And Now A Word From a Morantz Client......

I am fortunate to be in a business where I have the opportunity to watch our clients' businesses grow.  Sometimes its their Ultrasonic business that takes off, and sometimes Ultrasonics is a stepping stone that takes them in another direction.

The latter is true of Steve Hanson who I recently reconnected with at a tradeshow. Steve formerly owned and operated a janitorial company in Boise, Idaho when we first met and when he purchased our equipment.  Now Steve operates The Janitorial Store.com and MyHouseCleaningBiz.com, both of which are on-line stores with a personal touch.  For those with questions about running a successful cleaning business, Steve can provide the answers.  Much like how Morantz provides training for the Ultrasonic business, Steve will train members in developing systems, reviewing bidding and estimating, discussing hiring employees, advice on sales and marketing, and more.

Steve told me that his Morantz Ultrasonics equipment was a huge asset to his janitorial company, and believes it would be an asset for his clients as well.  He asked me if I would like to be interviewed for his members so that they could learn more about the technology and the potential profits.  I was happy for the opportunity, and if you are a member of the Janitorial Store, you can find this interview at: http://www.thejanitorialstore.com/members/AUDIO-Ultrasonic-Cleaning-Machines.cfm. Steve had also written the following article about Ultrasonic Cleaning to share with his members:

Ultrasonic Cleaning: High-Tech Cleaning Services Steve Hanson Are you looking for innovative ways to increase your services and your profit margins? Ultrasonic cleaning services can be a way for your cleaning business to add another income stream that can be highly lucrative. How does ultrasonic cleaning work? The item being cleaned is immersed in an ultrasonic tank filled with water and a small amount of cleaning agent, and then agitated with high frequency sound for a brief time. The item is then rinsed in another tank filled with water and a small amount of rinse-agent, and then dried. The underlying process is the creation of microscopic bubbles in the liquid. Agitation causes these bubbles to collapse with great force. This force produces shock waves up to 20,000 pounds per square inch. These waves then loosen and displace soil from the item being cleaned - this is called cavitation. Some of the advantages of ultrasonic cleaning include: Use of state of the art technology. Surfaces and cavities are cleaned without scratching, brushing or scraping. Oddly shaped and complex objects with tiny crevices and holes can be completely cleaned. It takes very short time for cleaning, normally just a few seconds to clean objects such as mini-blinds. The process is simple and uses fewer chemicals than in conventional cleaning. Cleaning is automated making it more efficient than the traditional tedious form of manual cleaning. The types of items that can be cleaned with ultrasonic technology are almost limitless: ·         Window blinds ·         Fire restoration, mold restoration and disaster recovery contents ·         Electronics ·         Plastic and silk plants ·         Patio furniture ·         Light Diffusers Cleaning electronic equipment has always been time-consuming and cumbersome. When using ultrasonics to clean electronics, the process becomes efficient and can be very profitable for your cleaning business. However, there is a lot of confusion about how the process affects electronic equipment.   Many people believe that electronic equipment cannot be placed in water. While it's true that you should never place electronic devices into water that are still plugged in, use of the proper solution to clean and proper drying techniques allows items to be cleaned and restored using ultrasonics. With the proper equipment and training, there is no damage to electronics being submerged in water.   Many people also believe that ultrasonics will loosen solder joints and the item will not work properly. This thought is based on the theory that ultrasonics shakes off debris with vibrations. The cleaning process is called cavitation, which forms and collapses tiny bubbles - a safe and effective cleaning method.   Some people don't believe the ultrasonic cleaning process works. This is usually due to a lack of understanding of how the process works. Plus many people have never experienced the results firsthand. If you invest in the proper equipment and perform the process correctly, ultrasonic cleaning is not only effective, but actually reduces cleaning time and save tons on labor costs.   Ultrasonics is not just for cleaning small items such as jewelry. Ultrasonics can clean and restore items such as window blinds, light diffusers, small electric appliances, silk plants, and much more. Just think of all the homes and office buildings with mini-blinds and silk plants. The possibilities are endless for your cleaning business.   Adding ultrasonic cleaning services to your cleaning business should not be entered into lightly, as there is a large investment in equipment and training. However with proper training and an effective marketing plan, ultrasonic cleaning can not only be another service you provide to your clients, but a great added income stream for your cleaning business.    Copyright TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved. Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com. If you would like to contact Steve or learn more, here is his information:  www.TheJanitorialStore.com www.MyHouseCleaningBiz.com www.Cleaning-Success.com www.cleaningbiz.tv www.cleaningbizwebsites.com www.CardsForCleaners.com 866-862-8608

Used Ultrasonic Machines-Is it worth it to buy used?

