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Archive for the 'CV News' Category
Tuesday, July 31st, 2007
MD just received word that it’s central vacuum systems will be part of a feature on “Vacuums” to be shown on the History Channel. The episode is set to air August 23rd and will also likely be rerun a few additional times. “They saw our website and were fascinated by what we were doing,” states Andrew Bransby, E-Commerce director. After a series of phone calls and e-mails Modern Marvels had a high resolution copy of MD’s DVD’s on their products.Modern Marvels is known for its creative approach to history and unique facts. Today they informed us that they will “definitely” be using part of one of the MD videos in their upcoming segment. We’ll post additional information on the segment as it becomes available.
August 23rd (8 pm I believe, but they always have reruns!) They mention central vacuums and use our video and we are credited for it.
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Monday, July 23rd, 2007
Word has just come in that the AirForce Central Vacuum is the first central vacuum to ever be given this industry award for creative, progressive use of technology! “It’s rare to even think of a central vacuum as being technological but MD has gone over-the-top of creativity” says General Manager, Grant Olewiler. The MD AirForce Central Vacuum uses UPB technology to operate it’s central vacuum without any low voltage control wires. MD has uniquely used this to shut the system off when the telephone or doorbell rings and will soon offer the expanded version that e-mails the homeowner when the bag is full or when any other of a multitude of service conditions are prompted.
The official award will be presented to MD at the CEDIA (Custom Electronics Dealer Installation Assn) annual award ceremony in Denver in September. Congratulations to all the staff and engineers at MD Manufacturing and to our vendor partners who have made this possible!
Posted in About MD, CV News | No Comments »
Thursday, July 5th, 2007
Savvy consumers are finally picking up on the concept of central vacuums. Reading of any on-line blog forums will quickly split the consumers into two diametrically opposed camps: Those who absolutely love their central vacuums, and those who hate them. This has actually been going on for over four decades but there exists one single element at the center of the contention…. that terribly long hose.
Over the past few years a number of products have been introduced on the market to eliminate this objection, from Versa-Reel that wound the hose up, stretch-hoses that expanded to six times their length, the Hose Genie that dispensed the hose out of a wall cavity, to the expensive Hide-a-Hose that sucked the hose back into the wall. But none have caught on seriously with the consumers. Most consumers accept the fact that they need to use a hose but seriously wished it was much shorter.
Since 1983, tradeshow seminars within the central vacuum industry have been recommending that systems be designed around a 20 foot hose with a 10 or 15 foot extension. The major traffic areas could be easily cleaned, with the extensions being utilized for less trafficked areas. The advent of electric hoses halted this option as it was impossible to make a logical simultaneous connection of both the high and low voltage.
The solution: Quick-Click™ hose has finally brought the solution to the market. Not only does the hose disconnect at twenty feet, it also allows for additional expansion capabilities. The unique disconnect system sets the standard far above any other hose connection system in terms of function, design, safety, and ease-of-use.
Here’s How it Works: The two hose ends roll together over two horizontally opposed catch points on the hose ends. This locking effect occurs both at the joint of the two hose sections as well as at the end that connects to the wand. According to its inventor, Scott Walker, the wand handle actually now stays in the wand and the hose is removed from the handle for storage. So now you can vacuum your major traffic areas with a 20 foot hose and add on a 10 or 15 foot extension for thorough cleaning. In fact, you could add additional hose sections if extra-long distances were required.
But the real challenge for this hose came with a test pool of the toughest magnitude possible. Imagine in your mind 15 female inspectors all closely examining a product for every minute flaw. Not just any females, we’re talking experienced, real vacuum warriors who have tried every vacuum on the planet. No, not because they run vacuum stores, but because they’ve been around for 80 years plus! Not the best candidates for telling you how easy something is going to work! Most of them in this assisted-care facility were in wheelchairs, all had arthritis, and one particular lady could not even lift her arms and could barely move her hands. After many apologies about inability to perform the test due to her condition, she was finally coaxed into attempting to disconnect the hose. “This lady about cried in excitement when she found she could do it,” says Scott Walker. “It took her two moves to adjust her grip but she still was able to disconnect the hose.”
“Conventional hoses require many synchronistic strengths and manipulations to disconnect,” states Walker. “A person needs to both squeeze the button lock in with their thumb while grasping the wand strongly enough for the other hand to pull against it. The process requires hand, arm and shoulder strength to complete this function.” Because many weaker handed people find this very difficult, they actually “hate” their entire central vacuum system.
