MINNEAPOLIS, Mar. 15, 2011—Tennant Company’s Orbio Technologies Group announces the release of its Split Stream technology, the latest in a series of revolutionary technologies that help cleaning professionals clean spaces without the potential health and safety risks associated with traditional cleaning chemicals. Orbio Split Stream technology is available exclusively on the Orbio 5000-Sc, a machine which uses tap water, a small amount of salt and electricity to create an effective multi-purpose cleaning solution that works with most existing cleaning equipment and methods.

“The Orbio 5000-Sc cleaning solution effectively cleans most soils, including fats, proteins and organic oils. It matches or exceeds the performance of most conventional cleaners so customers can replace many costly, potentially harmful chemicals from their cleaning programs with just one cleaning solution,” said Karla Leis, General Manager of Orbio Technologies Group.

The Orbio 5000-Sc automatically generates this effective cleaning solution on-site, thereby greatly reducing the environmental footprint associated with the packaged conventional cleaners in use today as well as the cost of manufacturing, packaging, transporting, storing, handling and disposing of traditional cleaning chemicals. The patent-pending Orbio Split Stream technology is already being heralded by cleaning professionals as a breakthrough that will change the world of professional cleaning because of the significant environmental, health, safety and cost benefits it delivers. ARAMARK, a world leader in providing professional services, partnered with the Orbio Technologies Group to test and validate the effectiveness of Orbio Split Stream technology in universities and school districts, convention centers, and businesses across the United States.

“ARAMARK is proud to collaborate with the Orbio Technologies Group to develop an environmentally friendly cleaning system that effectively removes most organic soils,” said Craig Arnold, ARAMARK’s Director of Systems Development and Technical Support. “Through our testing, we found that the solution was effective in a variety of applications, including spray-and-wipe cleaning, hard-floor scrubbing, and carpet cleaning.”

Since the Orbio 5000-Sc automatically generates a ready-to-use cleaning solution that is always at the right dilution, there is no need to handle or mix concentrated cleaning chemicals.

“This offers a safety benefit to our operators and a reduced environmental impact for our customers compared to most conventional cleaning chemicals,” Arnold added. “We plan to integrate this solution at our client locations across most business units.”

The Orbio 5000-Sc with Orbio Split Stream technology is the latest innovation in a series of sustainable water-based technologies from Tennant Company and its Orbio Technologies Group that provide effective cleaning results without the use of traditional chemicals. The unique Orbio technology portfolio allows Tennant and its partners to deliver the optimal cleaning solution to each customer facility.

In 2007, Tennant Company introduced its proprietary, award-winning ec-H2OTM technology, which uses Orbio Blended Stream technology. Since its release, thousands of customers are cleaning better, improving productivity and reducing costs, enhancing safety and reducing their environmental impact. In fewer than four years, Tennant Company has quadrupled its annual sales of ec-H2O-equipped scrubbers to nearly $100M.

The second related technology known as Orbio Electroporation technology was introduced in 2010. It is licensed to Global Opportunities Investment Group, LLC, for use in its Activeion® branded hand-held spray devices. Orbio Electroporation technology is based on irreversible electroporation and is capable of killing bacteria and inactivating pathogenic viruses without using chemicals. The Orbio Technologies Group is actively exploring other applications for this exciting sanitizing and disinfecting technology.

“Tennant Company, and its Orbio Technologies Group, are committed to transforming the cleaning industry through innovations such as ec-H2O technology, Orbio Electroporation and now the Orbio Split Stream technology,” said Leis. “Our customers and the people who use the facilities they clean are demanding solutions that use fewer potentially harmful chemicals. We believe Orbio Split Stream technology and the Orbio 5000-Sc are important steps to meeting that demand.” The Orbio 5000-Sc is currently available in North America and will expand to international markets later in 2011.

Minneapolis-based Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions that help create a cleaner, safer, healthier world. Its products include equipment for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments; chemical-free and other sustainable cleaning technologies; and specialty surface coatings for protecting, repairing and upgrading floors. Tennant's global field service network is the most extensive in the industry. Tennant has manufacturing operations in Minneapolis, Minn.; Holland, Mich.; Louisville, Ky.; Uden, The Netherlands; the United Kingdom; São Paulo, Brazil; and Shanghai, China; and sells products directly in 15 countries and through distributors in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit www.tennantco.com.

Orbio Technologies Group is the sustainable cleaning technology arm of Tennant Company. Established in 2009 to execute Tennant Company’s vision of becoming a global leader in chemical-free and other sustainable cleaning technologies, Orbio Technologies Group is dedicated to developing and marketing environmentally friendly technologies under the brand name of Orbio® that will set the standard for sustainable cleaning around the world. Orbio Technologies Group will continue to create and deliver sustainable cleaning solutions to Tennant’s existing markets and new markets.

ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. The company is recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, as the industry leader in FORTUNE magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies," and as one of America's Largest Private Companies by both FORTUNE and Forbes magazines. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 255,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at the company's website, www.aramark.com, or www.twitter.com/aramark.com.