Snow Manager Issue #2 2010 by DEL Communications Inc.

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40934510

IN THIS ISSUE: • When the Snow Comes, Who’s Served First? • Plowing Safety Practices • Equipment Showcase

www.snowmanager.ca

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But we’re not fazed – in fact, we’re ﬂattered. Try though they may, other plows don’t come close! With a patented moldboard design and hardened steel cutting edges, nothing clears the lot like Sectional Sno-Plow™. And no more worries about damage from curbs, rocks and other hidden objects. Mechanical side panels and independent, spring-loaded trip edges let Sectional Sno-Plow™ easily clear obstacles up to 9 inches high. For the most effective, efﬁcient and easy-to-maintain plow, don’t be fooled by an imitator – plow with the innovator. See Sectional Sno-Plow™ in action at sectionalplow.com

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Table of Contents

DEL

Communications Inc.

President David Langstaff

7 Salt of the Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Plowing Safety Practices for Operators and their Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 When the Snow Comes, Who’s First Served? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Associate Publisher Jason Stefanik

Equipment Showcase:

Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 0G5 Fax: (204) 668-4641

Editor Lyndon McLean Advertising Sales Cheryl Ezinicki Jennifer Hebert Gladwyn Nickel Michelle Raike Magazine Consultant Gladwyn Nickel Production services provided by S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com Art Director Kathy Cable Layout & Design Dana Jensen Advertising Art Deryn Bothe Jeff Laxson Subscription information available. Please contact DEL Communications Inc. Two issues for $12.00

Snow and Ice Management Calendar of Events, Training and Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17 Battle of the Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 MacLean MV – The Ultimate Four-Season Municipal Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Experience-Driven Innovation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Degelman Industries – Experience, Quality, Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Machinability’s Mini Dictionary of Snow Plow Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Snowplowing with the Viking Difference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 New Developments in the Field of Compact Weather Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Tiger Calcium Services – All About Total Customer Satisfaction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 DEL Equipment – A Legacy of Quality and Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 GEOMELT De-Icing Liquids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Western, Blizzard, Fisher Plows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

38 The Last Page: Snow Trivia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 ULS Maintenance & Landscaping and the City of Calgary Form New Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Index to Advertisers Ledex Industries....................................................19 MacLean Engineering & Marketing Co.....24 Machinability Inc.................................................30 NSC Minerals Inc. ...........................................OBC PRINOTH LTD. ....................................................IFC Pro-Tech Manufacturing & Distribution...14 R.P.M. Tech Inc.......................................................13 REIST Industries Inc. ............................................7 Snow Wheel System...............................................9 Tiger Calcium Services Inc. .............................34 Traffic Technology 2000 ..................................33 Trecan Combustion.............................................37 Valley Blades Limited ............................................9 Viking-Cives Ltd....................................................32 Western Plows........................................................27

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein and the reliability of the source, the publisher in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees.

Arctic Snow & Ice Control Products..............4 Ariens...........................................................................3 Blizzard Power Plow.............................................23 Canadian Salt Company.................................IBC Cubex Limited..........................................................8 CWS Industries......................................................15 Degelman Industries ..........................................28 DEL Equipment....................................................20 FallLine Corporation...........................................15 Fisher Plows ............................................................25 Fort Garry Industries..........................................11 . Future Road Solutions Inc. ..............................36 Horst Welding..........................................................6 Kage Innovation ...................................................26 Kleysen Group LP.................................................31

Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, MB R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com

DOUGLAS DYNAMICS, INC.

Cover photo courtesy of

PRINTED IN CANADA 10/2010

SNOW MANAGER | www.snowmanager.ca

Upcoming Events, Training, and Webinars

Get T S I E R and get it RIGHT!

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Salt of the Earth A pavement – and plant-friendly solution to melting ice and snow – Windsor Safe-T-Plus EcoSafe™ Ice Melt

also affects soil drainage and groundwater run-off. If an ice melter doesn’t contain salt, it is most likely composed of a chloride-based compound similar in appearance to a salt-based ice melter and can have some of the same environmental effects.

What is in an ice melter? Readily available and inexpensive, rock salt (sodium chloride) is a widely used ice-melting product for both residential and commercial properties. Most ice melters contain large amounts of rock salt in combination with other added chemicals. Although an effective ice melter, excessive quantities of rock salt can be harmful to surrounding plant life when overused, damaging not only surface leaves but also the soil structure, which

How does an ice melter work? Ice melters work by loosening ice from pavement, making it easier to clear. They are affected by temperature; different ice melting products have different melting capacities, depending on varying chemical ingredients. When using an ice melter, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and a good ice melter will list its active ingredients clearly on the bag. Pavements treated with an ice melter can crack, as ice melters have a sneaky way of penetrating inside poorly sealed concrete. Concrete tends to be porous, so as the ice melts, the salt brine in-

racks, splits, and spalling – when your pavement gets the ice-melting treatment, it can really feel it. But so does the environment. Surrounding plants may be subject to dead leaves, brown spots or lush shrubbery being reverted to brown twigs known as a witches’ broom. That’s why it’s important to choose the right ice melter for the job.

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Bulk spreaders featuring pre-wetting and anti-icing combination capabilities.

The MacLean’s MV is a versatile and agile articulating municipal tractor designed to accommodate multiple implements for all seasons.

Snowplows, heavy duty snow removal equipment, hitches, loaders, graders, and attachments for trucks.

Customized and Winterized Hydro-Excavator machines

BRANCHES ACROSS CANADA 8

ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

vades the capillaries of the concrete. The brine within the crevices of the concrete then expands and compresses with each freeze-thaw cycle of the ice, cracking the pavement from the inside out. What makes Windsor® Safe-T-Plus® EcoSafe™ Ice Melt work? This melter contains a combination of rock salt, potassium chloride and urea that is safer on plants, pets, and people than rock salt alone. It contains a special ingredient that activates when wet to create a gel that fills in the holes and crevices in the concrete to reduce concrete surface damage by minimizing the amount of brine or water getting into the concrete. Which ice melter is the right one for your needs? • Rock Salt – Best for heavy-duty, industrial areas with little plant life; fast acting (Try Windsor® Safe-T-Salt®) • Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride – Best for smaller residential or commercial areas because they are less corrosive than rock salt (Try Windsor® Professional Grade Calcium Chloride) • Potassium Chloride, Urea – Safe for residential areas because these ingredients are less harmful to plants, pets and people than rock salt (Try Windsor® Safe-T-Plus® EcoSafe™ Ice Melt) In combination with the right ice melter, here are a few more things you can do to reduce the impact of ice melters on plants: 1)Shovel more often – The less compacted snow, the less ice, the less de-icer needed.

Windsor® Safe-T-Plus® EcoSafe™ Ice Melt at work: As concrete gets wetter, this product has a special ingredient that travels into the concrete’s capillaries, becoming a pillow-like gellant to fill the voids and minimize brine or water penetration.