It’s a fact of nature that women typically (not always) have weaker hands. Seeing historically that women make the purchasing decision regarding the home’s vacuum, it would be wise to pay attention to their marketing requirements! There are over 54 million women over age 46 in the United States with another 38 million entering this age bracket in the next 12 years. Add to this the complication of Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel, etc., and it’s easy to see the serious need for a simpler hose connection.
Quick Click not only solves the “long hose” issue, it simultaneously meets the demand for an easier-to-use hose.
Reviews and availability: A limited quantity of these hoses have been released to MD Manufacturing dealers throughout the country and reviews have been excellent. Owen Perkins from Wehrli’s Vacuum Center in Naperville, Illinois was really excited to get this hose into his client’s hands. “It’s just the solution we’ve been waiting for,” said Owen. And dealers are already pointing out many other advantages.
“The interior of the hose handle contains a gradual curve that reduces friction while constantly maintaining a 1.25” interior” boasts Grant Olewiler, General Manager of M.D. Manufacturing. The hose now actually has three swivel points further reducing the potential for kinking as well. One swivel at the handle is further supported by a swivel on both sides of the mid-hose connection. And with the ability to remove the hose right behind the handle it will greatly reduce consumer clogs. Every time you put the hose away you will be able to see the interior of the connection.
“The first time I saw the hose I was concerned that this bulky joint twenty feet along the hose would be banging and catching on furniture,” stated Olewiler. “But to my delight I hardly even knew the hose was there.” The hose does come with a short hose sock to cover the joint and MD will soon have matching hose socks available for all the varying lengths of Quick-Click ™ hoses.
Vacuum performance tests have not yet been conducted but feedback from the field is already overwhelming. “The hose is clearly the largest factor in performance friction loss.” states Olewiler. A few Quick-Click hose users complained their power heads were now too difficult to push because of the increased suction performance when using only a twenty foot hose. This is a good problem simply remedified by altering the height adjustment on the brush!
Did you accidentally miss installing an inlet in a certain area or does a large piece of furniture block access to an inlet? The Quick-Click™ hose can be extended. Need to carry the hose upstairs? The twenty foot length only weighs 5 pounds! And another unique feature is that each hose comes standard as a corded hose and easily converts to a direct connect with the plug adaptor included with each and every hose!
The bottom line is that the Quick-Click™ hose will simultaneously provide you with increased profit and greater customer satisfaction than any hose ever offered before. It is going to appeal to a larger audience and work in more applications than previous hose solutions. Its durability is unmatched and it is in stock ready to ship! M.D. Manufacturing has been chosen as the premier agent distributing the QuickClick™ hose in the USA. The 30 foot hose includes a 20 foot base, 10 foot extension (15 for a 35 foot hose), electric handle grip, low voltage handle grip, direct connect plug and small hose sock for the middle connection. MD has priced the hose slightly higher than their standard hose and is making it available in all their electric kits including Stealth®, Stealth II, Blackhawk, and EdgeLift. Additional extension hoses can also be purchased separately.
For additional dealer or distribution information, please contact Mike Kretsinger at M.D. Manufacturing at 800-525-2055 or mike@builtinvacuum.com. M.D. Manufacturing Inc. has specialized in the innovation and distribution of central vacuum products since 1961. Their 6,000 page www.centralvacuum.com website is the industry-acclaimed information center of the central vacuum industry
Posted in New Products, CV News | No Comments »
Monday, December 18th, 2006
Last week, MD Manufacturing successfully completed its first-ever webinar training session: How to make an Awesome Sales Pitch! The excitement about this new training vehicle has been building among MD staff for quite some time. After months of research and planning about how to best conduct these online seminars in order to best educate our dealers, MD finally rolled out its very first webinar. We were able to connect with dozens of our dealers who were very pleased with this excellent new training vehicle. The session was an attractive accomplishment and we are very excited about the opportunity we will have in the future of hosting these webinars to train MD dealers on a regular basis, beginning in the early part of 2007.
Today’s session was loaded with important information in the sales arena, some excellent dealer interaction mixed with Grant’s jokes and just a lot of plain fun. It was an all-around enjoyable time for the MD leadership team, MD staff, and MD’s dealers. Grant’s enthusiasm and experience led the way during the presentation. He was accompanied the expert detail and precision of Mike Kretsinger (Vice President of Employment Development) along with the clarity and comprehensive data that Andrew Bransby (Web Designer and Director of E-Commerce) served to deliver. This amazing team of guys, along with our attendee dealers, made the entire event a remarkable time!
