various markets,
stressing that the sectors involved are not just
the professional cleaning industry, but also general
industry, the health sector and the public
sector in the USA and Canada, while in
Europe sales are high in the HORECA sector.
TMB is the Comac’s Group firm located in
Guardamiglio, in the Province of Lodi in the
Italian region Lombardy, steadily engaged in
the vacuum cleaners and carpet sweepers production.
Comac Group is officially born in 2003
as a “team” Ruffo family companies and trade
mark: Comac, Tmb, Ruffo and Cofirent.
According to Antonio Bigaran of Portotecnica
the IPC Integrated Professional Cleaning
- group created in 2005 by the some leader
companies in professional cleaning sector
union, each of them specialized in different
market segment - develops and increases
in this very sector range and more receptive
markets abroad researches.
::: What will be the carpet cleaner machine
evolution?
Designers and architects will have a significant
role to increase furniture’s solution forecasting
textile floor use in a more advanced market in
the early future. On the manufacturing side,
the way goes towards technological innovative
solutions, together with attention and
sensibility to different markets penetrating
machines up to answer
different Countries requirements.
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