SnowPRO Number 1 - 2017

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NO. 1 – 2017

What Snow Removal Equipment Should You Add to Your

LANDSCAPE BUSINESS? › Page 4

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Making a CASE for Skid-Steer Snow Removal › Page 8

New Products › Page 14

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Number 1 - July/August 2017

Breaking the Ice

I

was born and bred in Wisconsin. My Midwestern accent gives me away immediately. Last year, however, winter was pretty mild … in Wisconsin. You read that right. It was a mild winter in Wisconsin. That almost never happens, which just goes to prove that winter weather is as unpredictable as the stock market.

You would think, then, that every time winter approaches, I would be prepared for that first—and second and third and so on—snowfall, knowing full well it could be crippling. Instead, complacency takes hold after having to conquer winter year after year. For example, just last year, I discovered that a snow shovel disappeared out of the unlocked tool shed mid-winter.

There was no spare. And it was a blizzard.

Not being able to remove snow from my driveway for a couple of hour was annoying, but not being able to serve your snow removal clients could be catastrophic. Is your snow and ice removal equipment maintained and ready to go? Do you have enough equipment to serve your customers? Do you know what kind of contracts you may be responsible for during the upcoming season?

While my snow blower can’t compare to the type of snow removal equipment on the market today, it gives me peace of mind knowing that it’s ready and waiting to go this winter, in addition to my three new snow shovels.

Lesson learned.

Now is the time to start a conversation with your customers about snow and ice removal. It can give you an idea of the amount and type of equipment necessary to get through winter. It can also give you a chance to attract landscaping customers who may be new to using snow removal services, looking to consolidate contractors or thinking about switching service providers.

Now is the time to start preparing for your and your customers’ needs this winter. The following articles can help. Enjoy the read!

Now is the time to start a conversation with your customers about snow and ice removal.

Carrie Mantey (920) 542-1238 cmantey@acbusinessmedia.com

4 IN THIS ISSUE

4 What Snow Removal Equipment Should You Add to Your Landscape Business?

Manufacturers recommend these items for landscape contractors entering the snow business.

8 Making

a CASE for SkidSteer Snow Removal

Controlling operational costs is key for Nate’s Landscape Company, a Wisconsin landscape contractor, and snow and ice removal company.

8

14 Snow & Ice Removal Equipment Manufacturers recommend these items for landscape contractors entering the snow business.

18 Advertisers Index SNOWPRO 2017 SUPPLEMENT

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By Jessica Stoikes

What Snow Removal Equipment Should You

ADD TO YOUR LANDSCAPE BUSINESS? Manufacturers recommend these items for landscape contractors entering the snow business.

W

e know. It’s the middle of summer and we’re talking about snow. Trust us, though. When that white precipitation falls, you’re going to be glad we helped you prepare your business to withstand the change in the weather.

Without realizing it, many landscape contractors already have some of the most expensive equipment needed for snow handling—skid steers, track and wheel loaders, pickup trucks, etc. You have the equipment 12 months out of the year, why not use it?

Landscape contractors also have the commercial relationships already developed to become a snow partner with their summer landscape maintenance customers.

“Some larger accounts, such as homeowners’ associations, typically only look for four-season providers,” says Michael Frank, senior product manager at SnowEx/ Douglas Dynamics. “By adding snow and ice control, it may give a contractor access to a larger or better cus-

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tomer base … one that opens the door to more clients for the [landscape] maintenance side of the business, too.”

Someone is out there doing it, why shouldn’t it be you?

But before you jump into adding snow handling as a way to keep business flowing during winter, put some time and consideration into what current pieces of equipment you may use and what additional support equipment you may need. Here’s what manufacturers say are the essential items landscaping contractors should add to their snow removal fleet.

Keeping It Compact Since you most likely have a skid steer that’s just sitting idle in winter, there are additional snow removal options to consider. “Contractors use compact equipment because, oftentimes, a pickup truck is too cumbersome and can’t fit into tight spaces,” says Mike Fitzgerald, a loader product specialist at Bobcat Company.

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This is why snow removal is a great business to put your company equipment to use year-round.

“You can use a standard skid loader bucket to move snow, but if you’re getting serious about snow removal, you need to step up to dedicated snow attachments,” John Dotto, brand marketing manager of CASE Construction Equipment, says. “The type of attachments you choose should take into account a number of factors. The size and weight of your skid steer dictates the size snow push or plow blade your machine can handle.

