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The answer is YES, and it runs from January 1 through December 31st each year!
Whether we are talking about Entrance or Industrial matting, there are always matting opportunities in your market area.
Let's consider some entryway matting facts, and think for a moment, before making our action plan to capture more of the business available.

• The estimated cost of finding and removing a pound of dirt from a building is $600. (ISSA)
• One square yard of carpet can accumulate one pound of dirt in a week- twice that in inclement weather
• 70 to 80% of dust, grime, and dirt in a building are tracked in from the outside on people's feet permanently damaging floors and carpets. (Institute of Industrial Launderers)
• 91% of shoppers selected a store based on its appearance. (Progressive Grocer)
• Without effective entrance matting, as few as 1,500 people can remove 42% of the finish from a floor. (3M)
• Without effective matting your slip and fall exposure is increased
• The average cost of a slip related injury exceeds $12,000. (Wausau Insurance Co.)
• Over 30% of worker injuries are slip related. (Wausau Ins. Co.)
• In the USA each year, an average of 7.75 claims per 1-million supermarket customers are filed due to slip and fall incidents. (Foodmarketing Institute)

How important are mats to an establishment?
One might ask, how important should mats be to an establishment?
If you consider the facts above and calculate the amount of money a given facility spends on cleaning chemicals, machines, mops, brooms, caution signs, and LABOR to clean the building, the need to have the most effective matting possible is essential to protecting the investment mentioned in the materials listed above. Lessening the slip and fall potential, in addition, should give you a refreshed reason to contact every customer you have about Andersen matting for their facility.
After contacting everyone in the front office about matting for the entrances, switch gears and contact the Safety Directors and Plant managers involved with decisions on Anti-fatigue or Anti-slip matting. The budgets for these types of mats are staggering, and purchases of anti-fatigue/slip matting are year round, as needs arise.
Mat Season: It runs 24/7 365 days per year!
You cannot make up lost sales, so be sure to get your share of the market.

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The WaterHog family of products works so well that many customers ask how to clean them effectively. While many measure cleanliness by different rules, there are certain measures that are consistent with good housekeeping that most will find acceptable.

First, let us all agree that it is better to contain the maximum amount of moisture and soil at the doorways, instead of allowing the contaminants to be tracked into any facility. This alone will pay for any extra time needed to clean a more effective matting system.

We have surveyed many janitorial reps, only to find out that everyone agrees that end users do not maintain the mats with enough consistency. The longer one allows soil to build up in a WaterHog mat, the longer it takes to clean it.

As for the most effective way to clean WaterHog mats, here is what the industry experts say:

1. Clean with enough frequency to prevent soil and water build up, according to the amount of foot traffic and weather conditions outside.
2. Make sure that the equipment being used is in good working order, bag replaced, belts, and brushes are working.
3. Make certain that the equipment is being used properly, creating the most effective results. Many cleaners try to vacuum at light speed, reducing the effectiveness and creating longer cleaning times, as the job has to be done over again.
4. Consider soil types before cleaning. Is the soil wet or dry, sticky or loose impediments, stains or heavy soil?
   • For wet soils, a self-contained extractor with a brush and vac system is recommended. Several passes may be necessary at a slow speed to attain the best results.
   • For dry soils, a good two motor vacuum with the brush adjusted all the way down will give you the most agitation of the soil and best results. Backpack vacuums offer a higher CFM than some uprights, but more passes over the mat are needed to compensate for the lack of agitation.
5. For dry crusty salt stains, it is recommended that the mat be soaked in hot water with a neutral soap solution for half an hour and extracted as per wet soils above.
6. If your WaterHog mat is stained, you may use various carpet spotting solutions to loosen the soil stuck to the fibers. WaterHog mats are solution dyed, so you need not worry about the color fastness.

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Now you can offer high profit custom logo mats to your customers with virtually the same ease as a standard entrance mat with The Andersen Company's state of the art logo mat programs.

