Author Archives: Staff

How Do Car Washes Really Work?


Posted by Staff

Remember when you were a kid and your parents went through the car wash? It was a really cool experience back then. Some younger kids didn’t enjoy the experience, and even cried because they thought water was going to come into the car. As adults, car washes can be very helpful. Most of the time we just don’t have the patience or time to wash our own cars. If you live in a four-season climate, you know that in the winter it’s almost impossible to wash a vehicle.

Car washes have been around for years. They are a quick, cheap and convenient way to clean your car or truck.

Car washes work by wetting down the vehicle and applying  lots of soap. Cloth spinners then wash the vehicle, the vehicle is rinsed and blowers dry the car as it exits. Most car washes will have a staging area at the end of the wash where people will detail and wipe the car down. This all happens in about a minute and a half – maybe less. The car wash business is a big business. We know this is true because they are all over the place.

What most people do not think about is the water. Car washes use a ton of water. How does the water stay hot; and why don’t they ever run out of hot water? The answer is because car washes use  a gas tankless water heater. The system consists of a high-powered gas burner that heats the water very quickly as it runs through a heat exchanger. Unlike a traditional water heater, like the one you would typically find in a home, as long as the water supply is endless; you have endless hot water. This is a must-have for the car wash business.

Another thing most people never stop to think about is the floor. How do car washes keep the floor from freezing with all of that water, especially in the winter? The answer is that they have floor heat boilers. These boilers not only melt ice and snow off of the bottom of the vehicles, they keep the water from freezing on the ground as it drains and they add heat to the car wash drive-thru to keep ice from forming on the car. This is must-have number two.

So the next time you go to the car wash, remember how important the things that you can’t see, that are vital to the success of a clean car.

 


First Energy Pays Millions in Lighting Rebate Incentives to Cleveland and Akron Area Businesses


Posted by Staff

January 3, 2012 – Hudson, OH – Companies and business owners across the country are going “green” in a whole new way by executing strategic energy reduction initiatives.  These initiatives are benefiting companies’ profit margins as well as the environment.  Throughout northeast Ohio, First Energy has issued millions of dollars in lighting rebate incentives to local businesses. And companies that have created sustainable environments are reducing carbon emissions.

Customers of Hudson-based ROI Energy have saved an estimated $1.2 million this year alone with lighting retrofits.  Though future energy rates cannot be determined, ROI Energy’s clients can anticipate a savings of $12 million over the next ten years.

ROI Energy’s customers reduced carbon emissions in excess of 7,800 tons annually, which is equal to 1,422 cars taken off the road or 880,000 gallons of gasoline saved.

“The ability to reduce lighting energy costs by 50% in today’s economy while increasing light levels are the biggest benefits. Lucrative rebate incentive dollars paid directly to business and building owners along with the ability to deduct their entire energy reduction project the first year, are icing on the cake,” notes Bob Taussig, President of ROI Energy.  “Presenting a turn-key energy savings package with an excellent return on investment to top management makes my job extremely rewarding.”

The “green” movement and taking steps to create sustainability is an important consideration for corporations and their customers.  ROI Energy reports their lighting retrofit installations are up over 300% due to Illuminating Company and Ohio Edison lighting rebate incentives. First Energy provided millions of dollars directly to businesses who agreed to have lighting retrofit projects performed in 2011, in their effort to reduce energy use.

“Without exception, our customers with warehouses and manufacturing facilities were thrilled with the increase in light levels realized from their new, high bay T5 and T8 fixtures, at the same time reducing their energy costs by over 50% year after year, helping them to remain competitive,” comments Taussig.

ROI Energy Solutions, Inc. of Hudson specializes in providing turnkey lighting retrofit projects for Ohio area factories, warehouses and distribution centers.  Their specialty is retrofitting (converting) industrial, 400 watt metal halide high bay lighting to energy efficient T-5 and T-8 high bay fixtures, typically providing twice the light using half the energy. More importantly, projects are installed without disrupting their customer’s production.

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Helping Companies Convert Leads to Sales


Posted by Staff

A companies ability to convert leads to sales is vital to the long term success of the company. Companies are always trying to get leads any way they know how. They spend thousands of dollars each year trying to capture more customers. Whether its through radio, TV, phone calls or the web, companies want to get your attention so you buy their product or service. Now there is a way to maximize your leads to convert them into sales.

AIMcrm is a company that can transform your CRM or Customer Relationship Management by handling potential client from lead to sale.  AIMcrm is an on-demand web-based software application that will empower your company to manage their leads better than anything in the industry. Here are just some of the features of AIMcrm:

  • Custom Reports
  • Complete Website & Email Integration
  • WYSIWYG Form Builder
  • Web Visitor Analytics
  • Phone Tracking and Routing
  • Comprehensive Access Controls
  • Lead Vendor Integration

If you want more out of your CRM process, you need this!

