WashTec Cleaning Technology GmbH
Argonstraße 7
86153 Augsburg
Telephone +49 821 5584 0
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For the washing chemicals, the operators use the products of WashTec subsidiary AUWA. "We trust," says operator Christian Lutz, "that the components are optimally matched to each other.
Anyone who thinks of AGROA Raiffeisen eG exclusively in terms of animal feed and agricultural equipment is only partially right. The company, which is based in Eppingen in the Kraichgau region of Baden-Württemberg, also operates eight petrol stations that are supplied by its own trucks and, more recently, a sizeable car wash centre.
Christian Lutz, authorised signatory at AGROA Raiffeisen eG and responsible for the retail business, explains how this came about. First, the AGROA petrol station in Eppingen, which is over 20 years old, was to be modernised. This involved the liquid-tight roadway, an AdBlue offer, a new fascia and the makeover of the shop. However, there was also discussion about the unused space next to the petrol station, which has been owned by AGROA for a long time and was previously used as a car park by a neighbouring company. After they no longer needed the car park, the question arose: what to do with the site?
In the course of the upgrading of the petrol station, the idea of installing a gantry car wash arose. Although the town already has car wash centre, Lutz does not see any clashes, if only because of the different locations. This was also the finding of the site analysis carried out in advance, which showed sufficient customer potential for both companies. This is how the AGROA Raiffeisen Waschpark Eppingen project started.
Together with Thomas Blösch, who is in charge of facility management at the company, Christian Lutz supervised the modernisation of the petrol station and the construction of the car wash. From planning to commissioning, Thomas Erkert, who is in charge of the petrol station business at the main agricultural cooperative AGRAVIS in Münster, was there to support them and was always in contact with those responsible on site.
Initially, it was considered whether to build a gantry car wash or a conveyor tunnel system. But in the end, says Lutz, the company decided on the gantry car wash because it also wanted to offer self-service washing and the free space would not have been sufficient for both self-service washing and a conveyor tunnel system. For Christian Lutz, it is clear that the self-service car wash definitely has potential. In about two years, Lutz is even planning to expand the self-service area to include a washing facility for motorhomes, now that there are a few motorhome pitches in the area. It was clear that it should be a high-quality gantry car wash in order to achieve the best possible washing results. After the board had approved the project, the construction could begin.
WashTec supplied both the self-service technology and the gantry car wash. For the gantry car wash, the Augsburg-based company came out on top with its premium SmartCare system. At first, reports Kevin Daum, Area Sales Manager Gantry Systems at WashTec, we offered the customer a SoftCare Pro 2. Because the second generation of SmartCare was still quite new at the time and had not yet been installed in the Raiffeisen petrol station network.
But a few months later, an appointment was arranged for the future operators at the showroom in Augsburg. There, the interested parties were able to take a close look at the SmartCare and different variants were run through to show what the system is technically capable of. Gantry car wash professional Daum explains that with the SmartCare, for example, the customer can use the dosing pumps more flexibly. For example, when applying the alkaline pre-cleaner over the entire vehicle, it can be programmed so that the pre-cleaner is dosed higher at the front of the vehicle to better remove stubborn dirt from there. The operator can also configure washing programmes and set speeds. For example, reduce the premium programme from twelve minutes to nine minutes when there is a high volume of customers. Overall, the technical features convinced the clients from Eppingen and so the choice quickly fell in favour of the SmartCare, which was ordered with a full range of equipment.
The full equipment options include connectivity services such as remote access, remote monitoring and remote control. All that is needed is an Internet connection so that the operator can be connected to their car wash from anywhere in the world. Thanks to remote control, the operator can conveniently monitor and control many settings on a day-to-day basis. With remote monitoring, they can see the number of washes, consumption figures and more at a glance.
Needless to say, the eye-catching colourful LED lighting during foam application was not to be left out, as well as the swivelling spray nozzles, which ensure optimal alignment and improved full-coverage application of the foam, for both small and large vehicles. Thanks to the improved brush sensor system, hard-to-reach places such as hatchbacks and rear spoilers are also cleaned. Thanks to FlexControl 2.0, the side brushes with their large brush diameter make close contact with the side of the vehicle and clean it from the edge of the roof to the sill. The MultiFlex 2.0 brush ensures that the rear is perfectly clean.
