JK North America, Inc.

JK North America, Inc.
Providing Innovative Options

The indoor tanning industry constantly is changing to meet and surpass market demand. During the past few years, the ups and downs of the market have led salon owners to become savvier when it comes to evaluating equipment for their salons.

Brigitte Kratz, vice president of marketing at JK North America, says it’s important that salon operators choose the right equipment supplier to fit their needs, especially in such a changing marketplace. She says the decision should be based on a bundle of factors, including the operator’s own individual model mix and salon price structure, the quality of the equipment itself, and the vendor’s service network and ancillary products and services, such as financing, salon software, etc.

JK strives to deliver reliable, high-quality and innovative equipment that provides the modern requirements needed to run a successful business, including:

• A variety of models that fulfill variable price-points and different levels of tanning.
• Equipment with high aesthetic standards to attract new and keep existing clientele.
• Comfort features that provide an unforgettable and new tanning experience, such as the ergonomically shaped body acrylics, built-in neck and shoulder tanners, body fan speed and facial performance controls, and the easy-to-reach control panel.
• Technical solutions and better tanning bed serviceability that eases salon operation, such as the exclusive infrared service interface.
• Continuous improvement of UV efficiency that results in better energy consumption in combination with high-performance tanning.
• Features, such as built-in timers and voice guides, for easier bed operation.

Tanning salon owners can find any type of equipment to fulfill the needs of their clientele. The JK equipment portfolio offers two major brands— Ergoline and Soltron.

In addition to some technical differences, the main distinction between the two brands lies in their visual appeal, Kratz says. Ergoline is a sophisticated, high-class brand that incorporates the most innovative tanning technology and comfort features. Soltron is a more colorful, youthful brand with fresh designs together with a variety of customer-friendly features.

“Both lines offer multiple models for all different price-points in a salon, from entry-level up to the high-end product levels,” she says.

JK also carries Sundash products, the reliable and durable tanning equipment found in many tanning salons across the United States. A new Sundash 32-lamp bed recently was launched featuring an updated, fresh and modern look with the traditional great tanning performance and excellent durability.

“For the first time in Sundash history, we added a high-pressure facial option to the line,” Kratz says.

During 2006, the company will continue to deliver the style, technical innovation and customer-friendly features that are inherent in all its brands. All of these aspects can help the salon owner attract new clientele, keep current customers and continue to surpass market expectations.

The new Ultra Performance system, an improved high-pressure facial tanning technology, is featured in the Ergoline Excellence 880 and Evolution 660 models that recently were presented at the ITA Tanning World Expo in Nashville, Tenn.

“Using computer-modeled positioning, JK was able to geometrically optimize its exclusive, high-quality glass reflector system, which led to an additional UV-efficiency improvement of 35 percent in the facial area,” Kratz says.

Most JK models include an easy acrylic opening and lifting system for easier cleaning and lamp changes, and a specially designed safety switch on all high-pressure facial units. In case of damage, the facial unit automatically shuts off to maximize the protection of the tanner.

To explain to the tanner what is happening at every stage of the tanning session, Ergoline developed its Voice Guide feature, which benefits tanners and salon owners alike. The Voice Guide is a standard feature on the Ergoline Evolution and Excellence series—except for the Evolution 500.

The Infrared Interface component can help salon owners retrieve important equipment information such as the total number of hours logged on the equipment, as well as the lamp service life. Salon owners also can decrease the amount of equipment service time, since service support personnel can utilize the function to retrieve or set service-relevant parameters. The Infrared Interface function comes standard on all tanning beds from the Excellence and Evolution series, as well as the Open Sun 550, Advantage 400 and Lounge.

Staff also can retrieve all service functions and important diagnostic information from the tanning bed.

“PDA handhelds or laptops and exclusive software developed by Ergoline give salon operators password-protected access to all main servicing and operating parameters,” Kratz says.

An exclusive feature of the Ergoline Excellence series is the Temptronic function, which allows tanners to choose a temperature range that remains constant throughout the tanning session. The Temptronic function automatically is set at 72 degrees at the beginning of a tanning session.

“The preferred temperature can be adjusted in two-degree intervals ranging from 68 degrees to 86 degrees F, and is shown on the control panel LED display,” Kratz says. High and low settings also are provided for maximum heating and cooling, which includes the base acrylic and air-flow temperatures within the tanning tunnel.

To ensure an enjoyable and relaxing experience, ergonomically styled base acrylics are the trademark of all Ergoline professional tanning systems. The new Multi-Relax acrylic of the Open Sun 550, for example, guarantees a comfortable tanning session with its integrated headrest, armrests and variable footrests.

Tanners who look for a new, exciting tanning experience or prefer to turn off facial tanners or do not like to feel confined can benefit from the new Open Sun 550 technology.

“This feature is a new UV-technology concept that combines the principles of direct and indirect UV reflection,” Kratz says.“It’s a completely new and unparalleled tanning experience with less heat and more space.”

The traditional tanning tunnel lamp configuration offers an even body tan, while the open facial zone provides a high-UV output—800-watt facial units.

With the addition of new models and features to the broad product family, JK offers to help salon owners improve their profitability and performance. Thus, it’s no surprise that the market’s response has been great—in the United States and abroad.

“Partners and customers of JK believe the company again has proven to have introduced new technical features and business solutions, which help the operator to run the tanning business more professionally and efficiently,” Kratz says.

In the future, the company will concentrate on being a professional supplier with solutions for UV performance and efficiency, level of equipment comfort, safety and serviceability, she adds. The company prides itself on being able to offer a wide range of brands and equipment.

“Whether it is the reliable, modern entry-level bed or the awesomely designed, multi-feature, first-class tanning unit like the new Excellence 880, JK tries to exceed all expectations of the diverse tanning customer,” Kratz says.