AIMcrm’s lead management system contains many features that will total revolutionize your company’s thinking about selling. Your sales people will now be able to spend their time selling, and the software will take care of the rest. AIMcrm also tracks everything so you will be able to make informed decisions.

AIMcrm’s CRM software is truly revolutionizing how leads can be maximized and how decisions in sales can provide growth for companies. This software makes management’s life easier, guides your sales force, and keeps your customers happy – all at the same time. AIMcrm provides the facts necessary for sales success.


Sephora and Its Spectacular after Christmas Sales


Posted by Staff

When you hear “Sephora”, what is the first thing you think of? Well, most men won’t have a clue about it. All women know it is the beauty store to beat all beauty stores. One thing many people may not know is that Sephora has some pretty remarkable sales after the Holidays.

Sephora sales after Christmas are a great way to save even more and use some great products. Sephora already offers free returns, free shipping over $50 and free samples. Where else are you going to find that type of customer service? Answer: you are not. So it is safe to say that Sephora already knows how to treat its customers, and offers the most enjoyable experience possible.

Light Blue

One thing you will want to do if you are going to buy from Sephora is to inquire about their Beauty Rewards Card. You can sign up for it. This card keeps track of your sales and gives rewards points for everything you buy. All you do is show it when checking out at the store or enter the number when purchasing online.

Whether you are looking for makeup, skincare, fragrances or bath and body products, Sephora has it, and there are some inviting sales after Christmas.

Guilty Gift Set ($101 Value)

Sephora has all the name brands including Ralph Lauren, Bare Escentuals, Calvin Klein, Chic as well as Sephora products. And guys, since you probably don’t know, there are products for you too, including facial cleaners, pre-shave creams and fragrances.

No matter what it is that you are looking for, take advantage of Sephora’s after Christmas sales this year.


Details at Your Fingertips from Guardian SunGuard


Posted by Staff

The magic of apps on mobile devices is that they allow you to access a breadth of information wherever you are, right when you need it. Consumers are able to shop for shoes, furniture and car insurance using apps. You can manage a personal or business budget, pay your bills and order a pizza with the swipe of finger on your mobile device. Guardian SunGuard realized that technology is moving to the mobile and acted quickly by launching a mobile app with the help of Michigan-based firm Curve Detroit.

Guardian is a manufacturer of high performance, low-E coated glass for commercial applications and offers their products in a wide array of colors. They realized that their product, SunGuard glass, was already in the best showroom available—real buildings—and had the best recommendations already written for it—the performance data from these applications and the beauty it adds to constructed spaces.

To take advantage of this, Guardian launched the app, which harnesses the GPS technology of the devices it can be downloaded to, the iPhone, iPad and Android, to find SunGuard projects near the user and offer technical information, the architecture firm responsible for the project, photos and walking or driving directions to the location in an easy, mobile form.

“One of the main ideas behind our new app was to give people real-life examples of how SunGuard products look and perform in the field,” Says Chris Dolan, director of commercial marketing for SunGuard, “Our customers and business partners are most interested in the appearance of a project and the performance of the glass. The SunGuard app delivers both via a mobile medium.”

This app is at the cutting edge of the industry and mobile technology because it unites a commercial building product with the consumer technology that has become so influential to the way the modern market works.


Guardian SunGuard “Stays in Touch” with Consumers, Launches App


Posted by Staff

The means of communication between manufacturers, builders and their clients is constantly changing. Guardian is unmistakably at the forefront of modern information delivery with their new mobile app, something that is not common in the building materials industry, but should be. An incredibly efficient, informative and unique means of delivering information to builders, architects, clients and sales staff in the field, the new app is a blueprint for the industry to follow when it comes to staying in touch with your client base.

Guardian SunGuard manufactures commercial low-E coated solar control glass in a wide variety of colors. It is both popular and high performing. Now consumers and contractors considering SunGuard as an option can download the company’s new mobile app on iPhones, iPads and Android devices.

The app gives users access to photos of SunGuard projects and information about the projects—including technical specs, performance data, the responsible architectural firm, glazier, fabricator and location. Because it’s integrated with the device’s GPS, users are also able to access walking or driving directions so they can see the project in real life—an opportunity that can tell them much more about the product than simply seeing a picture or reading a brochure.

Chris Dolan, the director of commercial marketing at SunGuard explains that the app is crucial to giving business partners and clients the information they need in the form they prefer and with the new app, these users are able to see the product first hand and access information using their own mobile devices. While online information is useful, it’s not a primary means of communication for most businesspeople, who depend heavily on their mobile devices for quick, easy access to information. Guardian has managed to stay ahead of the curve by providing this type of access to their clients.


Seeing is Believing: Guardian SunGuard Glass Launches App


Posted by Staff

Although technological innovation primarily focuses on producing a better product for consumers, it’s equally important for manufacturers to innovate in how they deliver information to their potential customers. Guardian is leading the way in connecting with customers by offering accessible, technical information to consumers in mobile app form for iPhones, iPads and Android devices.