2)Remove slush from the ground – The less ice, the less amount of chemicals will filter into your soil. 3)Cover street or roadside plants with burlap during winter months. 4)Irrigate grounds after they thaw in spring using gypsym to leach sodium from the soil. ❄

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• Keeps Gravel on the road, not in the ditch! • Built to Last! • Adaptable to Loader & Truck mounted blowers!

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For over 40 years Valley Blades Limited has manufactured high quality cutting edges for snow plows and heavy equipment.

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Plowing Safety Practices for

Operators and their Operators Submitted by Wildrose Snow Removal • Written by Connie Derksen

s the snow removal season creeps up upon us, it is high time to begin preparation for the long and cold, snowy winters often found in Canada. For snow removal companies, this preparation begins well before the snow flies. While others are off on holidays, camping and soaking up the sun, snow companies are indeed thinking about that four letter word...snow. Whether a large corporation or a smaller organization, snow removal company safety practices begin with qualified and dedicated staff eager to learn from their well-seasoned leader or manager. Just as we are taught safety rules in driving, the large machinery that keeps the cars on the road come with common sense rules as well. Snow plow safety begins with equipment inspection. Every staff member should be trained to inspect his/her equipment thoroughly. Equipment that is frequently inspected will run smoother than equipment pushed to the limit. These inspections will keep overall costs down for the company while limiting downtime, which will affect the client and the safety of their clients. Additionally, these inspections will assure little or no damage, caused by the snow plow, to the terrain being plowed. Before each snow plow run, inspect the lights, brakes, wipers, defrosters, bolts or tire chains, if

needed, and spreader and auger. Ensure the blade is secure, and remove snow and ice or gravel build-up. Perhaps it’s common sense to most, but each staff member should be trained to wear or carry appropriate attire. Though they may be inside a cab most of the time, the operator should be warm enough to perform a thorough check of the equipment in the event of a breakdown or obstacle. Warm boots with traction are best, along with headgear and gloves to prevent frostbite. Since the majority of properties, roads and parking lots are plowed overnight, it’s imperative that the management trains staff to get enough rest and to use extreme caution in avoiding fatigue, whether driving a plow truck or a larger implement. Staring at falling snow or a blizzard can be hypnotizing. Drive defensively, and be aware of the surroundings such as moving or parked cars, curbs, shrubs, fences, entrances, roadways (don’t block the view), fire hydrants and pedestrians. Tiredness affects the attention span and may cause accidents and property damage. To ensure safety while travelling with the snow plow on the road, train your snow plow operators on the optimum speed for the plow based on road conditions. It is best if each operator runs the same route to be familiar with the obsta-

cles mentioned above. The first run should be done with the management or trainer to discuss the obstacles along the assigned route, as well as best practices and speed. The snow plow headlamps can only light up a certain amount of roadway ahead of you, so slow down, especially on higher speed roads. If at all possible, plow during the storm rather than clearing an accumulation. This is safer for traffic and easier on the equipment. Remember the speed in clearing a parking lot may differ from clearing a highway, roadway or gravel roadway. When travelling with a snow plow on roadways, it is important to remember that a raised blade on a plow truck will obstruct your vision and the blade will stick out on either side. Be aware of being a wide vehicle, using caution not to clip other vehicles in your vicinity. Know all of your controls and run your daytime running lights - or amber/red (wig wag) lights, if available on your plow - at all times for greater visibility. Snow plow operators should be aware that plowing creates a mini blizzard next to and behind your plow. Mixed with sand or salt, the mini blizzard obstructs many motorists’ view of your implement. Every year there are hundreds of collisions with snow plows, especially at night, because these mini blizzards. If ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

To ensure safety while travelling with the snow plow on the road, train your snow plow operators on the optimum speed for the plow based on road conditions.

your staff is assigned a piece of highway to plow, it is common courtesy to pull over and let other traffic pass every 5-10 minutes, turning off any sand or salt spreading. Snow operators also need to realize that they are an emergency service. Just as a doctor needs to be precise, careful and accurate, so does the snow plow operator. After all, EMS can’t get through blocked roads. Lastly, it is the team leader or manager’s responsibility to train operators in regards to safe snow placement on commercial and condominium parking lots. This snow placement will eliminate further problems and accidents later in the season. No matter where the client believes the snow should be placed, it is the responsibility of the snow removal company to advise on safe strategic placement of the snow or possibly even hauling of snow from the property. Do not place your client in a place of liability by allowing unsafe placement of their snow. Piling snow near a fire hydrant may result in accidentally covering the hydrant. Even in winter, a fire hydrant is a life-saving device never to be obstructed. Also, don’t pile snow near an entrance or an exit. Cars coming in and out cannot see each other, nor can they safely enter the flow of traffic. It is best practice to avoid piling snow on the parking lot itself, taking up parking spaces. As the snow melts, a hazardous parking lot forms, filling with ice and resulting in an ice control problem. Similarly snow piled on an incline or hill can melt and cascade, usually onto the parking lot, forming hazards for those who use the lot. Each company trains their operators differently, and each implement will require some additional training. Snow Plowing is not to be taken for granted. Plow Safe. ❄ SNOW MANAGER | www.snowmanager.ca

When the Snow Comes, Who’s First Served? Having a priority account system in place is vital to an effective snow and ice removal business By Mark Hall, Director of Marketing & Sales, SnowEx

nyone working in a service industry knows what a struggle it can be to find a good balance in serving multiple clients. That struggle can become pure chaos if every client suddenly demands full attention at exactly same time. In many industries, these chaotic, busy periods often can be anticipated and planned for, based on predetermined schedules and events. Not so for contractors in the snow and ice management business, who – believe it or not – don’t get advance mailings to inform them of the exact schedule for a given week’s snowfall. So when a snow event does occur, how is a contractor to decide which customer will receive service first? Unfortunately, many contractors don’t have a structured system in place and literally find themselves asking the “Who’s first?” question once the season is already underway. When the snow falls, these contractors could very likely wind up on the phone with angry customers with a question of their own: “Why aren’t you here?” If a customer needs to ask such a question, it’s a good indication that the contractor hasn’t clearly communicated or created a protocol for working with that customer. To be successful, contractors must establish realistic expectations – both for their customers and themselves – well before winter hits.

