Keeping ice from forming is a major concern for property managers during the winter months. Snow and ice management professionals who can effectively control the formation of ice, and reduce the chance of slip and fall accidents, are more likely to keep their clients year after year.
For Seabreeze Property Services in Portland, ME, FISHER® POLY-CASTER™ hoppers are the primary tool in their battle against the formation of ice on client properties. With three locations throughout Maine—Portland, Topsham and Bangor—the Seabreeze teams operate over 60 trucks, 27 loaders and 15 skid loaders in their winter services fleet.
"The POLY-CASTER sanders allow us to deliver the right amount of material to each property," said Laura Bishop, Snow Division Manager for Seabreeze. "We can adjust the speed of the conveyor and spinner to make sure we have the right deicing material flow for each property."
By changing the speed of the conveyor and spinner, the Seabreeze team can tailor the amount of deicing material used to the specific property. This is very important as Seabreeze prides itself on handling all aspects of property management for their clients, regardless of the season. Tailoring the material delivery to the site also aids in reducing the amount of salt or sand that is needed. That provides major efficiencies to Seabreeze in terms of money saved through reduced material usage and time management through reduced trips to headquarters for refills.
The electric motors on the FISHER POLY-CASTER spreaders are another benefit to the Seabreeze team. They previously struggled with gasoline-powered spreaders that were hard to maintain and weren’t efficient in the field.
"We have seen a lot of savings through the reduction in repairs on the electric motors on the FISHER units versus gasolinepowered units," said Seabreeze Operations Manager Erik Verville. "Engines provide a lot of complexity for our service team—and the electric motors are a lot easier to repair."
The electric motors on the FISHER POLY-CASTER spreaders don’t require the operator to stop for fuel either. This has been a huge efficiency gain for the Seabreeze ice control teams.
"We are always looking for new industry trends and technology to provide better services to our clients," said Bishop. Seabreeze is a part of the Chenmark group of businesses that focuses on the constant pursuit of better. This forward-thinking approach to finding the best tools and processes drives the way Seabreeze fulfills the year-round maintenance of their clients’ properties.
CASE Facilities Management Solutions also employs the POLY-CASTER hoppers throughout their expansive fleet. With almost 150 trucks in their fleet, consistency within their equipment drives efficiency and familiarity with their operators.
"The FISHER POLY-CASTER spreaders provide easy access to parts," said Katie Raymond, Vice President Partner Relations for Case Facilities Management Solutions. "When our operators need to do something on the fly in the field, it is easy to get access to the areas that need troubleshooting."
The standard, double lids on the units make loading easy. In an event, if there are issues loading a truck it can easily lead to a bottleneck at the salt pile, which wastes time. The POLY-CASTER spreaders streamline loading and the poly lids protect the deicing materials from the elements to reduce the chance of bridging throughout the route.
Raymond has been at CASE since 2012—being recognized in 2015 as a SIMA All-Star of Snow and Ice. In that time, she has seen the FISHER POLY-CASTER spreader and V-plow become a part of the CASE branding. When you see a CASE truck, it is equipped in a certain way to provide the best level of service possible.
"When our customers see our trucks pull up, there is a sense of relief that the professionals are there to keep them open and allow safe access to their business," said Raymond.
Additionally, Raymond has seen the FISHER equipment drive accountability and ownership within the CASE operations team. "When our operators check out a truck equipped with the FISHER spreader and plow, they want to protect it and treat it like their own. This is a huge increase to employee morale and pays for itself in spades."
Video - FISHER® POLY-CASTER™ Poly Hopper Spreader with NEW Updated Features
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