The Berner Group, based in Baden-Württemberg, specializes in professional tools and products for the automotive, construction, and industrial sectors. Additionally, the portfolio, focusing on workshops, construction sites, and industrial applications, includes a wide range of chemical products for cleaning, care, and maintenance. Currently, the Berner Group is expanding its offerings with solutions that are intended to be healthier and more environmentally friendly. Newly available, for example, are new biological parts washers.
The boxes, approximately waist-high and available in four versions with capacities ranging from 40 to 100 liters, are designed to clean vehicle parts removed during repair in an environmentally friendly manner from oil and dirt. Special feature: no cleaning fluid with health-hazardous solvents is required. Frank Machenheimer, who is responsible for the international launch of the product at the Berner Group, describes the issue:
“The standard devices available on the market so far mostly work with solvent-containing cleaning fluids. These typically need to be replaced every three to four weeks because the fluid becomes so saturated with dirt and oil particles during the cleaning process that it barely works.”
Thus, more frequent changes of the agent are necessary. Although there are parts cleaning devices that use biodegradable cleaners, their substance also needs to be replaced regularly, which can significantly increase costs due to the volume. Additionally, the installation of an exhaust air system to reduce the concentration of harmful vapors is legally required, which can also be costly. Furthermore, petroleum-based solvents are usually highly flammable, environmentally harmful, and irritating – and old stocks must then be disposed of with considerable effort, which also burdens people and the environment.
Change only once a
year
All these disadvantages are to be eliminated by Berner's new parts washers. The solution is biologically designed and is said, according to the company, to completely do without petroleum-based solvents for degreasing and cleaning. But how is the reduction in effectiveness prevented? Here, the provider uses a combination of a special cleaning fluid and microorganisms that are supposed to naturally regenerate the washing-active substances.
For this purpose, bacterial cultures in the form of tablets are regularly added to the cleaning substance, which decompose the impurities that have accumulated in the solution. In this way, the used surfactants or washing-active substances are, so to speak, reactivated and can thus ensure a consistently strong cleaning power according to the provider. Machenheimer: “The fluid only needs to be changed once a year. This is significantly more sustainable and saves the business real money.”
According to the provider, the application also offers additional advantages: no exhaust system is required to prevent harmful vapors due to the high boiling point of the cleaning agent. Other features of the Berner devices: the level of the agent is monitored through an external display, and a separate drain tap is used for extraction. The removal of deposited dirt is facilitated by a closure plug at the bottom of the container.
Electric or electro-pneumatic
The Berner Group, which has its headquarters in Künzelsau like its competitor Würth, offers the new washers in an electric and an electro-pneumatic variant. With the mobile systems, brakes, transmissions, engine parts, and other components can also be cleaned directly on the vehicle or under the lifting platform. “The sink is always at the perfect height, ensuring
ergonomic work – which protects the health of the workshop staff.”
According to the description, the preheating time of the washing system is a rather short 15 minutes. Additionally, since the components can be pre-soaked, dirt can be removed particularly thoroughly and quickly in this way. The flow rate of the cleaner can be individually regulated using a built-in pressure reducer. A blowgun is also integrated for the final drying process.
Also stationary
In addition to the mobile variants, two stationary devices in larger dimensions are also available. They feature spacious sinks that also allow soaking and cleaning of larger vehicle parts. Furthermore, the products are modularly built and are said by the provider to support easy and effective maintenance.
Accessories: Application glasses
The Berner product portfolio, in addition to chemical products, consists of an assortment of more than 100,000 items for repair, care, and maintenance. This also means a range of accessories in connection with the offered devices. Berner also recommends articles that are particularly suitable for working with the new parts cleaners. For example, the “Vision” safety glasses and the newly available disposable nitrile gloves ZIG Grip.
The modernly designed “Vision” safety glasses are said to combine reliable eye protection with comfortable wear, which is contributed by the low weight of 24 g and the soft, non-slip temples. According to the information, the glasses are high-quality coated, extremely scratch-resistant on the outside, and “permanently fog-free” on the inside.
Accessories: Hypoallergenic gloves
The nitrile disposable gloves ZIG Grip, recommended for use with parts cleaners, are double coated and designed to be durable. A high level of grip is achieved with the special
grip pattern. Nico Hild, responsible product manager at Berner, says: “Especially the wet grip is exceptionally high compared to other grip variants.” Due to the nitrile material, the gloves are also designed to be sensitive enough to be suitable for touchscreen operation.
If there are tears in the material, the two-colored design (black on the outside, green on the inside) ensures that damage is quickly detected and users can change the gloves without coming into contact with dirt or liquids. The nitrile design, on the other hand – a material that is considered particularly robust, chemically resistant, and elastic – provides greater resistance compared to latex. Hild: “Unlike latex, nitrile is significantly more tear and puncture resistant.” Another advantage for allergy sufferers: the ZIG Grip model is hypoallergenic and therefore also suitable for sensitive people. The removal of the disposable gloves is made practical by the single-use dispenser. Sizes available are S and M (each with 100 pieces) and L to XXL in quantities of 90 pieces each.
Berner was founded over 65 years ago and has two bases in Germany, in Künzelsau and Cologne. With over 8,000 employees, the company is present in 21 countries. The B2B products can be purchased via webshops and a proprietary app, and are distributed by more than 5,000 sales specialists. Logistics centers are located in twelve countries. Additionally, the company operates 100 depots or craft centers in metropolitan areas and several production sites that supply European customers with materials – “almost everywhere in Europe within 24 hours,” according to the website. “Our customers thank us for this with annual sales of more than 1.1 billion euros.”
