Kaivac Inc. & Coverall Cleaning Concepts Join Forces To Develop Improved Cleaning Systems for...

Strategic Alliance Will Focus on Development of Health-Based Cleaning

HAMILTON, Ohio & BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Kaivac Inc. and Coverall Cleaning Concepts announced today a joint development agreement designed to improve the effectiveness of healthcare facility cleaning by aggregating technology,

procedures and measurement strategies that maximize soil and microbe removal. The partnership will build on Kaivac's No-Touch Cleaning[TM] equipment, Coverall Cleaning Concepts' proprietary healthcare cleaning system, and the commitment of both firms to scientific cleaning and sanitizing for disease control.

Under the agreement, the companies will work together to develop tools and define best practices for deep-cleaning areas such as exam rooms, operating rooms and gurneys that are specific to healthcare environments. Efforts will also focus on increasing productivity to reduce cleaning costs, measuring residues of contaminants such as urine and bacteria after cleaning, and using those measurements as a basis for establishing industry cleaning standards.

The new tools and processes will be based in part on Kaivac's No-Touch Cleaning systems, a family of spray-and-vac machines that provide environmentally friendly cleaning and automatic chemical preparation without requiring workers to touch soiled or contaminated surfaces. Tests have shown that Kaivac's integrated pressure washer/wet vacuum machines leave far fewer surface contaminants in locations such as restrooms than cleaning with string mops. The machines also reduce labor, chemical and equipment costs, cutting cleaning time by two-thirds.

The joint development project will also leverage Coverall Cleaning Concepts' experience with more than 8,000 healthcare accounts as well as its industry leading cleaning program for non-residential medical facilities. That program, announced in January, includes the use of hospital-grade germicides and disinfectants, flat mopping, microfiber color coding, certified healthcare cleaning technicians, and other tools and techniques to reduce cross-contamination and aid infection control.

"Kaivac and Coverall Cleaning Concepts share a common vision focused on raising the bar in the cleaning industry by cleaning to protect health rather than just for aesthetic appearance," said Bob Robinson Sr., President and CEO of Kaivac Inc. "By combining our cleaning science with their two decades of experience in commercial cleaning, this strategic partnership promises to quickly advance the cleaning to promote health movement in healthcare and eventually in other markets."

"Most janitorial contractors today still use buckets, mops and wipers without the specialized equipment, chemistry knowledge and cleaning processes required to remove unseen pathogens and avoid cross-contamination. They don't remove soil and microbes; they just move them around," said Peter Sheldon, Vice President of Operations for Coverall Cleaning Concepts. "We are partnering with Kaivac in an effort to redefine the term 'clean' in order to protect the public health."

On-site testing of the companies' combined cleaning equipment and processes is expected to begin in the next 60 days.

About Kaivac

Headquartered in Hamilton, OH, and the originator of No-Touch Cleaning[TM] system, Kaivac, Inc., manufactures a full line of No-Touch cleaning products aimed at making cleaning processes safer for people and the environment while preserving quality and cost efficiency. For more information on the company and its products, call 1-800-287-1136 or visit www.kaivac.com.

About Coverall Cleaning Concepts

Founded in 1985, Coverall Cleaning Concepts is one of the world's leading commercial cleaning franchising companies with a worldwide network of more than 90 Support Centers and 9,000 Franchise Owners. The company currently services nearly 50,000 customers in over 90 metropolitan areas, including small and large office buildings, industrial complexes, banks, department stores, corporate headquarters, and a wide variety of other accounts. In addition to general janitorial services, Coverall Cleaning Concepts specializes in cleaning healthcare facilities, has built its healthcare practice to comprise nearly 20% of its customer base, and has developed a proprietary healthcare cleaning program designed to reduce cross-contamination and aid infection control. For more information, visit www.coverall.com