Every two years, the Innovation Award of the trade magazine busplaner, published by the Munich-based HUSS-VERLAG, honors the most outstanding products in the bus industry through a reader vote. 2025 marked the seventh edition of the competition, held in partnership with the Berlin bus trade fair BUS2BUS. Altogether, the editorial team nominated 66 candidates, to whom the 890 counted readers could cast their votes in 13 categories - this time including buses of various types, vehicle equipment, fleet management, tires, but also tourist attractions. In the vehicle cleaning category, the Memmingen-based family business Otto Christ AG impressed with its commercial vehicle washing system Nova Blade Premium.
Thoughtful Truck and Bus Washing System
The flagship model is designed as a "new generation" gantry system for commercial vehicle washing, offering "maximum protection and efficiency." To highlight its appearance, the fully automated Nova, which according to information is also suitable for RVs, received
new front cladding with the "Blade Premium illuminated" lettering. The silver Blade design serves as a cross-product recognition feature.
The integrated RGB display serves as practical guidance for the driver, assisting with entry, stop, and correct positioning through guiding animations. An ultrasonic sensor, similar to car parking aids, functions with color signals to assist. Consideration of the latest developments in modern trucks, like mirrorless camera systems that automatically recognize specially developed wash programs, also reflects contemporary relevance.
High-Pressure Cleaning with "Vitesse" - Faster and More
The Nova's side high-pressure cleaning feature has its name: the "Vitesse" nozzles are integrated into the portal column and can be operated parallel to side brush cleaning, reducing washing time, as noted by the manufacturer. Integrating this function also reduces dimensions - effect: "This increases the available washing length." The water nozzles can be used at different heights for better washing results, accommodating individual vehicle
height. The function is described with the following words:
"The high pressure operates oscillating with rotary nozzles or fixed nozzles and can be operated at pressures of up to 80 bar."
The high-pressure roof beam is also integrated into the portal and can optionally be equipped with rotating or fixed nozzles. A newly released optional touch control terminal with a user-friendly interface is also available.
Many Years of Expertise
Founded in 1879 and headquartered near Memmingen, the company specializes in vehicle washing systems (Christ Wash Systems) since building its first car wash in 1963 and has steadily expanded since then. Today, Christ Wash Systems not only offers a range of washing systems and wash lanes for cars, commercial vehicles, and rail vehicles but also develops customized special solutions for wash parks, car dealerships, or transport companies, providing related accessories such as washing chemicals and control devices. Last year at Automechanika
2024, for example, a touchless portal washing system without brush intervention was introduced.
"Our focus is on efficient cleaning systems, sustainable water treatment, and state-of-the-art control technology to offer our customers maximum efficiency and environmental friendliness,"
says the company's website. Today, the company considers itself one of the leading manufacturers of car wash systems in Europe with around 1,600 employees and a total of eight subsidiaries on the European continent. For worldwide availability, Christ Wash Systems has over 50 dealers under contract – from Europe to Arabia to China.
Otto Christ AG, with its Christ Wash Systems division, not only has expertise in washing technology. The expertise of the Christ Group extends far beyond, with other business areas such as packaging machines (Christ Packing Systems) and electronic systems for industrial applications (Christ Electronic Systems). The company's own Christ Academy serves as a means of passing on this wealth of knowledge.
