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In greenhouse farming, hygiene and crop protection play an increasingly important role. We wrote about it earlier in our blog Periodic process checks by CCD. Apart from the regular company clothing for the employees, many disposable materials were used there, while increasingly professional washing machines with special washing processes for the demonstrable disinfection of clothing were in house. Therefore, lightweight and durable overalls and visitor coats have now been developed as alternatives to disposable clothing. These washable alternatives are much more comfortable to wear, wear resistant, airy and completely customizable. This ensures a professional appearance of the protective clothing, which can be comfortably worn by visitors and externals even in warm places. Because they have been successfully used in various companies for some time now, we can confidently state that they are excellent alternatives to disposable materials. In the meantime, washable alternatives to hairnets have also been developed. A major advantage of this coverall is that it can be washed up to 500 times on a virus-free wash cycle. This makes it not only durable, but also extremely hygienic in use – an important aspect in sectors where viruses should not have a chance.
With the right washing machines and dryers, washable coveralls and hairnets can be reused many times, without requiring unnecessary energy and temperature. Because hygiene has to be guaranteed, demonstrable disinfection during the washing process plays a crucial role. Professional equipment and automatic dosing of detergents are therefore strongly recommended. In addition, it is important to have the technical condition of the equipment checked regularly. This is often done by the supplier. Disinfection during the washing process can be easily and regularly checked by yourself with the DES controller, without the need for a technician or specialist to come to your location.
Around the world, industrial laundromats in the healthcare, food and pharmaceutical industries have relied on the DES controller for years to monitor disinfection in their laundry processes. The DES controller is an advanced bio-indicator that allows you to easily determine how effectively a textile washing process kills off bacteria. The special bacteria in the DES controller are protected by a semi-permeable membrane that protects you and prevents the test bacteria from being washed away. You receive the DES controller periodically in the mail, so you know it’s time to check your laundry process again. After you have washed the DES controller with your coveralls or hairnets, return it directly to our laboratory. We then do an analysis, after which you receive a clear report by e-mail stating whether your washing process disinfects sufficiently.
You want to prevent a virus within your company at all times. That’s why there is often a significant investment in protective jackets and hairnets.
Coveralls are the solution. How exactly that works? We are happy to explain!
Choose comfort, durability and lower clothing costs. Let coveralls make the difference for your business. Contact us and experience the convenience of sustainable work for yourself.
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At Cleaning Consultancy Delft (CCD), we believe that cooperation and knowledge sharing are essential to moving the industrial laundry industry forward. That is why we are proud members of Vematex, the association for suppliers of products and services to the textile care industry, since 2024. With our active participation, including the role of our director/owner Anthony Hendriks on the board of the association, we at CCD are committed to the future of the industry together with the other members.
The laundry industry is constantly evolving, with challenges such as the energy transition, innovation in technology and retention of professional expertise. Vematex provides a unique platform where suppliers come together to address these issues. By exchanging ideas, knowledge and experience, we work together on solutions that contribute to a stronger, sustainable and future-oriented industry.
Anthony Hendriks, owner of CCD, explains why he is actively involved with Vematex:
“I don’t just want to be a member, I want to contribute. At Vematex, we have the opportunity to make a real difference by working together on the challenges of our industry. For me, it’s about impact, not casual coffee drinking.”
As a specialist in the laundry industry, CCD is in a unique position. With our years of experience and in-depth knowledge, we help companies work more efficiently and optimize their processes. Our membership in Vematex gives us the opportunity to use this expertise more broadly, not only for our customers, but also for the industry as a whole.
At Vematex meetings, we bring up topics such as:
By talking about this with other members, together we come up with concrete actions and solutions that benefit the entire industry.
The laundry industry faces complex challenges. Think about making processes more sustainable, dealing with rising energy costs and the need for technological innovation. According to Anthony, this is exactly why it is important to work together:
“You can’t solve these challenges on your own. At Vematex, suppliers and experts come together, knowledge is shared and ideas are exchanged. This is essential to make our industry stronger and more sustainable.”
This is why, Vematex offers not only structured meetings, but also perfectly organized informal moments such as the annual networking day. These days are great for speaking with fellow professionals, sharing experiences and exchanging ideas.
Our membership in Vematex not only strengthens our position, but also that of our customers. By keeping up to date with the latest developments and trends in the sector, we can provide them with even better advice and support. Whether it’s process optimization, knowledge sharing or sustainable innovations, we bring the latest insights to your company.
At CCD, we are committed to helping the laundry industry every day. Our membership in Vematex is a logical step to strengthen that mission. Together with other suppliers, we are working towards a sustainable, innovative and future-oriented industry. Would you like to know more about our involvement with Vematex or how we can support your company? Feel free to get in touch with us. Together, we will ensure a strong and future-proof laundry industry.
