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The Heat Is On
Serious Thermal Products Introduces Fastest
Ground-Thawing Machine
Excavation in the cold is a common concern for year-round and
northern-located utility contractors. When it comes to winter underground
installations, there’s no better way to heat up frozen tundra
than with the Serious Toaster ground-thawing machine, from
Serious Thermal Products Ltd. Using patented infrared technology,
the Toaster thaws frozen ground more than three times faster than
similar competitive units, says the company, and it is the only CSAapproved
product of its kind on the market.
Ideal for underground installations, each Toaster thaws up to
1.6 in. deep per hour in a 2-ft-by-10-ft area. Multiple units can be
placed together in a series or any other configuration to accommodate
larger applications. The Toasters are controlled by a solid-state
electronic system, and they are fueled by clean-burning propane,
making them an environmentally friendly choice. Furthermore, they
do not produce open flames, so they can be safely placed next to
buildings and utility pedestals. Weighing only 345 lbs each, Toasters
fit in standard pickup beds and can be easily moved by two people.
Contact: 403-671-7393 or www.serioustoaster.com.
Roadwork Made Easier
Plate Locks Offers a Cost-Effective Alternative to Using Cold-Mix Around Road Plates
20 Utility Contractor | December 2011
Installing and removing cold patch asphalt around road
plates has always been time consuming, hazardous and labor
intensive. Fortunately today, it’s no longer necessary. Plate
Locks, winner of the Transportation Development Foundation
Award and Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Award, has
developed a new, inventive, cost-effective and reusable road
plate securing system that does away with cold-mix for road
plates and actually marks, identifies and secures them.
Unlike cold patch, which depends entirely on adhesion to
the road, Plate Locks is actually fastened to the road, preventing
any sliding and shifting of the plate. Plate Locks is made
from a recyclable, safety orange polypropylene thermoplastic.
It comes in 5-ft lengths and can be cut to fit any sized plate or
configuration of multiple plates. You can move them from job
to job and it pays for itself after one or two uses vs. cold patch
asphalt material, says the company. Plate Locks is also environmentally
safe, unlike cold mix. It is reusable, has no off gassing
of volatile organic compounds and is recyclable. There are
also no harmful chemicals that can contaminate storm drains.
Contact: 541-821-3622 or www.platelocks.com.