Offenburg-based mechanical engineering company Meiko is a global market leader in the field of warewashing, cleaning and disinfection technology. This includes mechanical cleaning and disinfection of respiratory protective equipment for fire departments and industrial firms, with which Meiko is gradually replacing manual cleaning procedures. The company was awarded the prestigious "Safety made in Germany ('SMG')" quality seal at the specialist trade fair A+A in Düsseldorf.
The term “safety” designates non-police hazard prevention – an area where Germany has the toughest regulations in the world. This applies to civil defence and disaster prevention, as well as occupational safety: German associations and institutions such as fire services, the Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) and the German Red Cross have an excellent reputation worldwide.
Equipment, products and services in this sector must be able to be relied on at all times, so that they can meet the high demands placed on them. The "Safety made in Germany ('SMG')" quality seal is a guarantee of this standard, and is awarded by the German Fire Protection Association (GFPA). It serves to ensure compliance with the strict regulations, as well as user and buyer safety and security in the fields of fire protection, occupational safety, disaster prevention, civil defence and accident prevention. "Safety made in Germany sets new standards in civil defence and disaster prevention," summarises Albrecht Broemme, President of the Technisches Hilfswerk and member of the board of the GFPA. As such, the quality seal is both a privilege and a guide for investment.
Meiko, the hygiene experts from the German state of Baden-Württemberg, received the award at the specialist trade fair A+A in Düsseldorf. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Peukert, authorised signatory and CTO of the Meiko Group, welcomed the important delegation of specialists to the Meiko stand (hall 6/D83) and gratefully accepted the accolade from Albrecht Broemme. The award was given for TopClean M, the washer-disinfector for breathing apparatus, which is becoming the chosen standard in handling of respiratory protective equipment for professional and voluntary fire departments, as well as industrial firms. The innovative chemo-thermal process that takes place during mechanical handling results in a greatly shortened and safe cleaning process without direct contact with chemicals, even under pressurisation. Compliance with all safety measures and mask manufacturers' stipulations is also guaranteed.
Albrecht Broemme emphasised the strict criteria for receiving the quality seal and the important role that it plays, and also had praise for Meiko's TopClean M. "Meiko has managed to create a user-friendly solution that one day will find itself in every workshop that works with respiratory protection," summarised Broemme. Raimung Bücher, Chair of Bundesverband Betrieblicher Brandschutz Werkfeuerwehrverband Deutschland e.V., highlighted the decades-long search for suitable cleaning processes and the close collaboration with Meiko, and underlined: "Mechanical processing must be based on the needs of the user and guarantee a simple, rapid and repeatable process, particularly because manual processes are associated with considerable health risks."
Hanno von Roth, Managing Director of EW 80 Systeme GmbH and an industry expert, was also present at the presentation. "Many fire departments are going to be opting for mechanical processing because of the statutory regulations, and the lack of new firefighters will also be a factor in future, as Meiko's solution saves a lot of time," adds von Roth. "The process of documentation at the test bench was becoming faster and faster, but the cleaning was not keeping up – now this gap has been closed. From the drying cabinet, to the test bench, to welding, the mask is ready," continues von Roth.