By Bryce Goodell
More and more, snow and ice professionals are on a quest for a clear surface. Due to growing client demands, economic conditions and liability concerns, getting to the pavement is becoming the benchmark. At the same time, other trends are making this goal more difficult to achieve. For instance, architectural designs have increased in complexity, salt prices have contractors looking for alternatives, and tighter margins are driving the need to do more with less.
With all of these factors coming into play, snow and ice professionals are getting creative with the equipment they use and how they use it. For many, this means equipping small industrial equipment with specialized attachments to handle jobs where traditional loaders and truck plows are impractical. By expanding their winter maintenance toolboxes with these attachments, snow and ice professionals are not only getting to the pavement, but they also are reaching higher levels of efficiency.
Thinking small
In and of itself, getting to the bottom of ice and hardpack isn’t much of a problem. The latest steel-edge technology on snowplows can easily scrape through tough ice, and there are plenty of ice melters on the market. Problems arise when obstacles hinder the use of large loaders or truck plows, or when salt or chemicals can’t be spread because of either environmental or economic concerns.
When such issues arise on a job site, it’s ineffective to only use loaders and trucks. These machines are best left for moving snow in wide-open spaces. Instead, smaller industrial equipment may provide the ideal alternative for tackling tight turns.
Skid steers are the most common type of compact equipment used for winter maintenance, because contractors may already use them in other areas of their business. Skid steers bring many benefits to a snow removal operation, such as the ability to access small areas and perform zero-radius turns. They can also be transported easily between lots.
Additionally, the use of compact tractors has increased dramatically in recent years. This trend began in certain regions of Canada, where economic conditions challenged the traditional school of thought for snow removal. Tractors are highly durable and affordable. They also have the ability to carry two at-tachments at once (one on the front, and one in the back), making them highly efficient.
Although skid steers and tractors are time-tested workhorses, their standard buckets have poor capacity for handling snow and ice. As a result, snow and ice professionals are using alternative attachments to replace buckets for increased efficiency and performance.
There are multiple attachments available to accommodate various job sites. Although professional-duty products have not always been easy to find, the market has been improving as manufacturers try to meet the growing demand. Products are now better engineered and more readily available during the busy season.
Some of the most popular attachments for small industrial equipment include angle blades, snowblowers and rotary brooms. These products are designed for specific applications and by investing in them, snow and ice professionals can save money through increased efficiency. Not to mention, they can be prepared to tackle virtually any account and weather event thrown their way.
As an added benefit, snow and ice professionals can get a leg up on competitors who use traditional equipment to service accounts. Having more tools available for clearing snow will make them more sophisticated and progressive. Utilizing multiple tools to achieve service levels not only adds to efficiency and the desired results, but it also clearly differentiates a snow and ice professional from the competition. Customers take notice when a pro-fessional has increased his or her options to meet their needs.
A new angle on snow removal
An angle blade, when attached to a skid steer or compact tractor, works well in congested spaces and is ideal for clearing snow in heavy traffic areas Furthermore, blades can be used to clear snow away from curbs and other obstacles, since the maneuverability of the equipment reduces the chance of operators damaging surfaces.
Snow and ice professionals can use angle blades exclusively or in conjunction with larger equipment. Using both large and small machines on a lot allows each type of equipment to play to its strengths. For example, one operator may use an angle blade to move snow from the perimeter into an area where a larger containment plow can then stack the snow at the end of the run.
Even though the availability of angle blade attachments has improved, contractors should still use caution when purchasing. Some of the products on the market may simply be larger versions of truck plows, so the tripping mechanisms might not be strong enough or engineered to handle some applications.
Blowers
Like angle blades, snowblower attachments have existed for many years, but until recently most snow and ice professionals haven’t realized the potential. Snowblowers move large amounts of snow more effectively than most other types of winter maintenance equipment. Some of the best applications include clearing large drifts and working on properties where stacking is not ideal. Because blowers are capable of throwing snow long distances, they may also eliminate the need to haul snow from certain lots, thereby saving money.
Of course, blowers require a slow ground speed, but this can be viewed as a positive for operating along curbs. Slower speeds help operators be more precise and reduce the potential for damage. This precision can also lead to a nice, clean-looking lot.
To help reduce shoveling labor, snowblowers can be used on sidewalks, as well as parking areas. No matter the surface, the steel edges found on blowers scrape hardpack and loose ice to leave clean pavement in their trail. Obviously, this ability to get down to the concrete can reduce salt use.
Blowers perform best in light, dry snow, since wet, heavy snow can’t be thrown quite as far, and it has a tendency to stick to the chute. Although there is no perfect solution to this issue, there are certain product design elements that can minimize problems. Some manufacturers have precisely engineered the distance between the auger and the back of the blower to reduce clogging. Having a protector plate over the turbines can also help alleviate issues. Not every manufacturer incorporates these features, so it’s important to check for these items, as well as the quality of the steel cutting edge, before purchasing a unit.
Clean sweep
While snowblowers are designed to move large amounts of snow, rotary brooms do the exact opposite. Brooms operate best after a light dusting of snow has fallen, when most other types of equipment are ineffective. Rotary brooms allow contractors to make a clean sweep on sidewalks, pathways and parking lots.
They are ideal on specialty surfaces, such as pavers, stamped and other types of decorative concrete, as well as on parking garages that use membranes to connect the concrete slabs. Unlike steel edges, the broom’s bristles won’t damage these sensitive surfaces. Because many contractors have not yet adopted this type of equipment, those who use rotary brooms have been able to market this as a premium service and differentiate themselves from the competition.
As an added benefit, rotary brooms are one of the most versatile pieces of snow equipment on the market. In fact, they have uses for every season. In the spring, they can be used to sweep away salt, sand and other debris from the winter. In the summer, many contractors use brooms for dethatching.
Quality counts
With all three types of attachments, contractors will find a wide spectrum of products available. Although the marketplace has improved, people must still be conscious of quality when purchasing new equipment. Because downtime is so costly in the snow and ice industry, it’s not wise to experiment with equipment that isn’t professional duty.
Additionally, some attachments don’t come equipped with proper coupling, so fabrication may be needed to adapt the equipment to skid steers and tractors. Many contractors have come to appreciate plug-and-play attachments, equipped with universal couplers, so there is no shop time or any other hassles involved with installing the products.
Finally, the manufacturer should be considered in equipment purchases. Will the company have products and parts available year-round? Most
contractors simply can’t accept a six- to eight-week waiting period for orders. Another important factor is customer service. It’s often helpful to purchase from companies with a good track record of resolving any issues that may arise.
These attachments are not at all new to the industry, but as contractors have sought to become more efficient, manufacturers have responded by engineering higher-quality attachments and—just as importantly—making sure they’re available for purchase throughout the year.
Bryce Goodell is a public relations specialist for The Promersberger Company. For more information, contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