Ultrasonic Cleaning for the Restoration and Window Blind Cleaning Industry has been established for some time now.  My father, Stan Morantz, put the first ultrasonic blind cleaning machine on the market over 30 years ago. Since the beginning, thousands of companies and individuals have purchased our equipment.  Competitors came onto the market later and they sold equipment too.  With so many machines sold, it is more commonplace now to see ultrasonic machines for sale by private owners, through eBay, Craigs List etc.  The question for many has now become, do we purchase new or used? 

A Morantz Used Tank for Sale by Morantz Ultrasonics

I explore this question weekly with potential purchasers who, like all of us, are looking for the most "bang" for their buck.  Price is, of course, the ONLY reason to purchase used equipment.  With that in mind, I have these folks take a good look at the asking price versus what they are sacrificing. I make sure that they understand that a new purchase includes:

-Guarantee that all parts of the machine are present.

I am still surprised by how many machines are sold without all their parts included.  It's something to look out for.  I'm talking about basic parts, not just accessories.  For example, I received a call recently from someone who purchased a machine with only one immersible pack when it was supposed to have multiples.  They didn't know this by looking at the machine.  You might think that this is obvious just by looking at the machine, or even by seeing it run, but it's not always the case if you don't know what you are looking for.  When this used buyer found out how much it cost for a replacement, the savings he thought he had gained went right out the window.

-Guarantee that the machine is in working order.

This is a biggee! Even if a machine runs, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is running properly. Sure you can test clean a few items, but it still doesn't mean the machine runs properly.  How do you know?  You really don't unless you send it to a company like ours to check it out (it's not like a car where you can take it to any mechanic). We will check your system for a fee, but remember, there are also shipping costs involved.

I've had a few people get REALLY MAD about this one.  Only a couple of weeks ago at a recent restoration trade show we had a guy who purchased a used, 17 year old machine of ours yell about the fact we couldn't get his machine running properly again when he sent it in for evaluation.  The reality is that some parts are just obsolete, and after many years we may not have them in stock to support the system.  I told him from the start that I could not guarantee I could help him.  I did try, but still it's no consolation to this guy who paid thousands of dollars for something that doesn't work.

And yes, our new machines do come with full warranties!  Major component failure on an Ultrasonic machine can cost you big bucks to replace.  There's something to be said for peace of mind knowing a reputable company will help you out in the event of a failure regardless of fault. Know that these warranties do not transfer, so be very careful.

-Guaranty that you are getting the proper equipment for the work you are performing

I cannot begin to count the times that a client purchased an Ultrasonic machine thinking that it would be great for them, only to find it to either the wrong power, the wrong frequency, the wrong shape/size for their work, etc.  There is a reason that most manufacturers offer variations in models because one size does not fit all.  Be sure you have the proper tool for the job at hand.

-Guaranty that you will receive up-to-date training, on-going support, marketing and advertising assistance, access to seminars and other new information, and have your questions answered when you need them answered.  Which brings me to this:

-Things that you are almost guaranteed to hear from every used seller:
1.  The machine has only been run for a few hours.
2.  The machine has been safely in storage since the last time it was used.
3.   I will train you on how to operate the machine.

Every seller I have ever heard about tells their prospective buyer they will train them, or at least provide them with training materials, but it is not the same as Manufacturer training.  Many sellers have forgotten much of the important information.  If they still have a manual, it is usually outdated. Note that Morantz provides its manuals only to original owners, so those that were counting on downloading a PDF off the website, will be very disappointed. 

