By designing attractive fixtures that both enhance spaces and appeal to users, Vaask leads the way to a new era in hand hygiene.
Jon Olsen | Founder
We can thank the pandemic for exposing the public’s poor hand hygiene, because COVID-19 identified a major contributor to that problem: the lack of good hand sanitizing options. It’s no wonder people avoided using traditional dispensers, when without exception they were unappealing. Using them was always a messy experience that left hands dried out and with an unpleasant odor — and that’s if they actually contained sanitizer. More often than not, they sat empty.
As an engineer and father, this became a call to action very early on in lockdown. Knowing that 80% of illnesses are transmitted through touch, I made it my goal not just to improve upon traditional sanitizers but to dramatically change an industry that had coasted for too long, due to a complacent public that tolerated the status quo.
That status quo — cheap, single-use plastic bottles and wall dispensers — was long overdue for a total transformation. And that’s precisely what it got with Vaask®.
Inspired by the Norwegian word for “wash” and pronounced “V-ahh-sk” like the breath of fresh air it is for a complacent industry, Vaask has initiated a whole new era in hand sanitizer, with refined and reliable fixtures that people actually line up to use.
Consider this experience from a hotel manager who watched a 4-year-old approach Vaask. “She saw it by the elevator. Drawn by the LEDs, she immediately walked over and held her hand up. It was proof positive of the whole concept. If a 4-year-old is instantly drawn to it and can use it, you know it’s going to work.”
Our engineers here at Vaask have a long history of innovation and the patents to prove it, having previously disrupted the fan industry at Big Ass Fans®. That company introduced energy-efficient comfort to sweltering workplaces and high design to homes and public spaces with the revolutionary, and silent, Haiku® ceiling fan. But it also knew the importance of listening to customers and learning from them.
Working in collaboration with architects, designers and healthcare industry professionals, Vaask’s team of engineers brought the same approach that had worked so well at the fan company to hand sanitizing. The result was an equally revolutionary hand sanitizing fixture that quickly received rave reviews. With more than 50 awards, including Most Sustainable Product and Architect’s Choice honors at the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo and back-to-back Healthcare Design Product Innovation Awards, as well as recognition by TIME’s Best Inventions, Vaask has established itself as the industry leader and authority on the subject of clean hands. And because all manufacturing is done locally here in Austin, Texas, we can quickly respond to customers’ needs, whether that means customizing your Vaask fixture’s appearance or developing an inconspicuous locking mechanism to deter curious or mischievous hands in schools.
How do Vaask fixtures make hand sanitizing appealing? Designers will tell you that Vaask makes a great first impression. Its sleek, minimalist profile complements the style of any space and encourages people to use it, unlike ugly plastic bottles and wall dispensers. An eye-catching array of LEDs also reminds users to clean their hands.
Then there’s the experience itself. Vaask’s touchless operation and superior engineering ensure that a precise amount of gel is dispensed every time, so there’s never any mess. And from a user’s perspective, there’s one more important point: Vaask sanitizing gel is pleasantly scented and leaves hands moisturized rather than rough and dry.
And those who have installed Vaask know it’s the hands-down winner with maintenance employees. The fixture runs on AC power or Power over Ethernet, so no batteries to replace. Vaask’s cast-aluminum, high-capacity fixtures reduce the frequency of refills, while an app and online dashboard automatically alert staff when sanitizer levels run low. This eliminates the time-consuming chore of checking each individual unit and also ensures they always stay filled. This exclusive technology solves the most common problem with hand sanitizer, which, despite being more essential than ever before, is frequently ignored as studies have found nearly 80% of people expect dispensers to be empty. Unlike other companies that lock customers into expensive supply contracts, Vaask works with any quality sanitizing gel. So, no burdensome contracts, just exemplary service and a generous five-year warranty.
With more threats to public health emerging virtually every day, providing hand sanitizing fixtures that people will actually want to use is crucial to reducing the spread of germs. Vaask understands what people both need and want, and we continue to listen to our customers to ensure we provide the highest quality experience. That’s why we have quickly established ourselves as the authority in hand hygiene, and why we will remain so for years to come.
