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Gentle cleaning for historic buildings like never before

The Novosan Laserclean team uses the latest laser cleaning technology to remove staining with extreme precision, without chemicals and without damaging surfaces
Our clients' results

Stone

Wood

Metal

Plastic

Testimonials

The London-based online magazine, Business Worldwide, with over 60,000 readers worldwide, has nominated Novosan Laser Clean AG as one of the ‘20 Most Innovative Companies to Watch, 2024’.
Business Worldwide Journal
Business Worldwide Journal
Both the laser cleaning and the way I worked with the team from Novosan Laser Clean AG at Burgdorf Castle fascinated me from the very beginning. Thanks to the technology and the team, it was possible to restore the historically significant surfaces with maximum care.
Marco Amstutz
Marco AmstutzMedieval archaeology and building research in the Canton of Bern
When I saw the Novosan Laser Clean AG laser for the first time, I felt I had arrived in the future. Now we are working together to maximise the possibilities of the technology in new applications. I am certain that lasers are the future of conservation and restoration.
Robert Rosati
Robert RosatiBSA - Rosati Conservation and Restoration

Explanatory video: How laser cleaning works

The cleaning laser generates “round pulses of light”. The pulses heat the top layer of grime for nanoseconds.

With a depth of only 0.01 to 0.5 mm per cleaning cycle, the layer removed is five times thinner than a human hair.

This means: The grime is removed micrometer by micrometer without damaging the underlying structure. Quick – quiet – easy on the environment.

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Entfernen Sie Ablagerungen und Schmutz schonend von Denkmälern, Gebäuden und Statuen.
Entfernen Sie Ablagerungen und Schmutz schonend von Denkmälern, Gebäuden und Statuen.
Entfernen Sie Ablagerungen und Schmutz schonend von Denkmälern, Gebäuden und Statuen.

Stone monuments at risk

Particulate matter, exhaust, soot, layers of pollution, algae, and vandalism cause severe damage to monuments, buildings, and statues over time.
The problem with cleaning: Chemical cleaning agents are often highly abrasive.

For sensitive materials, the only option is to remove deposits with …
… sand blasting
… dry ice blasting
… or a chemical sponge.

But be careful: In all of these procedures, the surface is mechanically treated. It is difficult to control how much is removed.
If parts of the structure come loose, valuable works of art will be damaged for good.

Fortunately, there is now a better method that is already being used by archaeologists in Egypt to uncover murals: laser cleaning.

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Cleaning method comparison

Sand blasting

Efficiency

  • around 2 m²/hour

Precision

  • The sand acts as an abrasive. It roughens the surface and leaves it porous

User-friendliness

  • Can only be performed using a mask and respiratory protection. The abrasives must be cleaned off the site afterwards

Energy consumption

  • High energy consumption

Efficiency

  • 1-1.5 m²/hour

Precision

  • This method is considered relatively gentle

User-friendliness

  • Extreme noise levels. Protective suit required for workers. Operating the compressor and obtaining dry ice are logistically demanding

Energy consumption

  • Very high energy consumption

Efficiency

  • slow and exhausting

Precision

  • The amount removed cannot be controlled

User-friendliness

  • Difficult manual labor

Energy consumption

  • No energy required (manual labor)

Efficiency

  • 3-5 m²/hour

Precision

  • Ultra-precise. The gentlest cleaning method on the market

User-friendliness

  • Suitcase-sized machine, low noise, only protective goggles required

Energy consumption

  • Consumes no more energy than a light bulb

Sand blasting

Dry ice blasting

Chemical sponge

Laser cleaning

Efficiency

  • around 2 m²/hour
  • 1-1.5 m²/hour
  • slow and exhausting
  • 3-5 m²/hour

Precision

  • The sand acts as an abrasive. It roughens the surface and leaves it porous
  • This method is considered relatively gentle
  • The amount removed cannot be controlled
  • Ultra-precise. The gentlest cleaning method on the market

User-friendliness

  • Can only be performed using a mask and respiratory protection. The abrasives must be cleaned off the site afterwards
  • Extreme noise levels. Protective suit required for workers. Operating the compressor and obtaining dry ice are logistically demanding
  • Difficult manual labor
  • Suitcase-sized machine, low noise, only protective goggles required

Energy consumption

  • High energy consumption
  • Very high energy consumption
  • No energy required (manual labor)
  • Consumes no more energy than a light bulb

How laser cleaning works

The laser removes grime layer by layer. Depending on the material and how soiled it is, each round of cleaning can remove layers with a thickness of 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm.
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Der Laser trägt Verunreinigungen Schicht für Schicht ab.

