Optimising Investment and uptime

Increase your road marking equipment profitability

Tight deadlines, inclement weather, long travel times and inadequate tank capacity are just a few of the challenges facing road marking contractors. But with the right equipment and careful planning, road marking contractors can optimise their investment and uptime.

Timing plays a key role in every road marking job. On new roads, it's the last part of a project - and if there have been delays along the way, road marking contractors are under pressure to complete the job fast. On existing roads, remarking can mean diversions for motorists, and at worst temporary road closures.

With today's high traffic density, completing the job quickly is a must. So to help improve profitability and increase uptime, Danish road marking equipment manufacturer Borum is helping road marking contractors around the world improve their performance - and their bottom line.

Operation and maintenance are key

The right equipment makes the job straightforward and it helps operators to get the most from available working hours. In fact, reliable, well-designed road marking machines are the key to a smooth job. Lisbeth Knudsen, Area Sales Manager at Borum, explains, "To help my customers choose the right equipment, there are a number of important points to consider." One of the first points to consider, maybe surprisingly, is maintenance. "Maintenance is actually a very important uptime parameter. Our machines are easy to maintain and we make it easy to access parts. We provide a maintenance schedule for all our machines, so it's simple for customers to keep their equipment in top running order. For new customers, a service technician is onsite for five days to ensure the machine, and operator, are perfectly in tune. And we have a worldwide network of partners, so you can always get in touch whenever you need help," adds Lisbeth Knudsen.

Another important point to consider is that road marking machines must be easy to operate to get a great result. "To make life easier for road markers, Borum launched the LineMaster road marking computer in early 2010. Designed to help operators control all road marking tasks - from line application and pre-marking to reporting and invoicing - this intuitive system makes the entire road marking process more efficient, too," says Lisbeth Knudsen.

Tank size matters

Tank capacity is alpha and omega for uptime and profitability. Road marking machines are now so effective that they can empty a material tank very quickly. If you're using thermoplastic, this can mean having to wait for more material to melt and reach the correct temperature if the heating tank capacity for feeding the machine isn't large enough.

"Operators have told us that they can spend up to 25 percent of their daily working hours waiting for material to melt," says Lisbeth Knudsen. "And this is unnecessary! There are many small things you can do to help optimise your investment. We try to help our customers by discussing the different options and considerations with regard to their typical types of contract; First of all the question is whether to use hot thermoplastic, cold paint or 2-component material. If they choose to work with hot thermoplastic it is important to consider the size of the material tank on the machine and the size of the feeder tanks compared to the desired working speed of the machine. We also discuss the different principles of how to get the most out of the melting capacity. Another small and inexpensive feature for optimising the work process is to use a timer on the preheaters to automatically start the melting process in the morning before you arrive at the garage," she adds. "With the right capacities and the correct use of the equipment, the work can be done as efficiently as possible without unnecessary downtime".

Meeting new demands

Borum is also quickly adapting to industry demands. "Councils and road marking authorities are demanding higher and higher retro-reflectivity, especially under wet conditions. So Borum is now making more machines with a new dot and line system in response to this demand. The Dot'n Line system can also be retro-fitted on most machines. We take pride in continuously developing our machines and adapting fast to changes in the industry," adds Lisbeth Knudsen.

It's straightforward

A well-marked road is a safe road. And for a road marking contractor, a job well done is a profitable one. Having to cope with variables such as changing weather conditions, traffic density and travel time, operators need equipment that's suited to the job and performs well, time after time. Borum road marking equipment is easy to operate and maintain and operators are able to spend more time on their actual marking jobs, making money. So give it some thought - how is your uptime and profitability?