By Steve Okun

When it comes to innovation, the United States apparently doesn’t have the market cornered on creative carwashing. One example: There’s a small but growing chain of hand-carwashes in Australia that has creatively applied some technology that is paying off quite nicely by reducing costs while enhancing its reputation in the community as well as enriching the overall customer experience.

Hand Wash Café currently operates three locations in Queensland, with several others under construction. The hand-carwash and café idea is the brainchild of well known Brisbane & Australian rugby league Hall Of Fame celebrity Chris Johns. In partnership with world cricket legend Ian Healy they’ve created a high quality, time efficient hand-carwashing service that boasts some uniquely popular advantages.

Bountiful Help From Mother Nature

Water is essential to sustaining all life; we simply can’t live without it. And if you’re in the business of washing cars, water is fundamental to your livelihood. Atmospherically, water comes from three basic places: in the ground, from our waterways, and out of the sky.

Most carwashes use water that comes from under the ground, either via wells and aquifers or through a municipal water system. However, with the increase of drought conditions worldwide, many are returning to the fundamentals of capturing, containing and reusing rainwater as a supplement to our most basic needs. The easiest and most obvious use of rainwater is for irrigating landscaping. Other domestic uses include washing clothing and supplying toilets.

Given the growing challenge of restricted water use due to droughts, the owners of Hand Wash Café decided to harness and reuse rainwater as a major source of non-potable water for vehicle washing and rinsing process. After doing a feasibility analysis of the costs, they invested several hundred thousand dollars to create a rainwater harvesting system that utilizes sedimentation, filtration, chlorination, and cyclonic extraction of minute solids from captured rainwater that is harvested from the rooftop of their facility and stored in huge underground tanks.

A series of holding and processing tanks supply 500,000 liters of water for washing and rinsing vehicles in their retail operation. Although they are not completely self-contained, the majority of their washing process is fed by rainwater that supplements the closed-loop reclaim and recirculation system. Not a drop is wasted, and that conservation effort has been applauded by Australian governmental agencies from within their country as well as by the International Carwash Association several years ago when Hand Wash Café was given an industry award for Innovation in Carwashing.

Named the “world’s best practices process” by Australian media, Hand Wash Café has demonstrated the most frugal use of water in professional carwashing worldwide simply by applying an age-old practice of harvesting rainwater. Unfortunately, the United States is quite a bit more conflicted about rainwater harvesting with no uniform national policy on its conservation and reuse. It remains an issue dealt with individually from state to state, running the gamut from encouraging the use of rainwater to actually outlawing it. It makes good business sense to investigate what your particular state allows regarding rainwater harvesting. Even limiting the use to landscape maintenance is a good start, and moving towards the eventual acceptance of an integrated system that supplements your current use of municipal water resources is a logical direction for development. Hand Wash Café has created an identity of being an excellent steward of the environment. And that appreciative community acceptance builds business and makes life a whole lot easier for them. It also saves them many thousands of dollars in overhead each month. In fact, many of their customers feel that using rainwater actually provides them a superior carwash result, and have become staunch supporters of the chain’s facilities.

Another Innovation: A Magic Carpet Ride!

Hand Wash Café’s first wash was initially equipped with a conventional roller & chain conveyor with steel guide rails that contained cars as they rolled through the entire length of the tunnel. The rails made the workspace cumbersome and the chain and rollers were noisy and posed a clear danger to the washing staff.

Chris and Ian soon recognized the value and safety provided by upgrading to a moving-floor conveyor system. By upgrading to the flat belt design, they completely eliminated the risks associated with wheel and tire damage as well as the undercarriage clearance restrictions from guide rail intrusion. Since the washing is accomplished by manually mitting in the tunnel, the flat floor with no guide rail obstruction to staff foot traffic, the process is much safer, too. Now, due to the conspicuous benefits of a moving floor conveyor system and customer insistence for the upgrade benefit, all their washes are using flat-belts in the washing process.

The owners were genuinely surprised at the powerfully positive customer reaction to the new moving-floor phenomenon that enabled their cars to safely glide atop the conveyor belt just like taking a magic carpet ride. Nothing touching the wheels or tires, and there are none of the risks associated with a rolling vehicle.

