There are three fundamental snow and ice control strategies in winter maintenance: Anti-icing, Deicing and Snow Removal…all of which seek to address the safety issues that result from the buildup of snow and ice on pavement.

Sidewalks have always been among the most challenging applications for snow and ice management professionals. Although the industry has made tremendous advancements in clearing more snow using less labor and de-icing materials, many facility managers and contractors still struggle with their walkways. For The Henry Ford complex, however, the grounds maintenance personnel decided it was time for a change. And finding a better solution meant having them drop what they were doing…literally.

Located in Warren, Mich., Berns Landscaping Services, Inc. is one of the snow and ice management firms that is taking a proactive approach and adapting to salt supply challenges. Originally founded in 1982, the company began extending its offering in 1986 to include snow and ice management. Jim Berns, founder and president of Berns Landscaping Services, takes great pride in his commitment to learning the newest technology. And one of his most recent advancements began while investigating ways to combat the salt shortage.

In the old days, contractors kept winter maintenance simple. Take a pickup, add a snowplow, throw in a spreader with deicing material and you were in business. Wait for a snow event, push snow around and put down rock salt to melt any ice. And if one layer of salt isn’t enough — no problem — just put down more. It wasn’t exactly scientific, but it was accepted practice.