We offer the widest range of logo mats with the most popular being our Classic Impressions and WaterHog Logo Inlay.

Classic Impressions mats are manufactured using our state of the art digital carpet printer. With this process we can produce 3-D images, phase-in colors and fine details with excellent definition. Your may choose from 25 attractive colors to produce your logo design.

WaterHog Logo Inlay mats are produced by cutting your design out of fabric with a computerized cutting machine and then piecing the design back together like a puzzle. 18 colors of anti-static, polypropylene fabric are available for your designing needs.

The best part of Andersen logo mat programs is that there is NO SETUP CHARGE for new designs making these the most affordable logo mats ever. And we have over 500,000 existing logo designs in our logo database on The Andersen Company website (www.andersenco.com ) that you can order for immediate delivery. New and existing logos ship within 10 working days from the time we receive your approved order. CALL US TODAY! 1-800-241-4696 and we will show you how you can take advantage of this FAST GROWING, HIGH PROFIT market segment.

Logo Mat Ordering Details

Design: Designing logo mats is simple. All we require is good quality original black and white artwork that is no larger than 8 ½"x 11" in size since the art is scanned into the computer. This can be mailed or emailed as we do not recommend faxing artwork due to possible distortion. On one of our logo order forms please indicate the type logo mat desired, size, color and direction of your logo. This form can be mailed or faxed. We then convert the artwork into a logo file, which can be manipulated to fit the requirements of our different logo processes. An art proof will then be made and emailed or mailed for your approval.

Artwork Requirements: The Andersen Company is committed to providing the most attractive logo mats available. Essential to this is the quality of the artwork that is provided to us. The best artwork is a black and white ad slick. The slick can be any size up to 8 ½"x 11". All artwork must be submitted by mail, Federal Express, or email. E-Mail (in the following PC formats only: jpg, wmf, tif, eps, dfx, gif, & bitmap)
Faxed copies distort artwork and therefore cannot be used. Below is a list of different types of artwork. Each is classified as acceptable, unacceptable or marginal. If we are unable to use marginal artwork, we will advise the person that placed the order to supply us with different materials. Please try to provide the best possible artwork on the initial order, as this will expedite the process.

Acceptable

• Black/White Ad Slicks
• Letterheads
• Brochures
• Business Literature
• Digital files may be e-mailed in PC format using: eps, tif, jpg, cdr (preferred)

Marginal

• Color Prints (*)
• Newspaper Ads
• Yellow Page Ads
• Business Cards
• Digital files: gif, dxf

(*) Color prints, if available can be submitted to show color placement for a design.

Unacceptable

• Faxes
• Emblems
• Copies of Emblems
• Banners
• Flags
• Full Size Mats
• Art larger than 8 1/2" x 11"

Art Proofs: Art Proofs will be provided for approval of your designs. Art Proofs of existing designs can be viewed on our Internet site, www.andersenco.com . If you do not have Internet access art proofs will be mailed to you. First and second versions of art proof on a single design are provided at no charge. Additional art proof versions of the same design will cost $25.00 each. Art proof charges will not be refunded if the design is subsequently ordered.

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For workers who spend their days on their feet anti-fatigue products are a godsend. They work wonders for foot, leg, and lower back pain. It has been shown that workers actually get less tired and perform better when standing on anti-fatigue mats. The Andersen Company has a great variety of anti-fatigue mats including Hog Heaven, Hog Heaven Fashion, Hog Heaven Plush, Hog Heaven Confetti, Happy Feet, Comfort Flow, and Comfort Scrape. One problem is many sales reps do not think of the potential applications for the anti-fatigue products and a lot of business is lost because the sales rep did not think to ask about anti-fatigue mats. Everyone knows that factories use anti-fatigue mats at workstations but there are limitless opportunities in the commercial sector. Below are some good applications for anti-fatigue mats.