Consider putting on some additional counterweight, if you haven’t already, to improve traction and pushing performance in heavy, wet snow.”

Attachments most commonly used with skid-steer loaders are the snow blade, snow V-blade, angle broom, push broom, snow blower, scraper, snow pusher and buckets. For further versatility, many snow removal companies opt for a snow V-blade. It can be configured five different ways—as a straight blade, V-cut blade, scoop blade, and 30-degree left- or right-angle blade.

Due to time constraints, crews can’t always clear jobsites before traffic drives over the freshly fallen snow. So for snow removal jobs that require removing hardpacked snow and ice, Fitzgerald suggests using a scraper attachment. It has a selfsharpening cutting edge that easily slides under stubborn snow and ice on pavement to produce a smooth surface.

A snow-blower attachment proves ideal for blowing snow away from the area, into a pile or into a dump truck with a truck-loading chute.

“If you’re looking to use a snow blower to throw snow away from the site, you need to consider hydraulic flow rates and make sure you have the correct electrical auxiliary circuits to take full advantage of all the blower’s functions,” Dotto says. “Most snow attachments come in a variety of widths, from small sidewalk-sized V-plows and snow blowers to 10-foot-plus-wide pushes and blades. What your machines are capable of and the space limitations of the area you’re clearing should also be considered when selecting a snow attachment.”

For lighter snowfalls, attach an angle broom, which is ideal for sweeping less than 6 inches of snow. In addition to clearing snow from parking lots, sidewalks and pathways in the winter, these attachments can be used for sweeping away dirt, leaves, gravel and other debris, which makes them valuable all year-round.

“One more thing to consider for your snow removal fleet is lighting,” Dotto says. “Look for lighting package options that throw light all around the machine

Whereas pushing snow relies on snow falling in the first place, controlling ice is a winter-long battle, regardless of how much snow flies. Every company is faced with the concern of liability if someone gets injured on their property.”

- Michael Frank, SnowEx/Douglas Dynamics and consider adding additional warning lights, such as beacons or four-corner strobes. If you’re clearing commercial parking lots, and there is pedestrian and vehicle traffic to contend with, you’re going to want to be as visible as possible.”

It’s a Push For a landscape contractor just entering the snow business, a snow-pusher attachment could be ideal.

Compatible with smaller skid steers, tractors and wheel loaders weighing up to 5,000 pounds, snow pushers can clear small parking lots, sidewalks and larger driveways. The pushers can also reduce fuel and salt usage by increasing pushing efficiency and eliminating followup plowing.

“Skid steers, backhoes and wheel loaders are attractive for pushers in a big-box parking lot because they move a ton of snow, and they move it all to one spot instead of windrowing it,” says Doug Clark, product manager with Western Plows/Douglas Dynamics.

“Pushers require a prime mover with a lot of torque and traction to move this weight.”

This is why it’s important to pick a pusher with the proper size and weight for the skid steer or loader, as well as for the application. Bigger pushers aren’t always better.

For example, a skid steer equipped with a 10-foot pusher ideally clears narrow parking aisles and handicapped parking spaces during the day with traffic present—a common occurrence when people scramble for supplies to ride out the storm. A 19-foot loadermounted pusher works more efficiently on large lots with wider clearing areas.

Contractors can use a formula based on acres and pushing capacity to determine productivity ahead of time. This creates a strategy for operator schedules and determines priority when it comes to clearing properties according to size.

For example, if there is 3 inches of snow on the lot, a 10-foot containment plow with a pushing capacity of 13 yards can take roughly 30 minutes to clear anywhere from two to three acres. A contractor using a 16-foot SNOWPRO 2017 SUPPLEMENT

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model with a 28-yard capacity can estimate the same job in the same weather conditions to take about half the time. This formula changes depending on snow conditions and characteristics, such as wet snow, which takes longer to clean, but it gives a rough timeframe with which to work, and helps determine the amount of pushers and machines needed.

Pickups and Plows However, the problem with a compact piece of equipment is that it’s not as easy to transport quickly from job to job since each location requires moving the equipment on a trailer. This is why some contractors prefer to use a pickup truck with a snowplow for snow removal as it’s much more versatile.

“Assuming contractors already own a mediumduty truck, they simply need to buy a snowplow package,” says Mark Klossner, vice president of marketing at BOSS Snowplow. “The mount system can be mounted to the frame of their existing trucks and easily removed when not in use.”