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In the greenhouse industry, it is essential to disinfect company clothing correctly to prevent infections by viruses such as ToBRFV (Tomato virus) or, for example, CGMMV (Cucumber virus). These viruses have already caused great damage worldwide and, once in the greenhouse, are extremely difficult to fight. Strict hygiene protocols, including the mandatory use of company clothing, are important measures. Nevertheless, standard washing processes for industrial clothing were found to be insufficient to kill these viruses. An effective approach is therefore crucial to keep the virus out of the greenhouse and prevent further spread.
Standard laundry processes for industrial clothing are mainly aimed at removing dirt, stains and a hygienic end result. Nevertheless, these are usually not effective when it comes to killing off these types of plant viruses. In addition, the agents that are effective against these viruses in the greenhouse were found to be unsuitable for washing clothes. They degraded the appearance of the clothes, caused accelerated wear and tear and resulted in additional environmentally harmful wastewater.
In his previous position, Peter Giezeman, one of the consultants at CCD, played a key role in developing a special washing process for greenhouse horticulture. This process, which is now used at many greenhouse farms, not only effectively kills viruses but also preserves the appearance of the company’s clothing. The system uses peracetic acid and is specifically set up on industrial washing machines.
By dosing detergents automatically and in the right amounts at different times, viruses are demonstrably eliminated even at a main wash temperature of 50 degrees. As a result, company clothing lasts significantly longer and consumes much less energy than traditional washing processes.
Although the washing process has been carefully developed by a specialist team and uses professional equipment, it is still crucial to check the operation regularly. This is where CCD comes in. As an independent specialist, CCD performs periodic process checks on site.
During these checks, the entire washing process is assessed and critical process parameters are tested using validated materials. In some cases, a CCD specialist can even make minor adjustments immediately to correct any deficiencies and restore the process to optimal operation. After each audit, the greenhouse company receives a comprehensive report, which always gives them full insight into the effectiveness of their washing process and the disinfection of their company’s clothing.
Thanks to CCD’s regular inspections, greenhouse farms can be confident that their washing process for their industrial clothing is operating optimally and meets the highest hygiene standards. These process controls not only guarantee effective virus control, but also help maintain the quality and durability of the clothing. This allows companies to focus entirely on their cultivation and business operations, with the peace of mind that the hygiene and safety of their work clothes are always in top condition.
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In the healthcare and medical sectors, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, food industry and animal care and dentistry, for example, it is vital to thoroughly sterilize materials and instruments. Sterilization ensures that microorganisms on or in an item are killed or inactivated, which is essential for the safety of patients, employees and consumers. To verify that this process is actually successful, the use of bioindicators is a reliable way to measure the effectiveness of sterilization processes.
Bioindicators are test media that contain bacterial spores that are highly resistant to sterilization processes. Microorganisms such as Geobacillus stearothermophilus or Bacillus atropheus only survive if the sterilization process is not done properly. You place a bio-indicator in the sterilizer along with the material to be sterilized. After the process, you send the bioindicator to a laboratory, where it is checked that all spores have been completely killed.
Compared to other control methods, such as chemical indicators, bioindicators offer clear added value. Chemical indicators show whether a sterilization process has been completed, but say little about its actual effectiveness. Bioindicators, on the other hand, show whether the sterilization process has been completely successful. With a prescribed indicator organism, you can determine exactly to what extent the killing off has been achieved.
The use of bioindicators has several advantages, both for sterilization quality and safety compliance:
A widely used bioindicator is the DES controller, which has been successfully used for many years in various industries. This bioindicator is available in several varieties, including types with specific bacterial spores that are exceptionally resistant to sterilization processes.
With the DES controller, you can easily and safely monitor the effectiveness of a sterilizer without the need for specialized knowledge or technical support. This makes it possible for many organizations to independently monitor the operation of their sterilization processes.
The DES controller is not only used to monitor sterilizers in healthcare, but also in industrial applications. Worldwide, industrial laundries in the healthcare, food and pharmaceutical industries have relied on the DES controller for many years to validate disinfection in their wash processes. This broad applicability highlights the versatility and reliability of bioindicators as an essential tool for controlling sterilization processes.
Sterilizers and autoclaves play a crucial role in sterilizing materials. These devices must constantly maintain the correct temperature, pressure and time to ensure an effective sterilization process. Bioindicators such as the DES controller are essential to verify that these critical parameters have actually been achieved and that the process has been carried out effectively.
It is important to have the technical condition of sterilizers checked regularly, often this is done by the equipment supplier. In addition, you can easily verify the effectiveness of sterilization yourself with a bioindicator. This allows you to perform regular tests, so you know with confidence that your equipment is functioning properly.
Bioindicators are essential for monitoring and ensuring the effectiveness of sterilization processes. Whether you operate in healthcare, food or any other sector where sterility is crucial, bioindicators help you validate and further optimize sterilization processes.
Want to learn more about using the DES controller as a bioindicator or request a test right away? Feel free to contact us. We are ready to support you in effective and reliable sterilization control within your organization.