German winter service saves 30% salt with Polem storage systems

Challenges and analysis

The traditional approach to de-icing brought three major problems.

First, there were high consumption costs for road salt and brine water. Second, there was a clear environmental burden from excessive use of salt solutions, with harmful effects on soil and groundwater. Third, effectiveness was limited: in dry, windy conditions, the road salt quickly blew away, often requiring re-application.

A thorough analysis showed that the biggest opportunity lay in improving the adhesion of salt to the road surface.

Solution and implementation

The winter service decided to invest in innovative salt dissolvers, also called brine-making installations. These installations create a precise brine solution and spray the road salt before it reaches the road. This makes the salt adhere better to the road surface and significantly reduces loss due to wind and traffic.

In collaboration with our engineers, multiple brine-making installations were placed, tailored to specific needs. Various diameters and configurations were delivered. Additionally, both manual and automatic operation were chosen, depending on location and capacity.

The implementation proceeded in phases, with regular evaluation and small adjustments to the brine concentration settings.

Results

The results were convincing.

An average of 30% less road salt and brine water was consumed. Traffic safety increased because the salt remained on the road longer. There were significant cost savings on materials and fewer trips for re-salting. Environmental impact clearly decreased, with less negative impact on soil and groundwater.

Lessons learned

The most important insight was that a significant difference can be made with relatively simple technology and smart coordination. By continuously applying small optimizations in dosing and timing of brining, the system remained flexible and effective under changing weather conditions.

Conclusion

The investment in modern brine-making installations paid for itself quickly. There is now safer traffic, lower costs, and a better environment. This approach offers great potential for other winter services domestically and internationally.

In the future, expansion to other regions and integration with smart weather data are being considered to optimize the system even further.

FAQ

1. What is the advantage of spraying salt with brine water? By pre-treating salt with brine water, it adheres better to the road surface. This increases the effectiveness of spreading and prevents waste.
2. How much savings does it provide? On average, 30% less salt and brine water was used in this case. Besides lower material costs, this also results in less maintenance costs and environmental damage.
3. Are these brine-making installations suitable for small municipalities? Yes, the installations are available in various sizes and with manual or automatic operation. This allows them to be used effectively in smaller municipalities as well.
4. Does personnel need special training? A short training usually suffices to operate the system properly. With automatic systems, the required knowledge is even more limited, as many processes are automated.
5. How quickly does such an installation pay for itself? The payback time varies. In this project, this was visible within two seasons. Lower material costs and fewer labor hours for re-salting quickly create profitability.

Would you like to know how your winter service can also save on salt and brine water? Contact us today for a non-binding consultation.