A cleaning and hygiene event that reflected the very best in terms of education and social interaction, Clean NZ 2014 was the most successful New Zealand exhibition yet in terms of stand numbers and more than 850 registered visitors from seven countries through the door.

Held at Ellerslie Event Centre, Auckland, on 29 and 30 May, the technology on display was supported by the presence of international cleaning and hygiene executives, setting Clean NZ’s global and Australasian tenor.

Overseas execs included Legend Brands’ Steve Fane (US); Diversey Care’s David Johnson (UK); Truvox’s Gordon McVean (UK); and Australians Stuart Nicol (National Cleaning Suppliers’ Association president), James Daniels (Applied Cleansing), John Spiers (Cleantech), John Parker (Alphaclean), Errol Goldberg (Pall Mall), Anna Di Bello and Aiden Boyce (Kimberly-Clark Professional), Debbie Brown (Pacvac), Quintus Strydom (Tennant), Julian Lee (Tennant), Greg Pobjoy (Whiteley), Megan Ogier (IICRC), Colin Stephenson (Rotowash), Lorenzo Tadeo (Sabco), Vince Neal (Total Dispensing) and Murray McDonald (Duplex).

The exhibition floor accurately reflected the latest in today’s supply-side offerings in terms of jansan products, equipment and chemicals. While equipment shown was sourced internationally, New Zealand’s genuinely sustainable credentials were supported by a number of ‘home grown’ green chemical products.

As well as including a very large – 300 people – industry dinner, awards celebration and strong seminar program, Clean NZ 2014 was also the scene of ‘co-located’ events including a Building Service Contractors of NZ (BSCNZ) board meeting and an ISS Facility Services’ in-house management conference.

The educational seminars and workshops were well attended, with a few stand-out sessions on employment, infection control and business solutions. Samantha Gadd from HR Shop delivered an intimate workshop on ‘Taking the fear out of employing people’, which gave attendees an opportunity to ask some pointed questions about Part 6A of the Employment Act. Meanwhile David Johnson from Diversey Care offered some advice on how to drive cost out of the equation by proving the value of clean with his presentation on ‘Delivering real bottom line benefits through innovative solutions’.

Sue Elder from Bug Control covered the responsibilities of workplace health and safety and the importance of hand hygiene in her workshop on ‘Infection prevention in cleaning services’. Attendees practised a hands-on demonstration on how to remove Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and finished off with an eye-opening assessment of hand hygiene using glow germ and UV light. Clean NZ 2014 was further enhanced by a terrific fashion show by Arrow Uniforms.

A few closing remarks about the event from BSCNZ’s president Patrick Lee-Lo; “Well the 2014 CleanNZ event is over but not to be soon forgotten. For a number of good reasons – we had a record number visitors; the many positive comments I received from the stand holders confirmed it to be one of the most successful Clean NZ events we have had in a long time; the launch of the BSC CleanSweep Awards at the gala dinner, which had sell-out attendance; and finally those who attended the awards dinner told me it was the best Clean NZ they had attended.

“I thank Simon Cooper and his great team at InterpointEvents and INCLEAN magazine for their great efforts behind the scenes in putting Clean NZ 2014 together. I also thank our CEO Lillian Small and her BSCNZ team along with GSL Promotus who made the CleanSweep Awards a success.

“I would also like to thank again all our sponsors – Staples New Zealand, Sealed Air Diversey Care, LynnRiver, Kimberly Clark Professional and Karcher for fantastic pre-dinner drinks.

“Last but not least I would like to thank all of the Clean NZ stand holders for their fine support and important contribution to our industry as the BSCNZ progresses forward with all its new and exciting initiatives. It is indeed a good time to be part of our industry and associating with the BSCNZ.”

All images are available at www.picasaweb.google.com/incleanmag

Further Clean NZ 2014 coverage will be in both July and September issues of INCLEAN magazine.