Masonry Magazine June 2011 Page. 30
CLEANING AND
CLEANING EQUIPMENT
Almeida, while at Empire, championed the purchase of a Kem-O-Kleen Masonry Cleaning System. He found that he cleaned far faster and better than ever before, even with the challenges of a densely populated city full of tall buildings to clean.
Ft. Devens is a large Army base in a wetlands area, in the towns of Ayer and Shirley in Middlesex County, and the town of Harvard in Worchester County, Mass. As you might imagine, it does not get much tougher than the Army Corps of Engineers when it comes to requirements, unless you also have a bunch of towns and counties in addition. The job was a complex of three, 28-foot tall buildings, containing about 95,000 square feet of masonry. The concern was that the run-off from the cleaning would pose a hazard to the ground. The Corps and city public works officials were pushing for lined trenches to collect all the run-off, transfer the run-off to 55-gallon drums, truck it off-site and treat it. That meant huge costs for capture, transportation and treatment.
Rather than proceeding with the off-site treatment solution, the masons requested the opportunity to run tests. By precisely controlling the quantity of Vana Trol applied, the result was a run-off that measured 4.0 ph, which was within the tolerance range for on-site treatment. As a result, the decision was reached to put a small berm of lime around the wash area. Tests of the berm method came back with a ph in the 6.0 to 7.0 range. The expense of the off-site treatment plan was avoided, and the Corps and publics works officials were pleased with the outcome.
Case Study #3 - Consistency
Back in 1977, Tom Buford's dad was looking at one of the first Kem-O-Kleen machines made. It was being demonstrated at the new Executive Inn construction site.
"I took a look at that machine with all those moving parts and didn't want any part of it," says Buford.
But his dad said, "I'll take it."
Today, Buford and his wife still operate one of the more successful masonry companies in Kentucky, L. A. Buford Corp. He has bought three Kem-O-Kleens over the years.
Buford drives by a local building that was cleaned with a bucket and brush, by another mason, more than 15 years ago, and says, "They are faded some by now, but you can still see the stripes pretty clearly."
He has found himself cleaning in the fall, when the weather turned bad. The weather did not permit cleaning until the following spring, and he was able to complete the job with a perfectly consistent look. By controlling the application of chemical, temperature and water pressure precisely, the outcome is consistent. Buford and his brother cleaned a 48,000-square-foot, sandy brick wall, (always a challenge) perfectly consistently, in six hours. Glazed brick, scratch brick, light color, different types of mortar, different times of the year, different types of chemical - it doesn't matter to Buford. He handles them all perfectly. Consistent process and consistent control of that process give you amazingly consistent results.
Product Watch
Direct-Drive Cold
Pressure Washers
Steam Jenny has introduced four new models of direct-drive cold pressure washers, providing a compact, economical alternative to belt-driven models. Steam Jenny says that, while yielding the professional performance of commercial grade units, all models are designed for maximum durability and portability for use on the most demanding jobsites.
The pressure washers are powered by 9- or 13-horsepower Honda GX Series engines, and all models feature a triplex ceramic plunger pump that provides years of service and require little maintenance. The units offer an ideal balance between power and volume, and are available with pressure ratings between 3,000 and 4,000 psi. Flow rates vary between 3 and 4 gpm. Furthermore, a customizable option allows customers to choose a unit with pressure and flow ratings based on their specific needs.
Many standard features are incorporated into the line to ensure long service life, including thermal pump protection, an unloader valve, and a high-pressure relief valve to prevent damage to the pump. To protect the engine, the unit will automatically shut down if low oil levels are detected. The chassis is made with powder-coated, seven-gauge steel for enhanced durability. Other standard items include a professional-grade, insulated trigger gun with safety lock, quick-connect nozzles with nozzle control, high-capacity in-line water strainer, gun/wand holder, hose reel mounting adapter and dual rubber isolators.
For maximum maneuverability, the pressure washers feature ball-bearing wheels on a solid axle. The flat-free pneumatic tires are ideal for moving over any terrain. IMAS
For more information, visit www.steamjenny.com.
Summary
Opportunities exist in the world of masonry cleaning that can contribute significantly to success. Process control and automation give you improved productivity of your people, equipment and chemical. Those savings last long after they have paid for that automation, and your business is better for it. Process control and automation can make your customers confident that you can meet their objectives, whether it is the ph level of run-off or the quality of the finished appearance of the structure. More important, process control and automation give you the capability to deliver that consistency under just about any circumstances. IMAS
Randy Well is president of Unique Industries. He can be reached at randy.weil@kem-o-kleen.com.