FARGO, N.D. – The worst hit a snowplow operator can take is when the blade snags an immovable object hiding in the snow.
A new plow design helps reduce the damage caused by hitting rocks and frozen ridges.
“The Sectional Sno-Plow blade is made up of individual 32-inch blade sections,” says Zach Bertschi of Titan Machinery in Fargo.
“Each of these sections attaches to the frame with an eight inch rubber mount. That allows each section to follow the ground very tightly. It’s basically like independent suspension. It gives you a clean surface on the first pass.”
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Sometimes, a seemingly normal incident becomes expensive if the encountered stationary object is a culvert marker, curb, utility standard, manhole cover or a piece of cracked concrete that dislodges and becomes a road hazard.
“When a section hits something solid, it can trip over objects up to nine inches high. The rubber mount absorbs the shock. The only section to trip is the one that hits the object. The rest of the blade sections keep plowing.”
Bertschi says this accomplishes three things:
• reduces blade damage, especially to the outside edges;
• prevents damage to solid objects that are of value;
• reduces operator fatigue and injury.
“After a big snow, a lot of those objects just disappear until the moment you hit them,” he said.
“And a lot of times, you don’t know how much damage you’ve done until spring. When the snow melts, that’s when the surprises appear.”
The rubber mounts and torsion springs provide shock absorption without depending on hydraulics. The weight of each blade holds it tight to the road surface.
The 32 inch cutting edges are made of AR400 steel and are individually replaceable.
Bertschi said Titan has two winters worth of experience with the plows.
It ordered a lot of replacement rubber mounts when it took on the Sectional Sno-Plow line, but none of its customers have asked for them yet.
He said customers tell him the Sectional Sno-Plow doesn’t pull out big chunks of concrete or asphalt like their old blades did.
The blades fit on tractors, skid steer machines and trucks that can handle a blade between eight and 22 feet.
The eight foot plow set-up for a skid steer loader sells for $4,800 US, while a 22 foot plow for a large wheel loader sells for $8,500.
For more information, contact Bertschi at 701-237-3333 or visit www.sectionalplow.com.
