With over 350+ PDQ Manufacturing Automatic Car Washes in Australia alone, there’s no surprise it’s the touchless car wash of choice.

For Carwash World, as a supplier of premium car washing equipment, the Laserwash 360 models are our biggest seller. The machine’s reputation & benefits helps sell itself before a customer even reaches us. A lot of people have already done their due diligence & know it’s the equipment they want at their car wash.

Regardless of the Laserwash 360 Plus’ reputation & popularity, it’s still important for you to know exactly what the capabilities & limitations of any machine are. You want to ensure that you’re purchasing the right equipment to best service your needs & customers. You’ll need weigh up your thoughts on touchless versus friction equipment. Then if touchless is your preference you need to compare all models available in the marketplace today.

Below is a comparison of a Laserwash 360 Plus with a run-of-the-mill friction model.

Contactless

The fact that the equipment & the parts make zero contact with vehicles is a major reassurance for yourself & your customers alike. The Laserwash 360 Plus’ design eliminates the concern for damage altogether, in comparison to a friction system that cleans using direct contact on the car for the majority of the wash cycle.

Organic Matter & Contaminants

Baked on bugs, dried bird poo & lime dust are a test for any touchless machines on the market, due to the lack of friction (ironically also it’s biggest selling point). Very stubborn contaminants simply will not be as easily removed  without the use of friction. This is where consumer education & a great attendant make all the difference to your business. Simply guide customers on what to do in a self serve bay to loosen & remove these contaminants before using the touchless. Ensure customers know how to get an optimal clean of their vehicle depending on what’s on their exterior.

Less maintenance

The Laserwash 360 Plus has less moving parts, a wide-open wash bay & no contact with a vehicle. It’s sleek, innovative & friction-free design means you experience less wear & tear on the machine. Regular scheduled servicing & replacement of consumables ensures this machine is a tried & trusted work horse. Carwash World suggests servicing your equipment every 6 months & for some high-volume sites, every 3 months.

Chemical Monitoring

Being touchless, you’re relying on ensuring you have the optimum chemical delivery running alongside your high-pressure water at all times. This requires regular monitoring & titration testing to provide superior cleans. Friction washes can be a bit more set & forget in this area as the brushes do more of the work when it comes to dirt removal.

Downtime

Less moving parts & no contact add even further benefits over & above the minimal maintenance discussed above. The Laserwash 360 Plus machines overhead design has been refined & simplified further than other touchless designs. It incorporates an aircraft grade anodized aluminium bridge & main rails. Constructed of non-corrosive materials such as stainless & aluminium, with the welded manifolds replacing assemblies of fittings reducing leak points. Furthermore each design feature has been incorporated to decrease overheads & increase your ROI.

Consumer Perception for Vehicle Safety

Whether warranted or not, friction/brush car washes still have a reputation with customers for doing damage to paintwork. Brush technology has indeed come a long way. From hard plastics to soft neoprene brushes. These brushes still come into direct contact with a vehicle. If the brushes are not clean & maintained regularly, the likelihood of surface damage to paint is high. We see this often in some of the cheap & cheerful petrol station washes that don’t have dedicated staff regularly maintaining equipment to a high standard. A quick scroll of Google reviews of an array of different car wash businesses highlights customer’s positive perception of touchless car washing & in particular the Laserwash, as a reliable & safe car washing option.

Ease of Use for Customers

Here’s a comparison of a Laserwash 360 Plus’ open, overhead wash bay versus a competitor’s design with ground rails. Any rollover style, friction or not, makes it much more narrow access for customers. These rails often come into contact with a vehicle’s tyres, causing damage to rims. Consequently this type of access can often be intimidating to both nervous, young or elderly drivers. In conclusion, it’s really important in a business where you are selling a service to limit any barriers to purchase. From uncomplicated entry units, simple payment solutions through to how easy it easy to drive into the wash bay.

Whilst this article does discuss the many benefits of touch-free cleaning, there is definitely times where brush washing can & will suit your business better. Car dealerships, fleet & commercial businesses often opt for brush cleaning as it’s more practical for their business model & end goals.

Got questions about anything Car Washing? Contact the team at Carwash World. We’ve got 80+ years car washing experience & we’re here to help.