Hospitality/Hotels: Hotels are a great place for anti-fatigue mats. Potential applications include the reception desk and concierge desk. A good product to suggest for this area is the Hog Heaven Plush. You can give them a product that not only fells great to stand on but also has a beautiful carpet surface that will not detract from the hotels appearance. Another possible application is in larger hotels laundry facilities. A rubber surface like Hog Heaven, Happy Feet, Comfort Flow or Comfort Scrape are good options for the workers washing and folding the laundry.

Retail/Grocery/Department Stores: Grocery stores and other large retailers have employees standing all day at checkout stands. Carpet top and rubber top anti-fatigue mats are both possibilities for this application. Just think about the number of cash registers in your area and you can get an idea of the opportunities for all Hog Heaven mats, Happy Feet mats. Grocery stores are also good prospects for Comfort Flow mats in their Deli and Butcher shops.

Banks: Banks can use many anti-fatigue mats because they have tellers standing in one place all through the day. Banks can also appreciate the different anti-fatigue options that do not look industrial.

Schools/Restaurants: Schools and restaurants are also potential applications for anti-fatigue mats, especially in the kitchen areas. The Comfort Flow mats are great for food service areas because they are lightweight, grease proof, and have a low profile.

Samples:Samples Sell!!!!! It is much easier to sell anti-fatigue mats with demo samples. Be sure to have a sample for people to stand on. Once they have experienced the comfort the sell is almost assured!

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Educational facilities from primary to high school are large consumers of entrance matting. With a large volume of foot traffic on a daily basis and many different entrances, schools are the target of many distributors. Unfortunately, a lot of sales reps do not take the time to explain the benefits of proper matting to school officials. Many schools have been purchasing the same inadequate matting systems for several years. The mats may be far too small for the entrance or they may be crushed down allowing dirt and moisture to track into the building. Below are some common objections and strategies to counteract them and change opinions about matting.

The Price Objection: The WaterHog mats will actually save the school system money in the long run. The cost of cleaning and finishing the floors because of non-performing mats is far higher than the additional cost of the right mats. Also, the performance life of the WaterHog products is far longer than the products they may be purchasing. Many of the school systems are replacing their non-performing mats every year. WaterHog mats have a minimum performance life of 3 to 5 years so their actual cost for the higher performing mat is far less.

Will The Mats Really Work As Well As You Say: One of the best ways to prove to a school system that the WaterHog mats will work significantly better than their current matting is to do a test school or schools. Have them purchase enough mats to outfit one or two schools and ask the cleaning staff to report on any improvement. A common statement after this kind of test is performed is "these mats get dirtier than any mat I've seen." This is a great way to show visual evidence of the stopping power of WaterHog mats.

The Yearly Mat Budget Is Not Large Enough: If a school systems budget does not allow them to replace their entire matting system with WaterHogs, here are a couple good options.

1. Replace the mats in the highest traffic entrance first. Keep the best mats from the ones they are currently using and put them at the less traveled doorways. The second year they can replace more of the entrances, and the third year they will be able to have WaterHog's throughout the schools. Because the mats have a longer performance life, they don't need to replace them every year. Any budget dollars saved in matting purchases can be used to buy other cleaning equipment they need.
2. Try selling the school system logo mats. Many times they have separate funds for school artwork and money can come from the PTA and State Program funds. You will also find that once you have logo mats in one school the other schools in that school system will most likely want logos for their school as well.

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Soil is everywhere. It is a part of the earth we live on and managing it is a vital part of our everyday existence. Today's emphasis on Green Cleaning and the impact of the cleanliness of a building on health makes soil management even more important. Experts are recommending a minimum of 10-12 feet of quality matting products at entrances as part of a Green Cleaning program. At the heart of soil management is the concept of prevention - prevention of contaminants from entering a building. 85% of all soil enters a building on the feet of building occupants. Of this, at least, 80% is dry soil and the rest is oily. The dry soil can range from large particles to powder-like dust. Over the years, many products have been developed and sold to help keep soil at the door and out of the building. The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) has estimated that it costs 600 dollars to find and remove one pound of soil after it has been allowed to enter an average building. This cost is primarily labor. Since entrance mats stop and contain soil and water, it is obvious that removing soil from a mat can be less expensive than removing it from a building since the soil is concentrated in a localized area.

