Welcome to Carwash world convos: Voices from the Industry
We were excited to sit down and chat with Matthew Ormiston, General Manager of Auto division services at Mulpha International and Board Member of the ACWA. Matt brings decades of experience in the car parking and car wash industries.
“Know your numbers. Data driven
decisions beat guesswork every time”
Could you please share a brief background of your car wash industry experience?
What’s one lesson you learned early in your journey that still sticks with you today?
Congratulations on your recent appointment as board member for ACWA! What perspective or experience do you bring to the board that you think will be most valuable?
I bring a fresh yet commercially grounded perspective, combining decades of experience in the parking industry with a corporate background in strategic planning, operations and stakeholder engagement. I understand how to optimise assets, enhance customer experiences, and navigate regulatory and commercial partnerships. These skills are directly transferable to strengthen the car wash industry’s growth and resilience.
What common mistakes do you see new operators make and how can they avoid them?
- Neglecting equipment care. Look after your gear! Preventative maintenance is cheaper than downtime. Service equipment regularly, train staff to spot issues early and keep essential spare parts on site.
- Overlooking the importance of first impressions. You want to make a great first impression – your site’s appearance is your silent salesperson. Keep it clean, bright and welcoming.
- Know your numbers – track wash counts, chemical use and water consumption. Data-driven decisions beat guesswork every time.
What equipment or automations do you think, make the biggest difference to an operation?
Equipment/automations that can increase throughput (cars per hour), reduce labour costs, ensure consistency in quality and improve customer experience (speed, convenience and satisfaction) are the big game changers.
What trends or innovations do you think will shape the future of car washing?
The future of car washing is greener, smarter and more customer-centric. New technology is making washes faster and more sustainable. These are all tailored to evolving vehicle types and customer expectations.
In your opinion, what’s the biggest challenge facing car wash operators today?
Connect with Matt on Linkedin.
Soak City Car Wash is part of Mulpha Group. Carwash World completed the equipment installs at Soak City Norwest, Soak City Fawkner and Soak City Preston.
