A clean vision

When Tony Chazhoor joined Tennant Company in 2015, he wasn’t stepping into unfamiliar territory. With a robust background in the cleaning equipment industry, he brought not only expertise but also a deep understanding of the challenges faced by cleaning companies in India.

So when Tennant Company acquired IPC in 2017, Chazhoor seized the opportunity to lead the newly integrated entity with a vision to transform its operations. That was also when Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Clean India’ campaign started opening up exponential opportunities for the cleaning industry. For Chazhoor, it was a catalyst.

“I saw immense potential to enhance and reshape Tennant’s operations in India,” he recalls. “This was a golden opportunity for the industry to rise.”

Recognizing the potential of the Indian market, Chazhoor set his sights on introducing Tennant Company as a de facto standard for cleaning equipment in the country.

“Globally, Tennant is a market leader, but in India, it had been on a slow momentum back in 2017,” he explains. “I saw this as a chance to not only grow the brand but also challenge myself in the process.”

Chazhoor’s first move was to expand the company’s physical presence across India. “In 2015, we only had two branch offices – one in Delhi and the other in Pune,” he says. “Much of our operations relied on dealer partnerships, and there was so much room to grow.”

Today, Tennant Company has expanded to 18 branches across the country. “In an emerging market like India, the indirect model doesn’t work very effectively,” he explains.

“Customers prefer to deal with the principal company directly. This preference has further strengthened our resolve to be closer to our customers and end users to serve them through our direct geographical reach in a vast country like India.”

Clean India

India’s cleaning industry has to have the ability to address several challenges, such as climate, humidity, high pollution and a lack of standardization.

“The products we manufacture are universally suited for a variety of terrains and temperatures, and are versatile and easy to operate,” Chazhoor points out.

“While India is dustier compared to Europe or the United States, our customizable products adapt seamlessly to these specific challenges and our customers are able to derive the best results even in the toughest of conditions.”

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“Super Clean highly treasures our profound cooperation with IPC. We stay in positive communication, fully grasp our partners’ needs, provide top-notch products and services, always put customer interests first and collaboratively develop and implement solutions to achieve our common goals.” – Kuang Qixiang, CEO, Super Clean

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India’s growth story has also opened better avenues for the cleaning industry as a whole, according to Chazhoor. “The market is becoming increasingly receptive to mechanization,” he says. “With rising GDP, better employment opportunities and improved awareness, dependence on menial methods of cleaning is on the decline.”

To support this technology transition, Tennant Company has launched a dedicated training initiative for customers.

“We bridge the gap between demand and supply by offering accessible, adaptable mechanization,” he confirms. “Our trainers visit customer sites to provide free, on-the-job instruction, ensuring that janitors can fully benefit from our solutions.”

Green by design

Chazhoor says Tennant Company has a strong focus on the future, with sustainability shaping all its strategies and decisions.

“We have an entire regimen of sustainability – our Black is Green™ and RECON programs take into account the complete life cycle of a product by reusing parts and materials and reconditioning machines, thereby significantly reducing our carbon footprint,” he explains.

“Starting with our ethical sourcing of raw materials, lean manufacturing methods, solar power initiatives, electrification projects and our system of mapping our carbon footprint – every step in our production underscores how crucial sustainability is to us.”

The company’s commitment to going green is best explained with its product innovations.

“Tennant’s ec-H2O technology helps reduce up to 60 percent of water consumption. This technology activates plain water through electrolysis, obviating the need for chemicals, reducing waste and lowering environmental impact,” he says.

Cultural tenets

Beyond its cutting-edge products, the firm thrives on a culture that Chazhoor believes distinguishes it in the market.

“We walk the talk when it comes to operational excellence,” he says. “What differentiates us is not price or product performance alone, but also operational excellence – speed, flexibility and responsiveness.”

Chazhoor explains that these guiding principles are embedded in Tennant Company’s DNA.

“When you ring our team, your call will get answered by the third ring. Your emails are responded to within 24 hours,” he reveals. “It’s not just a policy; it’s a cultural orientation. This is our way of life.”

The company’s guiding principles are not just confined to customers, they also guide relationships with key partners like Guangzhou Super Clean Machinery.

“We apply these standards to everyone we work with,” Chazhoor notes. “We believe in stewardship – being mindful of the community, vendors, customers and employees. This principle guides everything we do.”