Celebrating WorldSweeper's 18th Anniversary
by Ranger Kidwell-Ross, editor
WorldSweeper.com
The June solstice holds a special place of celebration in many cultures. People around the world celebrate the day with feasts, picnics, dance, and music.
I celebrate today, the June solstice, as the 18th anniversary of the WorldSweeper website. When I got the fledgling website completed, which marked a transition from my previous American Sweeper site, I thought it was an excellent reason to celebrate. So, since the introductory site was completed in mid-June, I thought why not tag along with an already established holiday that was celebrated as a time of maximum illumination? After all, that's what I intended not just for America, but for the worldwide power sweeping industry.
My quarterly American Sweeper magazine, which was sponsored by Schwarze Industries back when the Schwarze family owned it, had enjoyed unquestioned success as the leading industry information resource. I looked forward to providing the same type of award-winning information online without the expense and layout hassle of a print publication.
Schwarze's new owner, the Alamo Group, had declined to continue the company's long-standing sponsorship of the educational magazine. Plus, given the enormous increase in both postage and printing costs in the last two decades, the widespread adoption of the internet by virtually everyone and the inherent value of sole ownership, transitioning to online-only turned out to be an excellent decision.
Through the interim I have also learned, and transmitted to our readership, much more information about the worldwide sweeping industry. Although many in the U.S. might assume America is dominant in terms of sweeper choices and capabilities, if you are a long-time reader you will know that's not necessarily the case. Currently, as you will learn in this issue, Finland appears to have the 'high ground' in terms of electric/autonomous sweepers with its Trombia Free sweeper.
However, the U.S. does seem to have the lead in trying to address one of the most difficult to handle of the worldwide pavement pollution runoff problems, that of microplastic pollution. I am looking forward to participating in the upcoming study we showcase as our leading story in this issue. My part in the effort will be composed of trying to figure out the BMPs of using U.S.-available sweepers as well as designing guidelines for their use in order to best fight what has become a particularly serious pavement runoff issue.
In this issue we underscore what's happening in non-U.S. segments of power sweeping with articles about the strides being made by sweeper manufacturers in France, Switzerland, Denmark and Finland. Mixed in with that is news from America's largest manufacturer, Elgin Sweeper, with its announcement about the new thermal management system with which it will be equipping its hybrid Pelican model.
Sweeping, both power and manual, is an important task in all corners of the world. It can only be helpful to industry professionals everywhere to see what's occurring around the planet. That information will shed the maximum light possible on what worldwide breakthroughs are now available to keep the industry advancing everywhere.
As always, if you have any news of potential interest to the power sweeping community, please let us know. Between this publication, the WorldSweeper.com website, and the World Sweeping Association, we'll be sure to get the information passed along to interested readers.
Good Sweeping,
Editor, WorldSweeper.com
Executive Director, World Sweeping Association
Member, PAVEMENT Hall of Fame
PS If you're a contractor I urge you to check out the many benefits of membership in the World Sweeping Association. Also, if you haven't 'liked' our WorldSweeper Facebook page, what are you waiting for? That's where we offer a variety of industry previews and updates on an ongoing basis.
June Newsletter Contents
(Scroll down to read stories or click on links below.)
- Sea Grant Receives $1.5 Million to Study Microplastics Runoff
- Trombia Free Autonomous EV Sweeper Tested by Port of NY and NJ
- Mathieu – Fayat Group Chooses Forsee Power to Electrify Its Street Sweepers and Washers
- Denmark's Egholm Sweepers Now in the U.S.
- Boschung Celebrates Milestone: Delivery of the 100th Urban-Sweeper for the City of Berlin
- Not Exactly Sweeping: PAVE/X Tradeshow Announced for January 2024
Sea Grant Receives $1.5 Million to Study Microplastics Runoff
The University of Southern California (USC) Sea Grant Program has received over $1.5 million of funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for two major projects addressing the issue of marine debris in Southern California.
Roger Sutherland, noted sweeper researcher and tester, along with Ranger Kidwell-Ross, Editor of WorldSweeper.com, will help develop BMPs on how street sweeping might best be used for pavement-based debris removal – especially microplastics – prior to runoff as pollutants.
