Following the success of our EXPO Trips in the first 12 months, we are launching the new season this initiative for 2023-2024!

On October 4-6 ISTOBAL USA will showcase at the NACS Show, Atlanta, GA (Booth #B5141), the ISTOBAL M'WASH PRO, its latest high-end rollover. The M’WASH PRO unifies the latest technology and the aesthetics of the group’s European models with the versatility of the FLEX5 line of equipment.

This model, developed specially for the US market, responds to a demand from US customers for versatility, higher efficiency, and increased profitability. The new design optimizes wash control and quality, with its various configurations, extra options, and more efficient and connected technology.

ISTOBAL, the leading Spanish group in car wash and car care solutions, has drawn up a decalogue with ten basic tips for washing and caring for your car correctly during the summer months, in order to avoid damage to the bodywork and more delicate areas caused by extreme heat or external elements.

The company has reminded that during the summer season, which begins this week, the vehicle must be protected especially from the sun and mosquitoes, as well as from the saltpetre of the sea and the sand of the beach, which can cause considerable deterioration. 

ISTOBAL has premiered its new M'WASH2 rollover at Tankstelle & Mittlestand, Germany's leading trade fair for the car dealership, service station and car wash industry, held at Messe Essen from 14 to 15 June (stand 6E02A).

The company has exhibited for the first time at a show and in the international market this innovative equipment aimed at increasing profitability in carwashes and improving the user experience through more efficient and connected technology.

ISTOBAL launches Ozone Jet Wash, an ozone-in-water system that reduces operating costs in pressure jet wash through equipment that is more environmentally friendly, efficient and cost-effective than hot water boilers, achieving optimum wash quality.

With this new development, ISTOBAL provides an alternative to hot water boilers in jet wash, which generate high operating and maintenance costs and considerable CO2 emissions. 

ISTOBAL introduces this innovative tool to the car wash and care industry through the group’s website. Easy and quick to operate, the program’s main use is to facilitate the configuration of ISTOBAL rollovers.

With this alliance, the company strengthens its presence in Northern Europe and will boost its exports in the Finnish market through Wennstrom, ISTOBAL's sole distributor in this country with extensive experience in the sector.

On October 2-4 at the NACS Show, Las Vegas (Booth #6769), ISTOBAL USA will showcase the ISTOBAL FLEX5, its most versatile and popular rollover in the US fueling and convenience store sectors.

The ISTOBAL FLEX5 is the first and only transformable rollover. It offers flexible configuration for program customization, speed control, and product dosing, among other features. It can be configured as a 3- or 5-brush unit, a touch-free, a hybrid, or as a combo unit. In this way, it allows customers to choose the wash they want: friction with 3 or 5 brushes, contactless, or a combination of both.

The ISTOBAL FLEX5 has established itself in the US market thanks to its efficiency and versatility. With the ability to adapt to the present and future needs of the local market, it can transform from 3 to 5 brushes without the need to purchase an entirely new machine. An easy solution to a site’s need for a faster washing process, the 5-brush unit can reduce washing and drying time by up to 30% compared to the 3-brush configuration.

ISTOBAL FLEX5 grows in the CSTORE sector

ISTOBAL USA has registered increased sales of its most popular in-bay automatic by 22% in convenience stores in Q1 – Q3 compared to the same period last year. In addition, the company is finalizing a major 12-unit reload project for a leading US convenience store chain.

ISTOBAL will be presenting comprehensive, digital solutions for train washing at Innotrans 2022 (Berlin) from 20 to 23 September (Hall 6.2, stand 425).

The company will present its latest innovations in sustainable and customised washing systems for trains, trams and metros through flexible, connected and safe equipment that guarantees efficient washing in less time, with minimum maintenance and impact on the environment. They also allow remote management of the washing process and equipment maintenance.

The systems developed by ISTOBAL stand out for their capacity to adapt to the needs of the client thanks to an exhaustive development process, from the first sketch to the fine-tuning. This adaptability allows the installation of the equipment in new washing stations, as well as being able to adapt them to existing installations.

Among its complete range for the railway industry, ISTOBAL HW'DRIVE stands out as its most flexible line of pass-through washing systems, with a solid design and reliable mechanics to guarantee efficient washing and an excellent user experience.

Specifically, ISTOBAL HW'DRIVE2, designed for cleaning trolleybuses, trains, metros and trams, provides great versatility in the washing configuration, as well as a smooth and precise movement of the polyethylene brushes to ensure the best finish. It allows front, side and rear washing in depth in a fast, effective and sustainable way with systems that allow greater adaptability to the shape of the vehicles and greater washing efficiency.

