Tis the season to make sure the lamps in your UV equipment are operating at peak performance: great tans = happy customers!
Of course, the first step in offering your salon guests optimal tanning results is to connect with the experts at a distributor who can direct you to the best sunlamp product for your salon. We consulted a few lamp experts for illumination on choosing a distributor partner, what factors affect lamp life, and some of the mistakes salon operators make when it comes to choosing sunlamps.
IST thanks these tanning professionals for their contributions to this article.
Darren French
Technical Sales & Service Manager
Four Seasons Sales & Service
John Hayes
VP of Sales & Marketing
Ultraviolet Resources
International
Jim Peek
Equipment, Parts &
Sales Manager
Tanning Supplies Unlimited
Brook Taylor
Sales & Service Operations
All Hours International
What factors should salon operators consider when choosing a lamp distributor?
Darren: Reliability: A reputable distributor will stand behind their products with regard to quality, performance and lamp life. When purchasing, you should be provided with total costs, including shipping charges and taxes. You should be able to track your shipments – and have an expected delivery date. The distributor should have procedures in place to handle any damage that may occur during shipping, etc.
Purchase only from distributors with a proven track record of professional customer service and support. Anyone can run an ad and try to “sell” you a tanning lamp. Do your homework. Get references.
Compatibility: The FDA, as well as state regulators, strictly regulate replacement lamps. Salon owners are required to only use replacement lamps that are certified as compatible with the lamps originally used in manufacturing the tanning systems. Proof of compatibility must be provided in writing by the lamp manufacturer, and on-hand in the salon in the event of an inspection. This regulation helps protect the consumer, as well as the salon owner.
John: The two main things that come to mind are product knowledge and product variety. Sunbeds and lamps have changed quite a bit in the 22 years that I’ve have been in this industry. There are many different power systems for sunbeds, such as magnetic ballast, choke ballast, electronic ballast and electronic control systems. Each of these units performs best with a certain type of lamp; that is why it is important to have a knowledgeable sales rep who knows the compatibility and performance of the lamp for each unit. One lamp does not fit all applications! Lamp manufacturers can tweak the reflector angle, gas type, gas pressure and the cathode type to maximize the performance in a sunbed. It is important to choose a lamp distributor that carries the many varieties of lamps to be able to maintain compatibility.
Jim: Salon owners need to be speaking with someone who has knowledge of the lamps they are selling. Some key questions include: Is it an economy lamp, OEM lamp or Premium series lamp? In what level of tanning bed is the lamp being used? Are there any rebates on the lamps? Is breakage covered?
Brook: When you start the conversation, consider how much they are asking you verses telling you. Have they asked for the year, make and model of the unit? Have they asked what lamps you have been running? Have they asked you about the life of the original lamp in the unit? All of these questions help to ensure that the compatible lamp goes into the bed and that the unit is really in need of re-lamping.
What can salon operators do to maximize lamp life?
John: Preventative sunbed/booth maintenance is by far the most important factor in lamp life and performance. Many people will instantly point the finger at the new lamps they just installed when problems arise; however, many times the issue is the bed itself. Tanning units should be cleaned regularly inside and out, and starters should be replaced at least every other lamp change (with choke ballast systems). Periodically, the fans, wires, ballast, sockets and capacitors should be checked for aging, burn marks or loose wires. This is true especially with older sunbeds, with 3,000+ hours, particularly in high-pressure units. These important maintenance steps are often overlooked and may lead to many bed issues and premature lamp failures.
Darren: In addition to using compatible lamps, operators should follow these guidelines to ensure maximum lamp life:
Inspect All Fans & Filters: Most tanning units have external cooling fans to keep customers comfortable and internal cooling fans that keep the equipment operating at its optimum temperatures. If these fans are not kept clean and dust free, they will operate more slowly and eventually fail. This will cause the entire tanning system to overheat, which dramatically reduces lamp life.
Keep Lamps Clean & Dust Free: The lamps themselves need to be free of dirt, dust, etc. Any foreign substance on the lamps will block or reduce output. Lamps should be inspected often – especially during busier months.
Clear Acrylics: Acrylic shields that are dull, hazy or scratched have reduced transparency and will prevent UV light from reaching the tanner. The UV light will simply bounce back, away from the tanner, and/or be absorbed by the acrylic. If you get complaints from your salon guests, you may think your lamps are not performing – when in reality, the worn acrylics are to blame.
A routine equipment maintenance plan will help ensure you get maximum lamp life from every lamp change – and that your tanners get the most from every session.
Jim: The ambient temperature of the tanning room, voltage supplied to the sunbed, the unit’s cool-down settings, the age of the lamp starters and the rated life hours – all of these factors affect lamp life.
Brook: Maintain your equipment! Make sure that fans are working properly, lamp holders are secure, and that your acrylics aren’t hazed and forcing the bed to work harder.
What is the biggest mistake salon operators make with regard to sunlamps?
John: The biggest mistake I see is the wrong lamp installed for the particular application. This is not always the salon operator’s fault; many times, it is due to their product distributor either pushing a certain lamp type or selling what would “fit” because they didn’t have the proper lamp type. I see this many times in higher-end high-pressure sunbeds. High-pressure units are often designed around a certain lamp type, reflector and filter. When you use the wrong lamp type, it can drastically change the performance, life and tanning results produced.
Darren: While purchasing lamps at a fair price is important to the success of any business, salon owners should realize that the operating cost of the tanning system, with regard to lamp expense, is one of the lowest costs associated with operating the business (rent and labor are typically the highest costs).
For example, lamp cost per session for a typical 32-lamp, low-pressure tanning bed, is only about 10 cents (Based on 32 lamps x $10 per lamp / 800 hour lamp life / 15 minute tanning sessions).
One of the biggest mistakes salon owners make is purchasing “cheap” lamps – only to discover that they may have risked the performance of their tanning equipment and the reputation of their business – for a few pennies per session.
Four Seasons offers a free Equipment Operating Cost Guide. This helps salon owners to calculate the actual cost to operate every tanning system ever made on a per-session basis for lamp use, as well as the cost of electricity.
Brook: UVA to UVB ratios are generally the most misunderstood concept that salon operators have. While a low-pressure lamp can possibly have a higher or lower UVA/UVB ratio, the main concern is really overall UV output and rated lamp life. Be careful of UVA/UVB ratios being used for high-pressure lamp sales.
Jim: The biggest mistake is choosing a lamp based only on the cheapest price!
