Tag Archives: ice

3 Pillars of the SIMA Foundation

January 3rd, 2022

Martin Tirado, CEO of the Snow and Ice Management Association discusses the 3 pillars of the SIMA Foundation with Snow Plow News.

January 3, 2022 | Emma Tyborski

The SIMA Foundation is a non-profit trade association with a focus on training, events and best practices related to snow plowing, ice management and business management. The Foundation will build on SIMA’s Alan Steiman Scholarship Fund, which was created in 2010 to honor Steiman — an industry mentor and former SIMA board chair. The fund provides the opportunity to experience SIMA’s signature education event — the Snow & Ice Symposium, to someone who otherwise might not be able to afford the travel and registration expense.

Snow Plow News met up with Martin Tirado, CEO of the SIMA Association at one of SIMA’s symposium road shows in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tirado explains to SPN the three pillars that the SIMA Foundation strives to provide.

Opportunity

The SIMA Foundation has a mission to provide more educational scholarships and training for activities that attract, develop and retain professionals in the private snow and ice management service industry. for people who are deserving so they can take advantage of the suposiums and participate in the ASM training program to get them in the industry and ready.

Research

The second pillar is to conduct more reasearch into benchmark studies and industry trends to provide essential data to members and stakeholders to be more successful.

Awareness

The third pillar is to increase public and stakeholder awareness and education on the value of snow and ice management services and its role in risk management and public safety. The SIMA Foundation strives to bring more awareness about best practices and standards and to raise the bar of professionalism in the industry.

To learn more about SIMA and the SIMA Foundation, visit their website go.sima.org or go.sima.org/foundation.

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SIMA – Industry Struggles and Issues

November 8th, 2021

Snow Plow News talks with Martin Tirado, CEO of the Snow and Ice Management Association about the challenges facing the snow and ice industry.

November 8, 2021 | Emma Tyborski

As many in the snow and ice industry know, there have been many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Snow Plow News met with Martin Tirado, CEO of the SIMA Association at one of their symposium road shows in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to discuss some of these challenges and what to expect in the coming months.

Tirado says taking the necessary precautions during this pandemic is paramount to keeping employees, team members and leadership safe. Thankfully, snow and ice management jobs are outdoors, but the industry has still needed to make adaptations to work safely. Many companies have moved to using more trucks and equipment that are single person operated as a precaution. Tirado also says the industry will continue to adapt and increase professionalism to serve their communities and customers.

The snow and ice industry is an essential service that is needed to keep facilities for shipping, transportation, medical and other essential services up and running. The industry has great value that will continue to provide service as the challenges continue this winter.

Other general challenges that are hitting the snow and ice industry hard are the labor and supply chain issues. It is harder to get materials and equipment in time for the winter season and will be an ongoing challenge. However, Tirado says even though it will take some time to resolve these issues, the industry will push on and will adapt.

For more information about the industry challenges and supply chain issues, reference our previous blog posts.

 

How Bad Will the Supply Issues Get?
Price Increases Across the Snow & Ice Industry
Volvo Motor Grader Snowplow
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The Hilltip IceStriker™ is Here!

March 1st, 2021

Looking for a salt spreader that transforms into a liquid deicing sprayer? The Hilltip IceStriker 1200-4200AM Combi Spreader is here and ready for all your ani-icing applications.

IceStriker2000AM

Hilltip is the leading manufacturer of road maintenance equipment in Europe. Hilltip equipment designed and built in Finland, in an area that averages at least six months of snowfall every year and is known for its extreme durability and advanced technologies. Hilltip has now proudly brought its innovative IceStriker™ 1200-4200AM Combi Spreader to the U.S.

The IceStriker can spread granular salt, sand, and gravel and can be transformed into a liquid deicing sprayer. This new electric-powered spreader is designed for ½ ton trucks and larger and is great for anti-icing applications.

Construction

The spreader features liquid tanks on both sides of a double walled hopper. The tanks can hold up to 220 gallons of liquid and 550 gallons with an additional bladder. The hopper bodies are constructed out of polyethylene to be lightweight and durable, while the mounting components are comprised of stainless steel to prevent rust and corrosion. Powered by either 12- or 24-volt dual motors, the IceStriker™ Combi Spreader line includes six models with capacities of 1.0, 1.4, 2.0, 2.8, 3.4 and 4.2 cubic yards. The spreading material is driven by a heavy-duty, 6-inch-diameter stainless-steel auger featuring a variable-pitch design to help ensure steady, consistent flow.