Since this was MD’s first-ever webinar, there was not enough time to go through all of the information for the complete “How to Make an Awesome Sales Pitch” presentation. The goal of last week’s webinar was mainly to experience the capabilities of the webinar software, connect with our dealers, and determine if this kind of communication is helpful for educating our dealers. After going through the webinar and receiving dealer feedback on the format, we are convinced that this is one of the best vehicles available for communicating with our dealers on a regular basis. We are currently looking for ways to improve this venue, and would love to receive as much dealer feedback as possible to ensure that this new format for training continues to be a great success. At the end of the session, we included a brief survey for our dealers to quantify the webinar’s usefulness. Every single participant expressed that they will likely be returning the next time we offer a similar session! And our dealers also indicated that the information was relevant and would be put to immediate use. .
If you are one of our dealers who attended our webinar, thank you so much for attending and making it a great success. We will be sure to let you know how we plan to organize and conduct this MD dealer webinar track at the beginning of 2007, which will allow us to compile a progressively growing library of webinar media content that will serve our dealers for years to come as we strive to give them the best tools possible to make them most successful in their businesses.
Posted in CV Sales, About MD, CV News | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 28th, 2006
Last week a central vacuum was used in a manner that should never be repeated. In Washington, D.C., a fire forced the German Embassy to evacuate its workers. The evacuation was prompted when spreading smoke was detected throughout the building.(You can read the entire AP article here).
Apparently, the fire was caused when an Embassy worker used the building’s central vacuum system to suck up very hot embers from a fireplace. The AP described the cause this way: “The employee apparently had attached a cleaning tool to a wall inlet for the system and then let the powerful vacuum go to work on the embers.” Fortunately, the fire was contained within the central vacuum canister, thereby limiting the damage. MD General Manager Grant Olewiler stated, “Obviously it could not have been a plastic central vacuum unit as this would have done considerably more damage.” While the heavy-duty metal central vacuum unit, consistent with all of MD’s units, certainly prevented much more destruction, the moral of the story is: DO NOT SUCK UP HOT FIREPLACE EMBERS WITH YOUR CENTRAL VACUUM.
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Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006
MD is the only central vacuum manufacturer who offers the most-admired power brush in the industry. In fact, we are the only company who sells and distributes the highly-acclaimed Stealth power brush. We have trademarks on the Stealth name and have created a vast cornucopia of information about it on our website.
The Stealth brush comes in 12″ or 14″ and we carry the kits with 25′, 30′, or 35′ Plastiflex’ hoses. The rest of the kit includes top of the line equipment comprising a 14″ wide horse-hair floor tool, and other notable items.
Within a couple months we will be introducing the “Stealth II,” which has a quick-disconnect pedal, a telescopic stainless-steel wand that hides the cord, and an extremely user-friendly release system at the handle.
Take a look at all the features offered on the Stealth @ the Stealth page of our website.
Posted in CV News, MD Products, CV Facts | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, May 10th, 2006
Just about this time of year we field a few calls from concerned dealers and homeowners stating that their central vacuum shocked them! They are not imaging this phenomenon; they really are being shocked. Naturally they are concerned because the hose does contain 120 volts for the powerbrush. Their fear stems from it possibly being a 120 volt shock.
I am happy to report that this is not a malfunction of the central vacuum. I have experienced it myself. This often can occur during times when rapid changes are made in barometric pressure, specifically before and after storms. It seems that the air becomes charged and the vacuum hose becomes a tremendous conduit for the electricity.
You could take the same hose in another home with the same floor plan facing the same direction and you would not have the occurrence. There is something about the particular electromagnetic field surrounding that particular application. Negative ions are etched off of the interior surface of the plastic hose as the air passes through. This somehow creates a charged field and a human operator standing on carpet becomes a great shock conduit.
Never fear! We have a very simple solution. It may seem silly but simply purchase “Bounce®” or a similar fabric softener sheet that contains an anti-static agent. Wipe the hose, handle and wand with the Bounce sheet, and the problem is solved. No expensive ground wire integrated into the hose and no more obnoxious shocks!
Posted in CV News, MD Products, CV Facts | No Comments »
Thursday, February 23rd, 2006
We are quite familiar with the Powerupsystem by Beamco. In fact, we were in full negotiations to buy them out about three years ago but had it completely dependant upon their achieving UL approval. The system is brilliant and clearly the technology works. They are correct in operating an electric powerbrush with 110 volts using the low voltage control wires. I believe the system has sufficient safeguards in it to keep from causing electrical hazards.