You might be interested to know that Morantz Ultrasonics does sell our own used equipment.  Why is this different than buying from a 3rd party?  First, we make sure everything is in proper working condition prior to the sale.  This means repair or replacement as needed.  Next, we offer a limited warranty on our used equipment.  Third, you get the support of our company this way, same as buying new.  This means all the benefits of training, on-going support, etc.  You can check our website for what used ultrasonic equipment is available at: http://ultrasonicmachines.com/?morantz_products=used-machine-b-136-baby#sthash.EFj1HLXG.dpbs or call 215-969-0266 as the website is not always up to the minute and new machines come in every day. 

If you are a past client and looking to sell your equipment, you can call us at 215-969-0266 and we can discuss your options.  We do require clear photographs of all equipment and components prior to any discussion, so please have these available.

Hope this information is helpful.  If you have any questions about what you are purchasing, I encourage you to call us prior to buying. This way you may know better if you really did find "THE DEAL" or if you have better options.

Strange But True

I am fortunate to work with many companies throughout the restoration, medical and cleaning industries.  Each company has its own unique cleaning challenges.  Some, however, are downright strange...but true.  From time to time I like to post these items that make you go "Really?"

Here's one.  I was recently training a restoration group in Wisconsin and the first item they brought out for test cleaning was a mounted and stuffed deer head.  They asked "Can we clean it with Ultrasonics?"  "Of course", I replied.  Here's a photo of it on the M-115 "Mighty One" machine.

The soot that was removed was considerable.  You could really see a difference in both the body and the antlers.  After it was cleaned, it was dried with a Heated Blow Dry Gun. 

Recap of Interclean Exhibition

Morantz Ultrasonics journeys to Amsterdam bi-annually to participate in the world’s largest cleaning supply exhibition, Interclean. This year, up until the day we had planned to leave, we weren't sure we were going to make it. The recent eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano in Iceland, that had shut down much of the air traffic across Europe, threated to prevent our trip and possibly, from the show taking place. Luckily there was a break in the ash cloud and we were able to take off without issue.


Lisa Morantz and Neal Wiser at the Morantz Ultrasonics stand.

We had a great time meeting people in our industry from all over the world, and showing them the myriad of benefits derived from Ultrasonic Cleaning. Here is a list of the countries we met people from: (Note: the U.S.A. should be on this list too).



Even better, being at the tradeshow afforded us the opportunity to see many of our clients and to catch up with them. It’s always exciting for me to learn more about their businesses and how they are using their Ultrasonic Machines.

Amelia from Portugal let me know that she is using the machine primarily to clean parts for two major shipyards, and also for computer cleaning. She admitted that starting out 6 years ago trying to convince her clients to clean their computers with sound waves was not without its challenges. Now, she claims confidently, this is a niche market that is an in-demand service.



Sven from the Netherlands let us know that the blind cleaning machine he purchased from us 4 years ago paid for itself right away, and continues to be a revenue generator. While his company has cleaned many blinds in the machine, the entire staff came back to learn a bit more about how they can better market the ultrasonic cleaning service, and how they can diversify into other services such as contents restoration, parts cleaning and more.

We also were happy to see Adriana and her father, Gabriel, from the Canary Islands who have our SM-200 (Super Mighty One) system.



Neal and I, in an effort to not have to repack the M-115 (Mighty One) machine that we brought to the show, decided to put it up for sale. Sure enough, one of the fire restoration companies we had met two years previously at Interclean, purchased the machine. Below is the lucky new owner, Noel from Clean and Construct in Belgium. Before taking the machine back with him, he brought a few items to try out. Here you seem him pre-treating a greasy part that cleaned up beautifully.




Greasy Part cleaning in tank.



When not at the exhibition, we spent hours walking around, experiencing this vibrant city.









The beautiful architecture looks much the same as it did in the 1600’s.



On the last evening of the show, the city wide celebration of Queen’s Day began. A national holiday in honor of the Queen’s birthday (although not the current Queen Beatrice but her mother’s birthday), the entire city became a sea of orange shirts, wigs, boas, balloons and more. I was told that Queen’s Day is the only day anyone can sell anything without a permit, so in essence the entire city is one big flea market. Maybe next time I’ll bring more machines to sell on the street at Queen’s Day (LOL!)

