Wash machine products

The Lotus External Container Wash Plant is the only automated system in the world for this application. (Patents apply)

Containers that require cleaning for biosecurity or other reasons demand a long and arduous process when being cleaned manually where the Lotus machine carries out this operation very quickly and efficiently without any manual intervention.

Advantages are as follows:

Totally Automatic – there is no requirement for any manual involvement in the operation with the machine being activated by the loading of the container by a reach stacker or forklift.

Flexibility – the machine will clean any type of standard container – 20 or 40 foot, standard, half height or high cube, flat racks, ISO tank units

Speed – A 20 foot container is typically 4 minutes to clean and a 40 foot is 7 minutes. For large scale operation a double ended machine is used so that the wash process is almost continuous and allows for loading and unloading

Total Clean – the machine not only cleans the difficult underside but also the sides. top and ends and on flat racks the wash bar follows the contour of the frame to clean all surfaces.

Surface Treatment – The Lotus machine can automatically apply a surface treatment to the container after the wash process which may be a residual spray to protect against bio security threats or may be a treatment to protect the container.

Standards – The machines provide a consistent standard of clean and sanatise approved by bio security authorities in both New Zealand and Australia with no further treatment required.

Water Recirculation – Approx. 85% of the water used in the wash process is collected for reuse with minimal losses of water taken away on the container. The water is treated through mechanical filtration and a bacterial treatment plant to bring the water back to a high standard potable water for reuse through the system.

Water Collection – External water is collected and treated to use as make up water and reduce the requirement for mains water supply.

Longevity – Lotus machines are built for a minimum 25 year life with all steel components being not only galvanised but also epoxy coated to prevent corrosion. Design focus is on creating strength and durability into the machine.

Reliability – The best available components are used in the building of the equipment and where possible are oversized and engineered to give the greatest available reliability

Installation – Once the site is prepared and the plant delivered the installation of the unit is carried out by the Lotus engineering team.

The Lotus plant built for washing trains has numerous unique features.

Totally Automatic - there is no requirement for any manual involvement in the operation with the machine being activated by the approach of the train and can determine the type of train and alter the process to suit different types of units to be washed.

Contamination - The cleaning process deals not only with physical grime on the train surface but also treats chemical contamination and each machine is set up for the specific contamination on the units dependant on the local mechanical and environmental factors, hence giving a superior final outcome.

Speed of Operation - The Lotus trainwash plant is a drive through operation at 3 kph which gives a cleaning time of one standard coach every 20 to 30 seconds.

Brush technology - Specially developed brush filaments of cloverleaf shape are used to give crisp cleaning effect but with the application of water and detergent ensures no damage to the coach surface. The brushes are large in diameter and contoured in shape to suit the side of the coaches and clean the underskirt areas as well as the overhead cant rail area.

Front And Rear Cleaning - It is possible to have cleaning of the front and rear of the coach sets whilst the train is moving through the wash plant.

Rinse System - Two rinse systems are used both low and high pressure to ensure all grime is removed once it is emulsified on the coach surface.

Surface Treatment - The Lotus machine applies a surface treatment to the train after the wash process to not only assist in keeping the surface clean and give a bright finish for an extended period but also to prevent graffiti from sticking to the surface.

Water Recirculation - Approx. 85% of the water used in the wash process is collected for reuse with minimal losses of water taken away on the coaches. The water is treated through mechanical filtration and a biological treatment plant to bring the water back to a high standard potable water for reuse through the system.

Water Collection - External water is collected and treated to use as make up water and reduce the requirement for mains water supply.

Longevity - Lotus machines are built for a minimum 25 year life with all steel components being not only galvanised but also epoxy coated to prevent corrosion. Design focus is on creating strength and durability into the machine.

Reliability - The best available components are used in the building of the equipment and where possible are oversized and engineered to give the greatest available reliability.

Installation - Once the site is prepared and the plant delivered the installation of the unit is carried out by the Lotus engineering team.

The Lotus plant built for washing trucks is designed to clean road film off normal road trucks to a bright and shiny appearance in a short time frame with no manual intervention or damage to the truck.

Automation - there is no requirement for any manual involvement in the operation to achieve the express wash. (A total valet wash requires some additional hand cleaning). Once the machine is set for the type of truck unit it is then activated by the approach of the truck to the wash and the process is automatic.

Speed Of Operation - The machine is a brushless express wash and carrys out a complete wash cycle on a standard truck in approx. 8 minutes and a truck and single trailer unit in less than 15 minutes

Contamination - The cleaning process deals not only with physical grime on the truck surface but also treats other contamination such as brake and tyre dust and with the use of a range of special detergents cleans brightwork as well as painted surfaces and vinyl lettering and curtainsides.

Undercarriage - The wash plant initially cleans the underbody and wheels as the truck drives in to the bay with a high pressure blast to clean off any heavy grime.

Main Clean - Once the truck is stationary in the bay the machine moves back and forth over the unit and a horizontal spray bar moves up and down spraying on a series of detergents then blasting clean with a high volume medium pressure blast.

Surface Coating - After the cleaning process the machine applies a surface coating to protect all the substrate surfaces and, help to keep fresh contamination from sticking to the surface and give the truck a very clean and shiny appearance

Drying - A drying plant can be added as the truck exits the shed using a high pressure air shear system if required.

Water Recirculation - Approx. 80% of the water used in the wash process is collected for reuse with minimal losses of water taken away on the trucks. The water is treated through mechanical filtration and a biological treatment plant to bring the water back to a high standard potable water for reuse through the system.

Water Collection - External water is collected and treated to use as make up water and reduce the requirement for mains water supply.

Longevity - Lotus machines are built for a minimum 25 year life with all steel components being not only galvanised but also epoxy coated to prevent corrosion. Design focus is on creating strength and durability into the machine.

Reliability - The best available components are used in the building of the equipment and where possible are oversized and engineered to give the greatest available reliability

Installation - Once the site is prepared and the plant delivered the installation of the unit is carried out by the Lotus engineering team.

Lotus specialise in innovative design of commercial cleaning plant and have the capability of designing and manufacturing cleaning or blasting plant for almost any application.

An example of this is a containerised machine built to operate on salt water for washing down large barge decks in a short time frame. This machine uses medium pressure on 2 manual guns at high volume with hydraulic wind hose reels and automated fresh water flushing system.

Lotus personnel also have a long history of design and manufacture of drain cleaning equipment and high pressure blasting equipment from portable units to self-contained truck or containerised units for many applications.

All design and manufacture is focused on innovative methods to give exceptional wash results and to achieve the best available outcome using the highest quality standards.

If it needs cleaning we will find a way.