Strength, Beauty, Longevity and Architectural Appeal are just a few of the attributes of our American Made, heat-treated aluminum alloys. With TGIC-Polyester Powder Coating in nine standard colors and the willingness to make custom colors and textures, the potential is nothing short of Amazing.
For quite a while I have been focused on Gates and Access Control by Ultra, but with Spring comes the urge to be outside. Many homeowners, businesses, apartment complexes and municipal structures utilize railing that is similar to fencing but different. This post will be about some of the differences and why you can gain market-share and enhanced profitability by using Ultra's Signature Series of Railing.
First of all, fencing is typically comes in residential, commercial and industrial strength varieties and then these are offered in 4', 5', 6' and in industrial even 7', 8', 9' & 10' heights. Railing is typically 36" in height when at a private residence and 42" when in public or commercial spaces. Both railing heights also have to be tested for added strength. According to International Building Code (IBC) Section 1607.7.1 Handrails and guards, “Handrail
assemblies and guards shall be designed to resist a load of 50 plf
(0.73kN/m) applied in any direction at the top and to transfer this load
through the supports to the structure.” And According to International Residential Code (IRC) Section 1607.7.1.1 Concentrated load, “Handrail
assemblies and guards shall be able to resist a single concentrated load
of 200 pounds (0.89 kN), applied in any direction at any point along
the top, and have attachment devices and supporting structure to
transfer this loading to appropriate structural elements of the
building.”
Ultra has designed and had our railing products built and tested with this in mind. So you can rest assured that our products, when installed properly will perform well on the 2nd story balcony or the 52nd floor balcony. They are not only beautiful, durable but extremely strong. Here are some photos of a recent job. (Notice the use of core-drilling versus the more common use of flange plates)
photo by: Ben Jodoin
photo by: Ben Jodoin
photo by: Ben Jodoin
Plus you can see these with flange plates used:
This one even had a Trex "Drinking/Bar Ledge" added to it...
And this one utilizes our Boss Flanges & Boss Posts and a Continuous Cap (Madison Style in Satin/Matte White)
See more and more photos all the time at www.ultrafence.com and try out our Design Studio where you can upload a photo of a prospective site and choose the fence or railing to add, then show you customers exactly what they are getting. This is a GREAT Sales Tool when utilized!
For a long time I have needed a program to help communicate the details of projects for my dealers. But the software that I used to use with Jones Deck Co. (AutoCAD LT, AutoSketch, and AutoCAD) were too expensive, time consuming and just too difficult to use for this purpose. Now Google has come to the rescue.
Those of you who know me are aware that I am a big fan of Google's products and services. After all, I am the only employee at Ultra that has an email address that doesn't end in @ultraaluminum.com. Mine is UltraAluminum@gmail.com. With this Google address I get Picasa to help me organize and publish and share my photos and videos of fence, gate and rail projects. With Picasa Web Albums I can keep the images organized and archived for me and my dealer network to use to promote more sales. With Google Blogger I am able to write and post this blog that you are reading. With Google Docs I can write, alter, read, store and retrieve documents of all types from anywhere in the World, even on my Mac (that normally doesn't do too well with MicroSoft generated files).
Plus with Google Sites, you can create your own up-to-date, fresh website. And best of all, it works with Picasa, blogger, Web Albums, YouTube, Google Docs and more...seamlessly. And it is FREE!!
Now, just this week, Google has announced and release Google Drawings. I will let you see some examples of the first few drawings that I have made to help generate sales and eliminate confusion for my Ultra Dealers. If you are not an Ultra Dealer already, but are thinking about it, you have to ask yourself- "What has my ornamental vendor ever done for me to generate sales and to streamline the efficiency and profitability of selling their products?"
This was my first drawing for a new prospect in Texas....took all of 10 minute. Cool...Right?
This drawing took all of 8 minutes. Just imagine how this can increase sales and eliminate confusion for customers, vendors (us) and for your installation crew. And the drawing times will get shorter with practice and the details will get better. You can even upload a photo and then draw over it for real "Live View" with detail overlay as to "what will be built where".
Great technology out there. And good new is that it is all FREE. Plus if you are an Ultra Dealer or want to become one. we can probably help you all along the way.
Let me explain.....I don't mean that it is burning as in
I mean it is Full-Throttle Active from consumers asking for Ultra's products.
We get many leads every day from our web site at UltraFence.com , and after someone
fills in the online form about what, where and how much.....then this data gets sent to
the VP of Sales and Marketing, then he forwards it to the head of the Inside Sales Department,
then he sends it to the appropriate Regional Sales Manager.
It sounds more complicated than it is, it all happens pretty quick and efficiently many times a day.
After I get the lead, as an RSM in South Central and responsible for Latin America and the Islands in The Caribbean,
I make a choice as to how it should be handled.
Usually I forward it to an existing Ultra Dealer. Sometimes I have to share it with multiple dealers, depending on the scale of the project.
But I have noticed lately that we are getting a ton of leads in the Louisiana area and it got me thinking.
Is it because the people of Louisiana are more patriotic and appreciate 100% American Made
Goods that are supporting fellow American's jobs and improving our Nation's Economy?...
Or is it because they just want the look of "Old-Fashioned Wrought Iron", but
are too close to the Gulf of Mexico to put up with the battle with Rust that
plagues our steel competitors?
I will be interested in your comments. Why do you think Louisiana is on Fire?
Facebook is a social networking site that helps everyone stay "in touch"
But how many of you have heard of Linkedin ?
Linkedin is a Networking Tool for Professionals from all walks of life. It is all about business !!
Here are a few examples of how I use it to promote Ultra Aluminum Mfg., Inc. :
I am using LinkenIn to get in touch with Architects, Specifiers, Project Managers, Progressive Fence Contractors and Green Business Consultants. So far it has been a GREAT tool and has generated leads, sales and the ability to introduce some of Ultra's newest products to a wide array of people.
Just the other day, after posting a short video about Revolution Concealed Gate Operators in my box.net and sharing it with several groups, it caught the eye of a project manager in Phoenix, AZ. This generated a quote request in less than one hour and will most likely turn into a sale for a company called "Green Business Solutions" .
Here is the post I made: Not only is this gate operator up to 20 times more efficient, It takes advantage of being built-into gate frames of al…http://lnkd.in/tXudYw
Regional Sales Manager at Ultra Aluminum Mfg. Inc.
Location
Decatur, Alabama Area
Industry
Building Materials
Darrin Jones Not only is this gate operator up to 20 times more efficient, It takes advantage of being built-into gate frames of al…http://lnkd.in/tXudYw 3 days ago
Current
Regional Sales Manager at Ultra Aluminum Mfg. Inc.
Just another tool to use to get in touch with the people that can bring in more business opportunities for my Ultra Dealers. It is also a great way to stay in touch with those dealers via updates and box.net.....
Regional Sales Manager for Ultra Aluminum in the South West Region. Of course I am willing to help Ultra Dealers and customers wherever they are. I grew up in the fence industry, a second generation fence guy. Also during the 90's I ran my own Deck Company.
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