ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The organisers of the CMS cleaning exhibition in Berlin this September will host an international conference there for the first time. The theme - Sustainable Competitiveness in the Cleaning Sector.

The event will run over two days of the exhibition - September 25 and 26 - with speakers from around the world presenting papers.

One of the industry associations compiling the programme is the German cleaning systems organisation VDMA. Its president Markus Asch explained: "The focus will be on different markets. Major challenges and global trends will be discussed as well as concepts and solutions for the tasks the cleaning sector has to fulfil.

"It is important for us to give delegates high-level first-hand information to take home."

Also taking part in the programme is Hans Simons, president of the European Federation of Cleaning Industries. He said: "The schedule covers job market and energy issues, the relationship to facility management, disinfection and hygiene. It will also address the global development of the cleaning industry along with the image, positioning and development potential of its players."

Speakers will include Dr Adonai Arruda of Higi Serv Holdings in Brazil, Dr JPS Bakshi of India, Simon Chen from ICE in China, Toni D'Andrea of Afidamp Servizi in Italy, Pro Dr med Petra Gastmeier from the Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine in Berlin, Dr Ilham Kadri from Diversey in the USA, Yri Rabitschew of Primex in Russia, Giampaolo Ruffo of Comac in Italy, and Christian Storinggaard of Ecolab in Switzerland.

The keynote speaker is Daniel Calleja Crespo, the Spanish director-general of the European Union, who will examine the competitiveness of the EU's service sector.

Conference languages are German, English and French. Delegate fee is 400 euros, which also includes admission to the exhibition.

Visit www.cms-berlin.de/cmskongresse