Other standard equipment on the  IceStriker™ Combi Spreader includes a sealed, weather-resistant motor enclosure, automatic vibrator, integrated tie-down loops, top screen, pre-routed accessory wire for simplified light/rear camera installation and an inverted-V structure over the auger drive to reduce heavy start-up loads on the feed mechanism.

Operation

Spreaders and sprayers are operated using the advanced StrikeSmart controller. The controller features a detailed colored screen, making it incredibly user friendly. The controller can adjust the vibrator settings, blast settings and can calibrate all systems from within the cab of your truck. The controller logs data 24/7 to keep the operator constantly informed. This data is then automatically saved USB memory stick. Additionally, there is an optional adjustable spreading symmetry function. This feature allows the operator to adjust the direction of the material off of the spinner from the cab-mounted control.

 

StrikeSmart Controller

The spreader can be controlled through the GPS speed-control function and the manual mode. The GPS speed-control allows the spreader to automatically adjust the auger speed to the vehicles speed to deliver consistency, while the manual mode allows for a fixed auger speed.

Hilltip’s exclusive HTrack tracking software option is compatible with all IceStriker™ spreaders. This software allows for remote tracking and management of all software-installed spreaders from a computer, tablet or smartphone. The operator can then easily monitor treatment routes, vehicle speed, GPS location and material usage in real-time. Also, the two-way GPRS communication channel allows application rates to be remotely set and adjusted for each customer’s site depending on weather conditions.

HTrack System

Spreader Add-Ons

– The IceStriker™ comes with many add-on options to suit your winter needs.

– The pre-wet liquid kit includes a pump and spray nozzle, this allows the operator to pre-wet their spreading solutions.

– The 6’7” dual spraybar allows the operator to spray brine onto the driving surface with a maximum 16’ spraying width. This spraybar can also be paired with a 40’ hose reel and hand-held spray nozzle to make it easier to spray hard-to-reach areas.

– Additional accessory options include an LED work light, strobe lights, illuminated license plate kit, rear and indicator lights, legstand for more convenient storage/installation, end material alarm sensor on the spinner, tarp cover and an extended auger (+24-inches) for axle loading optimization. One can also choose to get the hopper in orange instead of the standard gray color.

 

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BOSS Introduces Drop Spreader, Exact Path for Precision

August 9th, 2018

BOSS has introduced a new drop spreader. The Exact Path is a result of listening to the needs of their customers. The request for a drop spreader has been coming in for many years now and it has finally arrived. The BOSS Exact Path can mount to a UTV, category 1 3-point tractor hitch and a slide-in-2” receiver for compact equipment. The three mounting options for the Exact path make it an easy choice.

Precision for Deicing Materials

BOSS gave the Exact path capability to lay a 40-inch wide trail of material. Perfect for dropping material along a precise path, but wide enough to fit your deicing needs. The material will not bounce into any vegetation like a broadcast spreader, meaning you will not have to worry about replacing any vegetation come springtime. Less hassle and more precision give the BOSS Exact Path a good position in the industry.

 Great Features and Capabilities

The capability of the Exact path allows it to run fine deicers all the way up to bulk salt, depending on what you need to use for the job at hand. The adjustable feed gate on the side is a great feature to control how much or little material you need to drop. The spreader will also come standard with variable speed control so you can keep tabs on the amount of material being dropped. Keep costs manageable and place the material exactly where you want it to go.

Built to Last

The Exact Path has a stainless steel hopper and frame for a clean look along with a polyethylene cover to maintain dry material and allow the material to continuously flow. You will have two options of models to choose from. The Exact Path 2.5 is for spreading 2.5 cubic feet of material and the 6.0 is for spreading 6 cubic feet of material. Two great options for an easy material spreading experience.

Review & Compare Snow Plows: Boss DXT VS Sno-Way Revolution

February 5th, 2017
Boss DXT vs Sno-Way Revolution

 

 

Follow SnowPlowNews and stay up to date on snow and ice industry news, reviews, weather, equipment and more! If you’re looking for snow plow reviews and comparisons, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we’ll compare and review two big name snowplows.

