SITE: AN AIRCRAFT RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION FACILITY
LOCATION: LOUISVILLE, OH
Average annual snowfall: 47″
Sno Pusher type: Rubber Edge Sno Pushers: 18′ Loader, 16′ Loader, 12′ Loader, 10′ Skidsteer
Equipment: 3 Loaders, 1 Skidsteer
Keywords: EFFICIENCY, LARGE SITE, MULTIPLE SNO PUSHER OPERATIONS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is a case study focused on a small to medium sized landscaping and snow removal firm based in Louisville, Ohio. Todd’s Enviroscapes (TE) has been using Pro-Tech Sno Pushers for many years. They utilize both loader and skid steer models ranging from 10-18 ft. in cooperation with trucks equipped with standard truck plows. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the speed and quality of snow clearing that can be achieved using Sno Pushers to handle large applications such as manufacturing facilities or industrial sites where traditional windrowing is time consuming and inefficient. . Pushers are ideally suited to these types of sites as they allow the site to be cleared completely of snow far faster, and far cleaner then traditional plowing methods.
COMPANY BACKGROUND
TE was begun as a landscape and garden service firm and then expanded into the snow removal business, which now makes up about 15% of their total business. Their snow removal operations consist of 35 employees and 15 subcontractors who handle more then 100 contracts ranging from residential to large commercial and industrial sites. In their business they employ ¾ and 1 ton trucks equipped with 2 way plows, and salters, (6) wheel loaders with (1) 18 ft Sno Pusher (SP18L), (1) 16 ft Sno Pusher (SP18L), and (4) 14 ft Sno Pushers (SP15L), and (5) Bobcats equipped with 10ft Sno Pushers (SP10S).
SITE INFORMATION
The site analyzed in this study is a Lockheed-Martin research and manufacturing facility. Its 48 acres cover numerous parking lots, loading bays, tarmacs, and sidewalks. They range the full gamut of difficulties from completely empty lots to 24/7 parking lots with islands, curbs and other obstructions. This facility is located outside of Akron, OH which receives an average annual snowfall of 47 inches usually spread over 20 snow events with an additional 15 ice events each year. A typical snow fall is about 2” and the area expects to have (1) 8” snow event each season. Though the area does receive a full range of snow from slush to powder, the snow conditions are typically dry powder.
COMPARISON: ‘BEFORE & AFTER” THE ADDITION OF PRO-TECH SNO PUSHERS
TE began work on this site a number of years ago with a small section that is leased to a separate company. In recent years they have been handling the full 48 acre job. They do this with a crew of 6 machine operators running, (3) wheel loaders equipped with an SP18L, SP16L, and SP12L respectively, a Bobcat with an SP10S and 2 pickup trucks equipped with 2 Boss V-plows. In addition there is a 4-man sidewalk crew to handle walkways and sidewalks. In a typical 2” snow fall, the 6 man crew can clear the entire site in 4 hours which equates to 24 man hours on the 48 acre site.Calculations show that this equates to a production rate of 15 min/in/acre. Compared to the windrow method used previously on this site, this is a significant gain in efficiency both in terms of man hours and amount of equipment in use on the site.
STATISTICS
- For 2” snow events Todd’s Enviroscapes was able to achieve average removal rates of 15 mins/in/acre or 87,118 sq. ft./hr.
- Pushers allowed for a significant reduction in the amount of equipment on site
- Using Sno-Pushers TE was able to drastically reduce the number of man hours required to clear the site.
QUOTES
“We were able to show them we could take care of a large amount of snow in a timely fashion” “A large amount of snow in a small amount of time. That is what we told them we could clear and that is how we won the contract.”
Todd’s Enviroscapes Inc.
7727 Paris Ave.
Louisville, OH 44641
Phone: 330.875.0768
Fax: 330.875.0782
Email: jay@enviroscapesgroup.com
Web: www.growinggood.com