In fact, we even showed it in our booth at VDTA about four years ago! At the time Beamco (aka Grand Central) was controlled by Stuart Breslin and they were more of an engineering company than a marketing company. Apparently someone has come in as an investor and created a wonderful marketing presence including slick brochures and a beautiful website. Please note, though that there are no pictures yet of the system.
The system uses a Flexible Technologies hose (Hayden plastic type) with a wire reinforcement. It is only a two-wire hose which is good but they have installed their own end on it. A headphones-type-jack is mounted on the end of the hose and they have modified their own inlets from the early 60’s to accept the hose. The connection looks quite “kludged” and is not, in my estimation, up to modern standards. I would hope that they have changed it by now.
I would whole-heartily back this system if, in fact, it was UL approved. Unfortunately it is not. The main issue is that the NEC (National Electrical Code) requires any wire less than 14 gauge to be installed in a conduit if it has the potential of carrying 120 volts. Plain and simple, that throws a huge amount of liability on any installer who installs these systems into any home. If the system has any trouble and causes any damage to the home, the installation company will have a non-defendable lawsuit on their hands.
Beamco’s was left with two options: Either change the NEC code or market the product without UL approval. I would hope that they are in the process of changing the NEC and then being able to obtain a UL approval but my fear is that an excited investor is willing to accept the risk of it never causing any damage in any home. Oddly enough, these systems have been being installed in homes in the San Francisco area for almost 20 years. Somehow they have been able to pass electrical inspection. It is my belief that the inspectors see it as a normal low-voltage-only system and thus they have not bothered to reject it. As the system’s notoriety spreads to other municipalities and states, it will get caught and the word will get out to watch for it. At this point they will have a difficult time with additional marketing.
It is my hope that they would receive UL approval because then it would save installers a tremendous amount of labor and costs. The technology is solid but changing the NEC will take an act of Congress. Unfortunately there are union interests at stake when you take away the need for electricians to run electrical outlets and wires. I believe this obstacle was too difficult for them to overcome. I would even put my backing behind the product to get it through the NEC but I doubt that this direction was chosen.
We wish them the best of luck in their efforts.
Posted in CV News, CV Facts, Competitor Products | No Comments »
Monday, February 13th, 2006
We are often asked about standardized testing of central vacuums. “Has there ever been comparisons by major organizations?” Consumer Reports July 2004 did their first blurb on central vacuums and it was a total disaster according to everyone that I interviewed. They really did not understand what they were testing and obviously provided “Best Buys” to the least expensive products. The article was interspersed inside an article discussing the problems of portable vacuums and it only confused the consumer.
So March 2006 issue was just published in response to all the uproar and strangely they did not even mention central vacuums. At MD, we believe that they recognized their shortcomings and opted not to confuse the matter further. They had called our factory back in 2004 and spoke at length with us but obviously our market is still too small to be considered by them.
Because of the uproar regarding the 2004 article, the Vacuum Dealer Trade Association (VDTA) did contact the Consumer Reports and it was learned that they have developed their own tests over time and feel quite confident in their results. The new issue did have quite a few interesting findings;
Ironically in this issue they actually listed some portable vacuums as “not recommended.” This seems to be any vacuum that scored less than or near 50 on their 1-100 scale. Vacuums costing the consumer $60 actually scored higher than a $1,000 model! Over 72,000 responses to the CR Questionnaire revealed Hoover and Kenmore having the worst track record for repairs but stats for Dyson had not been compiled because of it’s fairly new entry into the market. A brief glance at on-line posting among vacuum cleaner professionals shows Dyson will quickly be winning in this category.
“Six of 19 newly tested uprights and canister vacuums broke or emitted high levels of dust” is the opening sentence to the entire review. Consumer Reports stated outright that the “Cordless Vacuums don’t deep-clean” and vacuums with disposable bags spread less dust. It also recommended that those with allergies should think twice before purchasing a bagless model.
Most portable vacuums scored well on cleaning hard surface floors and they praised uprights with longer hoses, bag-full alerts, I was surprised to see the $700 Oreck placed at 11th with the $400 version almost dead last at 33rd. The average canister tested weighed over 23 pounds but the average upright was over 18 pounds.
So what does all this say about central vacuums? I guess we need to keep pounding away about the power, reliability, filtration, ease of use, and quality of a central vacuum. I know that our satisfaction rating was 100% when we surveyed thousands of our users if they would purchase a central vacuum again!
