Fresh Twist on a Classic Dilemma
HYDRO SYSTEMS PRODUCTS CAN BE FOUND wherever you currently use a mop or a spray bottle, oftentimes mounted to the wall in janitorial closets. Now the company has taken the product mobile with its integrated Cleaning System (ICS) series. “We thought, let’s bring the dispenser to the dirt,” says Bradley Drury, project manager for the ICS series, of the company’s alternative to carting around a mop and dirty water.
How Does It Work? Using a battery-operated pressurized spray gun, the ICS coats an entire surface with a thin mist of cleaning chemicals within a minute and can hold up to four separate chemicals, as well as water. Clean water stays separate and delivers via rinse cycle so soiled water is never used on surfaces.
What Does It Prevent? The spread of infection and illness. “If technology and chemicals exist, why are there still outbreaks and infections?” asks Drury. “We believe the tools are available, but people don’t use them properly. Since the ICS is easy to use, people use it properly.” This motivates workers to allow the appropriate dwell time [time needed for chemicals to be effective before wiping off], which is normally around five minutes.
Where Is It Used? Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom uses the ICS for kiddie rides, storefront windows, queue line rail bars, and locker rooms. Hydro Systems has also distributed the product to casinos and facilities with public restrooms or active areas like gyms or changing rooms. www.hydrosystemsco.com
For an extended interview from Hydro Systems and FreezeFrame visit www.IAAPA.org/blog. |
Happy Birthday, Freeze Frame! A Picturesque Celebration
TWENTY YEARS AGO, CLIFFORD DAVID FOUNDED FREEZEFRAME and developed an innovative way to photograph memories at theme parks. He came across several new pieces of photography equipment in 1989 and created the first electronic thrill ride photo system at Six Flags Over Texas’ “Bobsled.” Multiple locations were added,  and the photo transfer system soon became computer run. David used the camera’s burst function to capture 10 frames per second of speeding roller coaster cars like the “Great American Scream Machine” at Six Flags Great Adventure, and guests were amazed at seeing their images on screen as they came off the ride.
David has since developed ride systems with Sony in Japan, bringing his services to attractions there like Yokohama Hakkeijima, Space World, and Lagunasia. Here he reflects on two decades of advancements:
FW: How did you make sure ride photo booth attendants grabbed the customers’ attention?
Clifford David: We set up the photo booths in a way where the employee had to be standing outside the booth interacting with guests—that way they couldn’t turn their backs on them.
FW: You say Busch Gardens’ Discovery Cove was one of your biggest risks—how so?
CD: I mortgaged everything on Discovery Cove. We put photographers chest-high in the water with $6,000 cameras and prayed they didn't fall! There were no guarantees, but the concept worked! We ended up with more than 100 employees working at daily photo operations there.
FW: How do you sum up 20 years of success?
CD: We broke down technological barriers that were unheard of at the time and it was a lot of fun. Billions of images have been captured—from children’s first roller coaster rides to coaster enthusiasts cataloging their rides. Some photographers capture smiles; we specialize in screams! www.freezeframe.com
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Jumping for Charity
 JUMPING J·JAYS, A FRANCHISED INFLATABLE AMUSEMENT COMPANY, has found a way to brighten the day of families affected by the brush-fire disaster in Victoria, Australia. The company is offering to loan its jumping castles free of charge to churches and community groups raising money for post-disaster relief, an offer that includes staff help to run the equipment. “We saw this as an opportunity to give what we could to those families by way of support,” says Dave Beattie, general manager of Jumping J·Jays.
With one of the castles rented out in the Kingslake area of Victoria on the day of the fire, Jumping J·Jays holds close ties to the devastation inflicted by the destruction. www.jumpingjjays.com.au
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