Educate yourself first In some cases, a contractor might need to decide if his client list even makes sense. Far too many contractors make the mistake of taking any business they can get. But not only can contractors afford to be selective, they must be selective when deciding which customers to service in order to be efficient and profitable. Location is huge. Having to chase all over a city can lead to serious dilemmas during a snow event. It automatically slows response time, a problem that is magnified during heavy traffic hours. Heading off the route to reload with de-icing material also becomes a more time-consuming task. Fuel costs are more noticeable, as well. Along with keeping accounts more closely grouped together, it is advantageous to find a niche type of customer. For some contractors, that might be shopping mall parking lots. For others, it might be small commercial facilities and office complexes. Every contractor will have different resources to draw from, in terms of both manpower and equipment. These resources should have a direct influence over the niche that is developed. And like location, it’s a situation that should be the case of the contractor picking the customer, rather than vise versa. 12

Another consideration is the well-being of the business for the long-term. Smaller contractors sometimes put all their eggs in one or two baskets, relying on continued business from a couple of larger accounts. But customers are human beings who sometimes make decisions with no good reason for doing so. This harsh reality always places a contractor just a phone call away from losing a client, and such a divorce with a large account could suddenly eliminate half or all of a contractor’s business. Looking to replace customers mid-season is never ideal, with most potential clients already having service in place. Gathering more small- to mediumsized accounts is less risky – and usually more profitable. Who’s first? When prospecting new snow and ice management accounts, contractors will often talk to potential customers who specify that they want their snow cleared by a specific time. But it’s nearly impossible for a contractor to give such a guarantee, simply because no one knows exactly when it’s going to snow. Furthermore, there’s no possible way to be everywhere at once. The reality is some customers will get service quicker than others. There are undoubtedly several methodologies and systems subscribed to by industry professionals to determine which customers get service first. One approach that has proved extremely successful is the retainer and deposit system, a method that allows customers to choose their desired response time. First priority: Retainer customers Under this system, customers are given the option to pay a monthly retainer in order to gain priority status during a snow event. The retainer is based on the price of one performed service, along with the average number of plowing events that can be expected in a given market. As an example, say a city usually experiences about 12 snow events that require plowing per winter, and it’s generally recognized there are four months – December through March – when snowfall is most likely. To calculate the monthly retainer, a contractor would multiply the price for one service by the expected number of plowing events for the entire season, and then divide that number into each of the likely months for snowfall. Service Price x Plowing Events = Monthly Retainer Likely Snow Months So if the fee for one service is $100, the total retainer for the winter would be $1,200. Since that covers a four-month period, each month’s retainer would be $300. ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

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As the winter rolls along, the advance retainer money can be applied to cover any services provided for the month in which the service was performed. This includes instances where no plowing is necessary but de-icing materials are applied. The only way a customer loses retainer money is if it doesn’t snow or if it snows so little that the total service fees in a given month don’t add up to the retainer amount. From a customer’s perspective, some of the financial investment may be lost. But what’s gained is a guaranteed response time during a snow event. In essence, what the customer is actually purchasing through this guarantee is a better insurance policy against a slip-and-fall incident on his or her property. Of course, the retainer system only truly works if the contractor can deliver on his promise for a timely response. But this guarantee is nearly impossible to fulfil if a contractor oversells his work and can’t service his priority customers in the timeframe agreed upon. Many contractors in the process of selling their services find that retainer customers are usually agreeable to a response time of six hours or less and will therefore set up a schedule that offers a total of six hours per truck as priority-one service for those customers. Obviously, the intensity and timing of a snow event will have a significant impact on a contractor’s ability to stick to a six-hour schedule, which is why the six hours should be based on a worst-case scenario. In most cities, the worst case would be a heavy snowfall that begins during the early morning commute right before most businesses open for the day. Just about everything is working against a contractor in such a case. Street traffic is heavy, making it more difficult to travel to and from each account. Contractors must also navigate around vehicles arriving in parking lots. Meanwhile, almost any snow – and certainly a heavy snowfall – will dictate at least a second visit to each account for additional service. If a contractor were to encounter a worst-case scenario having oversold his work, response time can quickly become an issue for some soon-to-be unhappy customers. Second priority: Deposit customers Some customers are leery of paying a retainer and possibly losing out on any amount of money if actual snow events are less than expectations. Additionally, many of these same customers may not have as urgent a need for plowing and de-icing service. These people, however, would still like to have a contractor in place so they don’t have to get on the phone to track someone down when a snow event does occur. For these customers, a seasonal deposit system could be offered. Like a retainer system, a deposit system uses the service price and expected number of plowing events as starting points. While a retainer customer, however, pays a fee to cover specified months, a deposit customer will pay one lump sum that applies to snow and ice control services performed at any time during the winter. This flexibility to have the payment applied whenever necessary is the one advantage the deposit system holds over the retainer system from a customer’s point of view. The drawback, of course, is that these customers receive service second, occasionally more than six hours after the snow begins. If a contractor is selling six hours of priority-one service, he should limit the priority-two service he sells to about two or three hours. Because priority-two customers aren’t receiving the same benefit of a fast response time, a contractor should consider SNOW MANAGER | www.snowmanager.ca

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offering a seasonal deposit price that is slightly lower than the total amount paid for monthly retainers throughout the winter. Using the previous example of a city with 12 expected plowing events and a service fee of $100, a contractor might decide to charge 10 times the price of one service – or $1,000 – for a seasonal deposit. Contractors can and should customize the structure of their retainer and deposit systems to find what works best for their individual businesses and for their customers. The combined approach of a retainer system and a deposit system is an ideal way for contractors to realistically control and spread out workload during a snow event. By predefining customer expectations and establishing priority-one and priority-two timing, a contractor can grow his customer base to a reasonable level without promising too much to too many. Furthermore, implementing a retainer and deposit system provides a contractor with the benefit of guaranteed income during the winter season. Most retainer and deposit money will later be applied to portions of monthly service invoices. But for the contractor-friendly, snow-free months that occur, any unused funds are certainly welcome to help cover equipment costs, operating expenses and other overhead. Timing and value A contractor should also keep in mind that first service is not always best service. If a light snow begins to fall at midnight, it might make more sense to begin a route by servicing priority-two accounts so that priority-one accounts can be serviced closer to the time they open in the morning. In essence, priority-one customers are getting the best timing rather than the first service. While first service isn’t necessarily best service, the cheapest service will almost never be the best. This is especially true considering that contractors who undersell the price must usually make up the difference by overselling the volume, making it extremely difficult to offer a guaranteed response time. If a contractor can establish a disciplined system that allows him to provide timely, quality service, he should take full advantage of it when selling new accounts. The contractor should let a potential customer know up front that while he may not be the cheapest option, what he can offer is a certain response time – every time. And since the consequences of a slip-and-fall incident are far more costly than the fee for putting down a de-icing application, response time is key. Ultimately, contractors must be able to educate and convince a new customer that the benefits of better timing provide a value that more than compensates for any difference in price. Sometimes if a contractor simply explains his successful service methodology – and compares it to an often unsuccessful low price/high volume approach – it may be enough to gain a new customer’s trust. If the customer can grasp and understand this value concept, a contractor should have a new client. 16