How it works in
5 simple steps:

Step 1

The laser shoots “round pulses of light” at the surface

Mithilfe von Lichtimpulsen reinigt der Laser die Oberfläche.

Step 2

The grime absorbs the light energy and heats up for a few nanoseconds

Die Verunreinigung absorbiert die Lichtenergie und erwärmt sich dadurch für wenige Nanosekunden.

Step 3

The grime evaporates while the surface becomes slightly warmer

Die Verschmutzung verpufft, während die Oberfläche nur leicht erwärmt wird.

Step 4

To prevent the fumes from reattaching, they are immediately vacuumed away.

Damit sich der Dunst nicht wieder ablagert, wird er sofort abgesaugt.

Step 5

Result: A clean, smooth, and undamaged surface.

Ergebnis: Eine saubere, glatte und nicht beschädigte Oberfläche.

Step 1

The laser shoots “round pulses of light” at the surface

Step 2

The grime absorbs the light energy and heats up for a few nanoseconds

Step 3

The grime evaporates while the surface becomes slightly warmer

Step 4

To prevent the fumes from reattaching, they are immediately vacuumed away.

Step 5

Result: A clean, smooth, and undamaged surface.

Mithilfe von Lichtimpulsen reinigt der Laser die Oberfläche.
Die Verunreinigung absorbiert die Lichtenergie und erwärmt sich dadurch für wenige Nanosekunden.
Die Verschmutzung verpufft, während die Oberfläche nur leicht erwärmt wird.
Damit sich der Dunst nicht wieder ablagert, wird er sofort abgesaugt.
Ergebnis: Eine saubere, glatte und nicht beschädigte Oberfläche.
Novosan Laser Clean verwendet die Lasertechnologie als erster Anbieter für Gebäudereinigungen und -sanierung in der Schweiz.
While laser technology has been used in the industrial sector, medical technology, and archaeology for years, Novosan Laser Clean is now the first to offer it for building cleaning and renovation in Switzerland.

Novosan Laser Clean
Pioneers of laser cleaning in Switzerland and Europe

The Novosan Laser Clean team removes grime from historic buildings without the use of any chemicals, with a minimal carbon footprint, and without damaging stonework. Depending on the level of staining, we clean an average of 3 m³ per hour. This is significantly faster than other methods.

Our innovation and commitment to sustainability and safety were recognised by the renowned London-based magazine Business Worldwide, which named us one of the “20 Most Innovative Companies to Watch, 2024”.

Das Team von Novosan Laser Clean entfernt Verschmutzungen auf antiken Gebäuden komplett ohne Chemie, CO₂-neutral und ohne das Mauerwerk zu beschädigen.
Die Laserreinigung von Novosan Laser Clean ist sicher und effektiv. Als erster Anbieter in der Schweiz schulen wir inzwischen auch andere Anbieter.

The cleaning lasers only affect layers that are 5 times thinner than a hair.

That means: Unless aimed at the eyes, the technology is relatively harmless for human beings.

This is why we equip our employees (and you) with safety glasses and fence off the cleaning area with protective walls.

The personal protective equipment (PPE) is much simpler than what is required for other cleaning processes, like sand- or dry-ice blasting.

As the first provider in Switzerland, we are now training other providers to use the Novosan safety concept.

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The collaboration process

Live on-site demonstration

We will provide an in-person demonstration on how we use laser cleaning to remove different types of grime – including soot, graffiti, and particulate matter. Don’t worry: We won’t test it directly on your building. We bring a variety of sample materials with us.

Inspection of the structure on site

Have you decided that laser cleaning is the right approach? We will check what type of staining is involved, what the surface is like, and whether our cleaning process is suitable for your situation. And if it that all checks out? We’ll gladly laser a small sample area of your structure free of charge. If you are satisfied, we will send you a quote.

Cleaning

Have you decided that working with us is the right choice? If so, we will schedule an appointment for cleaning. Our trained technicians will bring everything that they need. The only thing you have to provide is a standard power outlet.

