In the last couple of years, massive snow falls have buried portions of the country that have normally seen little or no snow. As cooler weather blows in, businesses begin to look for new ways to clear the mounds of inevitable snow that will be coming soon.

 

Investing in a snow blower can be a great way for companies to ease snow removal expenses and to quickly clear key pathways before employees arrive for the work day. Although this option may be a great way to save some money the average snow blower is typically noisy, arduous and hard for some people to operate. These inconveniences can be bothersome and disruptive during busy work days, possibly affecting business productivity. 

 

The average office may be willing to deal with the inconveniences of traditional snow removal, but what about facilities such as hospitals, day care centers or retirement facilities where high levels of noise or irritating fumes can be disruptive to resting patients or children?

 

A new electric commercial 2-stage snow blower has been developed by the Ariens Company. The AMP™ 24 Sno-Thro® snow blower requires no gas and only minimal oil lubrication. The benefits of the technology behind this new snow blower are:

The average snow blower produces approximately the same level of sound made by a lawnmower or motorcycle. The AMP™ snow blower produces 80% less noise than a traditional snow blower, or about the same sound level as a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer. Remember that this is the level of sound measured from the operator’s position. If the AMP snow blower was being operated directly outside a hospital window, there is a good chance that someone in the room would hear little more noise than a small fan would make, if they noticed any sound at all.

The AMP snow blower’s electric motor requires no gas and only minimal lubrication oils to operate, helping to eliminate potential leaks of unsafe fluids that could damage surfaces and release bothersome fumes. The AMP snow blower can be safely stored indoors and still meet fire safety regulations. The AMP snow blower is so safe, it could be moved through a hospital waiting room without threat of exposing visitors or patients to potential hazards associated with motor oils and fuels. This makes the AMP ideal for cleaning off decks, patios, atriums or hospital helicopter pads that may not have exterior access points.

Additionally, the AMP snow blower has minimal maintenance requirements. The traditional snow blower needs regular oil changes and trips to the gas station as well as special preparation for seasonal storage. The AMP snow blower’s main requirement is to always be plugged in when not in use. The battery system installed in the AMP snow blower ensures that the battery is never over charged but remains charged whenever needed.

 

The AMP snow blower is powered by two 48-volt AGM (absorbed glass mat) valve regulated battery packs, originally developed for military aircraft. The batteries have a regulated charging system which helps the batteries get fully charged without over charging. During long periods of storage, the system will go dormant and will only check the battery strength every 30 days. Battery life and run time will begin to deteriorate after 200 charges/discharge cycles. At this point, the batteries will need to be replaced.

Once fully charged, the AMP snow blower is able to operate for 45 to 60 minutes on a single charge. The AMP can be recharged in 6 to 7 hours using the standard 5 amp charger. An optional 20 amp charger is available which can fully recharge the batteries in just 3 hours.

Easy operation is another key feature that can make the AMP snow blower attractive to businesses. To operate the AMP snow blower, simply unplug the unit, turn the key and pull the PTO (power take off) switch to start the motor - no difficult recoils to pull start. Having such an effortless start-up system makes the AMP snow blower easy for anyone to operate regardless of age, strength or even mechanical inclination.

 

Ease of use and minimal maintenance requirements does not, however, mean the AMP snow blower is lacking in power. Constructed with the Ariens’ gas-powered compact Sno-Thro® platform, the AMP snow blower is fully capable of throwing snow accurately up to 40 feet while powering through all types of snow, from heavy wet snow to light powder.

 

The strength and power of the AMP 24 Sno-Thro® model can help you handle whatever amount of snow may fall this winter. The cleanliness, ease of use, low maintenance, quiet operation, and environmental friendliness are reasons to consider the AMP 24 Sno-Thro® model over other snow blowers to help keep your facilities clear of snow and open for business this winter.