Maximize profits Getting customers is one thing. Knowing how to efficiently service them is another. The more efficient a contractor can be, the better chance he stands of making money in snow and ice management. Take the example of contractors whose customers would like them to handle sidewalk work. Removing an employee from a truck to shovel sidewalks isn’t an efficient use of his time and actually creates downtime for the plow and material spreader. And from the retainer and deposit system perspective, it also limits the number of priority accounts the truck can get to within a given timeframe. Most contractors would be better advised to stick with the bigger money that can be made with a truck until they are large enough that they could actually employ a small crew that is dedicated to sidewalk work. Contractors should always be on the lookout to discover areas where efficiency can be improved. Knowing a customer’s holiday hours is just one simple example. If a snow event occurs on Christmas, an unprepared contractor may suddenly have to make dozens of phone calls to figure out who’s open. A more efficient alternative is to ask for holiday hours months in advance. If it has been pre-determined that some accounts will have their businesses closed for the holidays, their service can be pushed back and another client can get faster service. Of course, efficiency isn’t the only thing that affects profits. The reason the winter maintenance industry even exists is because of the financial liability customers could incur by not dealing with snow and ice in a timely fashion. It’s absolutely critical that contractors protect themselves from being unnecessarily exposed to liability. No matter what system you employ for your business and no matter what agreements you have in place, be sure to get contracts in writing. Get organized All a good contractor needs to establish a priority service plan is organization. The weather naturally won’t allow anyone to account for every single possibility, but contractors can make logical assumptions about the number of accounts they can service in a given amount of time. They can also use additional knowledge specific to each account, such as days and times that each is open for business. Most importantly, know the limitations of what you can realistically promise a client. It’s better to deliver great service timing to a small group of satisfied customers than show up late for a large group of angry ones that might just decide to dump you the next day. Establishing a priority plan that makes sense for you and your customers – and then executing it – should ultimately lead to an arrangement that is more convenient for your customers and more profitable for you. ❄ ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

Equipment Showcase WESTERN The WIDE-OUT™ adjustable-wing snowplow provides an 8-foot straight blade, 9-foot scoop and 10-foot extended straight blade, all in the same plow. Plus, with the leading wing angled forward, it provides the best in windrowing efficiency. The wings hydraulically and independently extend with the touch of a button for unmatched carrying capacity and versatility. All of this combines to give you more control to complete your jobs with less passes. To learn more, contact your WESTERN dealer or visit www.westernplows.com.

BLIZZARD BLIZZARD® EXCLUSIVE – SPEEDWING™ thinks for itself with wings that automatically angle forward or back, based on blade position, to maximize plowing efficiency. When angled for windrowing, the trailing wing folds back in line with the moldboard while leading wing retains its forward position to capture more snow, reduce spill-off and allow use of the entire blade. BLIZZARD SPEEDWING is the cost-effective multi-position plow that’s as easy to use as a straight blade. To learn more, contact your BLIZZARD dealer or visit www.blizzardplows.com.

FISHER The FISHER® XTREMEV V-plow gives you an unfair advantage over the competition. Featuring fast hydraulics with industrybest operating speed and the Minute Mount® 2 on/off system – the best in the business – the XTREMEV lets you quickly handle even the toughest jobs. The plow is available in 7 ½’ to 9 ½’ sizes, in stainless or poly-coated steel, and it features INTENSIFIRE™ lights for maximum illumination. To learn more, contact your FISHER dealer or visit www.fisherplows.com.

SNOW MANAGER | www.snowmanager.ca

Equipment Showcase Battle of the Blades

Rubber cutting edge versus steel trip edge: Which edge should you choose for your box plow? by Matthew Price, Ledex Industries

f you have to clear snow from a large site, choosing a box plow is a no-brainer. After all, it can make you five times faster than a guy with a straight blade. Perhaps a slightly more difficult decision is what type of cutting edge to choose – rubber or steel? Here are some points to consider:

Rubber Blade Pros One advantage of a rubber blade is that it naturally hugs the contours of the ground and gives a squeegee-like cleaning effect. When the snow is fresh or slushy, the rubber blade will clean very well. It is also gentle on delicate surfaces like interlocking brick. You should make sure that the rubber is of a high grade. (For example, Avalanche box plows use rubber with an 85 durometer rating, the highest in the industry. A rating lower than that means the rubber is not as dense and will wear quicker.) Rubber Blade Cons You’ve finally reached the end of a big parking lot. However, you still can’t leave. Why not? Because there are patches of hardpacked snow where cars have driven and your rubber blade has not cleared them. Now you have to unhook the plow and go back to scrape those areas with your bucket edge. A rubber or poly blade is simply not stiff enough or sharp enough to cut through hard-packed or frozen snow all the way to the pavement. In these conditions a steel trip edge would make your life much easier.

Trip Lock. Steel Blade Pros The biggest advantage to using a steel blade comes when you’re plowing in tough conditions, as mentioned. If the snow is hard-packed or if it has frozen overnight, a pusher with a steel trip edge will make you a lot faster, assuming of course that your trip mechanism gives sufficient stiffness. The Avalanche STE utilizes 7/8-inch torsion springs to give a lot of attack, which allows the blade to cut to the pavement on the first pass. (Some other brands use a steel blade bolted to a rubber edge. That gives you neither the stiffness nor the durability to make it a worthwhile investment.) A steel blade is also much less likely to break if you hit something and, therefore, on average you should get more service life out of it. Again, this is only true if it is a well-built system based on a rugged spring mechanism. Steel Blade Cons A pusher with a proper steel trip edge system is more complex to manufacture than one with a rubber edge and, thus, it’s generally more expensive up front. However, this can be balanced by the fact that it will make you much faster when clearing icy or hard-packed snow.

Rubber blade. 18

Whatever cutting edge you decide on, you can rest assured that your Avalanche box plow will give you many years of highly productive service. ❄ ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

COAST C OAST T TO TO COAST COAST FFOR OR ALL ALLL OF OF YOUR YOOUR SNOW SNOW & ICE NEEDS NEEDS

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Equipment Showcase MacLean MV â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Ultimate Four-Season Municipal Machine

inter can be a demanding season on heavy equipment with the cold, harsh working environments, and the never-ending onslaught of salt and corrosive material. Most winter-use equipment is designed to handle these unsympathetic conditions; however, when brought into summer applications they typically operate poorly. Since 2008, MacLean Engineering has been manufacturing the MacLean MV, a premium articulating compact tractor designed to conquer these challenging Canadian summer and winter conditions. The MV is a four-season Municipal Tractor commonly used for sidewalk and pathway maintenance, snow blowing, snow plowing, salt & sand spreading, sweeping, field & roadside mowing and asphalt planing.

