Henry Unger, founder of the international manufacturer of cleaning tools, has received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA), the company has announced.

The story began back in 1964 when a young window cleaner decided to take a chance. It was in that year that Henry Unger took the latest window cleaning innovations from the United States and introduced them to German window cleaners.

His discerning eye for quality products, tireless pursuit of new and better ways to clean, and his practical experience of knowing the issues that window cleaners faced, proved to be a recipe for success. The company started from humble beginnings, the attic of Henry’s wife’s grandmother in Hamburg, but soon grew to become the global success it is today. Unger now has business partners in 80 countries across the world.

Passionate about improving the lives of window cleaners, he strived to design products that achieved the best results
while making jobs safer, quicker and easier for the professional. He was an active member of the IWCA from the start, strongly supporting its mission to develop professionalism, ethics and standards of safety.

The IWCA Lifetime Achievement Award was established to honor a current or former individual member of the IWCA who has made major life-long contribution to the window cleaning industry as a practicing window cleaner, supplier, promoter or leader. It is above and beyond honorary membership. The Lifetime Achievement Award is extremely elite and not intended to be awarded each year.

Mark Unger, Henry’s son, still helps to guide the company today, together with his two brothers, reaffirming their father’s core values of quality, innovation and customer service.

“This award comes at a time of great significance for Unger as we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year. The fact that the IWCA is also celebrating an important milestone — their 25th anniversary — makes this even more special,” says Mark Unger.“Although Henry is no longer with us, having passed away in 1996, his legacy lives on. His greatest wish was to be remembered as someone who helped to make the industry more professional, developing equipment that enables window cleaners to accomplish their tasks in the easiest, quickest and safest ways possible. The IWCA Lifetime Achievement Award recognises his incredible achievements, and is a fitting tribute to a great man who was proud to be a window cleaner.”

The company is celebrating 50 years in 2014.

(Above: Unger founder, Henry Unger)