[rosskesava]

Hi

In our local supplier (Southern Cleaning Supllies or similar name) they have a dummy dressed up in the latest complete Unger ErgoTec outfit.

If I wore all that I'd look stupid.

There's belts, bags, things, and it's all grey.

http://www.thecleanzine.com/products/ErgoTec.html

There's even an added mini cooler bag attatched to keep your solitary can of Coke cold.

If I turned up at a customers house wearing  that lot they'd think I'd lost the plot. Either that or they'd think a loopy storm trooper had come to life or I was a riot cop who'd been sectioned.

Any one else seen the full Unger outfit?

[Philip Hanson]

The Unger "ErgoTec" belt system as its known has been available in the UK for a few months now.

The belt, which is padded all the way around in my opinion is much better than the previous Unger belt, which, though pretty good, had a tendancy to bunch up, especially if you had a lot of gear attached to it.  I found that it dug into your hip-bones when this happened, making it quite uncomfortable.  You won't have that problem with the new belt.

The shoulder straps (also padded) are there to move the weight of the belt from your hips to your shoulders, but they are an "optional" extra, and you don't have to use them at all.  I know a window cleaner who uses them and, though a little skeptical at first, now wouldn't be without them.  He wears the straps under the top layer of clothing, so they can't be seen, and apparently after 20 minutes you forget they're there, and they allow you to carry extra, more heavy items (such as a couple of drink bottles) comfortably.

In some ways, the Unger ErgoTec belt is a little similar to the Winspray belt (from the USA) now available in the UK : http://www.winspray.com/build_a_belt.html and Unger may have introduced it in competition, though there are no shoulder straps with the Winspray, and rather than fasten with Velcro, the Unger belt has a snap-toggle, wich is much better.

All in all, I like the new ErgoTec system, it looks professional and good quality.  The shoulder straps are a good idea, but I too would feel a little self-conscious wearing them outside.  Perhaps under a jumper!

-Philip

[martin19842]

hi there,

the other way to look at is that your client is paying for a service irrelevant of the service,  turning up with all the kit, presented in  a professional manner can only be seen as a benefit. 

also if you were walking down the road, fully kittted up then anyone looking for a window cleaner will know you are the guy to talk to.

the splash and dash guys, walk down the road, and the only indication that they clean windows is the ladder they are carrying.

just a view

regards

martin

[Duke]

Mind you...walking through the streets dressed like something from Ghostbusters, is bound to draw some comments...just wait for the school hols...lol

[bluesteve]

unger ergo tech outfit!
  what a load of  ********* if your legs can't manage to carry a bucket and belt and accessories then you need to think about a desk or driving job (with no unloading that is).
   Its not a exactly a great weight to carry is it? you 'll be wearing gloves next!
   Honestly some blokes.

[replacement]

Whats wrong in wearing gloves?

Justin

[Ian_Giles]

I have that belt, plus the shoulder straps and it is comfortable to wear.
Though to be fair I don't wear it anymore as I don't need it with the WFP and rarely do long enough periods cleaning traditionally for it to be of benefit.

I had 2 of the pouches on mine along with the holder for your sprayer, not forgetting my BOAB
My major criticism of their setup is the size of the pouches, way, way to big.
21 years ago I was having my own pouches made up by a guy that made canopies and so on for trailers, tractors, motorbike sidecars and so on.
They were completely waterproof and were designed better in my own conceited opinion than the Unger ones
They were not as wide or deep for a start, the sides of the pouches were pleated,  and allowed for greater width at the bottom of the pouch, this enabled easy access while in use.
Each pouch had an internal waterproof pocket with a popper held flap for your money, there was also a flap that would go over the top of the whole pouch too, which would tuck inside when you were working.
They were of an ideal size to have a wet scrim in the one and a dry scrim in the other.
At that time few window cleaners used pouches, I also invented my own fully waterproof BOAB's from the same material, admitidly not as good as the solid plastic ones we now use.

When I started I got my kit from a supplier in Birmingham, and he did supply pouches and a pouch similar to the one I made up for my squeegee and applicator............err........this of course means I DIDN'T invent my own BOAB but the ones I had made up were more robust and didn't leak.
Now of course all of the major suppliers make all of this gear and most window cleaners are always fully kitted out in some way with belts and pouches of some description or another.
But I sure as err.....heck, led the way 21 years ago in the Chepstow area

I never wore gloves either, I was THAT hard
I wear them now though! have for a few years.............I LIKE having warm hands with fingers that bend when I want them too , but you real hard tough guys carry on, arthritic  fingers you can't bend are a small price to pay for not looking like a nancy boy

Ian

[telboy]

 


I CANT BELEIVE YOU COULD THINK WEARING ONE OF THOSE OUTFITS MAKE YOU LOOK PROFESSIONAL

I WOULD SAY IT MAKES YOU LOOK A RIGHT WUSS.

 LIKE THESES FISHERMAN IN FULL CAMOFLAGE A TENT HALF A DOZEN RODS AND TWO CWT OF GROUND BAIT FOR 3 HOURS FISHING ON THE LOCAL RIVER BANK.

 PERSONALLY I THINK  THEY ARE INSECURE 
  TEL BOY

[rosskesava]

I agree that's it's becomming the norm to look professional as a windows cleaner. We wear a uniform of sorts - it just black clothing but our jackets etc have 'window cleaning' and our phone number written in white on them and our van is professionaly sign writted.

But Unger Man.... a bit over the top and very expensive. It looks like Unger are trying to create an image because we live in odd times where odd jobs suddenly become trendy and have clothing associated with them. Rather like a few years back where when I was in the States, garbage collectors suddenly became icons of male supremcy and the 'garbage man' assumed a status and a dress code and attitude.

I have my bucket on a strap with a cloth bag and a scraper in my top pocket. What else can be needed?

[gaza]

IF i turned up in the winspray set up in my area  there would be guns waiting for me at the top of the ladder,you would look like an sas guy,they would think your on a drugs bust

[Old_Master]

Interesting
I had the same negative comments from window cleaners regarding the PPE our staff were dressed in.
But as the contract paid more than £50,000 for 21 nights work whoose the WUSS's
As you can see they have gloves! without them no work would have been allowed!

[Ian_Giles]

Can't quite make it out, but aren't there a few no smoking signs in that photo?

Ian

[Old_Master]

Very well spoted,
but incorrect so no prize- sorry   
 The main little sign is the London Underground logo and as they are standing outside the station entrance smoking is permited and well deserved after working non stop for 4 1/2 hours without a cigarette or tea break.