The digital transformation of car washes
Data, data, data – a vast amount of it is now created in the highly automated textile washing systems of the Soft Car Wash brand. The Swiss full-range supplier behind it relies on the SQL4automation Connector of Inasoft Systems for open communication between the controller and the SQL-database.
Back in 1997, when Martin Dellenbach first joined his father's garage business, the entrepreneur had already recognized the potential of car washes. In the meantime, he has developed a unique textile washing plant concept together with his suppliers. Today, his corporate group is responsible for around 40 washing systems all over Switzerland as well as southern Germany: Soft Car Wash, based in Oberwil/Switzerland, is the largest operator of car washes in Switzerland. "Car washing is a mass business in which a high frequency is paramount. With a high degree of automation and quality, we can double the throughput of a system from 25,000 to more than 50,000 cars per year, thereby making the operation of the car washes highly profitable", Martin Dellenbach emphasises. As the only manufacturer in Europe, Soft Car Wash can today provide turnkey systems from planning to operation.
Autowaschtechnik AWT AG is part of the corporate group and specialises in the production of sophisticated textile washing systems. The 40 to 50 meter long washing systems are highly automated. An operator scans the barcode of the customer and answers possible questions of the users. Complemented with self-service washing and vacuuming areas, the turnkey car washes are offered and installed under the brand name Soft Car Wash.
AWT has meanwhile developed into a full-range supplier, that can supply everything from a single source. In addition to continuous maintenance as part of full service contracts, this includes, in particular, providing the underlying operator know-how. A long-term maintenance contract ensures the smooth functioning of the systems: Wear parts are automatically replaced, and retrofits in case of new and further developments are also carried out for existing systems. Consistently good washing results are therefore ensured, downtimes avoided and the value of the systems maintained.
Smart data management
A prerequisite for the company's success model is the efficient automation technology and a correspondingly smart data management. In one system, car wash, self-service and vacuuming spaces are each equipped with a controller. "This new controller generation consists of industry computers by Janz Tec in combination with Codesys-Soft-SPS", M. Dellenbach reports. "We also use Codesys to create visualisation screens". The solution is gradually being introduced in the existing systems as well. The idea behind it: having all systems on the same technological level. "In our systems, everything down to the light switch is standardised", he adds.
"We only use components that fit at once without ifs and buts and are characterised by their openness", the company director reports. "We do not make compromises here. This openness significantly increases our flexibility". His guiding principle for the systems: "The components we use must not restrict us."
An exceptionally open solution is the SQL4automation Connector from Inasoft Systems, which should be standard equipment for every car wash. It enables a comfortable, secure and simple connection to the SQL database. AWT has been using this solution now for ten years. One software license is required per each complete car wash and in the Ultimate-Version 40 connections are provided. This ensures that several data queries can be realised parallel, from all three controllers of a washing system.
Step-by-step automation
An enormous amount of data is collected in the car washes: This includes washing figures (car wash, self-service washing spaces, vacuum cleaners, conversion, sales statistics), the consumption of chemicals and water recorded by the dosing pumps and much more – even the size of the vehicles. Through the collection of data, the ordering process for the required consumables can, for instance, be automated. "Many applications only emerged over time", M. Dellenbach continues. "The openness of the SQL4automation solution easily enables subsequent add-ons". The solution is ideal for him for collecting data and exploiting it. Step-by-step optimisation is thereby easily enabled.
The parts wear is also exactly documented. This way, the running time of the chain motor, which pulls the vehicles through the car wash, is registered. The usage time of the washing brushes is also documented, meaning only the actual application time on the car. Using this exact information on the wear means clever decisions can be made. "All information is relevant for us", Schweizer adds. "Even weather information is registered."
Support for the 40 operating systems is provided by AWT. This is why it is very helpful that notifications and alarms are also sent to the headquarters via a VPN connection. Whereas in the past technicians had to check on site why a system didn't work; an error analysis and monitoring can now be carried out from afar by AWT. Another useful feature is the listing of the different alarms in different systems. "Since we integrate the same components in all car washes, high comparability is ensured", the entrepreneur proudly relates. "The running times as well as the operating and repair statistics mean valuable information for the further optimisation of the systems". Quality control of the used materials is also enabled.
All system-specific data is selected from the database via SQL4automation.
This data includes portal commands, dosing amounts, chemical types as well as system specific settings. With this information, fast commissioning of the new washing system is guaranteed, amongst other things. The systems are in no way identical, but customer-specifically adjusted to the architectural circumstances. In Tessin, for instance, a car wash is only 35 m long, since it is located in an underground car park.
Bidirectional connection between controller and database
The connection between controller and database via the SQL4automation Connector is bidirectional; equally between central and system specific database. The collected data is used, for instance, to generate automatic orders of new chemicals. "Applications like the change machines and contactless payment were only added afterwards", M. Dellenbach explains. Alarm notifications are directly sent to those responsible for maintenance. Apart from this, the database is used as an interface for communications with the operator on site. This enables sending messages to the system operator via this connection from the head office.
Thanks to the database connection, fleet or corporate customers can pay for the services their employees have received, with a monthly invoice. This way, cumbersome individual invoicing is avoided. The daily bills on site are also generated from the collected data. These can be printed out directly. The according communication is very data intensive. A similar payment model is now also going to be introduced for private customers in prepaid mode. The so-called member-customers can then quickly start the car washing process with a data matrix code, which is scanned by the operator. This is an important contribution to customer loyalty. "These new applications grow while the system is in practice", M. Dellenbach explains contently. "The openness of SQL4automation easily enables these enhancements". Even special offers like temporary discounts for example can be controlled with the collected information.
Reports inform management about the achieved sales and the usage of the systems. The generated information can then be summarised in a central database. Via the controller, the times of maximum and minimum usage of the systems can be read. Now the management can draw conclusions as to future opening times. If, for instance, there are times when the system is barely in use, then it doesn't have to be operational. Of course settings can be made for public holidays as well. All of this proves that the database with its direct connection to the controller contributes significantly to higher efficiency. He also has praise for the high level of stability of the SQL4automation. "That can hardly ever be expected from a software solution".
"And last but not least, the high level of data transparency in our systems allow for faster growth", concludes M. Dellenbach. "We are Europe's fastest growing car wash operator and every year we have between six and eight additional facilities". The SQL4automation Connector is always a component.