WE HAD TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING

 

Dipl.-Ing./Fachjournalist BR Ueli spoke to René Pfister, Managing Director of Franz Pfister AG.

 

When it comes to sewer cleaning, tunnel cleaning or surface cleaning, Franz Pfister AG, Zurich-Oerlikon, is certainly a company that can handle any cleaning task, no matter how complex, thanks to its many years of expertise and technology. For some time now, the cleaning professionals have also been active in winter maintenance. 

 

How did it come about that a company specialising in industrial and street cleaning is suddenly also active in winter services? Winter services are not part of your core business.
No, winter maintenance is not part of our core business. But we have a number of tractors and all-wheel drive vehicles that were less utilised during the winter.

 

Does that mean you equip your tractors and four-wheel drive vehicles with a plough and a salt spreader during the cold season?
That's right. All our vehicles in this regard have their plough and top-mounted spreader.

 

 


  At low temperatures, we rely on SNO-N-ICE  

René Pfister


What products do you use for de-icing?
We used to use de-icing salt exclusively. Since the lower temperatures, which last longer in winter, we have now included SNO-N-ICE in our winter maintenance concept. We had to use something that is more effective at low temperatures than normal de-icing salt.

 

SNO-N-ICE - how long have you known about this de-icing agent? How long have you been using it?
We have known about SNO-N-ICE - by name - for a long time. But this winter, with its persistently low temperatures, we had to take action. The normal de-icing salt was partially ineffective. The cleared surfaces remained icy and dangerous. The situation became precarious for our customers.

 

Do you have an example?
Once it was certainly the Engrosmarkt in Zurich. The lorries arrive very early in the morning and when it snows, the squares quickly turn into "ice fields". But it was also critical on the SBB sites. We had to come up with something.

 

And that was SNO-N-ICE?
That's right. Our neighbour is Steinmann Zürich AG - and as you know, they sell SNO-N-ICE. They had been "working" on us for a while. Now it was time to see if the advertising was true.

 

Is it true, the advertising?
Well, of course we could have used grit, but that's one of those things. The equipment has to be specially converted for this. And the grit is thrown to the side relatively quickly by the vehicles, which is detrimental to its effect, and it has to be picked up again later. You then have double the work. We preferred SNO-N-ICE as an alternative de-icing agent.

 

Once again: does your experience stand up to advertising?
Our experience is clear and unambiguous: SNO-N-ICE works absolutely reliably at low temperatures. Thanks to SNO-N-ICE, the formation of dangerous icy surfaces could be avoided over a longer period of time. We are therefore convinced and delighted with SNO-N-ICE. I now even use SNO-N-ICE privately on my doorstep.

 

What did your customers and employees think of the pink de-icing agent?
The only reactions from my customers were actually about the price. In various cases, we have mixed SNO-N-ICE with normal road salt. One third SNO-N-ICE, two thirds conventional road salt. We were pleasantly surprised by the effect we achieved. My employees quickly realised what they got out of the pink de-icing agent - quite a lot of labour savings.

 

Will you be using SNO-N-ICE again next winter?
If the temperatures drop below zero again, then definitely. The pink de-icing agent is also said to be much less aggressive towards concrete than normal de-icing salt. That suits some of my customers. I said to my customers: "I have something to offer you, but it comes at a price." My customers were all very satisfied. What more could you want?

 

Thank you very much for the interview.

 

CONCRETE PROTECTION

Left: De-icing agent, right: SNO-N-ICE.
Many years of practical use have proven that the corrosion and concrete protection contained in SNO-N-ICE is highly effective. It neutralises the aggressive effect of salt on concrete. In addition, protective additives effectively prevent sanding and chipping.

RUST FORMATION

Left: De-icing agent, right: SNO-N-ICE.
Various tests have proven this: SNO-N-ICE eliminates the rust hazard of salt and has an anti-corrosive effect


 

 

 

Steinmann Zürich AG

Neunbrunnenstrasse 40

P.O. Box

CH-8052 Zürich

Tel. +41 44 307 18 18

info@sno-n-ice.ch

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