ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The second International CMS Congress, taking place during the CMS cleaning exhibition in Berlin next month, will have the theme ‘People and Business'. Speakers from around Europe, the USA, South Africa, India and China will be taking part.

The programme is supported by the European Federation of Cleaning Industries (EFCI), the European Cleaning Machines Association (EUnited) and the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (AISE). The venue is Marshall-Haus, a listed building on the Berlin exhibition grounds and the event will run on September 23 and 24. The CMS exhibition takes place from September 22-25.

Keynote speaker on September 23 is journalist and author Thomas Ramge, who will examine theopportunities presented by the digital transition and unlocking the potential of big data. The key, he believes, lies in 'smart data' - ie, less data but of the right kind. The aim is to achieve a better understanding of customers in order to ensure their loyalty and increase their longterm value.

Ramge is the technology correspondent of the business magazine Brand Eins and a regular contributing editor of The Economist. He was an editor of SWR, the political correspondent of Deutsche Welle TV and editor-in-chief of Think:act, a magazine for consultants.

The presentations and panel discussions will seek to identify the available workforce potential and the kind of employees that will be needed in the future. The discussions will also investigate whether market requirements, and therefore the demand for services, will change in the foreseeable future, and whether the available workforce potential can cope with this situation.

Demographic changes

Speakers will also discuss the role likely to be played by developments such as demographic changes, an increase in pandemics and infections, and the demand for hospital capacity, care facilities and private care services.

Experts will also consider the extent to which the market is affected by a shortage of trained specialists, the phenomenon of worldwide feminisation and youth unemployment in southern Europe.

There will be panel discussions entitled ‘Challenges from demographic change - the labour market now and in the future', ‘International comparison of training' and ‘Background conditions and development potential for the cleaning industry in large volume markets'.

Other presentations include ‘Technology and Sustainability: scientific progress that increases the value of clean' by Dr Ilham Kadri, president of Diversey Care. Dr Klaus-Dieter Zastrow will speak on ‘Hygiene Scandals in Bremen, Berlin, Mannheim and Kiel - why don't we learn from them?'

Simultaneous translation in English, French and German will be provided.

Win free tickets - enter by Friday!

As the media partner for the CMS International Congress ECJ is offering five readers the chance to win a free delegate ticket - worth 400 euros.

To win a ticket simply answer this question: what is the name of the world famous arch in the centre of Berlin, one of the most famous landmarks in Germany?

Send your answer to michelle@europeancleaningjournal.com by this Friday, August 14. The winners will then be chosen at random and notified by Friday, August 21.

Winners will be responsible for their own travel to and hotel expenses in Berlin.

www.cms-berlin.de