Main brooms and side brushes

Sweepers are designed for demanding indoor and outdoor environments where efficient debris removal is required. Common applications include exhibition halls, sports and recreational facilities, warehouses, production areas, and parking garages. Their robust construction and powerful sweeping mechanisms make them suitable for handling dust, sand, leaves, and heavier debris on both smooth and coarse surfaces.

Sweepers can be used on virtually all surface types. While they are primarily designed for demanding environments, they also perform well in facilities where water-based cleaning is not suitable. To achieve the best sweeping results on different surfaces, it is important to select the correct bristle material for both the main broom and side brushes. The choice of fiber should match the surface structure and the type of debris being collected.

Main brooms and side brushes for sweepers consist of two components: the brush core and the bristle material. The core is typically made of plastic, while cardboard cores are used exclusively in cylindrical main brooms. The bristles — the part that performs the sweeping action — are most commonly made from PPL (polypropylene), but other materials such as mixed fiber, nylon, or steel are also frequently used depending on the surface, debris type, and application.

Sweeper brush bristles are generally oval in shape, which means two different values are obtained when measuring them. The bristle diameter is defined as the average of the two measurements, calculated using the following formula:

Example:

If the bristle measures 0.8 mm on one axis and 1.2 mm on the other, the diameter is calculated as:
(0.8 + 1.2) / 2 = 1.0 mm

This averaged value represents the official bristle diameter used when selecting the correct brush for your machine.

The service life of a sweeper main broom depends on several factors, including the type of surface being cleaned, the nature of the debris, and the machine’s operating characteristics. The most reliable indicator is the sweeping result itself — when the machine no longer collects debris effectively or leaves material behind, it is usually time to replace the broom.

As a general rule of thumb, the broom should be replaced when the bristle length has worn down to approximately half of its original size. At this point, sweeping efficiency drops significantly, and continued use may reduce overall performance and increase wear on other components.

The choice of bristle material depends primarily on the floor surface and the type of debris the sweeper needs to collect. Soft PPL bristles are ideal for smooth and sensitive indoor floors, providing gentle sweeping and effective removal of fine dust. Mixed fiber (union mix) offers a good balance for indoor areas with both fine and medium debris, and is also suitable when static electricity is an issue.

For more demanding environments, standard PPL (0.6–0.9 mm) is recommended for concrete, paving, and general industrial surfaces. PPL/steel combinations are the preferred choice for rough outdoor areas where sand, gravel, or compacted debris must be removed. In the toughest applications — such as weed removal, foundries, or concrete production facilities — flat steel bristles provide maximum abrasion resistance and aggressive sweeping action.

To achieve the best performance and service life, always match the broom fiber to:

• Surface structure (smooth, medium, or coarse)

• Debris type (dust, sand, metal shavings, leaves, heavy particles)

• Sweeping environment (indoor, outdoor, industrial, municipal)

• Machine type (walk-behind sweeper, ride-on sweeper, outdoor municipal sweeper)

If you are unsure which bristle type is best for your application, Cleanpart can help you evaluate your surface conditions and recommend the optimal broom configuration.

For the most demanding sweeping tasks, the most durable bristle types are PPL/steel combinations and flat steel bristles. These materials are engineered for environments where ordinary synthetic fibers wear out quickly — such as rough asphalt, cobblestone, concrete surfaces, or areas with compacted and heavy debris.

PPL/steel mix bristles combine the flexibility of polypropylene with the penetrating strength of steel wire. This makes them highly effective for removing sand, gravel, metal shavings, leaves, and embedded debris on outdoor surfaces. They offer a strong balance between aggressiveness, sweeping performance, and service life.

Flat steel bristles, on the other hand, are the most aggressive and wear-resistant option available. They are designed for extreme applications such as weed removal, heavy industrial sweeping, foundries, steelworks, and concrete production sites. Flat steel provides unmatched durability and can withstand abrasive surfaces and high friction for long periods without significant wear.

For optimal performance and longevity, always match the broom type to:

• Surface roughness (medium, coarse, very coarse)

• Debris type (sand, gravel, compacted dirt, weeds, metal shavings)

• Machine power and brush pressure (ride-on vs. walk-behind sweepers)

• Operating environment (industrial, municipal, construction, outdoor sweeping)

If durability is the top priority, steel-based broom types consistently provide the longest service life and the highest resistance to abrasion.

Brush fill density — the amount of bristle material packed into the broom — directly influences debris pick-up, energy efficiency, and wear patterns. A higher fill density increases sweeping aggressiveness, improves collection of fine particles, and minimizes streaking on smooth floors. However, it also increases friction, which can raise power consumption, motor load, and wear on drive components.