Entrance mats may also be scraper mats that provide the first line of defense against soil. Scraper mats should always be used with other entrance mats that will provide wiping properties to remove fine soil and water from feet.

1. STOP SOIL AND WATER AT THE DOOR

Surprisingly, not all entrance mats are designed to do this. The most effective mats provide a combination of scraping and wiping to stop the maximum amount of contaminants.

2. STORE SOIL AND WATER FOR REMOVAL

The most effective entrance mats are designed to provide a place for soil and water to go to for storage. It is important that the storage be designed for maximum storage and ease of removal when the mat is cleaned. It is important that the mat provide a way for soil and water to be contained so they cannot spread to the surrounding floor . Contaminants that flow off the sides of a mat cause damage and can lead to slip/fall dangers. Mats with flat borders do not provide the necessary containment for best performance. Higher performance mats provide a dam that will hold the soil and water for removal during cleaning.

3. MINIMIZE TRACKING OF SOIL AND WATER

This capability is best accomplished by a BI-level construction that provides an upper surface for walking and a lower area where soil and water are stored until removed by cleaning. The amount of soil that a mat allows to be reattached to shoes is directly related to the construction of the mat. High performance mats utilize this permanent rubber reinforced BI-level construction, thereby, trapping large quantities of moisture and dirt, minimizing the effects of soil and water being tracked further into the facility. Low performance mats such as those with non-reinforced ribbed or cut pile face yarn alone will not hold up under foot pressure and will crush in a short period of time, thus allowing more water and dirt to reattach to shoes and be tracked into respective facilities. A permanently rubber reinforced Bi-level construction extends the performance life of a mat reducing the need to dispose of mats frequently.

4. PROVIDE A SAFE SURFACE

The bottom of a mat should be slip-resistant to minimize movement on the floor when it is walked on. Also any water on the mat should be contained in a reservoir below the traffic surface to prevent moisture on flooring surface adjacent to the mat that can cause slip/fall incidents. Rubber-backed mats provide a better slip resistance than vinyl-backed mats. Rubber-backed mats do not curl, as vinyl mats do, thus reducing trip and fall exposure. Some rubber-backed mats have cleated surfaces on the bottom that further enhances non-skid properties and allows moisture to dry from underneath the mat.

Selling the "Four Things an Entrance Mat Must Do"

Often when we enter a building and notice the mats being used at the entrance, we see on the corner of the mats a label indicating that the mat has been placed there by a mat service. Our first reaction to the label may be to give up on any chance to sell mats since previous attempts to sell mats to a customer who is renting have not been very successful. If we do think about trying to sell mats, often our approach is to show the customer how we can save them money by purchasing mats rather than renting them. Giving up without trying surely will not generate any sales. Assuming the customer is really interested in saving money on mats also may not result in a sale. So, is there another approach that might give us an opportunity to sell mats?

Here is another approach for consideration: Set up a call to a facility that is renting mats after determining the individual responsible for the mats. Ask this person "Do you rent or own the mats here?" Regardless of the answer, tell them you would like to show them something that will make those (rental) mats more effective. Then tell them you would like to show them an entrance mat. If they believe the mats they rent are entrance mats, go through the "Four Things an Entrance Mat Should Do" to demonstrate how mats should have a bi-level surface and then show them an Andersen WaterHog product such as WaterHog Premier. If they ask about cleaning the mat, show them how easy it is to clean a WaterHog mat.