As a contractor, however, it’s your job to choose a plow for your pickup that’s going to be kind to the surface underneath the snow.

Balancing Act The snow removal business can be boom or bust, so it’s important to create contracts in a way that helps your company be profitable in a low-snow season.

“This business is obviously very weather-dependent,” Doug Clark, product manager with Western Plows/Douglas Dynamics, says. “You have to be very business-savvy to be profitable.”

The best snow and ice contractors manage a portfolio of whole-season contracts, and contracts that are based on a perpush approach. Both help hedge your bets and ensure you can be profitable in a very unpredictable business.

Seasonal contracts say that, for the entire season, you are paid a set amount of money no matter how much it snows. These can be good contracts for your best customers, those with small lots and locations grouped closely together.

Per-push contracts are those that say, for every job you visit and clear snow on, you charge a fee.

“From the contractor’s point of view, seasonal contracts are the most lucrative when it hardly ever snows,” Clark says. “Perpush contracts are best when it’s constantly snowing. Since you can’t tell ahead of time what the weather’s going to do, savvy contractors understand their cost structure and try to stabilize their income by maintaining a portfolio of each type.”

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“Snowplows traditionally come with steel cutting edges that are known to leave streaks and divots in the [surface being plowed],” Clark says. “Snowplow manufacturers make a number of different products that are more surface-friendly like a poly or rubber cutting edge.

These do not damage the underlying surface.”

The size of the plow and equipment you use vary depending on the size of the area you are plowing. If you’re installing a plow on a pickup truck, plow recommendations are based on the front gross axle weight rating (FGAWR) of your vehicle—which is the maximum allowable weight that can be placed on the front axle.

The snowplow you use on your vehicle should comply with FGAWR recommendations.

Straight blades and V-plows (V-blades) both get the job done, but V-plows have the ability to angle and direct snow. Straight blades are still the biggest seller and often can be more affordable than V-plows, but V-blades can be a better option for handling frozen snow.

Depending upon your surface’s configuration, you may also consider the versatility and convenience afforded with a snow V-blade, which some manufacturers build for multi-directional use as a straight blade, V-cut blade, scoop blade, and a left- or right-angle blade.

“For every V-plow you add, make sure you have at least three to four straight blades,” Clark says.

Ice Control Taking snow removal one step further, many contractors add a salt spreader to their business.

“Not only does spreading salt provide a more allencompassing service to your customer, but you can also increase your workload,” Frank says. “Whereas pushing snow relies on snow falling in the first place, controlling ice is a winter-long battle, regardless of how much snow flies.

Every company is faced with the concern of liability if someone gets injured on their property.

“If you look at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics identifying that roughly 800,000 people are hospitalized each year due to a slip-and-fall injury— and overall medical costs for these injuries hits about $34 billion each year—it makes sense for business owners to take precautions to not only prevent injuries, but to also make it clear that they went through the proper procedures to try to alleviate a hazard.

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“Because of these common business concerns, by “A new snow and ice contractor should join having the ability to spread salt and sand on a property, an association like the Snow and Ice Management in addition to clearing snow, that’s a major leg up over a Association (SIMA) at the beginning,” Klossner advises. contractor just offering snow control.”

“SIMA’s library of resources, training and trade shows A salt spreader attachment can be mounted in a can help a new snow and ice contractor quickly gain the utility vehicle’s cargo box, or can come in the form of a skill sets needed to be successful in the industry.” pickup tailgate spreader or a hopper. This can be used to spread salt and sand on sidewalks and pathways, making it ideal for more snow-removal tasks for buildings and grounds applications.

BOSS recently launched the QuickCube system for skid steers that helps contractors overcome many of the obstacles to growth and profitability in the ice-removal business.

“The system utilizes poly totes that hold about 1,000 pounds of salt and are weather-proof,” according to Klossner.

“The totes can be pre-filled with salt and staged at a customer’s location along with a skid steer. When the winter weather hits, the operator simply travels to the job site and operates the skid steer to spread the salt. In addition, the contractor can purchase a box plow for the same skid steer, which can be quickly attached to the skid steer for plowing and then quickly switched back to the QuickCube system for salting.”

If you’re spreading salt with a pickup, efficiency is key. “If you’re starting out with one to two lots, a tailgate spreader is great,” says Clark.

