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In the News
SPOTLIGHT INDEX ELGIN SWEEPER LAUNCHES WHIRLWIND1® VACUUM SWEEPER First vacuum sweeper in North America with VSD technology
Elgin Sweeper has introduced the Whirlwind1 sweeper, the first vacuum sweeper in North America with variable-speed-device (VSD) technology.
ELGIN, Ill. (Feb. 20, 2020) Responding to customer demand, Elgin Sweeper is introducing the Whirlwind1® vacuum sweeper, which shares the same innovative technology as the Crosswind1® regenerative air sweeper. The Whirlwind1 is ideally suited for uneven, patched roads and jobs involving dirt, sand, millings, and road debris while also being recognized as a proven tool for maintenance and restoration of permeable pavement.
“With hundreds of customers adopting single-engine technology on the Crosswind1, Elgin ambitiously developed the Whirlwind1—the first vacuum sweeper in North America to feature variable-speed-device (VSD) technology,” said Mike Higgins, Vice President and General Manager of Elgin Sweeper.
“The VSD, installed between the chassis engine and the transmission on the Whirlwind1, allows the engine to simultaneously power both the truck and the sweeper,” Higgins added. “The sweeper operator is able to switch between road and work modes with a simple push of a button, without the need to stop and engage the parking brake. The c ontrols on the Whirlwind1 are simple and intuitive, allowing all operators to expertly sweep with minimal training.”
LESS MAINTENANCE AND EASIER, QUIETER OPERATION “Our customers have already seen how single-engine technology is changing sweeping, and our Whirlwind1 customers will see the advantages, too,” said James Crockett, Strategic Product Manager at Elgin Sweeper. “Since the introduction of the Crosswind1 in 2018, current Whirlwind customers, users of competitive models, and our own Elgin dealers have been demanding single-engine technology on the original Whirlwind. For sweeper customers, the singleengine technology provides several important benefits, including less maintenance, elimination of belts, fluid coupler and exhaust after-treatments, minimized auxiliary engine vibration and noise, enhanced overall equipment value, and decreased cost of ownership.”
According to Crockett, the most common complaints from twin-engine sweeper operators are related to the noise and vibration from the auxiliary engine. “Since the average operator spends eight hours a day sweeping, the noise and vibrations of the auxiliary engine and its drivetrain can
continued on page 14 cause significant operator fatigue,” he added. “The single engine, combined with Elgin’s optional Quiet Pak™ sounddampening technology, helps minimize vibration and noise on the Whirlwind1, without compromising machine performance.”
The time-consuming and costly maintenance checks, aftertreatments and additional service requirements associated with an auxiliary engine are eliminated on the single-engine Whirlwind1 sweeper. “Oil changes, belt inspections and filter replacements on the Whirlwind1 will cost a fraction of the annual maintenance required on twin-engine sweepers,”
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SPOTLIGHT INDEX Crockett said. “Those cost savings will have a much more positive impact on the customer’s bottom line.” CUSTOMER DEMAND ACCELERATES WHIRLWIND1 DEVELOPMENT “Witnessing accelerated adoption of the Crosswind1 amongst municipal and contractor customers prioritized our rapid implementation of the new Whirlwind1 into our product lineup,” Higgins said. “The Whirlwind1 will be a huge benefit to customers looking for a vacuum sweeper that delivers greater efficiency, more quiet operation, and lower maintenance costs.” WASHINGTON-BASED SWEEPER CONTRACTOR LOOKS FORWARD TO PURCHASING WHIRLWIND1 Mike Cason, dispatch supervisor for Moby’s 24-Hour Street Sweeping Services Inc., Auburn, Wash., said he likes the Elgin single-engine sweepers, and looks forward to incorporating the Whirlwind1 into his fleet for demanding sweeping applications.
“With the Elgin single-engine sweepers, you don’t have a separate engine to maintain, so I like that. There’s also no aligning belts and pulleys,” said Cason. “They sweep and pick up debris the same as the original sweeper configurations, which is great.”
In business for 30 years, Moby’s owns six Elgin Crosswinds and two Elgin Broom Bears. “I don’t run any other sweeper brands other than Elgin Sweeper,” Cason said. In addition to sweeping for paving contractors, Cason and his team perform sweeping maintenance at concrete plants. SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SINGLE-ENGINE TECHNOLOGY The single-engine Whirlwind1 and Crosswind1 sweepers are the latest examples of Elgin’s well-established track record of leveraging the Federal Signal innovation process.
“Our top priority at Elgin Sweeper is to provide customers with the right solutions to match their needs,” said Ron Schmidt, Chief Technology Officer at Elgin Sweeper. “We firmly believe that single-engine technology will be the standard for all air sweepers in the future. What originally began with the innovation process – seeking voice-ofcustomer feedback and collaboration on product viability – resulted in the successful market adoption of our single-engine technology.” About Elgin Sweeper Sold and serviced through a network of more than 100 dealer locations worldwide, Elgin Sweeper products are the sweepers of choice for a variety of general street maintenance, special industrial and airport applications. With more than 100 years of experience, Elgin Sweeper offers municipalities, contractors and industries the most sweeper options in the country, using the latest sweeping technologies – mechanical, pure vacuum, regenerative air, alternative fuel and waterless dust control. For more information, visit www.elginsweeper.com. “With the Elgin single-engine sweepers, you don’t have a separate engine to maintain, so I like that. There’s also no aligning belts and pulleys,”
continued on page 18
INDEX
Did you know that paper holds bacteria pathogens up to 72 hours? Because bacteria pathogens survive on paper up to 72 hours, providing the desired social distancing in the office environment with paperless technology is a necessity. In a study, published by PubMed.gov, the objective is to “determine by laboratory investigation how long bacterial pathogens can survive on office paper and whether bacteria can be transferred from hands to paper and back to hands”. The result “indeed they do, and for up to 72 hours!”
