Until recently, manufacturers were deprived of high quality, comprehensive and consistent training that covered all the issues that those responsible for hygiene and cleaning would face. Large detergent firms still offer to train companies in the use of their products, but independent training has been thin on the ground.

Swabbing trials have demonstrated that by applying its exterior surface coating biocide technology, BioCote has cut the amount of bacteria contaminating the surfaces of Priorclave autoclaves by almost four fifths (78%).

Abbeychart has launched a wall-mounted sanitising hand gel dispenser for its new surgical quality cleanser.

Arco has supplied baker JG Ross with janitorial, hygiene and health and safety products and equipment at its recently opened £4.2M site at Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. Arco provided personal protective equipment, workwear and workplace safety products as well as advice, services and safety solutions. The company worked with paper towel maker SCA, industrial floor cleaning machinery supplier Nilfisk Alto, and Vikan, supplier of colour-coded housekeeping products and brushes, to kit out the JG Ross site.

Safeway Hygiene Services has launched a hand washing system combining sensors with high pressure water jets to improve the consistency and effectiveness of hand washing.

BioCote has developed a patented antimicrobial coatings technology using silver ions, which it has applied to food instruments and equipment such as Comark Instruments' probes, furniture, fixtures and fittings to fight the growth of bacteria, fungi and moulds.

An anti-microbial technology has been launched by Byotrol for all members of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), enabling them to provide total hygiene control across the supply chain. The aim is to cut hygiene costs and eliminate the need to change cleaning products every few months to combat germ resistance.

Brakes has added a selection of new products to its range to help food suppliers and caterers with cleanliness and convenience in their kitchens.

The Insectron 600 insect exterminator can now be fitted with a glue board, instead of just an electrified tension-grid, to stop dead flies and other insects falling into food products. The glue board incorporates a non-smelling pheromone for extra attraction to pests.

Johnson Diversey has appointed Needlers to provide hygiene and health and safety advice to its smaller clients in the food and drinks sector. Needlers, which supplies cleaning products, protective workwear and associated equipment, will now provide support for open plant cleaning and internal equipment cleaning to factories that spend less than £20,000 on cleaning chemicals.

Wholefood packing company Day Plus One has devised a non-toxic pest control system suitable for use with organic products.

Paint manufacturer Johnstone's has launched Johnstone's Microbarr anti-bacterial coatings, which uses silver ions, rather than chemical hygiene agents, to combat the growth of harmful bacteria in the workplace.

Clemas & Co has launched a compact scrubber dryer for washing floors, using chemical doses which are kept separate from a clean water tank, improving washing and ensuring efficient detergent consumption.

Nilfisk-Alto has launched Attix 9, a range of four wet and dry vacuums to tackle industrial-scale mess in factories, warehouses and loading docks.

BS 2005 has launched a range of shoe cover dispensers that allows users to apply covers in seconds without using their hands.

Inpace has incorporated silver ions into its Keyboard Gloves, which are used as a covering to protect computer keyboards and other hardware operated by touch from becoming contaminated by dirt or bacteria.

Hygiene Group has introduced Maximiser, an electronic audit system to improve production line cleaning audits at United Biscuits' (UB's) McVitie's factory in Stockport.

Hygiene Group has launched a cleaning task tracking system that it claims will shave hours off monitoring cleaning tasks and chores.

Hygiena International has launched new hardware for recording hygiene data, the alphanumeric SystemSure Plus, which it is making available to more than 80 countries around the world.