Lower fill density reduces resistance and energy usage but may struggle with fine dust or compacted debris. For OEM and industrial applications, it is crucial to balance density with broom diameter, bristle stiffness, machine down-pressure, and surface type to avoid overloading the sweeper’s drive motor or hydraulic system. Proper fill density selection optimizes broom life, machine efficiency, and overall sweeping performance.

We supply main brooms and side brushes for a wide range of professional sweeper brands. Our assortment includes products compatible with:

Adiatek, 4CleanPro, Alto, American Lincoln, Alto Clarke, Cimex, Cleanfix, Columbus, Comac, CTM, Dulevo, Dupex, Duster, Electrolux, Eureka, FA-SA, Fimap, Fiorentini, ICM, Floor, Gadlee, Gansow, Gaomei, Ghibli, Gmatic, Green Machines, Hako, Hawig-Borema, Hefter, i-mop, ICA, ICE, IPC, ISAL, Kärcher, Lavor, MP, Minuteman, Mirage, Nilco, Nilfisk, Nilfisk-Advance, Nobles, Tennant, Numatic, OMM, Pioneer Eclipse, POLI, Power Boss, Power Flite, Pulimat, Pullman, Beva Clean, RCM, Rotowash, Schwaborn, Selco, Sorma, Sprintus, Stolzenberg, Taski, Teknova, Tennant, TMB, Truvox, TSM, TVX, Victor, Viper, VLX, Wayne, Weider, Wetrok, Whittaker, Windsor, Wirbel mfl.

The core material has a significant impact on broom balance, rigidity, and longevity. Plastic cores are the most common option, offering good durability, consistent roundness, and resistance to moisture and chemicals. Cardboard cores, typically used in economical cylindrical brooms, are lighter but more sensitive to moisture and are therefore recommended mainly for indoor applications.

For heavy-duty or high-speed sweepers, aluminum or composite cores provide superior dimensional stability, reduced vibration, and improved bristle retention over time. These cores maintain straightness under load, which ensures even sweeping pressure and prevents premature wear on both the broom and drive components. OEMs often choose aluminum cores for machines used in industrial, municipal, or continuous-duty environments.

The geometry of a cylindrical broom — including pitch, tuft arrangement, and bristle angle — plays a critical role in how efficiently debris is lifted, conveyed, and deposited into the hopper. Different tuft patterns are engineered to optimize performance for specific floor types, debris sizes, and machine speeds.

🔹 Spiral Pattern (Helical / Spiral-Wound Broom)

Characteristics:
• Continuous, angled rows of bristles wrapped around the core
• Smooth and progressive debris movement
• Reduced vibration and noise

Performance Benefits:

• Provides consistent sweeping contact across the entire width

• Transports debris toward the center more effectively

• Ideal for machines without aggressive suction support

• Reduces peak load on drive motors

Recommended Applications:
✔ Indoor warehouse floors
✔ Distribution centers
✔ Fine dust and light-to-medium debris
✔ Machines requiring smooth, low-resistance operation

🔹 Chevron Pattern (V-Pattern Broom)

Characteristics:
• Tufts arranged in V-shaped rows
• Channels debris toward the center

Performance Benefits:

• Excellent debris consolidation

• Superior pick-up of both fine and heavy materials

• Minimizes streaking and side-spill

• Optimal for machines with center-mounted suction inlets

Recommended Applications:
✔ Industrial floors (concrete)
✔ Parking garages
✔ Mixed debris: sand, gravel, litter
✔ OP/PB machines with center hopper intake

🔹 Straight Pattern (Parallel Tufts)

Characteristics:
• Rows are parallel to the broom axis
• Simple construction, lowest cost

Performance Benefits:

• High aggressiveness on rough surfaces

• Maximum bristle contact for deep cleaning

• Best suited for large particle removal

Recommended Applications:
✔ Outdoor sweeping
✔ Asphalt, paving stone, rough concrete
✔ Bulk debris (leaves, gravel, dirt)
✔ Municipal sweepers

🔹 Pitch (Tuft Spacing & Angle)

Pitch determines how tightly the tufts are packed and at what angle they contact the floor.

High Pitch Density (tight spacing):

✔ Strong fine-dust collection
✔ Cleaner finish on smooth floors
⛔ Higher friction → increased energy consumption

Low Pitch Density (wider spacing):

✔ Lower resistance → longer runtime, reduced wear
✔ Better for large debris
⛔ Less effective on fine particles

Angled Tufts:

✔ Improve debris conveyance
✔ Reduce “snowplowing effect”
✔ Increase sweeping efficiency at higher RPM