CARWASH DESIGN AND RETROFIT FIRMS EXPECT STELLAR SUPPORT AND QUALITY PRODUCTS FROM BRUSH MANUFACTURERS
SPECIALIZED BRUSH EXPERIENCE, SIMPLIFIED ORDERING, AND QUICK RESPONSE ARE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
By Del Williams
With new carwashes being built across North America joining the approximately 80,000 professional carwash locations already in existence, according to estimates from the International Carwash Association, consulting firms that design and remodel carwashes are in demand. These companies essentially serve as resellers for carwash tunnel equipment. But on top of that, they provide expert consultation services for owners building new carwashes as well as necessary installation and maintenance for existing locations. This includes helping to implement best practices and designs involving architects, engineers, and other industry professionals.
To do this, the consulting firms not only design and specify the original equipment in new construction, but also the equipment for remodels and upgrades. In this regard, they often work with specific manufacturers of tunnel wash equipment as well as suppliers of replacements parts such as dedicated manufacturers of the brushes – cloth, foam, tire/wheel brushes and detailing brushes.
Spurring interest in such services is the fact that many existing locations, built decades ago, are aging and in need of upgrade. Failing to keep up with technology and industry advances inevitably means falling further behind the competition.
“Owners of established washes are competing with a growing number of new competitors so they need to refresh their operations and sometimes even rebrand,” says Dennis O’Connell, president of Hoffman Services, a company that builds and remodels carwashes. “Tunnel wash technology has also improved dramatically so cars can get cleaner, shinier, and drier than previously possible.”
O’Connell adds that a major factor in the carwash industry is the current trend toward promoting club memberships, which often drive retrofits and the implementation of modern technology.
The extent of a remodel depends on the age of the equipment, number of carwashes, and the budget. In some cases, small incremental improvements can be made. In others, all new equipment may be required.
However, since providing a good, efficient cleaning is the heart of any carwash operation, “one of the first things that gets replaced are the brushes, such as cloth or foam, which is very noticeable to customers,” says O’Connell. “Changing out the cloth or foam is one of the easiest ways to spruce up the look of a carwash.”
The visual upgrade is all the more striking when all the items are changed at the same time, which can give customers the impression that you have invested in brand new equipment to enhance the wash. Even if this means switching out some materials before they are fully worn out, the cost is nominal in comparison to the benefits which can include new customers, return visits and more club memberships. When this is the case, the choice is to purchase cloth and foam from the manufacturer of the tunnel wash equipment, or to purchase it from dedicated brush suppliers in the industry.
In selecting a dedicated brush supplier, O’Connell looks for deep industry knowledge, quality, ample options, reasonable costs, and quick response.
“We need a brush manufacturer who understands the equipment, how the brushes fit the equipment. We rely on them to get it right because we are not necessarily the cloth experts. So, they need to be available to look at the installation even if through photos because sometimes these are very old units. And they need to make it simple for us to order,” says O’Connell.
In this regard, Hoffman Services works with Erie Brush, a supplier to the carwash industry since 1948. The brush manufacturer provides carwash consultants and owners with a variety of supplies for conveyor tunnels, rollover, express drive-through, and self-service washes for all major equipment OEMs.
This includes cloth, foam, hog’s hair brushes, tire/wheel brushes, detailing brushes, etc. Although standard brushes, cloth and foam are offered, the manufacturer is also known in the industry for providing customized brushes and a broad assortment of materials, designs, and colors.
Erie Brush was run by carwash legend Dan Pecora, who was inducted into the 2020 International Carwash Association (ICA) Hall of Fame shortly before his passing. Now the company is run by his son, Robert Pecora, who is continuing the family tradition of innovating some of the industry’s highest quality brushes as company president.
“Robert is modernizing the way Erie is operating to make it easier for his distribution partners to do business with him,” says O’Connell. “He is simplifying the ordering process, revising his pricing for distributors, and stocking the more commonly sold cloth to expedite delivery.”
Because the carwash equipment and consumable supply industry continues to innovate and evolve, O’Connell looks for deep product expertise in a brush partner than can help to improve cleaning and operational efficiency.
“There are a lot of new products out there. With a company like Erie Brush with decades of expertise, we can talk about the different types of cloth, different patterns and material compositions that result in better performance for our carwash customers. That is the kind of support we need,” says O’Connell.
Of course, cost plays an important role in any decision.
“If you examine the costs, you also have to figure in your time. If I call a brush supplier, give them an equipment model, and ask for the appropriate cloth and they say, ‘this is what you need and this is the cost,’ I’m finished. I want a quick, simple transaction,” says O’Connell. “On the other hand, if I have to make the same call and spend time working with the supplier to figure out exactly the right type of cloth that is much more costly than a single phone call transaction.”
Finally, O’Connell seeks immediate responsiveness in a supplier so he can respond in kind to his car wash customers.
“If I need something, I place a call, send an email or text, I want my supplier to get back to me quickly. We are competing for business, so if it takes us three days to get back to a customer instead of one day, we could lose the sale. So, working with a supplier that responds quickly is a competitive advantage that can win us more business,” concludes O’Connell.
Del Williams is a technical writer based in Torrance, California. For more information, e-mail sales@eriebrush.com or visit www.eriebrush.com.
