by Brianna Crandall — December 14, 2020 — APEX Surface Care, a nationwide sustainable surface-care company, recently announced it has integrated cutting-edge ICE Robotics autonomous cleaning equipment and technology into its surface-care solutions, delivering a more modern, efficient and data-driven maintenance approach. By incorporating the latest high-tech equipment, APEX Surface Care says it is raising the bar for image-conscious facilities across North America.
According to the company, incorporating robotics into surface care is more than autonomizing the work. Cutting-edge machines such as those from ICE Robotics enable APEX to use software to track, manage and report specifics about each facility’s surface care so customers can have detailed data about the areas, timeframe and specificity of their cleaning. Using robotics also allows APEX’s cleaning and disinfecting teams to focus on the high-touch, detailed areas of surface care, while the machines manage the repetitive and basic tasks.
Thomas Holland, CEO of APEX Surface Care, stated:
As offices, hotels, schools and facilities reopen, the demand for cleaning and disinfecting has never been greater, which means the need for accountability is even more urgent. Our partnership with ICE Robotics demonstrates our commitment to our customers that we’ll deliver the highest-quality surface care using the latest technology, an extraordinary value, and most importantly, precise details about what we did, when we did it, and how we did it.
Robotics solutions help reduce headcount in commercial buildings, a top priority for facilities managers now, and they also help to reallocate labor to higher-level tasks. Use of robotic vacuums alone can save up to 70 percent on the cost of vacuuming in a commercial building. In a recent example, a 500,000 building was able to save $90,000 per year by incorporating robotic vacuums alone, according to the company.
Adding to its array of electrostatic sprayers, APEX Surface Care will deploy three key ICE products:
- The Whiz — An autonomous vacuum sweeper with guidance software that can navigate complex and dynamic environments. Whiz ensures the highest levels of safety and cleaning performance, working alongside staff for more consistent cleans, and provides near-real-time data tracking of coverage and runtime.
- The Emma (Enabling Mobile Machine Automation) — An autonomous floor scrubber powered by BrainOS that enables the robot to navigate complex, real-world environments. The machine is designed to work safely and efficiently alongside employees and can still be used manually for ad hoc situations.
- I-Synergy fleet of walk-behind and ride-along scrubbers — In addition to their cleaning capabilities, I-Synergy devices use a customized portal to provide data tracking for measurable performance, and improved productivity and efficiency, as well as reporting.
One aspect of the robotics deployment is enabling APEX Surface Care team members — many of whom are trained professionals with over a decade of experience — to focus on the customers’ higher-value needs and service, rather than on repetitive tasks. As a Certified B Corporation, APEX Surface Care is verified as meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability, including to its employees.
Holland continued:
We’re not replacing people with robots but giving team members the ability to elevate their level of service, access to modern technology, and a customer-focused approach. As one of the facilities management industry’s few B-Corp certified companies, this investment in our people is unwavering.
APEX Surface Care notes that it is known for its low staff turnover, commitment to social and charitable causes, and sustainability practices. ICE Robotics and their machines are said to help further that ethos while delivering a superior cleaning and disinfecting job.
APEX Surface Care also partners with Z-Bioscience, a leading manufacturer of the probiotic cleaning solutions, and recently announced it is one of few preferred partners of Allied BioScience that can apply SurfaceWise2, touted as the first EPA-approved long-lasting protective disinfectant coating.
For more than 20 years, APEX Surface Care has maintained and restored millions of interior square feet for globally recognized brands and companies throughout North America. APEX Surface Care is a wholly owned subsidiary of Corporate Floors, a B Corp-certified flooring provider, and the sister company to Texas Carpet Recycling and APEX Property Services.
