ISPO Award: Wintersteiger Velobrush Bike Wash Station

Especially as a mountain biker, you know that a cleaning of the bike after a ride through the terrain can be quite time-consuming. It can easily take 20 to 30 minutes to remove dirt from the drive, chain, frame and tires. For the hobby biker, the time required to care for his sports equipment may not be a problem.

The situation is completely different in commercial bike rental or the service workshop of a bike store. When all rental bikes are returned at the end of the day, the bikes must be technically checked and spotlessly cleaned for the next day. Even if only ten bikes are made fit for the following day, this requires 3-4 working hours, depending on the condition of the bikes. The effort and costs are correspondingly higher for larger rental companies with a bike fleet of 20 rental bikes and more.

The Wintersteiger company has recognized the need for automation in bicycle cleaning. With the Velobrush, the company from Austria offers a fully automatic washing system for professional bike rental and the service workshop of a bike store. The system cleans up to 25 bikes in one hour. The time saved compared to manual cleaning is enormous.

Bicycle parts such as brakes, gears, suspension forks and shocks, and especially the electronics of e-bikes, are sensitive high-tech components. If these are cleaned manually with a standard steam jet, there is a risk that the high water pressure will damage the bearings and components. A high-quality carbon frame also requires a cleaning technique that is gentle on the material.

The Wintersteiger Velobrush therefore works with low-pressure and gentle brush technology. The cleaning system contains horizontal rotary brushes and a separate cleaning unit for tires and rims. The unit is designed as a closed system so that no water escapes during the cleaning process. The water used during the bike wash is cleaned and reused by a filter system. This saves resources and costs.

Operating the system is extremely simple for the service employee. The bike is moved into the Bike Wash Station with the help of a transport carriage. This minimizes the workload because the bike does not have to be lifted. Four different washing programs are available for the cleaning process, which can be configured individually. The system, in which all types of bicycles can be cleaned, is equipped with wheels.

• Time-saving in bike service: 25 bikes per hour
• Simple and ergonomic operation
• Low water and energy consumption
• Environmentally friendly treatment and disposal of wastewater