“Once you have four to five lots, you should look in to a salt hopper. Tailgate Six-Way category blades are the ideal tool for spreaders do not handle bulk salt; contractors everywhere. Their versatile design you’re emptying each bag into the provides operators with six different configurations to spreader. With a hopper, you can get make the most of their time in the seat. more done faster.

SB3600V blades are the ideal sidewalk blade for “When it comes to snow removal, compact tractors and skidsteers, and is available in look for anything to increase your effiwidths from 54” – 84”. The larger SB4600V series ciency,” Clark says. “If you can do anyblade makes quick work of small roadways and thing to improve how fast you move Both sides of the Sixdriveways, and is available in widths from 96” - 108” Way blade can be moved snow, like putting down more salt or with a max operating weight of 25,000lbs. independently to form an adding a wide-out plow, it can result angle blade, scoop, or V-Blade in faster plowing. This means you can Contact your nearest distributor to find the right Sixto ensure you have the right attack other contracts more quickly, Way blade for your snow program. blade for every condition. bringing down your marginal costs and allowing you to be more profitable.” v If you have questions about get1-866-567-4162 www.hlasnow.com ting into the snow removal business, there are many avenues to help you.

Visit greenindustrypros.com/10155831

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By Brad Stemper

Making a CASE for

Skid-Steer Snow Removal Controlling operational costs is key for Nate’s Landscape Company, a Wisconsin landscape contractor, and snow and ice removal company.

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N

ate’s Landscape Company is a landscaping and snow removal company located in Belgium, Wisconsin. With more than 16 years of experience, the company has been serving eastern Wisconsin since 2000.

“In Wisconsin, it’s not a question of if snow is going to fall, but when,” explains Nathan Kohn, owner of Nate’s Landscape Company. “We’ve been plowing snow commercially since 2000. Most recently, we’ve gone exclusive with snow and ice removal in the winter, focusing primarily on retail, commercial, and industrial snow and ice control.”

In the winter season, Kohn manages nearly 80 employees, and a fleet of 24 CASE skid-steer loaders used exclusively for snow and ice removal. “Nate’s Landscape has recently transitioned into using more and more skid loaders for doing our snow removal.”

little more breakup for us with the radial lift machines.

We have noticed it’s easier to load a high salt truck with a vertical lift machine. So that’s where the SV280s and SV250s have really helped us out,” says Kohn.

As with any important equipment-buying decision, there were a large variety of criteria that needed to be met when Kohn was making his equipment investment.

“When it comes to plowing snow with a skid loader, some of the options that we like to include are the strobe light package on the roof and the radios for the guys. I believe it’s standard on all skid loaders that you get a heated cab, which works fantastic.”

Cost Savings With the transition from plow trucks to skid-steer loaders, Kohn has seen a remarkable difference in both fuel and labor costs.

According to Kohn, “The reason that we’ve gone to skid loaders is mainly to control our costs. It’s helped us tremendously with controlling our fixed expenses, as well as our operational expenses. We no longer have to pay drivers to sit on the road in a snowstorm trying to get on site. They can report right to the site because we store the key skid loaders on the premises. The fuel and the labor is really the biggest part of the savings.”

Operational Efficiencies In addition to the fuel and labor cost savings, Kohn has noticed several other benefits and operational efficiencies.

“With the advancements of box plows in the snow and ice industry, we have found that we are able to replace five plow trucks with three skid loaders. [It’s] almost twice as efficient as the old way of doing it,” Kohn explains. “Skid loaders are also a lot more maneuverable, especially in tight spaces and busy parking lots.

And the visibility in a skid loader is unmatched. No plow truck has the visibility that a skid loader offers.

“There are many benefits and advantages to using skid loaders when managing snow and ice. When you’re plowing with a skid loader, you can run off-road diesel fuel and not pay a road tax on your diesel. Also you don’t have to license a skid loader like you do a truck.”

The Right Skid Steer for the Job Nate’s Landscape manages a fleet of 24 skid-steer loaders comprised of CASE SV280s, SV250s, SR210s and SR185s. “For us, in snow removal, whether it’s a vertical lift or radial lift, it doesn’t matter as much. There’s a

But really, Kohn admits, “For us, number one was the quality of the machine. Is it going to hold up to what we need to do? Is it going to look good? Is the resale going to be there for us to turn these machines around down the road? Another big factor was our dealer.”

