1. ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo highlights
The inaugural ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo took place in Melbourne in May, with more than 1500 people in attendance. The show was a sell-out, after having previously been extended to include additional exhibitors.
2. SECUREcorp appoints new Australia MD
Australian security, cleaning and integrated services provider, SECUREcorp appointed Paul McDonald as managing director to oversee the company’s ambitious 2020 innovation and growth strategy.
3. Victorian cleaners forced into franchise arrangement
A confidential report prepared by cleaning union United Voice revealed details surrounding a Victorian school cleaning operator on-selling public school cleaning contracts to “vulnerable” franchise holders.
4. Record fine for Perth cleaning company
Perth-based Commercial and Residential Cleaning Group was fined more than $510,000 by the Fair Work Ombudsman for “deliberate, repeated and systematic” exploitation of its workers.
5. Victoria cleans up school contracts
INCLEAN reported in August that the number of school cleaning contracts in Victoria were expected to be significantly reduced in 2018, in an effort to combat dodgy contractors and worker underpayments.
6. Abco Products acquires Brisbane supplier
Abco Products acquired Brisbane-based commercial cleaning equipment and machine supplier, Alphaclean.
7. Vicinity Centres pilots robot cleaner
In March Vicinity Centres began trialling a Cleanfix automatic cleaning robot at DFO Homebush in Sydney, with the pilot focused on automated night cleaning.
8. Anchorage buys TJS Services
INCLEAN reported in September Anchorage Capital Partners had purchased cleaning and facilities management provider, TJS Services Group.
9. GUD Holdings offloads Oates business
In November GUD Holdings entered into an agreement to sell the Oates business to German-owned Freudenberg Household Products for $A80 million.
10. FWO secures near-record penalties against Sydney cleaning company
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured near-record penalties of $447,300 against the operators of Sydney-based cleaning company Grouped Property Services.