Finish the discussion with this comment. If you use the correct entrance mat, you may find that you do not need as many mats as you are currently using thereby saving money while improving the appearance of the building.

Good luck and good selling

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• AirFlex
• Brush Hog
• Classic Creations
• Classic Impressions
• ColorStar
• ColorStar Computuft
• ColorStar Crunch
• Comfort Flow
• Comfort Scrape
• Happy Feet Grip Surface
• Happy Feet Texture Surface
• Hog Heaven
• Hog Heaven Confetti
• Hog Heaven Fashion
• Hog Heaven Plush
• Safety Scrape
• Super Scrape
• Traction Hog
• Traction Tread
• TriGrip
• WaterHog Classic/Premier - all versions
• WaterHog DiamondCord
• WaterHog MasterPiece Select

The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) has now certified the mats listed above as Slip Resistant.
Before a product is certified as Slip Resistant, it is subjected to a rigorous series of tests

Phase 1 Testing

Andersen mats were submitted to the NFSI for laboratory for testing with the Universal Walkway Tester (UWT). The mats were wet tested for Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF) under NFSI 101A guidelines. After meeting the NFSI standard for slip resistance, they were eligible for Phase 2 Testing.

Phase 2 Testing

Under Phase 2 testing, the mats were installed in a real world application for a minimum of thirty days. They were exposed to the same demands as that of the application including commercial traffic loads, exposure to cleaning agents, spills, etc. After the test period has expired, the mats were cleaned and wet-tested for SCOF. Once the mats met the NFSI's minimum acceptable level of slip resistance, they were classified as "High-Traction" and were NFSI certified.

In the marketplace, architects, designers, and specifiers are being educated to select products that are NFSI certified in high-risk areas. It is their assurance that the products have been clinically tested and meet the highest performance standards.

This is just another indication that Andersen is leading the industry with the highest performing, most innovative, and now the safest mats available.

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In the marketplace, architects, designers, and specifiers are being educated to select products that are NFSI certified in high-risk areas. It is their assurance that the products have been clinically tested and meet the highest performance standards.

This is just another indication that Andersen is leading the industry with the highest performing, most innovative, and now the safest mats available.

The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) has certified the mats listed as Slip Resistant.

Before a product is certified as Slip Resistant, it is subjected to a rigorous series of tests

Phase 1 Testing

Andersen mats were submitted to the NFSI for laboratory for testing with the Universal Walkway Tester (UWT). The mats were wet tested for Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF) under NFSI 101A guidelines. After meeting the NFSI standard for slip resistance, they were eligible for Phase 2 Testing.

Phase 2 Testing

Under Phase 2 testing, the mats were installed in a real world application for a minimum of thirty days. They were exposed to the same demands as that of the application including commercial traffic loads, exposure to cleaning agents, spills, etc. After the test period has expired, the mats were cleaned and wet-tested for SCOF. Once the mats met the NFSI's minimum acceptable level of slip resistance, they were classified as "High-Traction" and were NFSI certified.

• AirFlex
• Brush Hog
• Classic Creations
• Classic Impressions
• ColorStar
• ColorStar Computuft
• ColorStar Crunch
• Comfort Flow
• Comfort Scrape
• Happy Feet Grip Surface
• Happy Feet Texture Surface
• Hog Heaven
• Hog Heaven Confetti
• Hog Heaven Fashion
• Hog Heaven Plush
• Safety Scrape
• Super Scrape
• Traction Hog
• Traction Tread
• TriGrip
• WaterHog Classic/Premier all versions
• WaterHog DiamondCord
• WaterHog MasterPiece Select

