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ISSA Member Profile: Spectro B.V.

Categories: ISSA Member Spotlight

Netherlands-based Spectro B.V.manufactures cleaning agents and products for professional use in building care, kitchen cleaning, the food industry, automotive care, washrooms, and other industrial purposes.

In 2011, Spectro became a member of ISSA. We spoke to Spectro Product Manager Laurens Metternich about the value ISSA membership has brought to the company, the challenges the cleaning industry faces, and how ISSA and our members can face these challenges head-on.

“We were of course aware of ISSA well before our membership, largely due to the ISSA/INTERCLEAN® Amsterdam trade shows,” said Metternich. “However, when ISSA announced its BeNeLux Working Group initiative, we knew it was definitely time to join the organisation.” ISSA’s BeNeLux Working Group was established in 2011, a service for our members in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg (BeNeLux).

“The Working Group is dedicated to providing BeNeLux members with the highest quality, industry-specific, relevant information, all tailored to our region,” said Metternich. “With such an initiative in place, our company realised that membership to ISSA would be hugely advantageous―not only would we benefit from ISSA’s global resources and expertise, but also from their local knowledge. Last year, I myself joined this Working Group nd I hope that in doing so, I am contributing to the success of the wider cleaning industry within our region.”

By joining ISSA, Spectro became a member of a global community of more than 6,000 distributors, manufacturers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, and manufacturer representative companies. Metternich was keen to highlight benefits of ISSA. “Thanks to ISSA, we have been able to easily network with professionals from the cleaning industry all over the world,” he said. “In the short time Spectro has been a member of ISSA, I have learned a lot about other markets and what constitutes best practices internationally. This is vital if we want to stay ahead of the game in our own region.”

One of the key ways that ISSA facilitates networking is of course through ISSA/INTERCLEAN trade shows.

“ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amsterdam is one of the most important events in our calendar—and I am very proud that it takes place in my country,” said Metternich. “Events like this are a fantastic place to meet our peers, make important business connections, and learn about new innovations that are transforming our industry. These days, the number of visitors to trade shows (in general) seems to be declining. However, ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amsterdam is something special. It manages to sell 80 percent of the place 18 months before the show even takes place!”

Events like the ISSA/INTERCLEAN trade shows also present a great opportunity to discuss the latest issues facing the industry and how they can be resolved. “In my opinion, one of the major challenges facing our industry today is ensuring the rest of the world understands the importance of cleaning,” said Metternich. “Some people and businesses view cleaning as (being) of limited importance. However, cleaning contributes hugely to a safer, healthier, and more efficient working environment. ISSA has undertaken many initiatives to promote cleaning, and this is something I am always keen to discuss with them and other cleaning industry professionals. I think this is a challenge we can easily overcome.”

So, what does the future hold for Spectro and ISSA? At the moment, Spectro is looking forward to exhibiting at ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amsterdam 2014. “At the next show, we will be presenting our latest Ecodos innovations,” said Metternich. “In fact, this show will be something of personal milestone for me. My grandfather attended the very first ISSA/INTERCLEAN in Amsterdam 24 editions ago, and I now look forward to attending the 25th anniversary show. I hope the tradition of these shows will continue for many years to come.”

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