Lavamac has been introducing a string of innovations and developments that lay the foundations for a positive second half to the year for them.

Firstly, it was during lockdown that Lavamac noticed the shortage of equipment available so they looked at the refurbishment part of their business to see what could be done to meet the demand for equipment. Roll on forward in time and in the last 12 months they have further developed this demand into a process that required a specialist facility. In January this year Lavamac opened this new refurbishment facility in Cambridgeshire, employing two full time members of staff.

Their offering at the new site includes complete renewal and reconstruction of used models of machines such as Lavamac, Primus and Ipso, leaving them looking and working like new. Now 70 per cent of their equipment sales are refurbished machines. Jeremy Hartigan, managing director of Lavamac said: “Current model equipment that operates and is warranted as new, doubling the life of equipment, has found us a willing market at approximately half the cost of new.

“Some of the UK’s largest and prestigious care providers are nominating our refurbished equipment in new construction and existing facilities. We are also supporting care providers with air sourced heat pump dryers, an often misunderstood and poorly maintained product that delivers enormous energy and environmental benefits when used correctly.

“In addition, we have taken on the support of chemical dosing equipment with two major suppliers – Countrywide and Blueleaf – at over 450 locations. We have developed the intelligent chemical control technology where the machines weight controls the chemical based on loading, saving an average of 32 per cent of chemical use and waste.”

They’re also delivering on their sustainability and environmental goals too. They’ve instituted a system of circular economy where they have reduced waste and prolonged equipment life, as well as implemented a policy of replacing all vehicles to electric hybrid. This is on course for completion by the end of this year.

Hartigan added: “Our environmental and sustainability policies won us the prestigious Bronze Sustainability Award from the high recognised Groundworks Trust – we are one of only 22 UK companies to achieve this. We’re currently awaiting the results of an assessment where we are hoping that this has been elevated to Silver status – we’ll be in even rarer company then as only 16 UK companies have achieved this! Watch this space!”

Lavamac refurbishment machines at their new facility in Cambridgeshire

As good as new! Lavamac’s refurbished machinery now accounts for 70 per cent of equipment sales