INDUSTRY NEWS
times function as a gatekeeper
to winning new contracts. If
you can develop a good park-
ing lot sweeping arm to your
business, then it seems like you
can be good at something that
your competition is not. That
is a market advantage. Win the
contract and make money with
the sweeper.”
Dyck continued: “Parking lot
sweeping is done at night, pav-
ing is done during the day. That
leaves a sweeper available to be
used for paving clean up during
the day and route sweeping at
night. Or the night crew can
clean up the big stuff the night
before a big pave job.”
The need for commercial
sweeping is diverse and ever
apparent.
Starnes stated: “Contractors,
public sectors, leaf removal,
catch basin cleaning, construc-
tion, airports, rental markets,
parking lots, grain processing,
power plants...really the uses
are growing every day. As the
government--federal,
state,
and local--create legislation
on keeping the environment,
as well as our highways and
byways safe, more markets
emerge for sweeper usage.”
Paving companies are well
equipped to creating an ad-
junct sweeping service. They
operate equipment for techni-
cal jobs with skilled labor that
could easily adapt to operating
sweepers, according to Starnes.
“Sweeping, as a service, re-
quires a few different skills
like scheduling, sales or hiring
and training new drivers,” said
Dyck. “However, at the end of
the day, it is also a business of
operating equipment. Sweep-
ers are not too technical, but
the more you know the more
you win. If your sweeper stops
working, there is not a lot of
help out there, so it pays to do
your own maintenance and re-
pair work as well.”
Sand, dirt and other trash can be abra-
sive. When dirt is allowed to stay on as-
phalt pavement, it can start deteriorating
the paving material. Replacement costs for
pavement can far exceed the routine ex-
pense of sweeping. Removal of these ele-
ments is expected to save time and money
down the road.
It’s the end of this article and time now to
grab the corn broom and dustpan that was
parked outside this article. There’s a kitch-
en, hallway, and back entrance that needs a
thorough sweeping. Better get to it!
Jeff Winke is a business and construction writ-
er based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He can be
reached through [email protected].
For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry
1.800.210.5923
[15]
November 2019