Overall, a great trip! We are looking forward to Interclean 2012.

Kraft Foods Cleaning with Morantz Ultrasonics

There are many uses for our Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems, but just when we thought we knew them all, along comes something new. A few months ago I was contacted by an energy optimization company that works for many large companies including, Kraft Foods Inc. Kraft had a specific part for their baking ovens that needed to be cleaned, and the pressure washing/hand cleaning they were doing wasn't working. The question posed to me was "Can you clean them?" My answer: "I don't know until we try". So that's just what we did. These parts were sent to me for a test clean, and sure enough, the ultrasonic process worked wonderfully. The parts were functional again, saving not only time in cleaning, but a tremendous amount of money in both labor and replacement costs.

In the past couple of months I personally visited a few of the Kraft bakeries to install custom equipment and train their staff on the operation of the system.


These photos are from the Chicago operation, which as I was told during my visit, is the largest bakery in the world! I have no doubt as each of their ovens was literally a football field long (that's Gridiron football for all you non US citizens reading this).


One of the many Kraft Foods ovens.

Yes I do look lovely in my hair net...not!

Kraft's need was specific, and therefore required a machine to be built to their specifications. While many times one of the standard Morantz models will work for an application (there are over 10 different shapes and sizes to choose from!), or at least one can usually be modified for an application, this time it could not. Accordingly, we built a specialized system for Kraft and worked closely with their engineers to be able to provide them with the best tool possible. Here's a photo of Kraft's new system now installed in their bakeries throughout the U.S.:


The Kraft staff watching parts clean and learning the operation of the system. They were all very grateful they no longer had to spend tedious hours working on these by hand.













If you company has a special part that needs cleaning, and you can send it to us, we will be happy to offer you a FREE trial cleaning. Just this week I mentioned this to a potential client and they happily sent me this steamer oven full of calcium deposits to trial.

The company who owns this steamer (and many others like this) is paying to replace them 2 or 3 times a year at a cost of several thousands of dollars.

By running the trial at our facility, we were able to determine the proper cleaning chemical, temperature, process, power, frequency and machine size needed for the job.
The result was amazing. Take a look:



Now, the company who is purchasing the ultrasonic machine will clean these ovens on a regular basis, charge nicely for the service (meaning they will make an excellent profit) but still save the client thousands of dollars. That's a true win-win.

If you have a part you would like us to trial clean, please contact me at lisa@ultrasonicmachines.com.

Window Blind Cleaning and Social Media

For many of us, social media has become a standard in our lives. With the proliferation of Facebook, Twitter and other networks, I find myself on the internet more than ever discussing all types of topics with people from all over the world. But who would have ever thought that WINDOW BLIND CLEANING would have been one of those topics?

Don't take my word for it. Check out Facebook and Twitter where I found these messages:

I hate cleaning wood blinds!!!, why did I have to get them everywhere in my house.

You could take em off & throw em in a tub…or buy a swiffer…I hate dusting blinds UGH!

Decided that cleaning window blind slats is right up there with silver polish; never gets done either

Took down blind to clean it...took hours!

Cleaning a mini blind? Don't bother. Its too hard.

Recently I came across a Blog which threw out the simple question:
What's The Best and Easiest Way to Clean Blinds?

Throughout the day, 21 people replied. Most people responded with their homemade bath tub type cleaning and dusting techniques and many admitted that their methods were the best you can expect to do with these methods, but not desirable. And all this frustration leads to people absolutely hating the job of cleaning blinds!














Here was my FAVORITE response:

When asked how to clean Yes there is a great way to take care of this problem! Make sure to read all the way through…even though this is easy, it is kind of detailed instructions.

What you do:
Mix a quart of vinegar, a small box of baking soda, in a bathtub about half to three quarters full of hot hot water.

You need a hammer for this part.

