CONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT
Continued from page 21
were made to his machine’s hydraulics
and switches, specifically, the hydraulic
dump valve. On a standard DA-350,
the dump valve is controlled by a tog-
gle switch and manually operated with
a foot pedal. Swift’s DA-350 features a
modified hydraulic dump control. The
custom control makes it possible for the
operator to open and close the valve as
fast as he or she wants. The modifica-
tion also allows the operator to set and
hold the valve at a desired rate without
having to continually monitor the con-
trol.
“With the standard foot pedal, if you
want it open 20 percent, you have to
manually hold it right there. With
mine, I just open it up to the dump rate
I want, let loose and it stays put. I don’t
have to worry about holding a certain
pressure, if I set it at 50 percent, it stays
at 50 percent,” Swift said. “The feature
helps simplify things for the operator,
who already has a lot going on — driv-
ing the machine, dumping sealer, trying
not to dump too much — this modifi-
cation makes it much easier.”
Dual Threat Contractor
As a business owner, Swift has discov-
ered numerous advantages to owning a
DA-350 dual applicator, the most sig-
nificant of which has been its ability to
transform Southeast into a dual-threat
contractor. The DA-350 combines a
six-tip spray bar capable of spraying 11
feet combined with an 8-foot squeegee.
The option of a riding squeegee unlocks
an entirely new segment of the asphalt
sealing and maintenance contracts.
Many contractors don’t invest in a
riding squeegee applicator because it’s
not necessary for most jobs, especially
smaller ones. For Swift, the ability to
tackle everything from local bank park-
ing lots to massive distribution centers
has been a game changer.
“Eighty percent of contractors can’t
With the Neal Manufacturing DA350
Southeast Asphalt can tackle anything from local
bank parking lots to massive
distribution centers.
offer the squeegee method unless they
do it by hand. Having both on one rid-
ing machine puts you in a different cat-
egory of contractors,” Swift explained.
“We get invited to work for large dis-
tribution centers all over the country
because of our capabilities. Contractors
who don’t offer the ride-on squeegee
method can’t bid those jobs.”
Swift will still tell you that you’re only
as good as your worst piece of equip-
ment, but in recent years he’s been more
concerned about reaching the full po-
tential made possible by his best piece
of equipment.
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