Niagara Soft Cloth Car Wash – A Story of Revitalization and Growth
By Meline Beach
Nestled in the heart of Welland, Ontario, Niagara Soft Cloth Car Wash stands as a beacon of transformation. Originally built three decades ago, the carwash recently underwent a remarkable rejuvenation, driven by a vision to incorporate the latest innovations and technologies and reposition itself as a high-quality interior and exterior carwash company.
Upon acquiring the site several months ago, the owner recognized the need for a comprehensive overhaul. Outdated equipment, including the old-fashioned chain and roller system, no longer aligned with the owner’s commitment to excellence. Thus began their quest to embrace cutting-edge solutions that would elevate the customer experience and propel its business into the modern era.
A key part of its transformation was the integration of state-of-the-art equipment from Tommy Car Wash Systems, a trusted partner known for its commitment to innovation. The installation of the Tommy dual belt conveyor and tunnel marked a significant milestone in its journey toward redefining the carwash experience. Designed to enhance efficiency and throughput, these systems offer a quantum leap from the conventional chain and roller setup, enabling the business to accommodate a higher volume of vehicles with unparalleled speed and precision.
“Tommy’s revolutionary License Plate Reader (LPR) technology is the best in the industry,” says Spencer Carter, installer/distributor, Carter Wash Systems, who managed the installation of the new equipment at Niagara Soft Cloth Car Wash. Carter oversees numerous installations of carwash equipment across a wide network of businesses. “We’ve been able to seamlessly integrate it with the Tommy Transporter Dual Conveyor System. This cutting-edge solution streamlines the customer journey, facilitates transactions and ensures a seamless wash experience. With the ability to process over 150 cars per hour, our wash has set a new standard for efficiency and customer satisfaction.”
Beyond hardware upgrades, Niagara Soft Cloth Car Wash’s commitment to technological innovation extends to every facet of its operation. From the advanced wash controller by Guardian Controls to the precision detergent delivery system from Tommy’s, Niagara Soft Cloth Car Wash leverages state-of-the-art solutions to optimize performance and minimize operational costs.
“This is the “brains” of a carwash and can control the whole operation from an iPad,” says Michael Van Wieren, Tommy Car Wash Systems Equipment Sales. “Niagara Soft Cloth Car Wash also installed Tommy’s FloPro detergent delivery system to control all the chemicals, air controls and fine-tune what is necessary with just the turn of a switch. This helps the car was operation stay as efficient as possible and offers peace of mind in ensuring they’re getting the right mix to make sure cars are clean while keeping operational cost down.”
The entrance module, which is a tall, stainless-steel tower at the beginning of the carwash, directs the customer to enter the wash and also states details of the service selected visually on a screen and audibly so the customer can see and hear instructions.
Everything has been upgraded – from blowers, brushes and stainless arches, representing a huge improvement in operations and a significant reduction in labour costs. The old wash had someone prepping the wash and loading every customer with the chain and roller.
In terms of environmental sustainability, Niagara Soft Cloth Car Wash prides itself on using reclaimed water in its wash, along with fresh water.
“We clean the used water and reuse it on the pre-rinse when a car enters the wash to help get some of the initial grime off,” says Carter. “Also, reclaimed water is used on the belt flush which keeps the conveyor clean and on the cars’ door handles and below. This serves as a dual purpose; it is good for the environment and good for cost savings.”
In terms of industry trends, Niagara Soft Cloth Car Wash offers a monthly subscription-based membership along with its pay-per-wash option through the Wash Club app. Paired with its License Plate Reader technology, the app offers unparalleled value and convenience to customers with seamless transactions each time.
With another site in Welland slated for integration into its operations, the company’s vision of establishing a comprehensive network of carwash facilities is well underway.
Meline Beach is a Toronto-based communications practitioner and frequent contributor to Convenience and Carwash Canada. In addition to freelance writing, Meline provides communications and public relations support to businesses across Canada. She can be reached at www.mlbcomms.ca.
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Editor’s Note: WashTalk is a regular feature that highlights carwash businesses that have an interesting story to tell. It is not intended to promote any one business but rather to provide information on activities of businesses within the industry. If you know a carwash that has undergone an interesting transformation or project or has something special to share with our readers, please contact us at:
editor@convenienceandcarwash.com for consideration of being featured in an upcoming issue.