Many municipalities and contractors are opting for the MacLean MV due to its all-season use. MacLean Engineering, an Ontariobased company with locations in Owen Sound, Collingwood and Sudbury, is a global leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of underground mobile mining equipment and mechanical rock-bolting technology. While the company originally focused on underground equipment, MacLean Engineering broadened its manufacturing expertise in 2008 by debuting its first surface mobile product: the MacLean MV. On or off the sidewalk, the MacLean MV has shown itself to have solid competencies in the winter as well as the summer. Many municipalities and contractors 22

ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

It’s all about getting more done. In scoop modes, the BLIZZARD® 8100 POWER PLOW® adjustable-wing snowplow is 30% wider than an 8'2" V-plow. And in windrow mode, you can use the full blade without spilloff. Power-up more proﬁt with a versatile POWER PLOW snowplow.

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are opting for the MacLean MV due to its all-season use. Where municipalities were once buying mowing equipment for the summer and separate snow equipment for the winter, they are now combining budgets and saving ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Purchasing one 12 month machine instead of purchasing two or three seasonal machines will help save in training, maintenance costs, parts stock, and general costs associated with ownership. David Stern, General Manager at Cubex Limited – MacLean’s Western Canada dealer – states: “With shrinking municipal budgets, it’s vital that a machine operate in all 12 months. A dedicated snow machine is too expensive for any town, big or small, to have it sit idle for half the year. The MacLean MV is a remarkable asset that works all year and fits well into long-term Life Cycle Cost Management. We have been focusing on demonstrating the year-round versatility of the machine to the municipalities. Their Wide Area Mower lineup is second to none, with the ability to out-mow the competition and compete directly with all of the dedicated mowers. MacLean has been very proactive in developing not only a solid tractor but quality-year round attachments to support the market.” Cities currently using the MV include Ottawa, Edmonton, Kitchener, Cambridge, Collingwood, Chatsworth and Val d’Or, just to name a few. MacLean Engineering has expanded its presence in the United States with dealers all across the country. Please visit their website for more details as well as video of this equipment at work. For more information on the MV tractor or its attachments, please visit MacLean Engineering online at www.macleanmv.com or a call at 519-370-2999. ❄

ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

IN CASE YOU’RE WONDERING,

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Equipment Showcase Experience-Driven Innovation age Innovation was brought to life in 2005 by innovative ideas born of worksite experiences. We are constantly researching faster, more efficient ways to perform everyday tasks in the snow removal and landscape industries. Professionals in both industries realize that speed and efficiency are vital to success. If there is a method or piece of equipment that can increase both, it’s sure to increase your bottom line. Kage Innovation researches, tests and ultimately markets these time-saving tools so that you no longer have to wonder “isn’t there a better way?” Not only do our products increase your profits through speed and efficiency but also in reliability. Kage products go through extensive in-field tests, where real world demands are made before the product makes it into the marketplace. Ideas, talent and drive are crucial pieces that make up Kage Innovation’s core. Truly innovative ideas are brought on by experience, and Kage Innovation is constantly researching the better way to get the job done. Give yourself the competitive edge when you experience the Kage Advantage! ❄

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Equipment Showcase Degelman Industries Experience, Quality, Service

ong before Wilf Degelman started building snow-removal equipment, he was operating it. Back in the 60s, he opened snow-filled prairie roads in an open D6 Cat. They were tough, cold conditions back then, but he loved it. And like snow removal guys today, he felt proud to clear that road that so many people depended on. Just about 50 years later, Wilf still pushes snow around his farm and, more importantly, sits behind drafting boards with his team, developing some of the most durable and innovative blades available today. Degelman Industries has been building dozer blades since 1966. We started with custom-mounted blades for hundreds of different farm tractors. Each blade type was fit to achieve optimal performance, tractor safety and easy assembly. Over the years, thousands of farmers throughout North America have used a Degelman blade to build their farms, push silage and manure, clear headlands and keep their lanes clear in the winter. The Degelman dozer blade was - and still is - the best-selling multi-purpose dozer blade made. These blades gained huge popularity in the 1970s and were later manufactured and painted green for John Deere. It wasn’t until 17 years after

that relationship started that Degelman decided to go it alone as a Degelman product exclusively. Today, Degelman Industries builds more than 13 models of blades that fit on just about any power source available. We mount them on front three-point hitches, front-end loaders, skid-loaders, pay loaders and even muskeg track machines. We have hundreds of custom tractor mounts, all with “quick attach” systems to free up your tractor in a minute or two, no tools required. New to the Degelman dozer blade family of products are “Strongbox,” “Ice Breaker” and “Speed Blade”, all specific snowplows that are full of features to make short order of the most demanding snow conditions. Strongbox is as simple as it gets around Degelman Industries. A straight pusher-style containment blade capable of pushing huge volumes of snow, the Strongbox features large side plates attached to a durable mould board structure and is equipped with heavy-duty neoprene rubber cutting edges. Ice Breaker is the ultimate blade for snow removal. It has a sectional tripping cutting edge with 1” thick, reversible, long-life steel edges. The blade is designed with “hydraulic wings” allowing you to control the snow that you’re push-

ing. When the job is done, this blade folds forward, narrowing your unit to legal widths and making your travel to the next site safer. With Speed Blade, we can’t take all the credit. Tim Neslier, from Minnesota, is the creator of this blade. Tim is a landscape contractor who pushes snow in the winter and has a knack for innovation, and he brought us this technology a few years ago. With the help of our research and development team, we built a slick blade that fits on skid loaders, front three-point hitches and front-end loaders. This blade has independent wing control, which allows you to run in a variety of positions and tackle multiple jobs. With the wings forward, it will scoop huge volumes of snow, and with the wings back, you can open roads. With one wing forward and one back, you can windrow. It features floatation, so it contours on uneven ground, and when the day is done, it folds up and slips on a trailer. If you’re looking to work with a company with precision workmanship, creative designs and decades of snow moving experience, call the people at Degelman Industries, based in Regina, Saskatchewan. You won’t be disappointed! ❄ ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

Equipment Showcase Machinability’s Mini Dictionary of Snow Plow Accessories ower Vee Plow – The hydraulically powered moldboards can be positioned in the vee forward position (as illustrated), veed back, straight or angled to windrow left or right. Machinability offers a joystick controller to configure the plow with the touch of a button, as demonstrated on our website. Vee Plows are available in a wide range of sizes for sidewalk applications up to large open areas. The V35 series of plow are available in 5’ (which vees back to 48” for sidewalks), 6’, 8’, 9’, 10’, and 12’. The V48 series are available in 10’, 11’, 12’, 14’, and 16’.

Power Vee Plow Series V-48 12’, 14’ and 16’ sizes.