Rotating spot-jet nozzles remove very tough dirt during pre-cleaning with a strong high-pressure jet, even on recessed vehicle surfaces. And after the wash, the flow-optimised blower with its optimised airflow and precise contour tracking dries the vehicle.
To save water and for the sake of the environment, the AquaPur Modular water recovery system from WashTec is used. Its modular design allows for flexible installation. According to car wash professional Kevin Daum, only 15 to 20% fresh water is needed per wash, depending on the wash programme.
For the washing chemicals, the operators use the products of WashTec subsidiary AUWA. "We trust," says operator Christian Lutz, "that the components are optimally matched to each other. There are many suppliers on the market, but to always test the quality of the products in practice is too high a risk for us." "Besides," explains Kevin Daum, "our AUWA colleagues know the system very well and can therefore optimally adjust them."
"In addition, we employ three technicians," informs Thomas Blösch of AGROA, "who specialise in the subject of car wash centres. These employees have already taken every opportunity to inform themselves during the installation of the plant and have gained a deep insight into the system technology in the process." On each operating day, an AGROA employee checks the car wash centre in the morning and makes sure that everything is working properly. He also takes care of the cleanliness of the system and performs simple maintenance tasks. Two technicians carry out more detailed work such as troubleshooting, adjustments and programming.
"Our big advantage," Christian Lutz reports, "is that the employees are here on site and are dedicated to this project. "In addition, there was a purely technical briefing for the staff who look after the system's technology," adds Daum, "as well as a general briefing for the checkout staff, which also explained what to do in the event of a malfunction, how to unlock an emergency stop, how to sell a wash and a customer card."
"In addition," says WashTec area sales manager Daum, "there is a service contract for the gantry car wash where the customer pays a fixed rate per month, which also includes all servicing. Some faults can be remedied by remote maintenance, we then have the possibility to connect to the system. For example, we can determine if the light barrier is dirty, in which case there is no need for the technician to travel there in person; it is sufficient to inform the operator on site and clean the light barrier." With the self-service system, no service contract is necessary; the customer does a lot of the work himself and only keeps important spare parts such as hoses etc. in stock," explains WashTec area sales manager for self-service car washes, Christian Schmid.
On 11 April 2022, the time had come. The AGROA Raiffeisen car wash centre in Eppingen was officially opened. In addition to the gantry car wash, customers have access to four self-service car wash booths, five self-service vacuum cleaner stations and a floor mat cleaner. The gantry car wash is open from Monday to Friday from 6.00 am to 8.00 pm and on Saturdays until 7.00 pm. The self-service wash is available on weekdays from 6.00 am to 10 pm. The gantry car wash offers customers four washing programmes. "We start by selling the premium programme in promotions to get customers excited about it," Christian Lutz reveals. The operators are aiming for around 10,000 washes a year, according to Thomas Erkert from AGRAVIS.
So far, about 80 per cent are regular customers, the rest of the customers come to the car wash because of its good location, Christian Lutz informs us. The best-selling programme so far has been the Premium programme. The reviews of customers to date indicate: the car wash centre fits the bill, from the approach to the appearance to the washing results. Basically, there is close communication between the operator and the customers, partly because employees also hold honorary positions, such as in the fire brigade, and share their experiences with their fellow colleagues. This way, the operators mainly perceive constructive feedback, which is implemented as far as possible.
"However, we started with a gentle approach," mentions Lutz, "because around 800 washes are necessary to optimally adjust fine details such as the contact pressure. But in mid to late May we want to really push the car wash." Social media advertising via Facebook and Instagram is planned. "This part is handled by two young colleagues who do a very good job," Lutz reveals. Then there will be premium washes at an introductory price and give-aways such as glass cleaners and microfibre cloths. And since the regular customers are largely over the age of 40, the operators want to have enough staff on site to offer assistance if necessary.
The AGROA authorised signatory can also imagine a video about the car wash service, as well as a drone flyover to record the car wash in operation. And since the facility is very nicely illuminated in the dark, this could happen at night as well. In addition, wash card users receive a bonus. If you top up your washing card with 100 euros, you automatically get 120 euros in washing credit, and if you top up your card with 50 euros, you get 60 euros. In addition, more than 140,000 brochures advertising the car wash centre are to be distributed in the Raiffeisen markets. Banners are also planned to advertise the car wash centre. However, Lutz still sees word of mouth as the best form of advertising.
