Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/391459
During the winter of 2013-2014, many snow and ice management contractors searched for alternatives to spreading salt. That's because supplies became so scarce toward the end of the season that many contractors couldn't afford (or even find) salt to spread. Additionally, temperatures dipped so low across the country that pure salt often wasn't enough to effectively melt ice. As a result, interest in liquid solutions took off, and companies like SnowEx experienced a huge spike in requests about brine application equipment for anti-icing, pre-wetting and de-icing. For many, this seemed to be the only way to still make money and fulfill the ice control obligations in their contracts. Scrambling for equipment SolutionS When scrambling to adopt liquid applications, contractors sometimes experimented with their own equipment solutions. For instance, many tried using sprayers intended for use in other industries, like agriculture. After all, a sprayer is just a sprayer, right? However, brine solutions are different than many other liquids, and they can cause pump failures, nozzle clogs and other equipment issues if the sprayers aren't meant to handle them. Not to mention, sprayers intended for use in the summer don't always perform well in cold temperatures. For these reasons, equipment manufacturers have been developing more purpose-built sprayers for the snow and ice industry. In other words, they've designed sprayers to specifically handle brine and withstand harsh winter conditions. These sprayers have all the filters, pumps, nozzles and other components that snow and ice professionals need for efficient, reliable performance. Additionally, the sprayers are engineered for installation and use in the types of vehicles most commonly used by snow and ice management contractors. Many of the tanks offered by manufacturers include baffles to prevent liquid surges when the vehicle turns and stops, helping eliminate wear and tear on the truck. Also, there are liquid saddle tanks designed to fit alongside compatible v-box spreaders, helping maximize use of space in the truck bed. Another benefit of purpose-built equipment is increased versatility. A good example of this is truck-mounted sprayers, which have multiple spraying zones to handle any anti-icing or de-icing application. The booms are equipped with nozzles for surface spraying and curb spraying, and some units also come with spot-spraying wands for hard-to-reach areas. Any other type of sprayer would not be able to perform as many applications as one dedicated for ice management. ■ By Barry Truan 22 October 2014 landscape and irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com Snow and Ice Management Solid Demand for liquid Application Equipment Purpose-built equipment provides increased versatility. A good example of this is truck-mounted sprayers, which have multiple spraying zones to handle any anti-icing or de-icing application. Photo Provided by Snowex