Guardian SunGuard is a high performance glass that offers a low-E option for solar control in a wide spectrum of colors. Because of its versatility and customizability, it is a popular choice among builders, architects and their commercial clients. But, choosing a product with confidence is easier when you have the chance to see it in action and learn more about how

it’s used in existing structures. That’s why Guardian is offering this app, which gives users access to the information they need as they make a decision about including high efficiency solar control glass in their project.

By downloading the app, users will be able to:

  • Locate buildings that use SunGuard glass nearby
  • Access walking or driving directions to visit those buildings
  • View details on photos of SunGuard projects, including technical information
  • Contact Guardian about SunGuard products

“One of the main ideas behind our new app was to give people real-life examples of how SunGuard products look and perform in the field,” Says Chris Dolan, the Director of Commercial Marketing at Guardian, “Our customers and business partners are most interested in the appearance of a project and the performance of the glass. The SunGuard app delivers both via a mobile medium.” He also points out that consumers are using their mobile devices to seek the same information they might have looked for on a computer in the past—and now they can find it easily and quickly using the new app.


Congressman Hanna Tours Guardian Geneva Float Glass Plant


Posted by Staff

Congressman Richard Hanna (R-New York) visited Guardian Industries’ Geneva, N.Y., float glass plant today for a meeting with plant manager Joel Daoust and other employees. They discussed a number of issues including energy-efficient glass for homes as well as new developments in automotive glass.

Daoust was able to discuss first hand with the Congressman the float glass process and the advanced technology coater necessary for the solar glazing products. The plant also makes coated glass that increases the energy efficiency performance of windows for homes and commercial buildings.

The Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, for example, are expected to recognize the energy efficiency benefits of Guardian’s automotive solar reflective glass product in the soon-to-be released next generation of fuel emission standards.

Guardian produces Infrared Reflective glass, a high-performance coated glass product that can help automotive manufacturers meet these ambitious fuel emissions standards.  A laminated windshield or other glass with a special coating applied to the glass provides high levels of solar reflection without added tint or being darker, significantly reducing the amount of heat absorbed into the vehicle.  The result is a reduced load on a vehicle air conditioning unit that, in turn, improves the fuel efficiency of the vehicle by about 3 percent according to independent testing.

Guardian’s plant in Geneva is one of the few locations to manufacture this special coating.

“Guardian is an industry leader in the manufacture of solar glass solutions,” Daoust said. “We appreciate Congressman Hanna taking the time to meet with our employees and get a better understanding of the importance our products have to the plant, to Geneva and to drivers and homeowners as well.”


Pipeline Inspection and Leak Detection Methods


Posted by Staff

There are a variety of available techniques to find and quantify gas leaks in pipelines. New technologies that are safer and more accurate have come to market that allow engineers to find and detect gases such as sulfur hexafluoride, FREON, methane, and other volatile organic compounds(VOC’s).

Ultrasonic Leak Detection

Ultrasonic gas detectors are mainly used for outdoor environments where weather conditions can easily dissipate escaping gas before allowing it to reach gas leak detectors that require contact with the gas in order to detect it and sound an alarm. These detectors are commonly found on offshore and onshore oil/gas platforms, gas compressor and metering stations, gas turbine power plants, and other facilities that house a lot of outdoor pipeline.

Infrared

This method has also proven to be highly effective for the gas leak detection in urban areas, or on city streets to find both above ground and underground leaks. The infrared camera can be mounted  on a vehicle and is literally a “point and shoot” method of quickly finding leaks, which appear as black smoke in the viewfinder.

Street Evaluating Laser Methane Assessment

SELMA  is the world’s best technology for finding leaks in spread-out geography, such as pipe and transmission lines, utility distribution lines, process plant equipment. Incorporating highly sensitive detection with GPS, aiming lasers and a video record, SELMA leaves little to the imagination, which is exactly the kind of reliability you want in leak detection. Depending on the application, SELMA can be mounted to various vehicle platforms best suited for the terrain being surveyed.

Aerial Laser Methane Assessment

ALMA is conducted by a specially equipped helicopter that can greatly increase the speed of surveying, data logging of leak levels and route, download post-survey report, insure enhanced pipeline integrity and reduce operations and maintenance expenses.

This airborne based gas leak detection offers a dramatic change to the conventional natural gas leak inspection methods used by natural gas companies. Utilizing a laser, we quickly and efficiently detect natural gas leaks while the helicopter based system flies the transmission pipeline. The combination of a laptop, an optical laser unit and an electronic unit work together to detect and track leaks, even providing GPS coordinates to pinpoint the leaks that are found.

This new technology has proven to be highly sensitive, economical and very reliable, while improving public safety.