Illinois BSC optimizes
labor with T7AMR
robotic floor
scrubbers

BACKGROUND
GSF USA is a building services contractor with several
locations across the Midwest. Along with green cleaning,
GSF is committed to bringing innovative cleaning
solutions to its clients. The company also offers daytime
cleaning, which promotes energy efficiency and betteroverall cleaning. In Illinois, GSF contracts with the Valley
View School District 365U to clean Bolingbrook HighSchool. Located about 30 miles west of Chicago, thesuburban school has about 3,500 students.
CHALLENGE
Bolingbrook is one of the largest high schools in theUnited States. With 470,000 square feet of space toclean, the school posed a gargantuan challenge for GSF.
Twenty-four cleaning staff work at the high school. Given
the focus on in-depth cleaning since the pandemic, GSF
knew it would be difficult for its employees to perform
day-to-day cleaning as well as enhancing efforts tocarry out tasks like electrostatic disinfection. However, theschool’s administration expected a higher-level of clean.
“How can we clean a building and make a noticeable
difference in what the standard is? Anyone can run afloor scrubber, but can we improve on other aspects ofthe building?” said Grant Mackall, GSF’s operational assetmanager.

SOLUTION
To clean Bolingbrook High School effectively, GSF
purchased a T7AMR Robotic Floor Scrubber fromTennant. The T7AMR is a robotic solution designed towork safely and efficiently alongside employees.
GSF routinely uses Tennant equipment and appreciates
the company’s dedication to innovative cleaning
solutions. By using the T7AMR at the high school, GSF
could work more efficiently. Employees’ time can bereallocated to perform tasks only humans can perform.
“At GSF, we are all about pursuing new ideas that help
advance the cleaning process. We conducted someresearch and quickly saw that other schools using thesemachines were achieving the expected benefits.”
After purchase, GSF took steps to garner student buyin. The T7AMR was outfitted with a mascot-themed
mannequin in the school’s distinctive red and black colors
and Buccaneer hat. Doing so will help students see themachine as a visible part of their campus community.
“GSF is always looking for the next thing to support thefact that we care about clean. The T7AMR allows ourstaff to free up time and improve the level of clean weare providing our customers,” said Kurt Kuempel, generalmanager for GSF Illinois and Wisconsin.

© 2024 Tennant Company

RESULTSThe T7AMR cleans between 30,000 and 70,000 square
feet per shift, and is saving Bolingbrook between 4 and6 hours per day. The savings are between 20-30 hours aweek. That’s where the true cost savings are measured.
By shifting employees to other areas of the school, indepth cleaning can be performed without adding staffmembers.
Additionally, the T7AMR reduces damage to floors anddoors due to operator error. It also makes it possible
to clean the gym floor quicker in the afternoons, so thebasketball team can use the facility for practice. For theclient, the T7AMR provides visual evidence that the school
is being cleaned efficiently. Administrators are pleased
not only that the school is cleaned at a higher level, butthat there’s proof the cleaning has been done. Employeesatisfaction is up. The scrubber is easy to use, and it’s
simple to make new routes,” Kuempel said. “The robot isone piece of a much bigger pie. It’s another tool for ourteam that will allow them to be more efficient during theschool day. It will also get a lot of good attention fromstudents and staff.”
The introduction of the scrubber has been successful, andGSF-USA continues to implement robotic technology atadditional sites as well.

© 2024 Tennant Company