Learn more.
Trombia Free Autonomous EV Sweeper Tested by Port of NY and NJ
In May of 2023, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey conducted a quantifiable test of the capability of the Trombia Free sweeper to perform on Port properties.
The link below is to the Zoomcast between WorldSweeper's Editor and Ignacio McBeatch, Technology Development Manager for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In it, they discuss the preliminary findings of how the Trombia Free sweeper performed during a three-location testing process conducted in May of 2023.
Check out a 3-minute video of the Trombia Free in action and the @40-minute conversation about the testing process.
Mathieu – Fayat Group Chooses Forsee Power to Electrify Its Street Sweepers and Washers
Mathieu, a division of Fayat Group, has chosen to equip its street sweepers and washers with Forsee Power battery systems, an expert in smart battery systems for sustainable electromobility, in order to enable zero-emission operations in urban environments.
The vehicles will incorporate ZEN 8 SLIM, a versatile and ultra-thin battery developed by Forsee Power engineers for the off-highway market.
Check out the press release.
Elgin Announces Next Generation Hybrid Pelican With Thermal Management
In support of the transition to emissions-free mechanical sweeping vehicles, Elgin Sweeper has announced the company will leverage the Modine EVantage™ L-CON Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) for the hybrid version of its Pelican® three-wheeled mechanical sweeper.
For the new plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) Pelican, the Modine EVantage L-CON BTMS will enhance battery longevity, optimize vehicle range and reduce carbon emissions. "Together with Modine (NYSE: MOD, "Modine"), said Tim Letts, Project Manager at Elgin Sweeper, we are powering a generation of sweepers that pollute less to deliver truly cleaner and greener streets across North America. We are excited for this partnership and the integration of advanced thermal management technology to continue delivering uncompromised performance for heavy-duty sweeping applications."
Check out the information on Elgin.
Denmark's Egholm Sweepers Now in the U.S.
The Egholm sweeper line is now available in the U.S. through Virginia-based JTC Articulated, LLC. The Egholm models are made in three different sizes to accommodate differing needs. (The smallest is offered with or without a covered cab.) All are smaller sweepers designed for narrower areas than standard U.S. streets.
A touted feature of the Egholm sweeper line is they are multi-faceted machines that have a variety of attachments available for them, including snow plows and blowers, mowers, salt/sand spreaders and more. This, according to Jim Hutchins, JTC's President, "allows the machines to be on the job year 'round, from summer through snow season, which allows contractors to keep them on the job for a variety of tasks as well as to keep their workforces intact throughout the year."
We offer an article as well as a Zoomcast with the President and National Sales Manager for the company representing the Egholm line in the U.S.
Learn about the Egholm product line.
Boschung Celebrates Milestone: Delivery of the 100th Urban-Sweeper for the City of Berlin
At the end of May the sweeper company Boschung, located in Payerne, Switzerland, announced it had delivered the 100th Urban-Sweeper to Berlin Stadtreinigung (BSR). With a longstanding reputation for excellence and a commitment to cutting-edge technology and sustainability, Boschung continues to be a trusted partner in supporting BSR’s vision of a better, greener, and cleaner Berlin.
BSR now boasts a fleet of 104 Urban-Sweeper units, with 50 of them being the state-of-the-art Urban-Sweeper S2.0, fully electric and emitting zero emissions. Electrifying their vehicle fleet aligns with BSR’s vision of a more sustainable future. The introduction of the electric variant of the Urban-Sweeper both meets BSR’s operational needs and also has garnered praise from the Berliner drivers and citizens. The S2.0 combines comfort and ease of handling, providing a quieter and more pleasant working experience compared to its predecessor.
Boschung officials say their S2.0 machines demonstrate the potential for environmental transformation while also serving as an inspiring example for cities worldwide.
Read all about it.
PAVE/X Tradeshow Announced for January 2024
This all-new event will be held January 30 – February 1st, 2024 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. PAVE/X is the result of years of experience, including successful ownership of other industry-leading events in the pavement space in the past.
The announcement touts the new tradeshow will offer five tracks: Paving, Striping, Sweeping, Sealcoating & Business Management.
Check out the information.
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