Posted in CV News, CV Facts | No Comments »
Thursday, January 26th, 2006
Who would have ever thought that the VacPan concept would have gained such great popularity? Most long-term central vacuum installers initially abhorred the idea because they envisioned the headaches associated with installation, but homeowners decisively created a fantastic market for new alternative uses for the central vacuums. Why, some homeowners have even installed central vacuum systems without a hose; only using VacPans!
Introducing VacnSeal
VacnSeal promises to be the next step after VacPan! This patented novel product combines the convenience of a central vacuum with a food preservation system. Simply install it under a kitchen counter or in a cupboard and connect it to the existing central vacuum system via standard 2” tube or the conveniently available ½” tubing. The homeowner simply flips the arm down, places their Ziploc baggies of food under the nozzle and give the VacnSeal a gentle tug. Seal the baggie between the thumb and forefinger while removing the baggie from the suction arm and foods are conveniently preserved. The suction arm then folds back up under the counter until its next use. Yes, there exists many other countertop food-sealing devices but VacnSeal is the only one to use the central vacuum to eliminate noise and save counter space. It also the only one that will work with standard freezer bags.
“We believe 80-90% of all homes will desire this added benefit” states Gary Hughes, inventor of the device for M.D. Manufacturing, Inc. Gary thought of the idea after observing his wife suck air out of Ziploc bags by using a drinking straw. After two years of careful research, the VacnSeal will be introduced for the first time to the central vacuum market at the VDTA Trade Show in Las Vegas, February28th through March 3rd. In fact, the first 300 companies to provide MD Manufacturing with their business card will actually receive a free sample.
Storing FoodsThe life-giving oxygen we all breathe is vital for all life to exist. Unfortunately, oxygen also has a degrading effect on food and promotes micro-organism growth that helps to ruin food when stored. These micro-organisms are responsible for many problems including disgusting fuzz on food, miserable smells or tastes, and slimy textures. By removing all the air possible within reason and the moisture it contains, these microorganisms stand a much poorer chance of surviving. Mold, reduced nutritional value, bad flavor, and waste are a result of storing unsealed food in our refrigerators and pantries. All of us have tasted stale crackers, chips, cereals, seen moldy cheese, and more. Vacuum packaging with the VacnSeal system will keep your foods fresher longer, especially in areas with high humidity - VacnSeal guarantees it!
Value
Do you realize the cost of foods that are discarded due to inadequate packaging? Add to that the cost of traveling to the store to purchase a new block of cheese and any illnesses that might be contracted from food poisoning and the VacnSeal could easily recuperate the entire cost of the central vacuum in just a few years! Retail priced at $59.95 plus installation, this is sure to add excellent bottom-line revenue to each and every sale.
Easy Installation
Unlike the VacPan, the VacnSeal is a breeze to install. Either locate a regular central vacuum mounting plate such as Hayden #1041 or Canplas #765566W in the cabinet above the VacnSeal location or use VacnSeal’s new 2” x ½” reducer and run their flexible ½” clear tube down inside the cabinet. The VacnSeal can then install underneath the upper cabinets or even inside of a pantry. A low voltage wire also accompanies the device. It will operate effectively with every brand of central vacuum ever produced.
Thoughtful Features
VacnSeal’s pending patents cover a multitude of brilliant ideas. First, it contains an internal filter which is easily removable in the unlikely event liquids are sucked up. The arm and nozzles are easily removed for safe dishwashing. It even contains a secondary filter in the Wall Plate Cover to insure that no dust or debris backflows thru the system. Additional components allow the VacnSeal to be mounted vertically including a 90 degree neck for either left-hand or right-hand operation. In fact, you can easily install it on the door of a pantry with the optional ½” clear flex tube. It comes packaged with an extra inlet valve extension and all hardware for a convenient installation.
Point-of-Sale Packaging
Because this item would be a fantastic add-on for all existing central vacuum systems, it would be a great do-it-yourself-kit. Packaged in a beautiful box, it will look great in your store counter for all after market sales. Complete with step-by-step instructions, the VacnSeal is supported by an extensive website detailing all aspects for your clients.
Another Innovative Product from M.D. Manufacturing, Inc.
M.D. Manufacturing of Bakersfield, Ca is making this product available to the entire industry. Ask for it by name from your Central Vacuum Manufacturer or supplier. You can also contact them directly at 1-800-525-2055 or sales@Vacnseal.com. M.D. Manufacturing has been providing quality products to the central vacuum market since 1961.
Posted in CV Sales, New Products, Gift Ideas, CV News, CV Installation | No Comments »
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