Take down all the horizontal mini-blinds in your home and hammer them to one inch pieces and set the pile on fire. Have the marshmellows handy! While your fire is getting the coals built up (because you can’t rush a great campfire) go online and order some vertical blinds, roman shades, or curtains for the windows in your home, all of which are easy to clean.Next, throw a beach towel over your naked bathroom window. Sprinkle some lavender oil or rose petals in the tub with the vinegar and soda water (which is great for the skin by the way) and celebrate your wise decision with a nice hot soak for your tired, stressed out, marshmellowy body.
All this to say, I think mini-blinds are God’s way of mocking humans and I have NO idea how to deal with them.
(WINK WINK HAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!)

No, I was wrong, here is really my favorite response:

Pay to get them clean, that’s the easiest.

And many, many people do pay to get them clean. There is an absolutely huge market that has proven itself time and time again to be profitable.

The blog went on to discuss ultrasonic cleaning for blinds and stated:

"There are many benefits of ultrasonic cleaning such as they eliminate pollutants, germs, bacteria and move dust. And the best thing of this method is that you can clean your blinds at reasonable price. Another great advantage is that with the help of this method you can not only clean roller blinds but other types of blinds such as vertical blinds, office blinds, wooden blinds, mini blinds and Venetian blinds can be cleaned perfectly." (See http://allshutter.cz.cc/different-ways-of-cleaning-your-roller-blind/).

Just yesterday I was on the phone with one of our clients in Italy. He told me he renamed the Baby Blind Cleaning Machine he puchased from us. Now he calls it "Money" because it has not stopped making him money.

Here are the reasons why:

Blinds have sold steadily over the past 20 years, and only continue to grow in popularity. In most countries, window blinds have overtaken curtains as the preferred window covering. Blinds have become more ornate, and at the same time, a well made blind is now both beautiful and expensive. Accordingly, the owners who spend thousands of dollars on new blinds are looking to protect their investment by maintaining them properly.

The problem with blinds is that they cannot be cleaned effectively with traditional scrubbing methods. Dusting moves dirt from side to side but rarely removes it. Then static electricity is created and more dust is attracted.

Cleaning in the bathtub or hosing down the blind in the backyard creates it's own challenges, among which are scratching, bending and pitting if the blind. Not to mention even if you get the top dirt off you cannot get the cords, ladders and tapes clean.

So if you have not already checked out Ultrasonic Blind Cleaning as a niche market service, that is both easy and profitable, give us a call. We'll be happy to show you how you can make money cleaning blinds...and if you don't believe me...check it out online.

It's been a very busy first quarter, complete with travel to The Cleaning Show in the United Kingdom, RIA tradeshow (Restoration Industry Association) in Palm Springs, California, Servpro of the Carolinas Conference in Charleston, South Carolina and Servpro of Penn Del Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Throughout all of our travels, one thing has been clear...Ultrasonic Cleaning is now recognized, worldwide, as an extremely useful tool.




Just this past weekend I had the privilege of speaking to Servpro franchises from Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.


While many of these franchises already own our equipment and have realized the benefits of high profit margins in content cleaning, others were seeing ultrasonics for the first time. I was happy to share with the group information about how the technology is not only applicable to fire restoration, but the diversification possibilities into medical cleaning, industrial parts cleaning, window blind cleaning, golf club cleaning and more. This aspect is very appealing to all types of business owners. Especially with the current recession, it is important to have a way to compensate for a revenue stream slow down by being able to easily pick up another.


One of our Servpro clients who purchased our Super Mighty One (SM-200) model and Drye Rite cabinet this past Summer, shared their story about their very first job with the ultrasonic machines. The job came from a flooded office building that had 54 computers and boxes full of telephones that needed cleaning (see pictures below).











One employee who you see pictured below, completed the entire cleaning job over the weekend!



She cleaned 3 computers at a time in the ultrasonic tank, and then placed them in the dryer until she filled the dryer (it fit 16 computers!). After 4 hours of dry time, she would remove the computers and fill the dryer with more newly cleaned computers.



Because of the quick turnaround, Servpro was able to walk back into the client's office on Monday morning, set up the computers, and get them back to work. Now that's service...and that's ultrasonics.