Preen’s more environmental “touch-free AI-driven robotic car wash”, which avoids scratching and can be used for soft tops, is due to be launched in the UK next year.
The Ipswich site is one of a pipeline planned in a partnership between the Swiss supplier and UK investors. But it is looking for forecourt owners wanting to install the technology, potentially opening up new markets in car washing they may not have attracted before, such as electric vehicles with delicate sensors, luxury cars, and SUVs with roof boxes.
The robotics more commonly found in car production lines, together with AI software and a sophisticated vision system, enables the brush-free technology to adapt cleaning to the shape of each vehicle. This avoids damage and washes areas inaccessible by traditional rollover systems.
So says UK business development director Peter Spencer: “Using precision scanning and intelligent path-planning, the robotic arms adapt in real time to the shape of each vehicle, ensuring an exceptionally accurate and consistent clean,” he says.
The technology maps where spoilers and aerials are and washes around them. It will also recognise soft tops and will wash vinyl at a lower pressure.
Spencer adds: “Like a jet washer, it gets into areas normal rollovers cannot, getting really close under bumpers and wheel arches, and because it has no contact with the surface of the vehicle there is no risk of damage.”
The initial outlay for the technology is not inexpensive at around £490,000. But Spencer says the cost of running the machine – taking into account water, energy and chemicals – is half that of a traditional rollover.
He also claims that maintenance is less than brush-based systems, and that it would work well on autonomous sites. Also, he believes, having the premium washing offer will command higher prices from customers.
Car owners with more expensive vehicles will be drawn to sites, and so forecourt operators might be able to charge up to £20 for a wash, he believes.
“With increasing consumer demand for premium, no-scratch washes, especially from drivers of luxury and lease vehicles, Preen enables forecourt owners to charge a premium, reduce queue loss and attract new customer segments,” he says.
And the robots can be easily introduced on site. “For forecourt operators interested in the technology it will fit into existing wash bays, and we will be talking to independent petrol filling station operators, and oil companies to get the technology onto their sites,” says Spencer.
“We would be very keen to engage with any potential pioneers,” he adds.
“There is a huge novelty factor with this technology. Children like to see the robotic arms dancing around giving an excellent result while causing no damage to your Ferrari.”
