Different types of window cleaning pole

Window cleaning with a water fed pole is increasing in popularity across the world, and particularly in the UK. With this increase in popularity comes many different variations of pole the window cleaner can use, which include, telescopic and modular, and are made with three main materials which are Aluminium, Glass fibre, and Carbon fibre These two main types can be further broken down in the following ways..

Telescopic, which usually rely on clamping the individual sections together, which keeps the sections at and desired given height. The most widely used is the telescopic type pole and comes in the three main materials mentioned above, which are aluminum, glass fibre, and carbon fibre.

Modular, Which usually relies on individual sections the same diameter that join together, by either threaded parts on each end, or by wedging one part inside the other.

The three main materials currently used as you can imagine have different properties with the Carbon fibre being the lightest and stiffest, followed by the aluminum, then the glassfibre. Cost wise as well they follow the same sequence with carbon fibre being the most expensive followed by aluminum, then glassfibre. Different grades of material, and different processing techniques will effect the final quality of the sections.

There are quite a few manufacturing processes involve in the manufacturing of the sections which we will take a look at, and which we will break down into two groups, Aluminum, and the Fibres (glass and carbon)

Firstly the aluminum sections can be made from rolling sheets of aluminum, or extruding. Rolling, with the use of a mandrel a flat piece of aluminum the desired thickness, is rolled around the mandrel and the ends are joined togther. Extruded is a bit more complicated and relies on soft aluminum being forced through a heated die the shape of the section which is being made.

Glass and carbon fibre sections have a few more ways in which they can be made, and here we will look at the most popular.

Rolled, the material is matting impregnated with hardening resin, and is much the same as the aluminum rolled. The matting is impregnated with a hardening resin, and rolled round a mandrel to form the desired shape, and then heated in an oven to cure. Once cured it is then removed from the mandrel and ready for use.

Pultruded, The pultruding is much the same process as for the aluminum except instead of being pushed through a die, it is pulled through. Individual fibres or strands and impregnated with hardening resin and pulled through a heated die which forms the shape, and hardens it. A chop saw then cuts the sections to the desired length automatically at the end of the process.

Pull winding, The same as pultruding except a winding machine is place in front of the die which allows strands to be wound round the tube as well as longitudinal strand running the whole length of the tube.

Filament winding, Again there is a mandrel and impregnated strands, this time the mandrel is spinning and the strands are fed onto the mandrel at a in a preset sequence, once the desired thickness has been achieved the mandrel and attached sections are left to cure, before the finished section is removed.

The above methods have there advantages and disadvantages. For instance the rolled tubes, and filament wound tubes, are time consuming and labour intensive, so more expensive for individual sections, but are ideal for short runs where samples are essential. Mass production is easier and more cost effective by means of pultrusion, pull winding, or extrusion. Cost per tube is very low, but the initial outlay is much higher with set-up costs and die costs.

Aquatec systems a UK based window cleaning supply company is working on a new type pole, one which is telescopic but dosn't rely on clamps. No time is wasted with this type of pole putting up each section then clamping it, and the reversal closing the pole. A flick of the wrist will put the pole up to working height, and a movement of the hand will fully close the pole again. All the time the operator is working the pole will stay at the desired working height.

Copyright (c) 2008 Peter Fogwill

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Peter Fogwill can be contacted by email to discuss any aspect of window cleaning with a water fed pole, or the new clamp less pole. By email peter@window-tools.com or website www.window-tools.com

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