It also has a pre-rinse arc, two rinse arcs, displaced electric panel with touch screen, soft starters for its four brushes and speed detection to avoid impacts with the vehicle, among other washing features, control systems and options.

Turnkey solutions for the rolling stock industry

ISTOBAL provides comprehensive and customised solutions for the railway industry with technological developments that adapt to any installation and stand out for their versatility, flexibility, efficiency and reliability. Its project management department covers consulting, design, production of washing equipment, water treatment systems and chemical solutions, as well as installation and maintenance.

Within its business line for the washing of trains, trams and metros, ISTOBAL supplies wash equipment to major rolling stock manufacturers as well as workshop and maintenance services. The company has developed 43 installations in 20 countries around the world that provide an average of 200,000 washes per year.  It currently has 10 projects underway in different countries such as Australia, Egypt, France, Hungary and Morocco, among others.

During the summer months, with good weather, the number of drivers who choose to wash their vehicles outside their homes with the use of home products and in the sun increases. Experts in vehicle wash and care have warned today about the use of inappropriate products and accessories in car cleaning during these summer months and in extreme heat conditions, since they can damage the bodywork, paint and other parts of the car. .

At ISTOBAL, they warn about certain techniques when washing the car, such as the use of cleaning products commonly found at home or cola drinks, combined with brushes or abrasive sponges to dirt more encrusted by heat, as they can cause damage to the vehicle.

According to Carlos Valls, head of the Automatic wash division  at ISTOBAL, "the use of liquid dishwashing liquid to wash the exterior or upholstery of the car could be harmful since it tends to dry out the rubber parts of the vehicle."

Likewise, it is not advisable to use oven foam to clean the rims during the summer as it is a product that can be aggressive if this part of the vehicle is at very high temperatures. The company warns that, in case of application, it must be done carefully, always in the shade and remembers that generally this chemical is not a biodegradable product.

The application of toothpaste to clean various car parts is another of the most widespread techniques according to Carlos Valls. “There are those who use it above all to clean the headlights by rubbing with a nail brush and a lot of patience. But in reality, if you apply this type of technique with the wrong tool, it is very likely that you will end up causing scratches on the headlights”- he pointed out. "The best technique is to use a polishing cream and rub with a soft cloth to prevent any damage."

Regarding the use of hair shampoo, he stressed that “just as in personal or household cleaning we always use specific products for each area, in vehicle cleaning you will always obtain better results with the use of specialized products. Also, contrary to popular belief, washing the car at home with a hose and dishwasher or shampoo is not always cheaper than going to a car wash installation, as well as being a less sustainable method.”

For Carlos Valls, the use of cola is also not a good option to clean the rims and leave the tires or windows shiny due to its application, reaction time and less than optimal results.

Other guidelines to avoid

ISTOBAL does not recommend the steel soapy sponge to remove dry dirt such as mosquitoes or bird droppings, which are so common in summer, as they can cause significant scratches on the car.

Another guideline to avoid is to use the pressure of the rains to clean the car body as they leave drip marks on the paint and make the vehicle more dirty when dealing with muddy summer storms.

Likewise, it advises against letting the car dry in the sun because it causes the appearance of stains on the bodywork, drying it with the vehicle running so that new dirt does not adhere, nor the use of hydroalcoholic for cleaning and sanitizing the interior when drying the material of the dashboards and affect screens or plastics.

Recommendations for cleaning the vehicle in summer

Cleaning and caring for the vehicle during the hottest months is essential to keep the bodywork and paint in good condition, as well as to guarantee full visibility and not put road safety at risk.

In this sense, ISTOBAL recommends the use of specific products for the care and washing of each surface of the vehicle to avoid damage and to carry out at least one weekly cleaning at this time of year to protect the vehicle.

From ISTOBAL they have also recalled that in many countries, washing the car in the street is a reason for economic sanctions, as well as driving a dirty car. In addition, the dirt accumulated on the bodywork such as traces of sand, saltpeter, resin, insects and bird droppings deteriorates the paint, affects the color tone itself and causes a loss of shine.

The company recommends respecting all phases of the wash (pre-wash, washing, rinsing, waxing and drying) in order to protect the car's bodywork and other components.

During very hot days, another recommendation is to clean the vehicle first thing in the morning and, if possible, in a professional and covered wash facility. "Very high temperatures can make the water and soap evaporate faster, leaving some traces on the bodywork" - pointed out ISTOBAL's automatic car wash manager.