Sparkling ideas

Cleaning glasses isn't just a matter of getting rid of lipstick marks from around the rim - there are cost implications relating to much more than a glasswasher's cleaning ability alone.

According to Ian Garner, managing director of Hobart, cleaning the machine itself can be costly in terms of labour, so it is important to choose a model which takes the minimum of time to clean. And since breakages will occur if the glasses won't fit into the machine properly, Garner also emphasises the importance of choosing a machine that will take a sufficient number of the glasses used by that particular operation.

Hobart offers a range of machines for varying requirements, including the space-saving GX under-counter model, which holds 500 pint mugs, FX front-loaders and a range of rack machines. They are fitted with the Genius X four-stage filter which pumps directly into the drain.

Capacity is an important issue for Meiko managing director Bill Downie, too. In fact, it is one of the five basic issues that he recommends anyone buying a glasswasher should consider. "Too many people are concerned with the initial price of a machine," he says, "without taking into account reliability, downtime, running cost, cleaning and maintenance over its lifetime."

Downie's check-list advises buyers to consider the manufacturer's reputation and the package included; wash quality - whether it will wash all the glasses first time, every time; speed of wash - whether it has the capacity to cope with the user's environment at its busiest; reliability - whether it is capable of operating with the minimum of downtime; and operation and cleaning - whether it is easy to operate and simple to clean. Unsurprisingly, he claims that Meiko's Ecostar 540F, with a capacity of 25 baskets an hour, meets all of these requirements.

Ease of operation, particularly in situations where staff change frequently, is placed high on the check-list by Stuart Campbell, services support manager at Buttress, which supplies Maidaid machines. He even suggests that variable time cycles on machines only complicate the operation. "Many staff will have little or no training on the products," he says, "so one-button operation is essential."

Campbell also recommends that an in-depth site survey is undertaken before buying, advice echoed by David Sutton, national sales manager for Peachman, which distributes the Italian-made Tekno machines in the UK. Sutton says: "I estimate that there are more than 40 different suppliers with more than 200 models available on the UK market, so it's always best to deal with local distributors, who should be able to offer a free site survey to help establish what will best suit your needs. Things such as water supply, and water hardness and pressure, together with the volume of glassware to be washed, must be taken into account. And be sure when comparing machine prices that the specifications are similar - they vary a lot, and prices do, too."

At Clenaware Systems, technical adviser Clive Stillman says that choice is not just about washing and drying glasses but about logistics. Clenaware has designed a complete work station around its dishwashers. It provides a place for dirty glasses to be dumped, with a three-part bin for the discarding of dry waste, broken glass and cigarette ash separately. There is a double pre-wash sink where slops can be emptied; a chemically saturated sponge made by Diversey Lever for removing lipstick stains from rims; racks for holding the glasses to air dry when they are taken out of the machine; and space over the machine for storing glasses and trays.

The company's Sovereign 45 is claimed to have a number of unique features. It takes four litres of water into the break tank as soon as it is switched on - two litres of cold followed by two of hot, with rinse aid at the appropriate point. The heater in the machine takes the water to the optimum temperature and, because the machine holds only four litres, there is a fast recovery time. The wash water recirculates for 90 seconds then goes to the drain, and four litres of fresh water are pumped in. The wash water is dumped after every cycle and the pumps run on for extra time to ensure that no contaminated water is left in the tank. The machines are self-diagnostic and the maker claims that they are user-friendly.