Being socially responsible and taking pro-active measures, such as utilizing a paperless technology in our work and office environment to prevent the spread of viruses such as Covid-19,
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*Source: PubMed.gov” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22082498/
SPOTLIGHT OAKMONT CAPITAL SERVICES EXPANDS CREDIT AND SALES TEAMS
INDEX
WEST CHESTER, PA, March 2020 - Oakmont Capital Services (OCS) continues to add equipment finance specialists to its growing team, including, most recently, credit and sales professionals. As a direct lender, OCS is committed to expanding its business to offer customers fast, simple, and easy solutions.
OCS’s credit team is excited to welcome Jill Heinen and Clay Fischer, CLFP, as credit analysts. Jill is an experienced credit analyst and will assist in processing and decisioning
applications. Clay is also an experienced credit analyst and holds the Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) designation. His expertise with financial statements and advanced credit analysis will add efficiencies to OCS’s credit process.
“Both Jill and Clay are excellent additions to our already strong credit team,” said Daryn Lecy, CLFP and Vice President of Operations. “We’re always looking for ways to make credit approvals faster for our customers, and with both Jill and Clay’s experience, we know we’ll only continue to exceed our customers’ expectations.”
OCS also added a business development officer to the sales team. Carrie Jaenicke has worked across various industries, such as construction, landscaping, and woodworking, to make financing possible. In her role with OCS, she will focus on building and maintaining strong, long-lasting relationships with vendors and dealers by supporting them with creative finance options.
“We’re excited to add Carrie to our growing sales team,” said Jim Peach, CLFP and Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “For nearly two years, we’ve been building out our sales team with equipment finance professionals to serve our customers and partners better. Carrie jumped right in on day one and is already a great asset to the OCS family.”
Oakmont Capital Services, LLC, headquartered in West Chester, PA, with an office in Albany, MN, is a fast, affordable, reputable solution to financing. Founded in 1998 by Managing Members Joe Leonard, CLFP, and Megan Zoba, Oakmont Capital Services (OCS) is a direct, independent lender, providing commercial equipment financing and working capital throughout all 50 states. The professional financing staff at OCS has combined experience of over 250 years in the industry and is the reliable choice for today’s financing needs. For more information, visit www.oakmontfinance.com.
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STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY: How Your Business Can Come out of a Challenge Even Stronger
It’s no secret that many small businesses are struggling to cope with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The full economic impact of this virus will not be known for some time, but small businesses in the United States and abroad are going to feel strain in supply chains, customer demand, and in their workforces. Indeed, many organizations already have. At the same time, adapting to new risks and challenges is an inherent part of doing business, and hardships can be opportunities for innovation, improved business processes, and sometimes even growth. Here are a few suggestions for helping your company stay strong through this crisis. BACK TO BASICS In times of hardship, it is essential that resources are devoted to the most critical tasks. This is probably not the best time to explore a different product line or hire staff for a new division, but it could be an opportune moment to improve things you’re already doing. Especially if you need to cut expenses, review your business activities and pare down to what is most needed for the coming months. Delivering key products and services to customers, and maintaining a bare minimum of cash flow, must be your priority. Show strong leadership by canceling or postponing any activities that do not directly support those efforts.
STRENGTHENING CUSTOMER RELATIONS A challenge of this nature—one that is affecting basically everyone in the country—can be an opportunity to reconnect with your customers and communicate how much you value them. Andrea Thomas, professor of business at the University of Utah and former SVP of Walmart Stores, offers this guidance on your communications with customers in times of crisis: 1. Recognize that customers are also under stress; be patient and empathetic with them. 2. Adjust the tone of the language across all communications: posted signs, emails, and direct conversations should all reflect sensitivity to the crisis. 3. Communicate frequently and transparently to build trust. 4. Devote more resources to “lifetime” or most valued customers (Leavitt, 2020).
RENEWING MOTIVATION In addition to improving external relations, a crisis of this magnitude can also be an opportunity to improve your employee relations. Many people who report job dissatisfaction do so because they do not see meaning or purpose in their work (Hedges, 2014). A shared challenge can reenergize employees and renew their commitment to the work. Make sure your employees understand the value of their work and how vital they are in your company making it through this struggle. Help them see the positive impact of their contributions on customers, fellow employees, and the company in general. Additionally, this may be a chance to discover new leaders within the organization; many businesses are facing new tasks because of this crisis, such as increasing their social media presence and developing e-commerce activities. Put employees with leadership potential in charge of these projects, and let them show you what they’re capable of.
All of us at NiteHawk are here with you, and we wish you and your business all the best in this challenging time. . Sources Hedges, Kristi. 20 Jan, 2014. 8 Common Causes of Workplace Demotivation. Forbes.com. Available at https://www.forbes. com/sites/work-in-progress/2014/01/20/8-common-causesof-workplace-demotivation/. Leavitt, Mike. 3 April 2020. Navigating COVID-19: How to Save Your Business. Webinar recording available at: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbz0SgEHMlM.
