New IBA friction? Any suggestions?

[JustClean]

Hi all,
apart from having a good distributor what brand do you recommend?
In a couple of years I have to replace my current Washtec brush machine and I am looking for options at the moment. My wishlist would be (in that order):

1. all stainless steel
2. reliable
3. simple to maintain
4. safe & good cleaning result
5. wide open bay

Does your brush machine fit into this and/or what is your experience/recommendation? Thanks a lot.

 

[BBE]

Hi all,
apart from having a good distributor what brand do you recommend?
In a couple of years I have to replace my current Washtec brush machine and I am looking for options at the moment. My wishlist would be (in that order):

1. all stainless steel
2. reliable
3. simple to maintain
4. safe & good cleaning result
5. wide open bay

Does your brush machine fit into this and/or what is your experience/recommendation? Thanks a lot.

We just put a tandem in a while back. It's a great machine once you have it all dialed in. You won't find a more wide open bay on a friction machine than a tandem.

Washworld had their new machine at the show. The Profile Max. If I were in the market again, I would give that a serious look. Washworlds support is top notch.

 

[mparker1975]

My top three are...

1.Oasis
2.PDQ
3.Washworld

If you want a machine that cleans very well and you are willing to do what it takes to learn the equipment then go with an Istobal.

 

[JustClean]

My top three are...

1.Oasis
2.PDQ
3.Washworld

If you want a machine that cleans very well and you are willing to do what it takes to learn the equipment then go with an Istobal.

Unfortunately, all 3, as far as I know are aluminum. Istobal I believe is galvanized.

BBE,
I was on the Washworld website but couldn't find the Profile Max...Is it a brush machine? Any photos? what was your impression? Thanks.

 

[BBE]

Unfortunately, all 3, as far as I know are aluminum. Istobal I believe is galvanized.

BBE,
I was on the Washworld website but couldn't find the Profile Max...Is it a brush machine? Any photos? what was your impression? Thanks.

It's not on their website yet. When I spoke to the guys at the show, they said it was going to be available for purchase this summer. It's a 3 brush hanging style system. It has the wheel scrubbers as well. My impression was that it's going to be a really solid wash. You will have the option of having the pump stand mounted in the equipment room, or outside in the bay. In the equipment room makes thing much easier to work on when you need to. It will have the virtual treadle, and have an open bay feel. I'll see if I can upload some pictures later today.

 

[JustClean]

It's not on their website yet. When I spoke to the guys at the show, they said it was going to be available for purchase this summer. It's a 3 brush hanging style system. It has the wheel scrubbers as well. My impression was that it's going to be a really solid wash. You will have the option of having the pump stand mounted in the equipment room, or outside in the bay. In the equipment room makes thing much easier to work on when you need to. It will have the virtual treadle, and have an open bay feel. I'll see if I can upload some pictures later today.

That would be great
Is it stainless steel? I noticed Washworld registered the name Profile MAX and Profile ST. Any idea what that means?

 

[rph9168]

Washworld is one of the better automatic manufacturers but I would be very cautious about buying a brand new model. From my experience it takes some time to get all the bugs out of a new model. I am sure they will stand behind their equipment but I am not sure I would want to be one of the first to have one. Check to see if they have had any test washes running in your area.

 

[ken-pro]

That would be great
Is it stainless steel? I noticed Washworld registered the name Profile MAX and Profile ST. Any idea what that means?

The machines are all stainless steel construction, and use drive components similar to the Razor touchless wash.

The Profile MAX includes off-board sealant and spot free rinse arches to rinse cars as they drive forward towards the dryer. The intention is to increase throughput.

The Profile ST is the standard machine, without the rinse arches. Otherwise the machines are identical.

 

[JustClean]

I still can get another couple of years out of my old machine, that should give them time to sort things out

 

[JustClean]

Wow, that sounds exciting. Thanks for the info. Any photos?

 

[JustClean]

The machines are all stainless steel construction, and use drive components similar to the Razor touchless wash.

The Profile MAX includes off-board sealant and spot free rinse arches to rinse cars as they drive forward towards the dryer. The intention is to increase throughput.

The Profile ST is the standard machine, without the rinse arches. Otherwise the machines are identical.

Wow, that sounds exciting. Thanks for the info. Any photos?

 

[BBE]

Here are a few pics I snapped at the ICA show. The ones I tried to take of the inside of the bridge turned out a bit blurry. Sorry about that.

 

[wash4me]

How much is the Profile Max?

 

[gearhead]

I asked the rep when I was looking at that machine for a cost and a CPH number and those were not available at that time. He also mentioned that there were 2 up and running somewhere(he didn't say where)for testing purposes. Very similar to the D&S IQ soft touch but with wheel scrubbers.

 

[JustClean]

What I've seen so far fits perfectly into my "next-machine-wishlist"
Is there a video around? Hmm...I am wondering if/how the wheel brushes would wash a very small car? I can't see them coming out that far. And what is that black angle below the wheel brush?