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75 to 80% of contaminates that enter a building come through entryways. A quality matting system stops these contaminates at the door. Stopping these contaminates not only reduces cleaning labor costs and reduces wear on floor surfaces but it also substantially reduces the need for cleaning chemicals that might be harmful to the building occupants and the environment. Quality matting systems like the WaterHog construction pioneered by Andersen provide maximum performance for preventing soil and water from entering a building and therefore helping to keep a building "Green". The BI-level construction that provides an upper surface for walking and a lower area where soil and water are stored until removed by cleaning accomplish this capability. WaterHog mats utilize this permanent rubber reinforced BI-level construction, thereby, trapping large quantities of moisture and dirt, minimizing the effects of soil and water being tracked further into the facility. Low performance mats such as those with unsupported ribbed or square patterned face yarn will not hold up under foot pressure, thus allowing more water and dirt to reattach to shoes and be tracked into facilities. A permanent BI-level construction extends the performance life of a mat reducing the need to dispose of mats frequently. Lower performing mats must be replaced 4 to 5 times more often than WaterHog mats contributing significantly more waste to our landfills. Another common problem with lower quality mats is the fact that users of these products do not always understand when the product has reached its useful life. In these cases the lower performing mat is left in place after it stops performing its function. Contaminates are then allowed to enter the facility with all of the ill effects outlined earlier.

Remember a Green building can be greener if the soil is kept at the door. Mats are an integral component of a Green building.

Good Selling,
The Andersen Company

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There are many people that believe in the use of Anti-fatigue matting, and some that believe they are good without it. Over the past year, I have found that most people that are offered anti-fatigue matting but do not use it are the younger generation. Older workers who said they also grew up not using anti-fatigue matting really appreciated the use of anti-fatigue products. One can only think, if the younger generation used anti-fatigue matting during their working career, how much skeletal disorders might be prevented as these workers aged?

Further, I have seen that most workers choice not to use the anti-fatigue matting was due to the matting being too small and they always had to step on and off of the mat.

Things to consider when selecting anti-fatigue matting:

1. What are the working conditions like? Certain mats perform better in wet areas versus dry areas.
2. Be sure to discuss the benefits desired with the plant workers, and ask direct questions of everyone. Do you experience static shock on the job? Are hot parts, or materials used in the work zone to be matted? Is there any potential for slip and fall, either on fine dust, ormoisture on the floor?
3. Be careful not to allow stools to sit on Anti-fatigue matting, which may cause falls.
4. Consider matting the entire work cell, so that it is a) not possible to slide the matting aside, and b) the employees do not have to step on and off of the matting at all times during the day.
5. Make certain your product guarantee is an "Unconditional" 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed or find someone that does offer this. Get it in writing.

Enjoy a safer, and happier workplace!

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Most of us in the JanSan industry by now have heard something about Green Cleaning and/or Green Buildings. Something often overlooked from a JanSan perspective is how we can make buildings greener. If you think about some of the major components of Green Cleaning, they include low VOC chemicals (for cleaning) and low airborne particulate equipment such as vacuums (for cleaning).

We clean buildings in a manner that will improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Ever stop to think how we could improve IEQ by reducing the amount of soil and contaminants that enter a building? This has led us to come up with a phrase that sums up how we contribute to the Greener Buildings movement.

ANDERSEN MATS MAKE BUILDINGS GREENER BY KEEPING BUILDINGS CLEANER

Using just any mat does not necessarily result in a cleaner building. An entrance mat should do at least four things:

1. Stop soil and water by providing a proper combination of scraping and wiping.
2. Store soil and water on the mat in a manner that will allow easy removal when cleaning is scheduled.
3. The most important feature of an entrance mat should be that it soil, water and other contaminants will not be allowed to track into the building from the mat. This is best accomplished by a PERMANENT BI-LEVEL construction that keeps soil and water away from the surface and out of the building.
4. Finally, an entrance mat should provide a safe surface for walking. Proper mats minimize movement and lay flat when in use. They also contain water on the mat surface away from foot level and off the floor improving traction and protecting the floor.

Keep in mind that mats can be one of the most important components of a Green Building program.