For more detailed information about these and other snow and ice equipment, check out our online Interactive Comparison Charts to get a handle on how your favorite plow compares. When you’re shopping for snowplows, this is a good place to start.

Comparing The Boss DXT And The Sno-Way Revolution Snow Plows

In our comparison this week we’re looking at a rugged DXT V-Plow by Boss and a serious challenger in Sno-Way’s Expandable Revolution. Both plows are heavy hitters. Both are 10-footers. Which one will come out on top?

Comparing Price, Warranty, and Moving Capacity

In our warranty comparisons, both models are backed by a 2-year warranty by the manufacturer.

On the price scale, Sno-Way has an advantage over Boss. Boss rings up a 6 out of 6 on the SPN dollar meter, while Sno-Way is a more affordable 5 out of 6. Advantage: Sno-Way Revolution

When you’re looking for a snow plow there are a lot of factors to consider. But, one of the main issues will always be the ability to move snow. That is, after all, what this is about…moving snow!

So just how much snow will these two heavy duty plows push? The two are close, but again the Sno-Way Revolution edges out the Boss DXT. The score on moving capacity: Sno-Way Revolution 6 out of 6. Boss DXT comes in with a 5 out of 6 score.

Solid Snowplow Features For Digging In

Let’s take a moment to consider a few of the highlights for each plow. When you spend as much as these two manufacturers do on R&D, you want to brag a little about your accomplishments. It’s understandable, so let’s dig in. What are the innovative features each manufacturer wants you to know about?

bosslogo

 

 

 

The Boss DXT V-Plow Highlights:

  1. SL3 LED lighting system with Ice Shield to keep your lights shining bright.
  2. Patented dual trip design for improved protection from hidden obstacles.
  3. Chainless hydraulic cylinder lifting system makes transport smoother
  4. 1/2” x 6” long lasting, durable base angle to extend life

Sno-Way logo

 

 

 

 

The Sno-Way Revolution Highlights:

  1. Patented ground hugger blade design and down pressure hydraulics to keep the blade in contact with the ground
  2. 150 degree wing rotation for infinite adjustability
  3. Tube steel/tab-slot and lock construction for durability and stress absorption
  4. Triple-coat protection includes zinc phosphate wash, E-coat primer and military grade powder coat for long lasting wear.
The Outcome: Sno-Way Revolution Scores A Knock Out On The Boss DXT

This one really isn’t all that close. The Sno-Way Revolution comes up with an SPN score of 86 while the Boss DXT comes up short with an SPN score of 57.

Boss Snow Plow Results

The following chart indicates the numbers for the Boss DXT 10′ snow plow.

Boss DXT 10ft

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boss DXT V-Plow: 57

Sno-Way Snow Plow Results

The following chart indicates the numbers for the Sno-Way Revolution snow plow.

Sno-Way Revolution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sno-Way Revolution: 86

That puts this one in the books. Check back in for more comparisons.

Snowplow Comparison Categories

The categories Snow Plow News examines to determine a Snow Plow News Rating are as follows:

  1. Multiple Plow Specs
  2. Features
  3. Size
  4. Price – the price range provided should only be used as a general rule of thumb. We cannot be certain of actual market pricing as that will vary from area to area as well as dealer to dealer.
  5. Moving Capacity – this is intended to give you a general idea of snow moving capacity. This is based on the size and style of plow.
  6. Warranty

A high ranking does not constitute a product endorsement by Snow Plow News.

Other Real World Variables To Consider When Purchasing A Snow Plow
  1. Dealers
  2. Mounting
  3. Innovation
  4. Non-truck applications

Here are a few more things to remember. When you’re considering a snowplow, your relationship with the dealer is a big deal. Does your dealer have a reputation for being open during snowstorms? Do they carry a large assortment of parts on hand or can they get them fast? Do they have a service department with a good reputation? When you’re out in blinding snow and a part breaks on the plow, you want to know it can be fixed fast.

Mounting is also a concern. Will you have to leave the plows on the trucks all winter because it’s such a headache to dismount and re-mount the plow to the truck? Are hookups a one man job or do they require a team and a skidsteer?

Everyone has their own personal experiences to consider as well. We’ve just added our two cents to the mix to help you compare.

Stay on top of winter weather, snow and ice news and reviews, manufacturer updates, comparisons and more. Sign up for SPN’s online newsletter and get it all delivered right to your inbox.

Brent Jarvis for SnowPlowNews