Working with the right dealer can make all the difference when it comes to making a smart equipment investment. Kohn has chosen to work with MillerBradford & Risberg Inc., an equipment dealer that has been in business since 1944, and operates seven branches throughout Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois.

“The dealer that we use locally here does a terrific job with service calls and keeping up on warranties. The relationship we have with our CASE dealer is very good.

It is very responsive to our requests for breakdowns and service. It’s also fair when it comes to trade-ins and purchasing costs. The company understands what we’re trying to achieve with our fleet.”

A Maintenance-Free Tier 4 Solution Kohn points out that there was a deliberate decision to stick with machines below 74 HP in order to take advantage of CASE’s maintenance-free Tier 4 solutions.

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Class-leading capabilities where it counts: Best-in-class GCWR – 40,000 lbs.* Best-in-class FGAWR – 7,500 lbs.

Best-in-class gas torque – 430 lb.-ft.

Most available configurations in its class THIS IS THE NEXT LEVEL FORD.COM ///

Aftermarket equipment shown. *When properly configured. Class is Full-Size Pickup Chassis Cabs over 8,500 lbs. GVWR based on Ford segmentation.

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“When we were selecting what model skid loader to go with, we chose the 280, the 210 and the 185 primarily because we don’t have to worry about diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) throughout the winter. I’m trying to keep that capped off, so we don’t have to worry about maintaining an extra system,” comments Kohn.

Lighting Commercial snow and ice contractors often work in tight, low-light conditions where visibility is crucial. Kohn outfits all of his skid-steer loaders with roof strobes and a heavy-duty light package from the factory.

“We choose the option of the factory strobe lights and heavy-duty light package primarily because, when we’re plowing snow, it’s the middle of the night, it’s pitch black, it’s snowing. We need as much light as we can get. We’ve noticed that, with the extra lights on the back of the machine and on the front, we have no visibility issues when we’re plowing,” continues Kohn.

“When we’re out at night plowing snow, it’s important that our guys can see what they’re doing all around them, not just in front of them. It’s also important that the people in the immediate area can see them. Going with the strobe light option on the roof, these machines are visible even in heavy snows at night.”

360-Degree Visibility In addition to lighting, it’s also important for operators to have a clear line of sight in all directions for their own

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safety, as well as those around them. CASE skid-steer loaders offer a cab-forward design with a curved rear window and sloped rear hood, as well as thin sidescreens for 360-degree visibility.

“The visibility off the sides and the rear played a huge role in us choosing to switch over to plowing snow exclusively with skid loaders. When plowing snow with trucks, there are a lot of blind spots; people walk behind you, and you can’t see if they’re there or not.”

“Rear visibility with a CASE skid loader is second to none. There’s nothing there to obstruct your view from behind you. You can easily turn around, look over your shoulder and see what’s behind you. The visibility in the front of the machine, especially the lower part of the windshield, is nice. We can see right down. We can actually see the pavement behind the box plow as we’re plowing, so that’s helped a lot with snow removal.”

Operator Comfort CASE skid-steer loaders also provide a wide cab and low entry threshold, making it easy for operators to get in and out of the cab, and to stay comfortable for long hours.

“It’s a lot easier to get in and out of a CASE skid loader because of the lower door entry. We have a lot of different drivers that drive for us. Not all of them are Olympic athletes. We like to use guys that are retired: They’re just looking for extra work and we can put them to work in a CASE. They don’t have to be a gymnast to get in and out of the cab.” Kohn says, “I’m a pretty big

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guy—I’m almost 6 feet, 4 inches—and I’ve got plenty of room in a CASE skid loader. Plenty of headroom, plenty of side-to-side room. It’s a very comfortable ride.”

Ergonomic Controls Long hours behind the controls of a skid steer can lead to operator fatigue, which can have a negative effect on an operator’s focus and productivity. Kohn has chosen to outfit all of his skid-steer loaders with CASE’s EZ-EH electro-hydraulic controls—an advanced control system that provides a setup menu with nine adjustable speed and control sensitivity settings.

“All of our skid loaders we ordered with the EZ-EH controls. The operator fatigue is greatly reduced with just the joystick operation. We’ve gotten away from using any foot pedal or forward hand-tohand, side-to-side operating machines. Our operators found that they can run many, many hours in a skid loader with these EZ-EH controls and not have the fatigue of an old machine.”

