Cleaning 8.5 million square feet is no small task. But Todd Stoneking, Supervisor of Specialty Crews at the University of Utah, helps make sure it happens every day. Stoneking and six other supervisors oversee a staff of 262. This team of custodial workers leads the vacuum charge of indoor air quality and cleaning for health in 124 of the buildings on the university campus. Day and night, crews are at work cleaning many types of flooring — concrete, tile, carpet, vinyl, hardwood, and more. Known for its stellar research programs, the University of Utah refuses to cut corners — cleaning for health is paramount. This is why Stoneking and crew trust ProTeam vacuums to clean the many classrooms, laboratories, hallways, bathrooms, dormitories, food halls, and more.
Millions of Square Feet Kept Clean
Home to approximately 34,000 students, the University of Utah keeps its custodial staff very busy, and they need the tools necessary to take on the enormous campus. Of the 8.5 million square feet, 7.5 million are usable square footage. This means that 10,000+ individuals can make their way through any of the many buildings on campus every day. The university has been trusting ProTeam to help get the job done for more than 20 years.
A ProTeam Fleet Makes the Difference
Stoneking has been at the University for over 30 years and began overseeing equipment 16 years ago. At that time, several brands of vacuums were in use on campus, but the go-to model was the ProTeam Super CoachVac. “Many of the Super Coaches had been in service for years before I took my current position,” said Stoneking. “We still have a bunch today that are over 20 years old and still plugging away.”
With such a positive experience with the ProTeam line of vacuums, the university phased out other brands, upgraded to new and more efficient models of ProTeam vacs, and now has an impressive fleet of 328 vacuums — 36 of these are the 20-year-old Super Coaches. “It’s hard to get rid of something that works so well,” stated Stoneking. “But we have moved to some of the newer, lighter, and more efficient models ProTeam offers.” The rest of the University of Utah fleet consists of 62 ProTeam GoFree Flex Pro’s, 43 QuietPro BP’s, 71 Super Coach Pro 10’s, and a handful of various other models.
Efficiency and Comfort — The Deciding Factors
Stoneking loves all the ProTeam models and what they provide in the way of vacuuming, but his favorite is the GoFree Flex Pro. He said, “The GoFree is the perfect combination of efficiency and comfort. While they are a little heavier than some of the newer corded units, the freedom of this cordless model means more done in less time. Being able to move quickly because of not having to mess with a cord is huge!” Stoneking appreciates how much the GoFree cordless reduces cleaning time. In Stoneking’s opinion, the GoFree cordless cuts the time it takes to clean by a third, but some of the cleaning staff are convinced the GoFree cordless cuts that time in half.
Not being tied to a cord is one factor that impacts efficiency, but the ability to move freely provided by the articulating harness of these vacuums is just as important to Stoneking. “Comfort is key with these backpack vacs. Getting a good fit is easy with these harnesses, and the pivot point lets users bend, twist, and turn while the vacuum stays upright. This makes a big difference with how long you can wear the unit. Again, more done in less time.”
ProTeam Helps Meet Green Initiatives
In addition to comfort and efficiency, ProTeam vacuums are helping The University of Utah reach some meaningful goals. The university places extreme importance on environmental impact and is launching a green program. With ProTeam, they are already started on the road to success. “Since all ProTeam backpack vacuums are LEED-certified, we are well on our way to our green goals.” Stated Stoneking. “We were already on the path before we knew it because we have been using ProTeam for so long.”
No Other Vacuum
When Stoneking considers the reliability, efficiency, and comfort of ProTeam vacuums, there isn’t any other choice. He said, “I don’t know why you would use anything else. These vacuums hold up so well, seldom need repairs, and do such an incredible job. We use ProTeam for a reason. They’re just a great vacuum.”
Read about three particular challenges the University of Utah tackles with ProTeam here.
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