ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A mini racetrack complete with tight bends, a low bridge - and a toilet - is the rather perplexing sight on the Motorscrubber stand.

Visitors are being invited to test their speed and cleaning skills by pushing the company's new Dryft model around the track.

Besides the obvious aim of attracting interest, the race is also designed to show just how fast, lightweight and manoeuvrable the floor cleaning machine actually is.

"It weighs just six kilograms when empty and it is the world's first S-motion scrubber dryer," said CEO Imre Killi. "This means it cleans in widths of 160cm while the operator walks forward, which results in 75 per cent less walking."

Competitors are expected to clean under the low shelf and around the toilet during the "race" - tasks that are facilitated by the low profile and shape of the Dryft machine.

"It can clean under obstacles measuring just five centimetres from the floor, and unlike most scrubber-dryers it does not have a rounded front," said Killi. "It has a patented shape with chamfered edges."

This means the front of the machine has been cut away to create a symmetrical sloping edge. And yes, we did need to look it up.

The stakes are high for the Dryft challenge because competitors who post a photo of their attempt on LinkedIn could win one of the first prototypes of the machine. Results will be announced on May 24 and visitors can enter the race on stand 01.509.