Latest news with #NorthAmericanSnowConference
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
At DeVos Place, vendor shows off new ‘Pothole Punisher'
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Winter may be behind us, but the snow removal and treatment industry is already getting ready for next year. The North American Snow Conference continued Tuesday at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, with vendors showing off their technology. More than 3,000 people have signed up to attend this week. Over 150 vendors are on hand to display their technology and equipment to city crews. The event also provides education and training on clearing snow and ice from roads and bridges. One product being shown off is aimed to deal with the damage left behind from cleanup: potholes. Plows, equipment, ideas on display at 'Show for Snow' It's no shock to you if you drive around West Michigan: There are potholes all over the place. 'Potholes cost the insurance company and cost you as consumers millions and millions of dollars a year,' said Kurt Schwartz, the territory manager for KM International, an asphalt maintenance equipment manufacturer based out of North Branch, Michigan. 'Vehicle damage, trying to dodge a pothole, hitting something.' If you ask Schwartz, a pothole's worst enemy may be his company's Pothole Punisher. He says it's used by Grand Rapids, Lansing and Michigan Department of Transportation crews. It's a trailer that allows crews to keep asphalt at a hot working temperature for two days, so it's ready to go to fill the potholes. 'It's a big issue and we have the solution to help you fix the potholes in Michigan,' Schwartz said. KM International is one of the vendors taking part in the so-called 'Show for Snow' this week. The event gives crews like Grand Rapids Department of Public Works the chance to check out new snow equipment and technology for the future. 'We get to look at new technology, new types of equipment and of course interacting with each other,' Grand Rapids DPW Director John Gorney told News 8 Sunday. 'There is always someone trying something new and that interaction with each other is fantastic. When it's snowing, we just don't have time. That's the main reason. Now, while we are looking at current budgets and future budgets, if there is new equipment or tech it is the perfect time to get those orders in and plan for next year.' The equipment is not just for clearing the roads. METEC Metal Technology, based out of Toronto, focuses primarily on clearing sidewalks. On Tuesday, they showed off their compact snow blower made specifically for sidewalks. Grand Rapids has used a different contractor the last few years to clear nearly a thousand miles of sidewalks around the city. 'I don't know how the snowfalls are here in Grand Rapids, but where we're from, you can get a couple feet,' said Ben Martin, METEC Metal Technology's marketing manager. 'Clearing the sidewalks is important to keep everybody safe, we salt them to make sure nobody's going to slip.' The final day of the snow conference is Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Plows, equipment, ideas on display at ‘Show for Snow'
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The largest North American Snow Conference ever thrown by the American Public Works Association opened Sunday in Grand Rapids. More than 3,000 people are registered to attend and admire the wares and works of more than 150 exhibitors this week and what's called the 'Show for Snow.' 'The purpose is education and training for our snow fighters to remove snow and ice from roads, bridges and streets,' APWA CEO Scott Greyson told News 8. 'You're on the floor of an amazing exposition with big, shiny equipment and lots of weather equipment, as well.' For local Department of Public Works crews, it's a chance to swap snow-clearing strategies with crews from near and far, marvel at snow-moving machines, all while enjoying a break from the snow fighting grind. 'We get to look at new technology, new types of equipment and of course interacting with each other. There is always someone trying something new and that interaction with each other is fantastic,' Grand Rapids DPW Director John Gorney said. 'When it's snowing, we just don't have time. That's the main reason. Now, while we are looking at current budgets and future budgets, if there is new equipment or tech it is the perfect time to get those orders in and plan for next year.' Some of that tech shopping and tactic trading is going farther than usual this year, as changing weather attracts folks from far afield. 'With climate change we are experiencing more flooding, more ice, more snow,' Greyson said. 'So, we have people here from Houston and other places that you wouldn't think need snowplows. Now, they do.' A few hundred miles away from the 2025 conference, an example of these public servants' fiercest challenges plays out in Northern Michigan — a recent ice storm summoned , and crews from around the state. Their work is reflected in the exhibit halls in Devos Place. 'We have a handful of people that would have been here that had to cancel because they are up there,' Greyson said. 'The DPWA Michigan chapter put out a call for anyone to send resources to Northern Michigan,' said James Hurt, co-chair of the Michigan DPWA chapter. 'That's what we do in times of need — we join together, help each other.' The conference continues through Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
CalAmp to Attend North American Snow Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 6-9
CARLSBAD, Calif., March 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CalAmp, a leading provider of connected solutions for the transportation, logistics, and government sectors, is excited to announce its participation in the 2025 North American Snow Conference, taking place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from April 6-9. As a premier event for local government professionals, the conference provides a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge educational sessions, and discover innovative solutions to enhance snow and ice management practices. CalAmp will be showcasing its latest technologies at Booth 1111, where attendees can learn about the company's advanced connected solutions for snow removal, fleet management, and asset tracking. The company's solutions are designed to help municipalities optimize operations, improve efficiency, and ensure the safety of citizens during winter weather events. "We are excited to be attending the North American Snow Conference and connecting with local government professionals who are focused on improving snow and ice management," said Paul Washicko, GM of Telematics Solutions at CalAmp. "The conference offers a unique platform for sharing our innovative solutions and demonstrating how our technologies can help municipalities streamline operations, reduce costs, and ultimately provide better service to their communities." The North American Snow Conference is renowned for its educational sessions, covering the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in snow and ice management. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with peers, exchange ideas, and explore cutting-edge solutions that can drive efficiency and safety in their snow removal operations. For more information about CalAmp and its student transportation solutions, visit About CalAmp CalAmp provides flexible solutions to help organizations worldwide monitor, track, and protect their vital assets. Our unique device-enabled software and cloud platform enables commercial and government organizations worldwide to improve efficiency, safety, visibility, and compliance while accommodating the unique ways they do business. With over 10 million active edge devices and 220+ approved or pending patents, CalAmp is the telematics leader organizations turn to for innovation and dependability. For more information, visit or LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube or CalAmp Blog. CalAmp, LoJack, TRACKER, Here Comes The Bus, Bus Guardian, CalAmp Vision, CrashBoxx and associated logos are among the trademarks of CalAmp and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Spireon acquired the LoJack® U.S. Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) business from CalAmp and holds an exclusive license to the LoJack mark in the United States and Canada. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners. CalAmp Investor Contact: CalAmp Media Contact: Jikun Kim Mark Gaydos SVP & CFO Chief Marketing Officer ir@ Mgaydos@ in to access your portfolio
