Benefits of clarity
Although it is possible to wash glasses in a general-purpose dishwasher, it is not desirable. Glasses washed in a machine used for plates and cutlery tend to become streaked by transferred soil and grease.
Most glasswashers are front-loading cabinets, broadly similar in design to front-loading dishwashers but operating at slightly lower temperatures.
In the past, glasswashers tended to have rotating round racks to improve exposure of the glasses to the water jets and so clean them more effectively. Increasingly, square racks have become more popular, as they offer greater capacity and are easier to stack.
Most glasswashers operate at fairly high temperatures and require the use of a detergent and rinse aid. The exception to this is a low-temperature system in which a chemical sanitiser is added to the water, and in which the water is changed after each cycle, rather than simply topped up with fresh water as with traditional machines.
Caterer spoke to a cross-section of glasswasher users about the machines they use.
Bath spa hotel
A 98-bedroom five-star hotel in Bath with two restaurants.
Glasswashers: Two low-temperature Energy Mizers model L1C, bought two years ago, sited in the bar and main kitchen.
Glass usage: At least 250 per day, rising to 750 with banqueting.
Likes: Michael Black, food and beverage manager, says: "The low-temperature system is best for glasses because fresh water is used for every cycle. The machines have very few parts that need to be taken out and washed and these are easily detachable. Because they are manufactured in the UK, parts are easy to get."
Dislikes: "We could do with a machine that has twice the capacity of these, especially in the kitchen. But these are easy to move."
Costs and running: List price of Energy Mizer glasswashers from SC Johnson Professional is about £1,400. Sanitiser, detergent and rinse aid are needed. The only repairs necessary have been minor ones to the chemical dosing system. The machines will be written off after five years on the accounts, but may be operated for longer.
London zoo hospitality
Two banqueting suites plus functions around the zoo, operated by Letheby & Christopher.
Glasswashers: Two Hobart countertop machines bought about 18 months ago.
Glass usage: About 1,000 a day, all made of recycled glass to comply with the zoo's conservation policies.
Likes: Daniel Draisey, operations manager, says: "I like the machines because they are quick and quiet."
Dislikes: "They're rather ugly!"
Costs and running: List prices of Hobart glasswashers range from £1,300 to £2,410. Diversey detergent and rinse aid are used, having been checked to ensure they have not been tested on animals. To date no repairs have been needed. The machines will be written off over a five-year depreciation period, but will continue to be used after that if they are still functional.
Lomond hotel
A 25-bedroom business and holiday hotel in Freuchie, Fife.
Glasswashers: A new Zanussi machine in the bar, plus a Hobart machine in the function room which was bought second-hand 20 years ago and is thought to be 21 years old.
Glass usage: The Zanussi machine is used about 20 times a day, while the Hobart is used about 100 times each weekend.
Likes: Ernst van Beusekom, proprietor, says: "I was attracted to the Zanussi machine because it is compact and has a quick cycle. The Hobart machine is still working well, in spite of its great age."
Dislikes: "We do not use rinse aid with either machine because it leaves a sticky residue."
Costs and running: The Zanussi glasswasher cost about £1,000. Van Beusekom buys chemicals from various firms, but these costs for both machines are very low. No repairs have been needed for either machine."
He expects to get at least eight years' use from the new machine.
Corney & Barrow wine bars
A group of 11 upmarket wine bars, mostly based in the City of London.
Glasswasher: Maidaid Z48 machines from Buttress, ranging in age from six years to one month.
Glass usage: Up to 1,800 glasses on a busy evening.
Likes: Chris Brown, managing director, says: "The machines are simple, reliable and clean well… They are on castors so they can be moved for cleaning."
Dislikes: Nothing.
Costs and running: List price of the Maidaid Z48 is £1,690. To ensure that the guarantee of new machines is not invalidated, Maidaid detergent and rinse aid is used, but Brown says he wishes these were "more competitively priced". Service is on a call-out basis only and is from Buttress agent Crystaltech.
Boater pub
In Luton, one of the 800 Greene King pubs.
Glasswasher: Hobart GX60 bought 15 months ago, plus a four-year-old Glassmaster GM500S.
Glass usage: "On busy sessions our whole stock gets used several times," says landlord Colin Nolan.
Likes: The Hobart is Nolan's favourite. "It does the job it's meant to, its cycle is very short, and it's easy to clean."
Dislikes: Nolan's only complaint about the Hobart is that it is more expensive than some other machines. The Glassmaster has a longer cycle and he says some glasses are watermarked.
Costs and running: List price of the GX60 is £2,090. The Glassmaster machine has never needed any repairs, while the Hobart had a minor fault with the timer. Nolan hopes the Hobart will last for at least five years and he thinks the Glassmaster will be replaced next time the pub is refurbished.
Vale golf & country club
A club with a restaurant, bars and function rooms in Pershore, Hereford and Worcester.
Glasswasher: Three Crypto Peerless Washtech 495GF machines installed three years ago, one of which was replaced a few months ago.
Glass usage: 300 daily and up to 1,000 at weekends.
Likes: Gary Hughes, barman and cellarman, says: "The machines are easy to use, reliable, and, although they are compact, they hold a lot of glasses."
Dislikes: Nothing.
Costs and running: List price of the 495GF is £1,515. Hughes says there have been a few repairs - all minor: the water jets on one machine have been changed and another machine blew a fuse.
