October Newsletter

• The Alspec Experience
  Why Alspec chose Duticall to handle their office cleaning
• Strange but True - the office cleaner dressed to shock
• Cleaning Acoustic Ceilings - tackling the suspended ceiling of a college cafe!

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The Alspec Experience.. why they chose Duticall

This month we spotlight a Client who, despite being particularly attracted to the communication and response aspects of the Duticall service, has twice in the last six years been persuaded to try another cleaning company on the promise of "more service for less money". On both occasions this Client returned to Duticall.

Duticall telephones every Client regularly (many of them weekly) to ensure that the service is up to standard and prides itself on a fast response time in solving any problems that may arise.

The client, ALSPEC, is based in Murrarie (clearly visible from the Gateway Motorway, south of the bridge). ALSPEC, founded in 1974, is an independent and wholly owned company primarily involved in the distribution of aluminium semi-fabricated products. It is a leader in its field…for further information see their web site.

Image Right: Alspec's offices in Murrarie

When moving to new premises in Murrarie in 1999, Brian Dryburgh, now administration manager, appointed Duticall to manage its cleaning arrangements.

In December 2001 another cleaning company, which had been after the cleaning contract for some time, offered Brian an improved service at a cheaper price. Duticall was given notice.

In the cleaning industry, the offer of a cheaper price inevitably equates to less labour time …but how is a Client able to know without trying out the new service?

In May 2002 ALSPEC re-awarded the contract to Duticall. Brian advised that the promises made by the other company did not materialise, the standard had dropped and the cleaning manager never wanted to inspect the premises. Unlike Duticall they did not keep in touch with him on a regular basis.

In December 2004 the company was approached by Cost Reduction Consultants who offered to examine their overheads and implement cost savings.

Cost Reduction Consultants require suppliers to re-tender for their particular services with the aim of producing savings if they can. These Consultants earn a commission based on the savings they create so naturally they tend to favour the lowest tenders.

The Consultants approached Duticall and asked if a lower cleaning price could be offered. Whilst Duticall was prepared to reduce cleaning activities to achieve a lower price, it was not prepared to disadvantage the Contractors' rate of pay by arbitrarily cutting price. As a result Duticall's services were yet again terminated.

In early January 2005, ALSPEC re-instated Duticall. By mutual agreement, in order to maintain the same price, some of the cleaning activities were removed.

Throughout the six years Duticall has been an active facilities management partner with ALSPEC in organising other services such as -

Carpet cleans, window cleans and floor maintenance

Today Brian says -

"Our previous cleaning company didn't seem to care but Duticall's staff keep in close touch and are always very helpful. If there is ever a problem, they listen carefully…then fix it."

Duticall guarantees that if something isn't done to the Client's complete satisfaction, it's fixed or it's free.

Office cleaner dressed to shock!

Frank Clewer has given new meaning to the phrase "dressed to kill" after the synthetic coat he was wearing to keep warm discharged 30,000 volts of static electricity.

The office cleaner left a trail of scorch marks under foot and caused three buildings to be evacuated after giving off the electrostatic charge, accompanied by sparks and a crackling sound. The phenomenon is believed to have been caused by an electrical build-up in his synthetic zip-up jacket while he walked around Warrnambool, west of Melbourne.

Scientists say a human being can give off between 5,000 and 10,000 volts just by walking across a floor and touching a door. But it is almost unheard of for a person to generate 30,000 volts.

"I've read of it but I've never heard of it here in Australia," said one scientist, Karl Kruszelnicki. "This poor guy has built up static electricity thanks to an unfortunate combination of insulating clothes that he's wearing, synthetic clothes."

Mr Clewer, 58, had arrived for a job interview when he heard a "mighty crack" and staff noticed burn marks the size of a 10p coin on the carpet where he had been standing. Firefighters evacuated the office and adjacent buildings.

Cleaning Acoustic Ceilings

Last month Acoustic Clean was called upon to clean a suspended ceiling in the kitchen of a college café in Fortitude Valley. Over time the ceiling tiles and aluminium grid had become coated in grease and smoke despite the presence of range hoods.

Using a combination of detergents, wetting agents and a degreaser, the Acoustic team and their low pressure spray unit were quickly able to break down the surface dirt on the tiles whilst agitating stubborn marks with a long haired broom (see photo).

Finally the tiles and grid were wiped clean using soft cloths on sponge poles. In this environment it was also necessary for the team to pay particular attention to the edges of the ceiling which were cleaned by hand from ladders.

The area, which was just over 100 square metres, was cleaned in four hours by two people. The result was a clean ceiling with restored luminosity.

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