September-October_2021 - 32

COVER STORY
RPM Tech AF1 EVO
Cold Air Blower
RPM Tech is bringing more power and
easier use to the airfield with the third
series of the AF1 EVO Cold Air Blower.
The AF1 EVO is used for clearing
snow and ice around runway lighting.
The burst of air moves the materials
away from the lighting without
damaging them while performing
winter maintenance operations. Airports
can also adopt the blowers to remove
dust, debris, FOD and other foreign
objects on the runway.
" The main feedback was operator
comfort because they want
their
operators to be able to stay in their
vehicles longer because in the winter,
the snow doesn't have a set time on
when it's going to fall or how long it's
going to last, " he said. " The better the
comfort in the vehicle, the less fatigue
for the operator, less danger of accidents
and more productivity. "
The AF1 has been produced
for nearly 40 years, proving it's a
reliable technology for the industry
with upgrades to meet today's needs.
Schwarze A7 Zephyr
The Schwarze A7 Zephyr is designed to
meet the rigorous demand standards of
the Department of Defense high-speed
sweeping requirements for quickly and
effectively removing FOD.
The unit is designed to remove both
ferrous and non-ferrous debris. Other
models are available that can clean in
ancillary areas like parking decks and
roadways around the airfield.
The A7 Zephyr incorporates four
distinct FAA-approved methods for
FOD removal in one packaged unit:
* Vacuum and brush removal of debris
* Powerful truck mounted magnet to
collect ferrous material
* High velocity blast air to push material
from surface.
* Liquid removal and pump off (glycol
recovery)
Regenerative air technology
The blower
module has its
own fuel tank
and provides up
to eight hours of
fuel autonomy
during
operation.
RPM TECH
" Some airports use it in their conga
line, " said Mike Minicucci, senior
account manager for RPM Tech. " They
will start with the cold air blower right
up front and push the snow off the lights
and into the runway where the highspeed
sweeper or plow is lined up next
and they toss it over to the end of the
runway. It's a very efficient machine. "
The third series upgrades include
three-stage
a
centrifugal highperformance
blower driven by a diesel
engine and provides an air speed of up to
535 miles per hour. The blower module
has its own fuel tank and provides up
to eight hours of fuel autonomy during
operation.
The front spout is no longer in the
operator's view while traveling as it can
be stored in the back of the truck. It's
operated via a joystick and touchpad to
simplify usage on the airfield. Minicucci
said the changes came from airport
customer feedback.
Minicucci said the support is provided
with the product.
Operator training for the AF1
focuses mainly on the electronics
Minicucci said. It's a fully computerbased
system, where RPM Tech trains
them on usage and how to dial in
specific parameters for operation.
" New operators coming onto the
scene really like technology, " Minicucci
said. " They're all for the touch screens
and digital technology, so we're evolving
for that. "
Minicucci said using the AF1 EVO
provides operational cost savings by
reducing wear on sweeper units. It costs
significantly less than a sweeper unit and
can be deployed to clear a runway for
lighter snowfall.
" It uses ambient air and blows that
out onto the snow and runway, " he said.
" It doesn't melt out and create a situation
where water is created and ice is formed.
It blows it away with the ambient air. "
32 \ AIRPORTBUSINESS / SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
regenerates the vacuumed air and
recirculates it to the pick-up head for
surface scouring of pavement cracks and
joints. This provides superior sweeping
with single pass performance resulting
in better efficiency.
" This provides bet ter FOD
containment to meet FAA guidelines, "
said Brian Giles, product manager,
Schwarze Industries. " It also provides
higher utilization when equipped with
additional features like catch basin hoses,
side air blast for blowing grass clippings
and glycol or other liquid recovery. "
Small airports, including private
fields generally purchase the Schwarze
September-October_2021

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