Even the harshest winter leaves Otto Tritten, operations manager of the Mettlen depot in the municipality of Saanen, cold. Because he knows that with the innovative SNO-N- ICE de-icing agent, he can turn the Gstaad promenade into a winter wonderland: snow-white, but absolutely non-slip.
When winter arrives, tourists from all over the world flock to the world-famous winter sports resort of Gstaad. And they all want one thing: a winter wonderland, glistening white as in a picture book - but absolutely non-slip and sparkling clean, please - without black ice, slush or even white traces of salt on the floor or on their shoes.
5-star winter service for high demands
The high demands of guests and boutique, hotel and chalet owners present Otto Kernen, who has been responsible for the perfect 5-star winter service in Gstaad for 25 years, with many a challenge. He and his staff are not only responsible for around 300,000 square metres of municipal roads, but also for the promenade in the heart of Gstaad. Here, boutique follows boutique - and guests should be able to stroll in front of them on real snow without the risk of slipping.
No "Gstaad winter fairytale" without SNO-N- ICE
If there were no SNO-N- ICE, Otto Tritten would probably despair at the balancing act required. But thanks to the innovative de-icing agent, which is far superior to normal road salt in many respects, even the frostiest winter leaves him unimpressed. Even in January 2017, the coldest for 28 years, the promenade in Gstaad shone in perfectly prepared white.
The secret: the freshly fallen snow is not cleared away, but compacted into a compact, perfectly walkable "base" 5 to 20 cm thick. The surface is then mechanically roughened by an "ice scraper" with an incised profile. The edges of the pedestrian zone in particular are then scattered by hand with SNO-N-ICE. As this has an immediate anti-slip effect that lasts up to 24 hours, the snow becomes grippy in a matter of seconds. And because SNO-N- ICE is coloured pink, Otto Tritten's employees can see exactly where it has been spread and where it has not.
They can also use SNO-N- ICE to specifically treat localised danger zones, such as places where meltwater produced by the sun freezes in the evening. Thanks to the special formulation of SNO-N- ICE, this works even at temperatures where conventional road salt has long since reached its limits: down to minus 21 degrees. And because SNO-N- ICE is particularly gentle on dogs' paws, not only guests and residents, but also their beloved four-legged friends literally feel at home on surfaces treated with SNO-N- ICE.
The owners of the boutiques, hoteliers and chalet owners are also satisfied. Because SNO-N- ICE is carried around much less than road salt, entrances and floors remain just as clean as shoes.
As a result, Otto Tritten has not heard a single complaint for years. Instead, numerous locals buy SNO-N- ICE from him. Because they see its advantages day after day - and also use it for winter maintenance on their own property.
Otto Tritten
23 years of excellent experience with SNO-N- ICE
Otto Tritten himself first came into contact with SNO-N- ICE in 1994. At the time, he received a trial quantity - and was immediately impressed "despite initial scepticism", as he admits. "SNO-N- ICE works more efficiently and for longer and at lower temperatures than any other product I know," he says.
And the cost-benefit calculation of SNO-N- ICE is also right, explains Otto Tritten. It is somewhat more expensive than conventional road salt. But it also has a significantly better coverage per square metre, reduces personnel costs due to its long duration of action and prevents expensive consequential damage - because it does not attack concrete or metal.
The SNO-N- ICE system from Gstaad as an international role model
More and more municipalities are hearing about these advantages. In recent years, delegations from all over Switzerland, and even from Salzburg and the French Alps, have travelled to Gstaad to see how perfect winter maintenance works with SNO-N- ICE. Otto Tritten is happy to explain it to interested parties. He and his team are rightly proud of their work and the results they have achieved.
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