12’/22’ SW48 Power Side Wing Plow

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Many Plow Models and Mounting Options Available 4’ thru 24’

8’ - 14’ Box Plows Available with Trip Edges

12’ V48 Power Vee Plow Phone: (905) 332-8088 | Toll Free: 1-877-321-2282 |

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QUALITY DOESN’T COST – IT PAYS! Municipal Trucks • Wheel Loaders • Backhoes • Tractors • Skid Steers • Sidewalk Equipment

ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

Power Side Wing Plow Series SW-48

Power Side Wing Plow â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hydraulically powered wings can rotate 180 degrees, allowing you to transform your plow from a straight pusher to a pusher box plow or even a back drag plow with the push of a button. The hydraulic cylinders on the moldboard allow you to position the plow to windrow. With plows ranging in size from our SW35 product line in 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;/13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122;/15â&#x20AC;&#x2122; sizes, you can even mount them onto smaller tractors. If you need a larger plow, the SW48 is available standard in 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122;/17â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, 12â&#x20AC;&#x2122;/19â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and 14â&#x20AC;&#x2122;/21â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. With our new 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122; wings, you can also have 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122;/20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, 12â&#x20AC;&#x2122;/22â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and 14â&#x20AC;&#x2122;/24â&#x20AC;&#x2122; configurations. There is also a short 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122; wing to allow you to scoop under trailers and dock doors. Box Plow â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Machinabilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Box Plows are economical and well suited to push large volumes of snow with ease. They can be Salt Box ISO.

hooked up to your bucket or simply bolted on a quick coupler for any quick attach system or skid-steer mount on the market. Available are the BP35 series (in 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, 12â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and 14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; models) and the BP48 series (available in 12â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, 14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and 16â&#x20AC;&#x2122;). All models are now available with STEEL TRIP EDGES and cutting edges. With replaceable bolt-on wings and bolt-on front braces, you can be rest assured that your plow will last longer than conventional box plows. The aggressive 30 degree cutting-edge angle cuts hard-packed snow with no down pressure to help you easily out plow the competition. Our custom-engineered lower channel provides three times the strength of structural steel. Adjustable and replaceable shoes for the side plates also keep you plowing for years without having to weld on new edges. Extendable Plow â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A rare but extremely versatile plow that is capable of being configured to suit your needs on the fly. A joystick handle allows you to control all eight hydraulic cylinders to extend, angle and even independently guillotine the side plates. The plow can be windrowing and still keep the wings pointing in the direction of travel. When you approach a laneway, guillotine the end-plates closed to halt the flow of snow. Multiple sizes are available, allowing you to change the width of the plow from 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122; to 14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; or from 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122; to 17â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which lets you to travel down narrower roadways. Drop Salter and Tow Behind Salting Trailer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Standard threepoint hitch drop salters and Tow Behind Salters are available in sizes ranging from 0.5 cu. yds to 2 cu. yds. â?&#x201E;

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Equipment Showcase Snowplowing with the

Viking Difference By Gerald Simpson, Sales, Viking-Cives Ltd.

ocated in the Snowbelt area of Ontario, Viking-Cives Ltd. is celebrating 25 years of manufacturing truck-mounted snow and ice equipment. Recognizing the fact that all of their customers are working on reduced budgets, Viking has steadily turned to innovation to build time- and moneysaving snow removal gear. Their Salt Saver under-body plow has recently undergone evaluation by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and has shown that it removes more snow, leaves the road cleaner and thus requires far less chemical for a bare roadway than traditional plows. The moldboard con-

sists of spring steel sections with carbide tips to follow the contour of the road and remove snow and snow pack that other plows leave behind. An introduction of the Assaloni plow line into the North American market is one more example of Viking leading the way. These plows, developed in Italy, feature an expanding plow that changes the clearing path on the go. Depending on the model, a front plow can be enlarged to cover the same path as a standard North American plow and side wing. This, plus the fact there is a very little harness left on the truck when the plow is removed, make an attractive package. The Assaloni

plow line includes left- and right-extension discharge, as well as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vâ&#x20AC;? plows and straight power reversing plows. The most innovative of the Viking line of snowplows is the patented Viking Tow Plow. This piece of equipment is mounted to the rear of a standard snowplow unit. When deployed, it doubles the clearing path, allowing one truck and driver to virtually do the work of two. With hydraulically steered wheels on the plow, the driver is free to choose the width he wants to plow. The plow is designed for use on multi-lane interstate roads, as well as freeway situations where they can work in echelon plowing.

V IK IN G - C I VES LTD .

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The Viking Proline Combination Spreader Dump Body is essen-tial to snow and ice removal.

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VIKING-CIVES LTD. Mount Forest, Ontario Gerald Simpson PH# 519-323-4433

MALMBERG TRUCK Ottawa, Ontario Dwight McMillan PH# 613-226-1320

Let one of the Viking Tow Plows do the work of two trucks.

STRONGCO EQUIPMENT Locations in: Lively, Stittsville, Thunder Bay, Ontario Marc Lalande PH# 705-692-0552

PRAIRIE HYDRAULICS Calgary, Alberta Earl Farmer PH# 403-279-2070

Plow more snow. Spread less salt with the Viking Under-body Salt Saver.

MAXIM INTERNATIONAL Winnipeg, Manitoba Troy Gording PH# 204-790-6507

REDHEAD EQUIPMENT Regina, Saskatchewan Ron Duda PH# 800-667-7710

ISSUE 2 - 2010 | SNOW MANAGER

The engineering departments in each of the facilities work together to provide a strong group of 15 people, each with the ability to design and produce the ever-changing equipment for today’s market. As well as their new and unique products, Viking-Cives Ltd. has a complete line of snow-plowing and salting equipment. This ranges from combination sander/dump bodies with a radius profile to V hopper units. The plows go from power reverse types to fixed one-way full displacement. There are also wing assemblies from full hydraulic to cable style. Viking works closely with all truck manufacturers, designing custom plow and wing harness for each, and their salter/sander bodies will perform well with any of the control systems. They also

have a dealer network covering most of Canada with sales reps and installation to provide after sale service. Viking-Cives Ltd is a part of the VikingCives group of snow- and ice-control equipment manufacturers. This gives them the advantage of a North Americawide customer base with the variety of equipment required to serve them. They have manufacturing facilities in northeast and Midwest USA, as well as southwestern Ontario. The engineering departments in each of the facilities work together to provide a strong group of 15

people, each with the ability to design and produce the ever-changing equipment for today’s market. This, coupled with the factory installation facilities and the installations of their dealer network, provide unmatched service to the municipal and contractor market. It’s that combination of innovation, quality and service that have customers coming back to Viking time and time again. To find out more visit us at www.vikingcives.com. ❄

New Developments in the Field of Compact Weather Stations he WS-series made by G.Lufft Mess-und Regeltechnik GmbH (Germany) represents the newest development in the field of Compact Weather Stations. Its professional intelligent sensor technology is equipped with an interface for Environmental Monitoring Systems. The maintenance-free technology in combination with a multifunctional measurement approach sets new standards for application-oriented professional weather solutions. Based on Lufft's UMB-system (Universal Measurement Bus) environmental measurements are as flexible as never before, be it in stand alone solutions or in whole networks. The WS600-UMB represents a compact-meteo-station with integrated sensors measuring temperature, humidity, precipitation, air pressure, wind speed and wind direction in one system and with one digital interface (UMB protocol made by Lufft). The new WS600 with UMB technology stand for: Easy installation – due to a modular system, free firmware installation is as easy as never before (updates and data transmission via RS232, RS 485 or GPRS modem); Easy access – Lufft's UMB-Config-Tool makes configurations on sensors or the whole station an easy process; Maintenance-free application – Lufft's radar technology for precipitation measurement is not dependent on costly maintenance procedures. Flexibility with regards to a web-based visualisation and monitoring software (Smart-View3) make the WS600-UMB by Lufft a trendsetter in meteo applications.

