Escalator treads are the hardest surface in most buildings to clean well. The grooves trap grit, shoe rubber and light oils, the escalator cannot be shut down for long in trading hours, and hand-scrubbing a moving stairway is both slow and hazardous. The HydraMaster TreadMaster is the machine built for exactly that problem: a self-contained, compact unit that cleans and polishes escalator and moving walkway treads hands-off, in one continuous motion. This is the complete system in 110v, sized for tread widths of 23.0 to 26.0 inches. For over 25 years, TreadMaster has been the maintenance recommendation of escalator manufacturers worldwide.
Built for
- Shopping centers and department stores with escalators running open hours
- Airports and transit stations, where treads and moving walkways carry constant grit
- Casinos, hotels and convention centers, where appearance is part of the product
- Stadiums and arenas facing a hard cleaning window between events
- Hospitals, universities and office towers with in-house facilities crews
Use cases
The first is the recurring deep clean. Escalator treads collect a dark film of soil, shoe rubber and light oils that a mop or a scrub brush will not lift out of the grooves. TreadMaster runs a nylon-grit brush and a heavy-duty polishing pad into those grooves while the escalator moves the treads past the head, then vacuums the residue away, and it brings back the original luster rather than just wetting the surface.
The second is labor. Conventional tread cleaning means a crew on their hands and knees on a stopped escalator, working around a moving-machinery hazard. HydraMaster puts the labor saving at 98 percent versus conventional methods, because once the head is lowered and the escalator is running, the machine works unattended and the crew moves on to other tasks. The safety case is the same case: one-stop automatic cleaning takes people off the treads.
How it works
A simple three-step process. Position the TreadMaster at the bottom of the escalator, lower the cleaning head into position, and activate the escalator. Without any repositioning during any part of the cleaning process, TreadMaster cleans the tread width completely and thoroughly, with the built-in vacuum collecting all residue as it goes.
Specifications
- Model: TreadMaster COMPLETE SYSTEM automatic escalator cleaner, 100-100-001
- Tread width range: 23.0 to 26.0 inches
- Power: 110v, self-contained unit
- Cleaning media: replaceable heavy-duty polishing pad and nylon-grit brush
- Recovery: built-in vacuum system collects loosened residue
- Included: clip-on ESCALATOR CLEANING IN PROGRESS sign
- Manufacturer: HydraMaster, Universal Cleaning Concepts LLC, Everett, Washington
TreadMaster is sized to the tread width of the escalator it will clean, and HydraMaster builds the complete system in several width ranges. Measure your treads before ordering and match the machine to the measurement.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know this is the right width for my escalators?
Measure the tread width on the escalator itself, edge to edge, and match it to the machine's range. This model covers 23.0 to 26.0 inch treads. HydraMaster builds the TreadMaster in several width ranges, so if your measurement falls outside this one, ask us and we will identify the correct model.
Does someone have to stand with the machine while it runs?
No. That is the point of the design. Once the TreadMaster is positioned at the bottom of the escalator and the head is lowered, the escalator moves the treads through the cleaning head and the machine works without staff supervision, which frees your crew for other tasks.
Do I have to reposition it partway through the tread width?
No. HydraMaster states that TreadMaster cleans the full tread width completely and thoroughly without any repositioning during any part of the cleaning process.
What happens to the soil it removes?
The built-in vacuum system collects the residue as the machine works, so loosened soil is captured rather than pushed into the grooves or left on the treads.
Are there consumable parts?
Yes. The polishing pad and the nylon-grit brush are wear items and are designed to be easily replaceable. HydraMaster also offers a separate EscalatorTread Spot Cleaner, developed for aluminum escalator steps, which is non-flammable and non-conductive so it can be used while equipment is operating.
Is it safe to use on an escalator that is powered up?
Cleaning is done with the escalator running, which is how the treads pass the head, and the system ships with a clip-on ESCALATOR CLEANING IN PROGRESS sign to keep passengers off the unit. Follow HydraMaster's owner guide and your own site safety procedures.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized HydraMaster dealer with US-based order and parts support. If you are not sure which tread width your escalators call for, send us the measurement and we will confirm the correct TreadMaster model before you order.
