The purpose and use of mechanization in the winter service does not change significantly, but the influence of clients and contractors on logistics, control of use and costs is still increasing.

The measures are different, but it is not only the purchase price of machinery that has an impact on costs. We all belong to the area of ​​business success. Therefore, the assigned tasks must be successfully completed with optimal use of resources. Here, of course, questions arise as to whether tried and tested methods of winter road maintenance can be further optimized without additional investment in the organization, machines and methods of use and maintenance.

Given the nature of the work, this is of course possible, but given the unpredictability of the local condition of the road, this is very difficult. In any case, in order to improve the performance of business in the winter service, it is necessary to know the existing local situation very well and to upgrade it with different approaches and technologies.

One of the tools for spreading measures is the use of spreaders for combined spreading and spreading of liquids.

Different types of spreaders are in use. A modern spreader must enable path-dependent spreading (the amount of spreading is constant regardless of the driving speed) by compensating the spreading width and by moistening the spreading material during preventive spreading.

Disadvantages of spreading with a classic spreader:

  • slow spreading action (requires fluid to operate)
  • wind scatter sensitivity, turbulence and traffic density
  • lower spreading speed (35-40 km/h)
  • vortexing and uneven scattering of material

The difference compared to the classic and combined spreaders is in the additional liquid dosing system and in the ratio of the dry material and liquid. Dosing is done with a spreading disc and/or with a combination of nozzles and a spreading disc.

Sirius Combi spreader
Sirius Combi spreader

Because the combined spreader allows different ways of spreading, ie. spreading of salt, mixtures of salt and sand, spreading of salt with prewetting, spreading of the liquid itself and spreading of combinations, the user is allowed to use in all weather conditions. However, when spreading the liquid itself, its use is limited in terms of temperatures on wet roads up to temperatures down to -6 °C and on dry roads down to -8 °C.

Spreading is done by dosing on nozzles of different shapes. (mainly differences in nozzle capacity and output beam shape).

Nozzle combination Sirius Combi
Nozzle combination Sirius Combi

Advantages of spreading with a combined spreader:

  • faster operation
  • better spreading image, less wind dependence
  • reduction of salt consumption larger residual material on the road (fewer added spreading actions)
  • reducing the impact on the environment (use smaller amounts of dry materials)
  • higher spreading speed (approx. 40-50 km / h), even higher speed at 100% spreading of liquids (50-90 km/h)

By spreading 100% liquid, we create a film directly on the base. It is especially useful for preventive spreading in heavy traffic, reducing the amount of material used, lower impact on the environment, time advantage when used in winter service and thus greater traffic safety.

According to Strassen NRW Germany, the investment in a combined spreader and technology for mixing and storing solutions is depreciated in approx. 6 years.

Find out more about mixing technology: RikoMix and RikoHran

Spreader for combined spreading: Sirius Combi AST