Sweeping machine: features, functions and use

How to clean a floor? No matter how often you clean your floors, you need to sweep to get good results before mopping. The sweeper is the tool that allows you to mechanically, precisely and quickly remove non-adherent dirt, such as small solid debris and dust, from different types of surfaces, both industrial and civil, preparing the area for the next phase of washing.

What does a sweeping machine look like?

Sweepers, whose main function is sweeping, are used both in the private sector - in production industries, warehouses, shopping malls, accommodation facilities - and in the urban sector, supporting towns and municipalities in the care and cleaning of squares, streets, pavements and all public spaces.
Getting a simple and agile professional sweeper, capable of cleaning quickly and effectively, is the only way to keep a constantly clean and healthy environment, avoiding extremely expensive damage to the machinery of the production lines caused by the deposit of dust and dirt over time.

Components of a sweeping machine

To understand how a sweeper works, it is important to know the main components that make it up, such as:

• The brushes. The side brushes, also known as “cup” brushes, have the function of conveying the dirt towards the centre, where the central roller brush moves the debris into the collection container. Choosing the right brush will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the type of floor and the type of dirt.
  
  
• The suction system. The suction system changes according to the type of sweeper. In mechanical-suction systems, as are all MP-HT sweepers, dust is captured thanks to the vacuum created by the suction fan and is retained by the dust filter. This allows one to work in total absence of water, unlike suction sweepers.
  
  
• The filter. The filters, which can be of different shapes and materials such as paper or synthetic material, have the important function of retaining the vacuumed dust and preventing it from being dispersed into the environment. MP-HT, in its sweepers, has chosen to place the filter in a strategic position, away from the waste container. This raised placement ensures greater retention of fine dust and prolonged efficiency over time.
  
  
• The waste container. Whether small, medium or large capacity, all the dirt collected during work ends up in the waste container. It can be emptied manually, in small to medium-sized walk-behind sweepers or mechanically at height, in larger ride-on sweepers.

Types of professional sweeping machines

The common purpose of any sweeper is to sweep and collect non-adherent dirt. In the market, these machines differ according to several characteristics, including the type of power supply, the type of traction and the type of load. Let’s look at them in detail.

The type of power supply

Motorised sweepers. Motorised sweepers can be powered by internal combustion engines, running on petrol, diesel or LPG. They are high-performance machines and are preferred for cleaning outdoor environments. The hybrid version, like the AGILE MAX 108 and AGILE MAX 109 sweepers, uses a technology that combines the petrol engine with an electric unit connected to a battery pack, ensuring a reduction in consumption and greater working runtime.

Battery-powered sweepers. These electric sweepers can install different types of batteries: lead-acid, AGM/gel or Lithium-Ion. Silent and ecological, they are ideal for cleaning indoor environments, but also in outdoor spaces such as urban centres, ensuring a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

The type of traction

Depending on the type of traction, the following are distinguished:

Walk-behind sweepers. Handy and compact, they are designed for daily cleaning of small and medium-sized environments, both indoor and outdoor. Small in size, the traction is managed directly by the operator, who pushes it forward as he walks. All MP-HT sweepers are equipped with mechanical traction, so that operation does not require any effort on the part of the operator.

Ride-on sweepers. Suitable for working on medium-sized and large surfaces, such as logistics centres, industries but also streets and squares, they are characterised by a wide cleaning track and a greater filtration capacity. These machines are equipped with an on-board station and the operator steers them via steering and controls.

The type of load

There are different types of ride-on sweepers on the market, which are also distinguished by the type of load: In front-loading sweepers, the central brush moves the dirt forward - “broom/dustpan principle” - into the waste container located at the front of the sweeper. These machines, usually large, are suitable for collecting heavy dirt in typical heavy industry environments.

In rear-loading sweepers, the central brush “throws” the dirt backwards, towards the waste container located on the rear of the sweeper. These agile and easily manoeuvrable machines are capable of collecting even bulky light waste, perfectly adapting to the cleaning of commercial areas or light industrial spaces.

Rules for using the sweeping machine: how to use it and practical advice.

Whether walk-behind or ride-on, the sweeper does not require specific training and certification to be able to use it, as can be required by other work machines such as forklifts. Only if the machine is to be operated on the road, the operator, in compliance with the Highway Code, must be in possession of a drive license and the sweeper itself must be provided with a license plate and registration certificate.

How to use a sweeping machine

Even if the sweeper is a simple machine and doesn't require a license to use it, there are some recommendations to follow to get good results and avoid unpleasant accidents to people and/or damage to the machinery itself:

• First of all, it is important that those who will use the vehicle read the instructions and the use and maintenance manual of the sweeper. This document, which is required by law, explains in detail the hazards, warnings and general rules for the correct use of the machine.
  
  
• Before starting work, it is a good idea to check the characteristics and condition of the surface, then pay attention to any differences in height and the degree of inclination of the slopes. It is also recommended to pay attention to the waste on the floor, making sure that there are no materials that could get caught in the brushes and therefore compromise their proper functioning.
  
  
• At the end of each job, before parking the sweeper until its next use, it is a good idea to clean and check the main components of the machine, then: empty the waste bin, clean the dust filter and check the side and central brushes.

Tips for choosing sweeping machines

Foundries, cement factories, warehouses, shopping malls, car parks, pavements, squares, streets... Cleaning is an activity common to many spaces, both indoor and outdoor, and for each one there is a sweeper that best suits them, capable of responding efficiently to specific cleaning needs.

The factors to consider when choosing a sweeper

1. The size of the area to be cleaned: small, medium, large; internal or external.
2. The type of surface: concrete, stoneware, linoleum, asphalt, carpet, etc.
3. The presence of obstacles, slopes, ramps.
4. The type of dirt: coarse and heavy dirt, e.g., metal materials and powders in workshops and carpentry or fine and light dirt.

Our tip for cost-effective cleaning and that is also work-enhancing

• Get a compact and agile sweeper that allows you to clean quickly and effectively even in tight spaces.
  
  
• Instead of rarely cleaning with extraordinary operations, organise yourself so that cleaning operations become almost daily actions.
  
  
• If your workspace is very large, you can divide it into zones and clean one area at a time. The important thing is that it becomes a regular task: this will allow you to use more compact but faster and more agile sweepers.

For over thirty years we have been producing industrial sweepers and urban sweepers capable of making cleaning not an obstacle to be overcome (which hinders work) but a practice capable of adding value to one’s work, useful for saving time and money.

Discover all the benefits of MP-HT sweepers, and how they will help you transform the cleaning task from an expensive hassle into an added value for your company.