EXPERT ADVICE
Before you upgrade , ask the manufacturer ’ s service department to inspect your sweeper .
For asphalt paving contractors , timing is essential when deciding when to replace and upgrade equipment . The pavement maintenance segment has been especially hard hit in the past decade of economic frugality and most recently COVID-19 creating caution , slow-downs and deferral of major investments .
But pavement maintenance has value . Well maintained streets and parking lots fulfill a variety of needs for property managers and communities alike . Curb appeal , livability , safety , pollution control , storm water management , and pavement preservation are the critical reasons for regular , diligent pavement maintenance .
Think of the importance of pavement maintenance this way : there is sand or grit lingering on pavement and then a 3,000- lb . car drives over it , that ’ s like 50-grit sandpaper wearing down the parking lot or roadway , over and over again .
Central to any clean , safe pavement maintenance program is the role commercial sweeping machines and sweeping machine attachments play . And the newer sweeping equipment appears to be more productive than older pieces , which is one reason why contractors may be looking to upgrade .
There are a number of key indicators to consider when looking to replace and upgrade a sweeper .
“ First off , did you keep up with servicing your street sweeper ,” asked Matt Starnes , product marketing manager , Bucher Municipal North America , Inc ., Mooresville , N . C ? “ Did you use OEM parts ? Next , is your sweeper trailing more- -not picking up as much material as it used to despite cleaning , lubricating , and performing routine maintenance ? Can ’ t get rid of unusual noise , vibrations , or increased temperature ?”
Starnes added : “ Before you upgrade , ask the manufacturer ’ s service department to inspect your sweeper . After a thorough inspection , if it is time to upgrade , ask if they have a trade-in program . Also , always make sure to speak with a knowledgeable product specialist or sales professional to make sure you purchase the right street sweeper for your application needs .”
Purchasing a new piece of equipment is a big decision .
“ When the timing is right and you ' re looking to get a new sweeper , you ' ll want to consider resale value , availability of parts , and how well it performs ,” stated Tom Rokas , sales manager , TYMCO , Inc ., Waco , Texas . “ And certainly , new machines with Tier 4 diesel engines offer the advantages of running cleaner , are more efficient , and offer advanced electronic system with digital read outs of sweeper functions right in the cab with touch-screen , real-time diagnostics alerting the operator of mechanical issues and scheduled maintenance .” www . callape . com [ 14 ] 1.800.210.5923