From the Operator Nathan Tiegs has worked for Nate’s Landscape as an operator for nearly five years and is currently managing a snow removal crew of 15 operators across 25 commercial accounts.

“Nate’s Landscape is a great company to work for,” Tiegs says. “I’m currently in college studying to be a fireman and the company works around my college schedule, so I really appreciate that. This is the first year I’ve been working as a manager—I’ve got about 25 accounts.

I just really like being outside, working as a team, going out there and getting it done.”

With the recent transition to a full CASE fleet, Tiegs has noticed several benefits and advantages, such as standardization of training.

“The owner, Nathan Kohn, has had several CASE wheel loaders and I know he really liked them. Finally, he just got all CASE machines and standardized everything. Now when we have training and orientation, you can go to any jobsite and the skid loader is going to be the same. It’s really nice that you can put anybody anywhere, because we have accounts from Mequon all the way up to Manitowoc and Plymouth, Wisconsin.“ “We have 24 CASE skid-steer loaders that we keep at all of our big job sites. The joysticks are phenomenal—you can get into really tight spaces where, with other skid-steer loaders, you really can’t,” explains Kohn.

“That’s really what our business is about—having the lot as cleared as possible at the end of the day to make the customer happy.

“I started off with foot pedals, and if you’re in a snowstorm, working foot pedals would drive you insane

because it’s constantly up and down—your feet can get really tired. In the beginning, I thought getting used to [the joysticks] was going to be a lot harder because I was used to foot pedals, but after about a half-hour of learning the joysticks, it’s by far better than the foot pedals.

With the joysticks, you can actually get closer to things, precisely back-drag and maneuver around cars—I could never go back to foot pedals.

“Other skid loaders are more touchy—you move a little and the whole thing sways, but with CASE, the machines are really precise. You can easily come into something and back-drag, and it’s really simple without a bunch of jumping around.

“The visibility is phenomenal—left, right, back, forward—you can see everything. The front is most important, when we put our pushers on, we’ve got to be able to see our drop hits. You’ve got great visibility in the front to make sure that you can see down so you know you’re in the right spot.

“They have a lot of power—especially the 250s and 280s. They have a lot of power for pushing snow, especially with our 10-foot box plows. We have the ability to push a lot of snow and not get stuck.”

That’s really what our business is about—having the lot as cleared as possible at the end of the day to make the customer happy.

- Nathan Kohn, Nate’s Landscape Company A Growing Business Running and developing Nate’s Landscape Company over the last 16 years, Kohn has learned the best way to ensure profitability is through effective management of his overall operating costs.

“Over the last several years of running my business, just like any business, we’ve been through highs and lows, good times and bad times. We’ve learned to do a better job of controlling our costs, both our fixed expenses and our operational expenses. We’re just finishing off a winter season with below average snowfall. We’ve been able to control our costs by running the CASE skid loaders. It has been a big part of our business plan.”

Brad Stemper is the solutions marketing manager at CASE Construction Equipment.

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PRODUCTS

SNOW & ICE REMOVAL EQUIPMENT

These Hopper Spreaders Perform to the Max SnowEx V-Maxx G2 hopper spreaders offer greater performance and operating efficiency on large ice-control applications. These hopper spreaders feature: • A polyethylene-constructed, multi-angled material hopper that helps provide a continuous flow of material to a heavy-duty auger drive.

• A vibrator that shakes the inverted-V baffle to reduce material clumping, whether spreading salt, sand or both.

• A self-diagnosing, digital, compact dual variablespeed control with independent adjustment of spinner and auger speeds; easy control of the vibrator; an auto-reverse function to clear auger jams; and control only requiring a single four-pin wire to enter the cab.

• Selection from eight different V-box models, ranging in capacity from 1.5 to 6.0 cubic yards.

• Optimized material placement and control due to a spinner that starts at the desired speed setting on the dial, rather than blasting upon startup.

• A wider operating range for slower speeds to provide more efficient use of materials, while high speeds are available for larger properties.

• A spread width variable up to 40 feet.

• Suitability for use with full-size pickups, flatbed trucks or dump-bed trucks. greenindustrypros.com/12346470

Professional Features on Lightweight Spreader Fisher Engineering specifically designed the Poly-Caster UTV poly hopper spreader for utility vehicles. The company says this 11-cubic-foot spreader combines the professional features of larger spreaders with a lightweight design. The spreader also comes equipped with: • A multi-angled hopper to prevent bridging and clogging, and provide maximum flow to the auger.

