FEATURE
needles whereas the mechanicals work best on large and heavy materials ,” stated Nick Bruhn , product manager at Schwarze Industries LLC , Huntsville , Alabama . “ Regenerative air sweepers are great when the surface is relatively flat . Good general workhorse with great airflow and good dust suppression . Blast orifice helps clean out all the nooks and crannies
“ Pure vacuum sweepers are great when there are significant variations in the roadway because the sealing surface is much narrower . High air velocity often with the ability to adjust pickup side ( left , right , or both ). Material moves mechanically from side to side , unlike a regen , so it can handle the transfer of heavier materials easier .”
Simplicity in both the operation of the sweeper and its on-going maintenance is a key determination for machine selection according to Matt Snyder , sales manager with Stewart-Amos Equipment Co ., Harrisburg , Pennsylvania .
“ The best commercial sweeper for the job is one that ’ s easy to operate and isn ’ t over engineered ,” Snyder said .
What are the key features to look for when selecting a commercial sweeper in terms of initial price , cost to operate and maintain ?
“ Generally speaking , and excluding the chassis which is a major contributor to the overall price ,” stated Bruhn , “ the regen sweepers are going to be the least expensive in initial price followed by mechanicals and then pure vacs . Each type of sweeper can have value / utilization . Adding options will increase the purchase price . From a features perspective , a contractor should weigh the ability to generate additional revenue with a feature / option , such as a hand hose , with the cost it adds to the purchase price of the unit . If the option can help secure more jobs or generate revenue frequently then there will be a positive ROI . From a municipal perspective , if an option will allow the unit to be more versatile and therefore reduce demand on other equipment or have a higher utilization then the option could be worth it .
“ When considering operating and maintenance costs , much of the actual costs will be dependent on how and how often the equipment is operated . For example , all air machines should run water to reduce abrasion in the pickup hoses and fan system . If a unit is constantly run in an abrasive environment without water it will incur higher maintenance costs than if it were operated with adequate water . Task / operation variations aside , the regenerative air sweepers have the least amount of requirement maintenance whereas the mechanical sweepers have the most . The pure vac sweepers fit in between the regen and the mechanical .”
In looking at matching the demands of a job to the commercial sweeper , new technologies can offer advantages .
“ In technology of the new sweepers , lots have to do with the cleaner burning fuel efficient engines that are available today ,” stated Tom Rokas , director of sales at TYMCO , Waco , Texas . “ Also , advanced electrical systems with multiplex wiring with digital readout in the cab of the sweeper , which can provide the machine operator with real-time functions as well as on-board diagnostics .”
Clearly , much goes into matching the commercial sweeper style with the demands of the project need . From dust to heavy debris that can include couch cushions , there are machines that will successfully complete the job .
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