SNOW MANAGER | www.snowmanager.ca

Road Weather Information System A Passion for Precision

a passion for precision . passion pour la précision . pasión por la precisión . passione per la precisione

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TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY

2000 33

Equipment Showcase Tiger Calcium Services – All About Total Customer Satisfaction or 45 years Tiger Calcium has been one of the only companies in North America that mines, manufactures, supplies and applies calcium chloride. We specialize in anti-icing, deicing, dust control/stabilization and oilfield fluids. Our head office is in Sherwood Park, Alberta, our plant operations are in Slave Lake, Alberta, and we have numerous storage and rail facilities located throughout North America. Tiger Calcium offers a wide variety of products that meet or exceed industry standards, and our modern grade plant enables us to formulate products to customers’ specifications.

Handling all facets of product and service enables us to provide a consistently superior quality and competitive product in a timely manner.

Tiger Calcium’s liquid anti-icing and de-icing products are PNS approved and are developed to work at extremely low temperatures.

Tiger Calcium’s liquid anti-icing and de-icing products are PNS approved and are developed to work at extremely low temperatures, with the ability to aggressively melt snow and ice with freeze points below -45 C (-49 F). Our products are also less corrosive than salt and magnesium chloride and are more environmentally friendly. We work with an outside consultant - Dale Keep with Ice and Snow Technologies Inc. - in educating our customers and their crews through seminars on how to fight ice and snow with liquids. From small businesses to distributors, cities to counties and municipalities, our customers are satisfied

Quality & Service is our Priority Safety is our Commitment s 3PECIALIZING IN 7INTER $E )CER !NTI )CER PNS approved Calcium Chloride Brines. Available with or without corrosion inhibitor with freeze points from -13˚ F (-25˚ C) to -49˚ F (-45˚ C). Cuts through snow and ice more quickly than salt or magnesium chloride, plus its better for the environment.

s 3ANDPILE &REEZEPROOlNG s $UST #ONTROL 2OAD 3TABILIZATION 0RODUCTS s 3UPPLY /ILlELD $RILLING 7ELL +ILL &LUIDS s !PPLICATION 3ERVICES s 4ANK 4RUCK 3ERVICES s 6AST NETWORK OF TERMINAL STORAGE AND RAIL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT .ORTH !MERICA

www.tigercalcium.com 2220 Broadmoor Boulevard | Sherwood Park, AB | T8H 1B4 P: 780.464.4871 | F: 780.464.0829 | Toll Free: 1.800.661.4298

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At Tiger Calcium Services, we believe in TOTAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. Quality and service is our priority, safety is our commitment, and we offer free consultation and quotes. with the high-grade products we provide. Calcium chloride is one of the most commonly used dust control and road stabilization agents in Canada and the United States because of its low cost and high performance. Tiger Calcium offers a supply-and-apply dust control and road stabilization service, and our trucks are specially designed with a state of the art radar technology that will accurately and evenly spread our product onto your roadway. As an additional service, we will educate your company on proper road preparation for calcium chloride applica-

tion. By using our products, road conditions like potholes and washboard can be eliminated, resulting in reduced overall costs. Users of Tiger’s Calcium Chloride consistently report that the total unpaved road maintenance cost is reduced by 30 to 35 per cent. Located in the heart of oil country, we manufacture the ever-important well kill fluids. Our experienced engineering team and flexible production facility can supply and modify oilfield chemicals, including calcium chloride, sodium chloride and calcium nitrate. Calcium chloride brines can be customized and filtered by Tiger

Calcium to create specific well kill fluids for customers. In stock at all times, the densities of the well kill fluids range from 1000kg/m3 to 1650kg/m3. At Tiger Calcium Services, we believe in TOTAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. Quality and service is our priority, safety is our commitment, and we offer free consultation and quotes. For more information, visit www.tigercalcium.com. And if you want to try calcium chloride for your company, give us a call toll free at 1-800-661-4298. ❄

DEL Equipment – A Legacy of Quality and Customer Service lot has changed in 65 years, but for DEL Equipment a commitment to customer service and supplying the best in truck body equipment has always been the priority. Diesel Equipment Limited (DEL) was founded by Jack Martin, Vic Williams, Walter Sanderson and Bill Tucker right after World War II. The four had the idea for the business while stationed in Europe and began building the business upon their return home in November 1945. Originally a service station, DEL quickly began manufacturing truck bodies. Beginning with Burlington in 1962, DEL opened branches across the country, and by the 1970s, it was the largest manufacturer of steel dump bodies in Canada, shipping rail car loads from Halifax to Calgary. The DEL "U" body soon became ubiquitous! Now with eight locations across the country, each with full manufacturing

SNOW MANAGER | www.snowmanager.ca

capabilities, DEL is still owned and operated by the Martin family, selling, distributing and supporting Unicell van bodies, Effer knuckle boom cranes, Maxilift stiff boom cranes, Cobra service cranes and Swaploader hooklifts, in addition to offering its standard and custom-made DEL products. They also offer a variety of snow and ice equipment for every need, with products from Viking Cives and Everest, as well as Swensen Sand & Salt Spreaders and Arctic Snow plows and Spreaders. All of DEL Equipment’s facilities are certified by Transport Canada under NSM #901 as an Intermediate and Final Stage Manufacturer. That means every truck upfit performed in their facilities is done according to Transport Canada’s standards for lighting, weight distribution and best practices – offering total peace of mind to the customer!

