Sternenberg School Facility: Taking new paths with Novaline

When Claudio Oppliger walks through the gymnasium of the Sternenberg School facility, his footsteps echo across the freshly cleaned floor. “There’s always something going on here – children, clubs, teachers, training sessions,” he says with a smile. “But that’s how it should be. A facility should be full of life.” As Facility Manager for the Sternenberg region of the municipality of Köniz in the canton of Bern, Claudio Oppliger and his team are responsible for seven facilities – from kindergartens to secondary schools, from playgrounds to artificial turf pitches. He runs this diverse operation with visible passion and a strong, dedicated team by his side.

Cleanliness naturally plays a key role. “More than 500 people use these facilities – hygiene is absolutely essential,” explains Claudio Oppliger. Where there is constant activity, a well-organised cleaning system is crucial – and this is exactly where Oppliger relies on teamwork and proven quality: “Without my team and reliable cleaning products, my job wouldn’t be possible.” That’s why he has been using Wetrok products for many years. “I’ve been a Wetrok fan since my apprenticeship,” he admits. “Even back then, during my training, I occasionally stopped by the Wetrok sales point in Zollikofen. The advice was excellent – practical, open and straightforward. That really impressed me. And that sense of trust has remained ever since.”

From test to permanent fixture

When Wetrok announced a field study for the new Novaline, Claudio Oppliger and his team were immediately interested. “We wanted to see whether the products really deliver what they promise.” So they decided to test Novafloor on gymnasium, artificial stone and clinker floors, as well as on porcelain stoneware tiles in the facility – without making any big announcement. “No one even noticed that we had changed anything. There were no complaints, and the floors were just as clean as before,” he reports with satisfaction.

Today, Novaline is used throughout the entire facility – in classrooms, gymnasiums, sanitary areas and corridors. The team works with the complete product line: Novafloor for floors, Novasan for sanitary areas and Novasurf for surfaces – “basically everywhere,” as Claudio Oppliger puts it. The cleaner really shows its strength in the heavily used sports halls. “We clean the gym floors with Novafloor, which is DIN 18032-certified and therefore suitable for sports hall flooring, once a week using a scrubber-dryer machine. The results are thoroughly convincing,” he says.

Always open to new developments, Claudio Oppliger and his team closely follow how the Novaline product line continues to evolve. That’s why they have already tested the latest additions to the range: Novacristal, Novabowl and Novasan forte. Glass and sanitary surfaces are always a special challenge for them. “Windows are tricky,” says Claudio Oppliger. “The light, the fingerprints, the grease – you can see absolutely everything.” Even with the best cleaners and cloths, perfection is hard to achieve. “To be honest, we were a bit sceptical at first – not because the products were bad, but because it’s simply a demanding area. But the new Novacristal really won us over. It works brilliantly, and we’ll definitely be adding it to our regular range.”The tests of the other products were also positive. “The results were consistently good and very satisfactory,” says Oppliger.

Thinking sustainably, acting for the future

The Novaline range fits perfectly with the philosophy of the Sternenberg School facility team: environmentally conscious yet reliable.
“We work with chemicals every day, so it’s reassuring to know that there are alternatives that are just as effective but less harmful to the environment.”

They particularly appreciate the fact that the products are manufactured in Switzerland. “Short transport routes and regional production – that makes sense to us. And it gives us a good feeling, because it means we’re acting sustainably.”

Their approach to cleaning is also reflected in their partnership with Wetrok. For them, it’s not just about the product, but also about the people behind it. “When we have a question, we’re taken seriously. We don’t just get an answer – we get a solution.” They value this spirit of partnership highly.

Their conclusion after using Novaline in everyday practice is clearly positive:
“We’re very satisfied. Novaline is powerful and environmentally friendly. Where daily life is full of activity, you need products that think ahead – and that’s exactly what Novaline does.”