• A quick-connect spinner assembly to ease access to the vehicle’s hitch.

• A traverse auger delivery system that automatically backs itself in and out until an obstruction is cleared or an adjustment made.

• A dual variable-speed control that allows independent control of the two 12-volt auger and spinner motors to match the material flow and spread pattern to conditions.

• A top screen to break up large chunks of de-icing material during loading.

• A vibrating inverted V with a 12-volt vibrator. greenindustrypros.com/12214785

Cab Protection from Harsh Winter Elements The fully enclosed, full-view, metal winter cab from The Grasshopper Company protects you from harsh winter elements. The cab: • Fits 700 and 900 Series FrontMount mowers equipped with joystick-controlled DriftBuster snow throwers, Little Bully dozer blades, CleanSweep rotary brooms or a 60-inch V-plow.

• Comes with electric windshield wipers and LED lights.

• Includes options, such as a 16,000-BTU heater, lower panels for manual-lift implements and a beacon strobe light for increased visibility in hightraffic areas. greenindustrypros.com/12337006

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For additional snow-handling products and equipment, visit the Product Guide at GreenIndustryPros.com

Managing Ice Like a BOSS BOSS Snowplow designed its new QuickCube System, a skid-steerbased salting system, to improve contractor profitability, decrease operational costs and improve reaction times to customer service needs.

According to the company, the system also offers: • Six weather-proof poly cubes (or hoppers) that can hold half of a cubic yard of deicing material, be filled with solid deicing materials and staged at job sites in advance of wintry weather, replacing the need for remote salt piles, tarps and temporary salt shelters. The cubes can be stacked and are neutrally colored to blend in with existing landscaping.

Material is gravity-fed to the spinner disc and auger for reliability and ease of operation.

• A fork-shaped spreader assembly—which is used to pick up the filled cubes, move them and spread salt—attached to the skid steer via a universal attachment system. The spreader uses the skid steer’s auxiliary hydraulic couplers to ease maintenance and reduce the risk of breakdowns. Furthermore, the weldment can be removed and exchanged for snowplowing implements for even more versatility.

• Improved customer response times—simply stage a skid steer, a QuickCube system and a box plow at the job site, and hire operators who live close to those job sites, so they can travel directly to the site and begin servicing the customer.

• Reduced truck and spreader rig travel during dangerous driving conditions, saving fuel costs, wear and tear on trucks, and the risk of accidents by staging QuickCubes on jobsites.

• The flexibility to allow contractors to expand their service territory in a more cost-efficient manner than a traditional truck and salter combination.

• The capability to expand your potential labor pool by hiring skid-steer operators, not truck drivers. greenindustrypros.com/12348372

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SNOWPRO 2017 SUPPLEMENT

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PRODUCTS

SNOW & ICE REMOVAL EQUIPMENT Optimal Reliability and Brighter Beams for Truck Plows SnowEx improved its new STORM SEEKER halogen headlamps to offer more durability and illumination for users of SnowEx truck plows.

According to the company, features of the dualcavity lamp include: • Optimized low- and high-beam functions—the low beams are 17 percent brighter and 6 percent wider to put down more light in front and to the sides for safer plowing using H9/H11 bulbs, while the high beams are 36 percent brighter and illuminate 35 percent farther, allowing plow operators to see more of the road ahead.

• Deterrence of water ingression—a reflectorto-housing seal with a vent allows moisture to exist, but not enter.

• An improved lens seal with dual adhesive bead channels to ensure secure attachment of the lens.

• Better structural balance and flexibility to withstand jarring shocks and vibrations.

• A shallower headlamp casing to eliminate the need for additional brackets and avoid interference with the hood.

• An enhanced mounting bracket design to dampen vibration dampening.

• The ability to pass an IPX9K pressure washing protection test and humidity test. greenindustrypros.com/12339056

Plenty of SnowBlasting Power The KIOTI SB4096 rearmount snow blower quickly hitches to sub-frames for easy mounting and operates on a mid-mount power takeoff (PTO) drive for plenty of snow-blasting power. The dual-row SB4096 implement also offers: • A tractor PTO range of 80 to 150 HP and PTO speed of 540 or 1,000 RPMs. • A 200-degree hydraulic chute rotation.

• A heavy-duty 96-inch fan with a depth of 9 inches and a diameter of 33 inches.