 

[BBE]

I wouldn't let the fact that it's so new scare you. We've been used as a "test site" by washworld before on our high velocity with some of the new things they've come out with over the years. Like the side and top sonar. And they take great care of you.

 

[waterway]

The machines are all stainless steel construction, and use drive components similar to the Razor touchless wash.

The Profile MAX includes off-board sealant and spot free rinse arches to rinse cars as they drive forward towards the dryer. The intention is to increase throughput.

The Profile ST is the standard machine, without the rinse arches. Otherwise the machines are identical.

Do they come with an on board blower? This machine really looks interesting. Its got me considering replacing one of my 4000's with it instead of another touch free. I have two 4000's and one G5 at one of my sites. I keep looking at putting in a mini tunnel but I already have through put of 30 cars an hour. Would love to find something to draw more people to my site and allow me to offer some of the price add ons that tunnel can offer. These roll over automatic manufacturers have to come up with something to compete against what these express tunnel conversions are offering.

 

[robert roman]

“What brand do you recommend?” And you have a wish list; stainless steel, reliable, simple to maintain, safe & good cleaning result, wide open bay.

There is not one in-bay manufacturer that can’t deliver all the items in the wish list.

So, what is wrong with current brand that causes you to seek out?

“These roll over automatic manufacturers have to come up with something to compete against what these express tunnel conversions are offering.”

They have. It’s called express in-bay; extend length of wash-bay to between 50’ and 60’ and convert several of the in-bay’s on-board functions to off-board functions (i.e. wax, final rinse, drying).

Aside from this, you would have to increase travel speed of standard roll-over (gantry) significantly.

For example, typical gantry moves at about 5-meters per minute or 16.4 feet. So, over five minutes, gantry would travel 82 lineal feet. If the vehicle measures 16’ long, the gantry could transverse its length five times.

 

[JustClean]

“What brand do you recommend?” And you have a wish list; stainless steel, reliable, simple to maintain, safe & good cleaning result, wide open bay.

There is not one in-bay manufacturer that can’t deliver all the items in the wish list.

So, what is wrong with current brand that causes you to seek out?

“These roll over automatic manufacturers have to come up with something to compete against what these express tunnel conversions are offering.”

They have. It’s called express in-bay; extend length of wash-bay to between 50’ and 60’ and convert several of the in-bay’s on-board functions to off-board functions (i.e. wax, final rinse, drying).

Aside from this, you would have to increase travel speed of standard roll-over (gantry) significantly.

For example, typical gantry moves at about 5-meters per minute or 16.4 feet. So, over five minutes, gantry would travel 82 lineal feet. If the vehicle measures 16’ long, the gantry could transverse its length five times.

Hi Roman,
So, what is wrong with current brand that causes you to seek out?
My current brand is not stainless, is reliable, is not simple, is very safe and cleans well but doesn't have a wide open bay. So when it is time to upgrade I am looking at my options.

There is not one in-bay manufacturer that can’t deliver all the items in the wish list.
Looking at the Profile Max this is the so far the only machine that I've come across that ticks all my boxes.


I am not sure if the rest of your reply is addressed to me but for me personally I would not consider an Express tunnel. The reason for this:
1.
Most tunnels need to be manned (at least I wouldn't let it run unmanned with MY customers around).
Because of this my IBA is making money while I sleep at night.

2.
Why should I extend my building and buy expensive equipment when my lines are not that long anyway. Okay, it will take a bit longer to wash a car. So be it. Customer can come at night to wash it.

3.
At the moment a customer has a choice of a separate touchfree or softtouch machine. With a tunnel he sees the brushes and drives off. That is also the reason why I wouldn't go with a combined touchfree and softtouch machine.

4.
And on top a tunnel doesn't fit onto my property

 

[robert roman]

“My current brand is not stainless, is reliable, is not simple, is very safe and cleans well but doesn't have a wide open bay.”

So, really you are only looking for stainless, more simplicity and a more open bay.

Stainless has most value when a site is within about 35 miles of coastline. Aside from this, it usually doesn’t pay to keep an in-bay more than 8 years or so because of technical and marketing obsolescence.

The in-bay has already been designed and manufactured. An owner only needs to operate and maintain it. So, simplicity refers to the burden the machine puts on an owner to understand it. One way to understand something is to get schooled in it.

I would not suggest conveyor to you because profit maximization is not the goal.

For example, “Okay, it will take a bit longer to wash a car. So be it. Customer can come at night to wash it.”

Wide open bay is subjective. What is too wide open?

For example, when I drive by gas stations and glance at the wash-box, many times it looks like there is no equipment inside the wash-bay. Reason is most in-bays around me are inverted-L and lighting is poor.

Motorist only sees brushes and drives off when touch-less is available. This is also a burden the machine puts on an owner. In this case, the consumer or motorist needs schooled.