What you can expect in the live demonstration

Still not sure if laser cleaning is right for you? Let’s find out together during a live demonstration. See for yourself how our laser removes different types of staining from various surfaces.
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Wir zeigen Ihnen, wie unser Laser unterschiedliche Verschmutzungen auf verschiedenen Untergründen entfernt.

About us

Novosan has specialized in building cleaning and renovation for decades.
Martin Schweizer baute den Laser so um, dass er für die Reinigung von Gebäuden und Denkmälern auf Holz, Stein und Kunststoff funktioniert.
Martin Schweizer baute den Laser so um, dass er für die Reinigung von Gebäuden und Denkmälern auf Holz, Stein und Kunststoff funktioniert.
Martin Schweizer baute den Laser so um, dass er für die Reinigung von Gebäuden und Denkmälern auf Holz, Stein und Kunststoff funktioniert.

About us

Novosan has specialized in building cleaning and renovation for decades.

When Martin Schweizer, a mechanical engineer and economist with over 20 years of experience, took over the affiliated company Novosan in 2022, he breathed new life into the company.

He had already encountered laser technology as a student. Whether for welding, cutting sheet metal, measuring, engraving, optical laser technology or archaeology, lasers are used wherever extreme precision is required.

And it’s not only in engineering that lasers are indispensable – the technology has also been used in medicine for decades.

But there is one area where lasers are not yet in use, even though the work requires the same level of precision as in medicine and engineering: building cleaning.

So Martin Schweizer came up with the idea of modifying a standard laser for use in cleaning buildings and monuments made of wood, stone, and synthetic materials. After thorough research, countless tests, and a long development period, he and his team have achieved that goal.

Novosan Laser Clean AG, the first provider of laser cleaning equipment in Switzerland, has been recognised by London-based magazine Business Worldwide as one of the “20 Most Innovative Companies to Watch, 2024”.

Laser cleaning: Burgdorf Castle

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Mit unserer Laserreinigung konnten wir den Russ Schicht für Schicht abtragen und dieses wunderschöne Denkmal wieder in seinem alten Glanz erstrahlen lassen.

Burgdorf Castle – Switzerland

On 15 February 2024, a fire severely damaged one of the most famous castles in Switzerland. With our laser cleaning method, we were able to remove the soot layer by layer and restore this beautiful monument — now over 800 years old — to its former glory.

Click here for the case study

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Mit unserer Laserreinigung konnten wir den Russ Schicht für Schicht abtragen und dieses wunderschöne Denkmal wieder in seinem alten Glanz erstrahlen lassen.

FAQ

We can clean almost anything with our laser. Soot, particulate matter, exhaust, algae, spray paint (graffiti), mold, and much more. Since our laser is extremely gentle, we have even used it to clean Styrofoam without damaging the surface.

However, as a general rule, the tougher the staining, the more intensively it needs to be lasered. For particularly sensitive surfaces such as wood, the result may not meet the normal quality standards of Novosan Laser Clean because too much energy has to be used for cleaning to avoid leaving any trace on the wood.

To rule this out, we always personally inspect your building first and check whether cleaning is possible for your situation.

Compared to other cleaning methods, laser cleaning is extremely energy-efficient. The laser consumes no more power than a light bulb and can be plugged into any normal outlet.
Our laser cleans staining with extreme precision – layer by layer. The amount that the laser removes each time can be adjusted. Adjustments between 0.01mm–0.5mm are possible.
The cleaning laser generates round pulses of light. These pulses heat the top layer for nanoseconds. Whether it is soot, particulate matter, algae or spray paint – all types of grime evaporate. Layer by layer and with extreme precision. To prevent the fumes from reattaching, they are immediately vacuumed away with a standard industrial vacuum cleaner.
It largely depends on the degree of staining. The more grime there is, the longer it will take. On average, we clean surfaces at a rate of 3 m²/hour. This means that we are significantly faster than conventional cleaning methods.
Laser cleaning isn’t limited to just historic buildings: it can also be used for other structures like nuclear power plants and rail systems.

Our locations – throughout Switzerland!

The growing Novosan Laser Clean team is based in beautiful Zollikofen near Bern, in Wangen near Olten, in Turtma in Valais, and Grandson near Yverdon. We manage cleaning projects throughout Switzerland — with more branch offices to follow!
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