Assembly-Line Processing Increases Capacity

Chris Johns feeling is that time is money and improvements that increase production and decrease customer wait-time are well worth the investment, even in challenging economic times. Accordingly, he’s decided to upgrade by conveyorizing his hands-on operation by implementing Flex-Serve along with the increased capacity of a moving-floor Express After-Care operation. With the upgrade of two side-by-side moving-floor conveyors, Hand Wash Café can now process 50-60 cars-per-hour with select detailing services. Johns says that by upgrading, he is using less space to produce more cars… and create and maintain happier customers. Johns says it makes perfect sense that a detailing activity take steps to capitalize on the upscale image of a moving-floor conveyor, especially if it distinguishes what you do when compared will all others. “The conveyor company, Safetveyr, showed us how to do more… with less, and that has had a very positive impact on our bottom-line.”

“Although the move was a bit more expensive up-front, the payback in productivity as well as marketing with a conspicuously visible competitive advantage makes it quite worthwhile. We anticipate a quick return on our investment as demonstrated by our previous experience with the flat-belt in our carwash processing.” Johns increased his peak capacity in hand-carwash production to 125-per-hour with the upgrade, and expects his price-points in detailing to accelerate the express after-care upgrade payback considerably.

Chris and Ian invite fellow carwash mates from the United States to visit them and see how they’ve maximized the prudent use of rainwater in their operations. And while there, enjoy a ride on one of their magic carpets!

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Chris Johns

Chris Johns had an outstanding career as a rugby league player and administrator. He played for the Brisbane Broncos between 1988 and 1996 having begun his career with the St George Dragons. Johns played in Broncos premiership teams in 1992 and 1993 and he is one of only six Broncos Hall of Fame inductees. He also made nine State of Origin appearances for NSW and played 23 games for Australia.

Johns was the inaugural CEO of the Melbourne Storm in 1998 and played a major role in their first premiership. Johns’ preoccupation these days is discovering world best practice in carwash procedures to implement them at our sites. USA is the most established nation for what we do and he has viewed, washed and installed conveyors with American owners from San Francisco to Florida.

Johns is currently on the periphery of rugby league, but keeps a keen interest on the progress of his three NRL clubs – the Broncos, the Dragons and the Storm.

Ian Healy

Ian Healy was a permanent fixture in the Australian Cricket Team from 1988 to 1999, missing just one Test – because of a broken thumb. Healy amassed five world records along the way.

He held the world record for the most dismissals by a wicket keeper (395) and has played more Test matches (119) than any other wicket keeper in Australian history. In 1994, he was appointed Australian Test Cricket Vice-Captain and in 2000 was named Australian Wicketkeeper of the Century.

Since retiring in 1999 Healy has moved into the commentary box with Channel 9 to provide insightful observations on the world champion Aussies. He also reads the nightly sports news for the Queensland 9 television network.

Along with Chris Johns, Healy keeps his eye on all the footy codes, Broncos, Reds and the Lions and absolutely loves a game of golf.

Traditional national sporting bodies are now not the only places that up and coming players are striving to play for. Australian cricket, Australian rugby league and rugby union all now have cashed up competitors which are very appealing to players at every stage of a career. It was once just the end of a distinguished career when a player became excited by the prospect of discovering new frontiers both in the sport and socially with their families . Not anymore !

Young cricketers strive to be recognised by the Indian franchises in 20/20, rugby league and union players are continually being courted by Japan and France cash cows and now the most unlikely of decisions by Karmichael Hunt to switch codes . With sport now established as a workplace rather than a sport of passion these transferees stand to lose precious little ,other than face, for possible failures. There is no such thing as payments being tied to successful performance, the majority of fees are guaranteed upfront , injuries and loss of form mean nothing financially as the player is fully insured for everything that might strike. Why wouldn’t anyone take on such challenges , potentially thrilling but possibly disastrous .

Sport should continually investigate 2 things- paying for performance under the workplace relationship it has with it’s players and withholding a percentage of monies earned by young players for after career security. This can recreate the hunger of eras past , ensure  current players  live within their means and then provide them with good coin post career.