By Lyndon McLean

While DEL is a national truck body upfitter, they do offer customers in the different regions unique options, available by contacting local dealers. Operating under the DEL name in BC, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and as Caytec in Alberta, dealers draw on their broad knowledge base and experience to serve any customer need. And if the branch nearby doesn’t have what a customer needs, rest assured they’ll find it. DEL employees welcome the challenge of building and supplying equipment to make businesses better and more profitable. Their goal is to be the preferred supplier and manufacturer of quality truck equipment and accessories, and they work hard to provide one-stop shopping for all customers. DEL is also proud to be recognized as a respected employer within the industry and a contributor to the community, wherever that community is. ❄ 35

Equipment Showcase GEOMELT De-Icing Liquids ow more than ever before have municipalities been under the watch of taxpayers to keep our winter roads clear, while at the same time under pressure to spread less salt on our roads. Road salt has been used on our roads and highways to keep them clear of snow and ice for years and years. It’s cheap, readily available (most of the time) and easy to use. The days are gone where we can open the shoot and let it fly; maybe dial it back a bit and … “Yup, that looks like the right amount.” It’s not good enough to drive our massive salt trucks down the roads and watch as salt flies out the back and see that some of it hits the road; it’s not fiscally – or environmentally – responsible. Liquids are becoming a more and more popular alternative for roads departments and contractors, who are being told to watch their environmental impact

Experience • Seven years of De-icing Compound Development & Manufacturing Experience Versatile • Products servicing Highways, Airports, Cities, Malls & Commercial Properties Supply • Local Ontario production capacity is unlimited for continued customer supply Inventory • 1,000,000 litres storage on site Delivery • Impressive fleet of tankers ready with calibrated meters Products • • • • • • •

GEOMELT® 55 (Concentrate) GEOMELT® S50 (50%Tru-Brine™ & 50% GEOMELT®55) GEOMELT® S30 (70%Tru-Brine™ & 30% GEOMELT®55) Tru-Brine™ (23.3% solids for maximum eutectic point) Potassium Acetate Gen3 - 3rd Generation Runway De-icer Sodium Formate

Larry Bartram larry@futureroadsolutions.com larry@futureroadsolutio ons.com • 1-800-668-1783

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closely – and their budgets closer. Like most new technologies, using liquids comes with an up-front capital investment. Existing units can be refitted, but the normal transition to liquid equipment comes with new replacement units. Suppliers of this new equipment have all the high-tech electronics to control the rate of salt application along with liquid or liquid alone for anti-icing. Using organic-based anti-icing liquids, such as GEOMELT® S30, has helped many municipalities reduce their salt usage by between 25 and 35 per cent, while still keeping their roads and highways clear of treacherous ice, snow and black ice. In fact, using GEOMELT® S30 as an antiicing measure helps many municipalities save on material and overtime costs because of not having to go back out and re-apply. GEOMELT® S30 is a sugar beet-based anti-icing liquid that, if applied to road surfaces before major snow events, will keep snow and ice from bonding to the surface. It can also be used for pre-wetting salt at the spinner while spreading salt. Depending on the weather, the liquid will also keep working up to three days after application, giving road superintendents more time and leeway when it comes to timing of applications and dispatching snow removal crews. GEOMELT S30 is made from an organic liquid accelerator called GEOMELT® 55 and TRU-BRINE 23.3 in Canada by Future Road Solutions Inc. in SNOW MANAGER | www.snowmanager.ca

Aylmer, Ont. As opposed to using traditional manufactured brine or well brine, GEOMELT S30 has a lower eutectic point (-30ºC) and has a longer residual period (three days). If using solid salt is still your department’s preference, you can treat your salt through a pre-wetting system that applies liquid to your salt at the spinner unit on your truck or pre-treat your stockpile before the season enhances the melting capacity of your solid rock salt and allow it to melt faster, last longer and require less salt to be applied. Another side benefit of

pre-treating your salt is the GEOMELT® coating will prevent your salt from clumping and sticking together in the hopper of your salt trucks. A road and public works manager’s job is becoming more complex with the increasing demands to provide services and clear roads in harsh winter months. Learning and mastering the newest techniques and technologies is becoming a requirement. GEOMELT® De-icing Products – another tool in the toolbox to get the job done and keep you a step ahead of Old Man Winter. ❄

ULS Maintenance & Landscaping and the City of Calgary Form New Partnership to Supplement their Snow & Ice Control Program By Paul Atkinson, Director of Sales & Marketing, ULS Maintenance & Landscaping

LS Maintenance & Landscaping is proud to announce its new partnership with the City of Calgary to supplement their existing Snow & Ice Management Program. ULS was the successful bidder to a public RFP for supplementing the City of Calgary’s Snow & Ice Control (SNIC). This new partnership with the City of Calgary will provide a great opportunity for all parties that will benefit the citizens of Calgary. As defined in the SNIC agreement, ULS will be providing support that aims to reduce response times to specific areas of Calgary during a snow event. These areas have been identified by the roads

maintenance department and will be taken care of by a dedicated stand-by force of four ULS trucks that will work exclusively for the City of Calgary. ULS has been providing snow and ice management and landscape services in Calgary and area for over 20 years. ULS is a proud Calgary-based company with offices in Saskatoon, as well. As one of the largest snow and ice management companies in North America, ULS has many professionals on-staff including several certified snow professionals through the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA). ❄

The Last Page Editor’s note: Do you have an interesting “snow fact” to share with our readership? Send it to lyndon@delcommunications.com along with your name, province, and information source, if applicable. You could be published on our “Snow Trivia” page in an upcoming issue of Snow Manager Magazine. Did you know that snow is, technically, a mineral – like iron and salt?

Double your workout! If you were to walk one kilometre through 15 centimetres of snow, you would expend as much effort as a two-kilometre walk on bare ground. Do they get any bigger? The largest snowflake ever recorded in Canada, fell in Halifax, Feb. 22, 1986. It measured five centimetres in diameter. It was overshadowed, however, by snowflakes the size of small pizzas that fell near Fort Keogh, Montana, Jan. 28, 1887. Whiteout! The word for snow blindness – niphablepsia. 38

True or False 1) It must be 32ºF (0ºC) or colder for it to snow. 2) On the average, one inch of rain is equivalent to how many inches of snow? (a) 10 inches (b) one inch (c) five inches (d) one foot 3) Can it still snow from clear skies? 4) What is more hazardous to trees and power lines? (a) One inch of wet snow (b) One inch of ice Answers

1) False. It has been known to snow with temperatures in the mid- 40ºF (7 C) range. Temperatures are below 32 F (0ºC) up in the clouds where the snow is forming. 2) (a) 10 inches of snow melts down to about one inch of liquid rain. 3) Yes. Ice crystals sometimes fall from clear skies when temperatures are in the single digits or colder. 4) (b) One inch of ice is heavier than wet snow and is hazardous enough to cause power lines and trees to come down.

How heavy? If you were to take a metre of snow – with an average density – and place it on a 170-square-metre roof, it would weigh in at about six tonnes. That’s comparable to the weight of two adult male elephants.

Source: National Weather Service

A blizzard with lightning is very rare and is called thundersnow.

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Windsor® Salt, Canada’s salt leader, is the brand Canadians have trusted for generations. Specially formulated for commercial use, Windsor® Salt’s line of ice melters meets every ice melting need your customers have this winter. Whether it be eco-friendly, fast acting or low temperature products, working with Windsor® Salt’s industry leading brands looks good on your business!

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