• A weight of 1,420 pounds.

• A 12-month warranty.

Visit greenindustrypros.com/10155781

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For additional snow-handling products and equipment, visit the Product Guide at GreenIndustryPros.com

Silverado Forging a New Path with Stainless Steel Snowplow Chevrolet designed the Silverado 2500HD Alaskan Edition to make quick work of snow. Equipped with a custom stainless steel snowplow, this workready truck can forge a path in tough winter conditions. The company says the Alaskan additionally boasts: • A snowplow prep package that includes a power feed for auxiliary lights, a 220-amp alternator, an underbody shield, heavy-duty front springs and more.

• A leveling kit to ensure an even stance for the truck when the plow is attached.

• A Duramax 6.6L V8 turbo-diesel engine for horsepower and torque-with a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)certified 445 HP and net 910 pound-feet-for easier hauling and trailering.

• Quieter and smoother engine performance, along with a 19 percent increase in maximum torque over the current Duramax 6.6L. • A rubberized floor covering inside to facilitate brushing out snow and ice.

• A custom silver-accented blue exterior and grizzly bear graphics.

• Chrome bumpers, grille, emblems and trailering mirrors, along with 20-inch chrome wheels. greenindustrypros.com/12351292

Quality Construction in a Contractor-Duty Plow The 9200 Series torsion-trip V-plow from Hiniker Company not only comes equipped with quality construction and components in a contractor-duty plow, but also: • Double-acting hydraulic cylinders to hold wings securely in position, even while back-dragging.

• Simple, reliable torsion-trip edges for independent protection to each plow wing.

• Moldboards with a low-friction, high-density polyethylene surface that is corrosion-free and dent-resistant.

• Wrap-around curb guards with chrome-alloy wearbars for protection from wear and damage.

• Availability in 8.5- and 9.5-foot widths.

• Optional skid shoes, cutting edges and snow deflectors. greenindustrypros.com/12347473

Visit greenindustrypros.com/10155873

SNOWPRO 2017 SUPPLEMENT

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SNOW & ICE REMOVAL EQUIPMENT Don’t Let Snow Push You Around—Get a Snow Pusher!

Hiniker Company introduces its 3600 Series skid-steer box-type snow pushers with: • A rubber cutting edge that optimizes cleaning on paved surfaces.

• 36- (H) by 36-inch (D) sides for plenty of snow-moving capacity.

• Availability in 96- and 120-inch widths.

• 3/8-inch steel construction side plates for strength and durability.

• Heavy-duty steel skids that allow for flotation over uneven surfaces.

• A universal skid-steer attachment system to ease and speed connecting the snow pusher.

• An optional pull-back attachment to provide a second rubber cutting edge for back-dragging operations. greenindustrypros.com/12349433

High-Volume Sand Spreaders

BOSS Stainless Steel Spreader Tougher than Winter BOSS Snowplow introduces its BOSS FORGE V-box hopper spreader as a powerful tool for snow and ice contractors when winter weather strikes. According to the company, the BOSS FORGE features: • A planetary gearbox that delivers efficient performance across a range of ice control material.

• A 2-cubic-yard capacity.

• Selection from a pintle feed or auger chain system with the same hopper.

• A standard dual variable-speed controller that’s fleet compatible with existing VBX spreaders.

• Motor covers to protect the drive and spinner motors from sand, salt and de-icing materials.

• Some of the heaviest gauge stainless steel in the category—including the VBX drive train, hopper, 1/2-HP motor and inverted V option.

• A standard top screen and tie-down kit. greenindustrypros.com/12350596

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Designed to spread sand, the SnowEx V-Maxx 8550 high-output spreader provides higher material feed rates than other V-Maxx spreaders. The unit is effective for snow and ice professionals looking to spread high volumes of bulk material in one pass, rather than making multiple passes to achieve a heavy application. The V-Maxx 8550 additionally offers: • A 2-cubic-yard capacity with the ability to spread 295 to 680 pounds of material per minute.

• A corrosion-resistant polyethylene hopper.

• A multi-angle hopper, inverted-V baffle and vibrator to maintain a steady flow of material to the auger.

• Independently controlled spinner and auger speeds to maximize accuracy and prevent material waste.

• Ideal suitability for parking lots and driveways. greenindustrypros.com/10277757

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SNOWPRO 2017 SUPPLEMENT

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Visit greenindustrypros.com/10155825

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