Reports last month that Vicki Wilson’s tenure on the Qld Firebirds coaching position was limited due to her fulltime employment elsewhere disturbed me . In the eyes of the junior membership of the sport and outside supporters like myself she is the obvious attraction for outside imports and local talent development , yet she is constantly headbutting with the administrators of the sport. The bubbling issues are never explained , decisions taken rarely justified and it looks poor for the most popular played sport in Australia.  Wanting any coach of a netball team to be fulltime in that role is a backward step in my view. Players the same . The sport at the elite level is just beginning to walk again with the ANZ Championship producing some great contests and profile to showcase fantastic athleticism and personalities. But now the rush to do it all fulltime is worrying. The financial side of things appears to be way off ,if athletes are to be remunerated adequately to cease employment . Current payments are extremely basic which begs the questions above as to how administrators believe fulltime playing status can be achieved. Money isn’t my main issue though , it is the life balance that needs to be allowed and all sport should provide for people to experience more than just the game. Too many don’t , mine included (cricket) and they are developing narrower individuals all living just one dream, a dream that can be shattered quickly or never quite reached and earnings never realised. Experience in the real world and old fashioned hunger to perform is a balance that has been lost to many sports , netball should take it’s time to follow. The contests don’t get better , the skills probably quicken up , game sense gets worse and we have limited the futures of many individuals who become stuck in a category- BE CAREFUL.

Sport in Australia is being battered by minorities and media alike for image concerns and negative impact of individuals as role models. They are losing a battle without stating their case at all. Too many sportpeople are becoming public whipping boys for doing nothing like what goes on every saturday night in every city . They have not broken any society laws and yet they can be unrealistically punished for such indescretions

Relaxation is crucial in sport , so is fun and comraderie. These must be balanced with extremely high discipline and mental focus on technique, tactics and endurance, while remaining  within the national laws. I suspect sport has lost this balance and has given up defending such balance. This needs to reemerge before representative sport becomes too tedious for the majority not just the handful who have opted out so far. Sonny Bill, Hugh McMeniman and Andrew Symonds the latest of a swag who have taken on new challenges, over honour.

Sport has stopped coaching the behaviours required to be a sportsman in favour of banning stuff and this can’t be good. Stop taking things so seriously that enjoyment is sapped from every experience. Endeavour to have players not approach their sport as a job rather than justify the coaching staff’s existence and train more often , to appear clever. It is now a job but the players don’t have to approach it like that – it still needs to be their dream, and let it be a job for the workers alone. ie the staff.

Banning drink or women or whatever,  totally for long periods shows a total lack of trust in the majority rather than coaching young men to consume or partake in relationships appropriately. The parameters of behaviour requirements have definately changed but they are still coachable so that a balance can be achieved. The ability to drink enough to unwind but not get into strife is something that needs to be learned with experience, not by being banned for 8 months then let loose.

Responsibility has to be discussed, trust shown and consequences applied consistently for misdemenours.  Two very respected and diligent sporting organisations in the Broncos and Cricket Australia have thrown their hands up in recent times and stopped coaching . Symonds, banned from drinking in public while on national duty and Joel Clinton inviting a lady home prior to a game was punished severely. Their offences were breaking agreed promises to the team or franchise, which isn’t good but hardly a crime.

The frustrations of both organisations are clear , having to resort to agreements of such a petty nature,but once these are cleared up and explained publicly I hope they can get back to some real balance and mentoring so that young players dreams can be lived not worked ,as in a job.

Ian Healy

Her name “Lily Allen ” and  her latest song says way too much for my liking . Explicit sexual references and thoughts camouflaged in a popular song , which is given plenty of airtime by most radio stations.

Have these stations blinkered themselves totally to their non- targeted audiences and think only those who this smut is intended for are indeed the only ones listening.?

Have they forgotten younger siblings regularly have to hear what is transmitted? What chance this generation , let alone the next, for upholding any sort of standards and ettiquette, when this is allowed to pass into minds of youth, so readily.

So who are the people responsible for lyrical suitability and then who are those who scrutinise broadcast content and standards? Then what are their responsibilities and processes because they are failing.

Sporting stars continually take on the profile of role model , many times unnaturally in such a category YET musicians seem to be able to do as they please even if it is a derogatory influence.  And guess what ? It is musicians that assert a much greater influence on young people .

I hope we can find some consistency as well as the faceless names that are supposed to be watching out for us in standards of society.

Come on Australia let’s lift  !!!

Ian Healy