ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Passengers are being asked to help Heathrow Airport pick out names for its new 20-plus strong fleet of purple cleaning robots, operated by facilities management company Mitie.

Suggestions are being sought via email for "the perfect names to match the robots' personalities".

Mitie has delivered cleaning services to all Heathrow terminals since 2022 and has 850 cleaning and hygiene specialists working across the airport.

The machines are capable of cleaning up to 4,800 square metres per day, recycling water as they go. They represent the UK's largest fleet of autonomous cleaning robots.

"Our cobots work diligently to keep our terminals safe and squeaky clean," said director of services at Heathrow Daniel Edwards. "Having achieved ‘icon' status amongst Heathrow colleagues and passengers we are excited to invite the public to help us award each cobot its own unique name."

Facebook suggestions to date have included Dust Vader, Sweep Caroline, Bruce Springclean and Air Floorce One. Others are: Scrubby McRunway, Maximus Waximus and Dustbin Hoffman.

Once a shortlist of suggestions has been drawn up, the public will again be invited to vote for their favourites. The final 23 names will be emblazoned on the robots themselves.

Heathrow Airport plays host to more than 200,000 passengers each day, travelling on around 1,300 flights. Mitie has also rolled out cleaning robots in key London train stations including King's Cross, London Bridge, Waterloo and Liverpool Street.