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Many times facilities select mats for their entrances without much thought to the size they really need to effectively stop soil & moisture from entering the building. Because 3'x5' and 4'x6' size mats are most often seen in use. Facilities will select one of these smaller mat sizes based on this observation. We also see facilities choose a size similar to the one already in use, which may be too small as well.

So how can we help facilities make the best choice of mat size for their entrances? The first thing we must do is make sure the sales person is trained and able to do a facility survey to determine what the needs are for each entryway. Then we must consider other factors.

• Is the entrance a high/low traffic entrance?
• Does the entrance have an outside cover?
• Do carts and buggies come in this entrance?
• Is this a snowy area? Rainy? Dry?

These are a few of the considerations that need to be addressed when deciding how much matting coverage is needed.

The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends a minimum of 12 to 15 feet of coverage to remove 90% of tracked in soil. While a regional grocery store chain's insurance provider recommended a minimum of 23 to 25 feet to remove the majority of moisture entering their facilities. In both cases, the recommendation was much longer that 5 or 6 feet.

Facilities can achieve maximum coverage by utilizing a three mat system that includes an outside scrapper mat, vestibule wipe/scrape mat, and an interior wiping/finishing mat to collect the moisture and soil not stopped by the first two mats. The sizes of these mats could vary depending on the available area but should measure collectively a minimum of 15 feet.

One way to determine if the current coverage is sufficient is to look beyond the end of the mat. If there is excess soil, moisture, or wear, it is a good bet that there isn't enough coverage for the conditions. Remember it is always better to have too much coverage than not enough.

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Facility managers today have two basic methods with which to supply mats for their buildings. They can purchase and maintain their mats or they can rent mats from an industrial laundry that cleans the mats on a regular interval, usually once per week.

Why do customers rent mats? The primary reason, we have found over the years, is "convenience". Not because the rental mat does a better job of stopping dirt and moisture, but because it is considered easier since the facility does not have to clean the mats. They actually pay more for this convenience.
To compete with rental mat programs, we must first address this perception that renting mats is easier and more convenient.

While all facilities renting mats may not be prospects due to heavy soiling of their mats, many facilities are excellent prospects. At these facilities, they either have full time custodial staff or contract to an outside BSC. As they clean these facilities, including the floors, they are maintaining the mats on a daily basis. Once the facility manager understands this, your chances of converting this prospect to owning their mats greatly increase.

So, first address the "convenience factor" of the rental mat program. Then provide a facility assessment survey and compare the performance and cost of your mat program versus the rental mat program. Your customer will enjoy the savings and improved soil and water stopping performance of the Waterhog entrance mat program.

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Static dissipative means the mat can eliminate static charges when they come in contact with the mat. Anti-static means the mat will not cause static charges to be generated. Static dissipative mats are anti-static also since they eliminate the charges as they are generated. Here are Andersen mats by category and anti-static characteristics.

Static dissipative mats are safe to use around sensitive electronic equipment, since they will allow static charges to be conducted away from the person's body rather than allowing the charge to be discharged to the equipment.

Keep in mind that static dissipative mats are not designed to protect workers from high voltage electric charges. Mats for that application are made by a different process and are very conductive, not just of small electric charges.

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When asked what mat opportunities there are, the most obvious answer is usually "Entrance Mats". And while this is a large segment of the mat market, there are numerous other placements that are available beyond the doorways which are overlooked.

One such area will be found at schools, universities and professional athletic arenas. When athletes go from the locker room to the field they will, in many cases, have to walk on smooth concrete which can be a slip hazard if they are wearing cleats. Or swimmers walking from their locker rooms may also find walkways slippery due to the wet nature of pool areas. In these cases, you may want to consider offering Traction Tread rubber runners to increase the slip resistance of the walking surface. The cost of the Traction Tread rubber runner will more than pay for itself in reduced injury and liability and will help to keep athletes safe and healthy.

