The ongoing battle for supremacy between manufacturers of air-water snow guns and electric fan guns has entered a new era, as a number of manufacturers are expanding their product offerings to include all types of snowmaking equipment.
Convergence began in Europe, where snowmaking equipment manufacturers inventory the complete range of snowmaking equipment types along with functional system automation and engineered installation. While this approach may create a bewildering array of choices to an uninformed buyer, it offers a wealth of intriguing possibilities to the perceptive snowmaking manager.
But that’s just the beginning of the trend story.
In this issue we will first cover the air-water offerings. Fan guns will be covered in the July 2004 issue.
Air-Water Trends
Air-water snowmaking equipment emphasizes tower-mounted units for both low-air and traditional air-water equipment. In many instances, early adopters of fixed-position towers have reached the saturation point. So manufacturers have developed highly portable, lightweight sled- or tire-mounted low-air towers that range from 12 to 20 feet in length. Other variations allow the shorter tower to be placed in-trail by inserting a short mounting tube directly into the snow or ground. While there may be some initial compromise in performance with the lower, portable towers, continuing design innovations and improvements will narrow the differences. This design will continue to evolve!
Another trend: inclusion of a small onboard electric compressor for operation in areas that do not have compressed air available. Now that fan gun manufacturers have integrated low-air towers into their snowmaking arsenal, this concept has been widely accepted (at least in Europe) for specific applications.
Another option is the airless tower. This gun type is dependent on tower height and colder snowmaking temperatures. One manufacturer recommends use of a water additive for maximum performance with this configuration.
Areco SnowSystem
Air-water newcomer Areco introduces the newly minted LP3 low-airflow tower, equipped with a lightweight two-tire mount and available in several tower lengths. Intriguing design feature: capability to reduce airflow by 50 percent at colder temperatures via a hydrant-mounted air pressure reducing valve. Info: (802) 899-4210, www.GoFans.com.
Larchmont Engineering
Larchmont offers a selection of traditional air-water guns and low-airflow towers. Tower options include the high-volume O Jet Z1 tower and the cross-country oriented XC. Two 36-foot low-airflow Snotech models complete the tower line. Each aluminum tower model has an optional sled mount. The company continues to supply its traditional line of single nozzle, internal mix snow guns (Musket, Z1 and Quad) that can be mounted on tripods, sleds and towers. Info: (978) 250-1260, www.larchmontengineering.com.
McKinney Industries
McKinney features the SnowKing 7 line of low-airflow portable towers. These units are lightweight and can be configured for any temperature range. Available in several lengths and sled-mounted configurations. Info: (905) 584-9345, www.whittiercanada.on.ca.
Mountain View Technologies
Mountain View’s K3000 air-water line features an adjustable cap for complete flow control. The venerable K2000 line is available on a limited basis. Tower versions of both units are available. Info: (802) 234-5558, www.the-snowman.com.
Omichron
The time-tested Whispergun aluminum air-water gun can be mounted on either a tripod or a 14-foot tower. This model remains popular for traditional snowmaking applications over a wide temperature range. The Turbo model provides high-volume punch for colder temperatures. Info: (802) 824-3136, www.omichron.com.
Ratnik Industries
The Ratnik line includes a selection of traditional air-water guns and low airflow towers with numerous options. The traditional Snow Giant models can be mounted singly, in pairs, on sleds, on towers, automated and oscillated. The Sky Giant low airflow series continues this versatility in a highly portable unit featuring quick-change water nozzles for snowmaking temperature flexibility and performance. The special black Teflon-coated head is an interesting option. New to this line is the H2O airless tower. Info: (585) 924-911, www.ratnik.com. Continued next page
Rogers
The cost-effective Royal Knight is a steel, multiple-nozzle air-water snow gun that comes with a sled mount and couplings. It remains popular with snowmakers because it can be used with a wide array of snowmaking systems and for a variety of applications. Info: (802) 867-5949; fax (802) 867-0226.
SMI
SMI introduces its newly minted Viking low airflow tower. The extruded aluminum tower tube permits multiple banks of water nozzles to be brought on line as needed—an operational feature that is popular in Europe. Info: (989) 631-6091, www.snowmakers.com.
Snow Economics
Snow Economics manufactures the comprehensive HKD low airflow tower series that covers all low airflow options. The extruded aluminum Millennium tower models accept all HKD snowmaking heads. The company also features the Renegade traditional air-water tower for marginal temperature use. All these models can be ordered with the sled-mount option. New for this year is the Genesis 4000. Info: (508) 655-3232, www.snowgun.com.
TechnoAlpin
TechnoAlpin has recently emerged from Europe with lots of experience in automated snowmaking system technology. Their U.S. offerings are the L6/9V low-air tower (sled option available) and H3/6/9 traditional air-water snow gun for automated snowmaking. Info: (435) 649-6610, www.technoalpin.com.
Topgun
The low airflow Topgun tower features an internal control valve for adjusting water flow without water nozzle changes. Topgun also offers the lightweight and portable Pipe Dream short tower—exchangeable water nozzles can tune the water capacity for the conditions. Info: (413) 441-3783, www.topgunsnowguns.com.
Turbocristal
Turbocristal enters the air-water fray with the Snowstar Pegasus and Phoenix air-water lines. These low-air and traditional snowmaking units come in several tower lengths that can also be mounted on a sled. Info: (800) 613-4546, www.turbocristal.com
York
York offers a variety of snowmaking equipment encompassing Rubis 10 low airflow towers and Borax 3 traditional snow guns, suitable for use with either manual or automated snowmaking systems. A variety of tower and sled mount options are available. Included in this year’s roundup is the airless Water Stick, designed to be used with SnoMax water additive. Info: (800) 724-0046, www.yorksnow.com.
Glossary and Explanation
Water Flow (min-max): minimum and maximum operating water flows, in gpm. Water Pressure (min-max): minimum and maximum operating water pressure, in psig. Air Flow (min-max): minimum and maximum compressed air flow through snowgun, in scfm. Air Pressure (min-max): recommended compressed air operating pressure, in psig. Operating Noise Level: manufacturer supplied minimum and maximum sound level, in dB(A), of snowgun in full operation at specified location or distance. Unit Price with (T)ripod or (S)led: list price of snow gun, in U.S. dollars, with type of mount. Recommended Coupling Size: pipe size of air and water couplings on snowgun, in inches. Couplings Supplied: are water and air couplings supplied with purchase of snow gun (yes or no)? Tower Option: does the manufacturer provide a model that can be mounted on a tower (yes or no)? Tower Height: available standard height for tower model, in feet. Tower Cost with Unit: cost of snowgun with tower option, in U.S. dollars.
Standard Tower Height: height of low-airflow tower, in feet. Tower and Snow Gun Weight: weight of complete low airflow tower and snowmaking nozzles, in pounds. Tower Base Diameter: pipe diameter of mounting base, in inches. Number of Nucleation Nozzles: total number of nozzles that direct compressed air into water stream to create ice crystals. Number of Water Nozzles: total number of individual water output nozzles on low airflow snowmaking head. List Price Standard Tower: list price of standard low airflow tower, in U.S. dollars. Sled/Tire Option Available: availability of portable mounts. Sled/Tire Weight: weight of complete portable mount/tower assembly. List Price Sled: list price of portable mount, in U.S. dollars. Onboard Compressor Option: availability of standalone small compressor integrated with tower. List Price Compressor Option: list price of complete compressor option, in U.S. dollars.
