CM/Spotlight: sustainability case study ProTeam Inc. Staying Alive — And Healthy By: Jessica Holmes S Some vacuums have a long history and a compelling story to match. When ProTeam ® Technician Steve Shideler received a 21-year-old QuarterVac ® in for repair, he marveled at its condition. “As you can imagine, we donʼt have parts to repair a 21-year-old vacuum,” says Shideler. “The vacuumʼs in awesome condition and still works, but itʼs no longer powerful enough for the wood floor installer who owns it.” That installer is Bob Bassett, owner of Executive Hardwood Floors in Boise, ID. A friend in the industry gave Bassett the backpack vacuum 15 years ago when he was just starting out in the field. The QuarterVac has remained a constant com-panion ever since. “I knew the vacuum was old but I didnʼt think about it. The vacuum is just killer. Itʼs an excellent machine,” says Bassett. “It took a lot of abuse, and itʼs been through quite a bit, but it just kept going and going.” The daily work Bassett performs is a challenging task for any vacuum. The sanding process creates fine dust that — if not filtered with precision — can clog the motor and other moving parts. ProTeamʼs Four Level ® filtration traps and contains 99.9 percent of particles measuring one micron and larger, including mold, pet dan-der, pollen, and yes, even fine dust. The end result has many benefits: The new floor installation looks better than the old floor; customers take note and are pleased; and the environment after such a dust-producing project is filtered to a level that is healthy and green. ProTeam vacu-ums, unlike traditional single-motor uprights — which can send dust flying back into the air — improve indoor air quality dramatically. “They notice youʼre getting a lot more The most powerful backpack vacuum on the market comes with a 6-quart capacity and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Get the deepest, greenest clean with this lightweight, ergonomic powerhouse that cleans up to 10,000 square feet per hour. The Super QuarterVac ® provides mobility, superior airflow, static lift and easy-to-reach accessories for all your cleaning chal-lenges. Breathe easy: The Super QuarterVac with HEPA Level Filtration ™ captures 99.97 percent of indoor pollu-tants 0.3 micron or larger. dust,” says Bassett. “And itʼs easier to vacuum the floor. You donʼt have to drag around a cord and you can get carpet and other places in one sweep. Iʼd say I save a good half-hour to an hour in cleanup.” The increase in productivity with ProTeam backpack vacuums is hard to beat. Studies have proven that when com-bined with an effective cleaning program, quality backpacks can increase productivi-ty by up to 70 percent without adding staff. Bassett says he appreciates the time his trusty QuarterVac has saved him over the years. Consistent maintenance was also a key factor in the long life of Bassettʼs QuarterVac. Bassett would sweep first to pick up large particles, and then use the QuarterVac to tackle the fine particles the broom left behind. After use, he would take off the lid, blow out contacts with an air compressor and keep it hung up even during transport. In the end, Bassettʼs loyalty to his vacu-um paid off with more than years of use alone. ProTeam provided him a recondi-tioned Super CoachVac ® , and the 21-year-old QuarterVac now has a place in the companyʼs archives, alongside a handful of other tough, long-lasting vacuums. “The Super CoachVac is so powerful and holds 10 quarts compared to only one quart with my old vacuum,” says Bassett. “I like it. I like it a lot.” CM Jessica Holmes is a Boise, Idaho-based freelance writer focused on the cleaning and facilities maintenance industry. Circle Product Information no. 153 This content was provided by ProTeam Inc. as part of a paid advertisement. For more information, please contact ProTeam directly at 1-866-888-2168 or www.pro-team.com. 22 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • June 2009
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