Another area at schools and universities where Traction Tread rubber runners can be beneficial is as a protective matting surface on composite athletic tracks. When tracks are not being used but access is needed to the infield, Traction Tread rubber runners laid across the track will protect the composite surface from accelerated wear in those areas used as walkways. The cost is more than justified by extending the life of the track surface.

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Often as we make calls to large facilities, especially manufacturing locations, our contact is the buyer or purchasing department. For routine selling (or taking orders), this can result in satisfactory business for regular products. What about products which relate to safety or ergonomics such as anti-fatigue mats? It's possible that a high performance mat like Andersen's Hog Heaven can be sold to the safety director, or even the plant nurse. These positions often have the ability to request products based on their features and benefits rather than price. Finding the safety manager often can be done by a phone call prior to visit and asking for the person responsible for evaluating products for safety and/or employee comfort. Once that person is identified, a meeting should be set up for the purpose of reviewing specialty products such as Traction Hog, Comfort Scrape, or Traction Tread Soft.

Once you get a meeting to discuss safety, don't overlook the safety features of WaterHog entrance mats. Safety can be sold in several ways and a variety of departments.

Safety Sells!

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Whatever your flooring type, the Andersen Company has a backing type that will best suit your needs. Andersen offers two different backing types that are each intended for different flooring types. The two backing options are cleated and smooth back.

Cleated backed mats perform best on carpeted surfaces and come standard on all WaterHog products as well as the Tri-grip Mat. The cleats help the mats stay in place better on the carpeted surfaces.

The smooth backed option is recommended on hard surfaces such as tile, marble, terrazzo, ect. We have found that the smooth backed mats slip and move less on hard surfaces.

So, next time that you order an Andersen mat please specify the backing type that best suits your needs. And remember, all of our mats carry a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.

Are All Mats The Same?

Click Here To Download Video.

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Many times we find ourselves in a facility with a customer and the question is asked, “What mat do you recommend for this location?” When you are asked about this, a good resource is the mat placement guide on pages 2 and 3 in our new catalog, here is what it looks like.

As you can see, there are many areas where we offer choices. For main entrances such as “B”, we recommend you start with our top product, WaterHog Premier and the related WaterHog Grand Premier. These products are the highest performing mats for entrances in the industry and can be sold with the most confidence for entrances.

A review of the guide will give you alternatives for other areas in facilities. If you have a question about a location not shown, contact your local rep or your Andersen customer service representative.

Remember, many times it is very important to sell enough matting to be effective. As a rule of thumb, at the entrance, if space permits, we recommend 10-15 feet of matting wide enough for traffic to pass or walk side by side. This generally means 4 feet wide at least

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Opportunities to place anti-fatigue mats can be found in almost any facility where people work today. From industrial operations to retail shops, many jobs require employees to stand for extended periods in specific locations. An inspection of any facility will find opportunities to improve work areas and therefore improve productivity.

Most people think of anti-fatigue as just something to “make the floor softer”. Experts tell us that well-designed anti-fatigue matting can do much more. Any employee who is required to stand for extended periods is subject to becoming distracted with the discomfort that can result from the incorrect type of support underfoot. Good anti-fatigue mats are firm enough to hold up to the long-term wear and tear of daily use while providing enough cushioning to relieve stress and discomfort.

Another issue concerning anti-fatigue mats is traction. Work areas that are slippery, cause workers to spend extra energy keeping their footing. Good anti-fatigue mats provide a surface that is worry-free as well as comfortable.

There are many opportunities for anti-fatigue mat placement. A visit with the Safety Director of an industrial facility will probably result in the discovery of many areas where mats could be provided as an improvement to the operation. Other opportunities for anti-fatigue mats exist in retail stores, restaurants, hospitals, etc. Even in facilities that use anti-fatigue mats, often the mats are worn out or are past their useful life.

A good rule for determining whether there are opportunities for anti-fatigue mats is: “LOOK DOWN AND LOOK AROUND”, you never know what you might find.