Municipality of Härkingen: Time savings and precision thanks to robotic cleaning

Mr Heiniger, which buildings are you responsible for?

As the head of the technical services department, I’m responsible for several buildings in the municipality of Härkingen – from the school and kindergarten to the multi-purpose hall. The double sports hall is particularly demanding: it’s used by pupils during the day and by clubs in the evening. This leaves us with a very limited time window for cleaning; everything has to be spotless by 8:30 a.m. at the latest.

That sounds like a major challenge. How do you manage it?

Exactly. The halls are heavily used every single day. In the past, it was difficult to get everything done within such a short time. We often had to prioritise – either the hall or the changing rooms. But that didn’t meet our standards of cleanliness. That’s why we looked for a solution that would combine efficiency with quality.

How does the robot operate in your daily routine?

Every morning, I start Marvin in the lower sports hall while I clean the edges and changing rooms in parallel. Afterwards, I take him up in the lift to the upper hall, where he follows the same route. The halls are finished by 8:30 a.m. sharp – completely stress-free. In total, we gain around 44 minutes per day, which equals almost half a working day per week.

What benefits does the robot provide besides time savings?

The cleaning quality has become much more consistent. Marvin reliably removes dust, stains and shoe marks always with the same thoroughness. Previously, it was impossible to achieve this level of cleanliness every day within the available time. Now, the floors and changing rooms are spotless every morning. Even the sports clubs have noticed the difference – especially the hockey players, who joke that their braking distances are shorter now.

How did the team react to its introduction?

Very positively! There was never any fear that the robot might replace jobs. On the contrary – it provides tangible relief. We use the time saved for other tasks such as cleaning sanitary facilities or maintaining outdoor areas. Pupils and senior citizens are also fascinated: many stop to watch Marvin as he does his rounds.

Your conclusion after several months of use?

Robomatic Marvin has changed our working routine – in the best possible way. We are more efficient, the quality is higher, and the team works in a more relaxed manner. For me, it’s clear: cleaning robots are the future, but they will never replace people. They are tools that help us do our work even better.