Don’t fight the ice!: LavaGrip

Don’t fight the ice!

Are you tired of damage and the constant reapplication needed when using salt and chemicals? Not to mention the impact on the environment?

A new product on the market is changing all that. LavaGrip is mined and produced in British Columbia, and it is a black volcanic rock that is completely natural. It is a traction aid that provides instant traction.

This is an alternative to melting, and as the company says, ‘you don’t have to fight the ice’. Your operations people will love it because it works and they won’t have to keep applying it hour after hour. It stays in place and doesn’t even track into buildings.

Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, B.C. has been using it now for three years. It was introduced by Erik Bowkett, safety officer. He loves the fact that it’s environmentally friendly, but his number-one priority is safety. “LavaGrip gives instant traction and it stays in place. We use it at entryways, our stairs, and on our trails.”

LavaGrip is working hard to educate the consumer about the benefits of the product. It was recently seen on Dragons’ Den where they rejected two offers. The offers weren’t quite what they were looking for so they’ve moved forward. With production facilities in Ontario and B.C., LavaGrip is ramped up to supply numerous market verticals, but is committed to the ski resort industry.

“We have signed a distributorship agreement with InterMtn. who is the premier supplier to ski resorts across North America,” reports David Porter, one of three owners of LavaGrip. “This traction aid is perfect for the ski industry. It’s non-corrosive, highly visible, and is inert. In the spring, the product can be swept up and used again next year, or pushed into the grass or vegetation.”

The other thing that makes LavaGrip special is the company’s relationship with the Nazko First Nation. The mine is on the band’s traditional territory and a portion of each sale goes to the Nazko Economic Development Corporation. That’s good news for Nazko because LavaGrip is starting to penetrate the consumer market as well. It will be carried in most Home Hardware stores and in many Canadian Tire stores, and the product should hit the shelves in the U.S. as well this year. With it being pet-friendly, LavaGrip expects to gain hold in veterinary clinics and pet food stores. And the company is pushing hard to get a jug of LavaGrip in each car in the country.

“It is a quick fix when you’re stuck because of ice. Just sprinkle LavaGrip under the tires and you’ll be out like it’s the middle of summer,” Porter says.

The company is pushing social media with #walksafely. There is a belief that they are doing something good for the environment and for the safety of the public. Porter is from

LavaGrip, a black volcanic rock that is completely natural and produced in British Columbia, provides instant traction.

the insurance industry originally and points out that the average slip and fall costs $65,000 to all of us as insurance consumers. Something has to change – salt and chemicals are not reducing the frequency of these accidents. One of Canada’s major insurers has had a look at the product and is impressed with its effectiveness. They are now looking to incorporate LavaGrip into a number of their clients’ risk management programs.

LavaGrip is a great alternative worthy of taking a look. Check out the company’s website at www.lavagrip.com, or contact Inter-Mtn. at 1 (866) 491-3311 to purchase or for your free trial-sized sample. •