The National Pavement Expo (NPE) is the industry's only tradeshow and conference. This year, the three day show was held in Memphis, Tennessee from February 15 to February 18.
The NPE benefits contractors on every level and targets the following groups: pavement contractors, dealers/distributors, manufacturers, trade associations, educational institutions, and government agencies. For a complete list of companies that exhibited at the 2012 expo, click here.
NPE Recap
As the 2012 NPE has come to a close, here is a quick recap on the events that have taken place over the last few days. More than 50 workshops and seminars took place and covered a wide range of topics relating to the pavement maintenance industry. A few that stood out:
- Social Marketing on Speed: Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube - social media is a very powerful tool. It's a "one on many" dynamic. This class gave everyone a crash course in social media and how to apply it to the pavement maintenance industry.
- Communication with the Client Solving Problems Before They Start - Open communication with the customer before, during, and after the project is vital. Proper documentation is also important. Tell the customer what he/she can expect and establish a relationship based on trust.
- Best Practices for Contract Sweepers: reoundtable discussions that lasted approximately 35 minutes each and covered a range of topics. Those topics covered include: leveraging the power of the web, measuring driver productivity, and preparing for an in-house emergency. This was a NAPSA sponsored event.
Aardvark Sweeping hosted an open house at their location. This event was a great opportunity to view the equipment, learn what systems they had in place, and to network with other business owners in the industry.
North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA) was in attenda
nce. They hosted membership meetings and sponsered a number of seminars and workshops. In addition, they hosted NAPSA night out at BB Kings in Downtown Memphis. This event was for members only and their guests. It was, yet again, another great networking opportunity.
The show itself featured nationally recognized companies in the industry such as
Tymco,
Seal Masters, and
Elgin Sweeper Company. Here, we were able to chat about the equipment they use, industry trends, and how or if they can help us.
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One Chance for a First Impression!
The parking lot and its surrounding areas are just as important as the inside. Cleanliness is a major factor in determining where people shop. The parking lot is where customers form a first impression of the company. A clean lot projects an image of success. A dirty parking lot that is filled with debris may even prevent customers from going inside. Finally, a clean parking lot will deter patrons from littering.
The accumulation of trash, sand, rocks, etc. is inevitable. Vehicles drive into the parking lot and the sand/dirt that is on their tires stick to the pavement. Therefore, your property should be on a regular cleaning schedule.
What if your parking lot is left unattended?
If any area of the parking lot is left unattended, it becomes susceptible to roaches, rodents, and bacteria. Furthermore, sand and other debris are very harmful because they can hold and store water. If the sand and other debris are left to sit on the pavement, the water that is trapped can penetrate into the asphalt. Once the water seeps into the asphalt, it freezes and thaws, expanding into cracks, which expand and grow during freezing conditions. Parking lot sweeping removes all sand and debris, thus avoiding these problems.
Storm Water Runoff & Parking Lot Sweeping
Storm water runoff is becoming more of an issue in our environment as the catch-basins accumulate with trash and other sediments, causing it to seep into the earth's waterways. Parking lot sweeping is the EPA's number one solution to reducing the amount of pollutants that enter our waterways.
Outside Sources were used to compile this article. Cleck here for a works cited page.
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Cleanliness is an important factor in determining where people shop. A customer's first impression is formed in the parking lot. In addition, dirt and debris are damaging to the pavement and will shorten its useful life. Finally, keeping the parking lot clean reduces the chance of a slip-and-fall and thus, reduces a business' liability.
Construction Sweeping is one of the most demanding types of sweeping. Throughout all phases of the construction process, sand, dirt, and debris accumulate on site. The sweeping contractor must be present throughout all phases of the process.
Construction sweeping will help keep that sand, dirt, and debris from accumulating on the sidewalks.
Municipal Sweeping is city sweeping. When sweeping cities, one must consider environmental regulations and storm water runoff. Compliance and inspections are on the rise. Catch- basins can accumulate with sand and debris if not careful. Federal law mandates that the catch-basins are clean. The Clean Water Act II simply states "Nothing but rain down the drain". Townships designate who is responsible for making sure cities are EPA compliant. Street sweeping has been determined to be a "best management practice" by the federal and state divisions of the EPA. Sweeping has been proven to preserve the life of the asphalt and keeps properties clean and professional by picking up sand and debris that accumulate.
(732) 886-1940 -
www.sweeping.com