Road Maintenance - Snowplow - Blade - Mobile equipment - Sweden - +140% lifetime

Objective

Evaluate the performance of Creusabro^® 8000 as an alternative to boron steel 500 HB for snowplow blades, with the goal of extending wear life and reducing blade change frequency during winter operations.

Test Conditions

• Location: Sweden

• Environment: Winter road maintenance with snow and ice, involving high-speed (up to 50 km/h) and continuous contact with abrasive surfaces.

• Function: Reversible snow blades mounted on grade blades, exposed to extreme abrasion and impact.

• Original material: Boron steel 500 HB, 12 mm thickness

• Replacement material: Creusabro® 8000, 15 mm thickness, processed by plasma cutting and hot bending.

Results

• The Creusabro® 8000 blades achieved 60 hours per side, compared to 20 hours per side for the boron steel — a 140% increase in service life.

• The reversible design was maintained, and fabrication remained straightforward thanks to the compatibility of Creusabro® 8000 with plasma cutting and hot bending.

Value Delivered

• Significantly Longer Wear Life: Over twice the operational time per side reduced the frequency of blade changes.

• Cost & Time Savings: Fewer replacements translated into lower maintenance costs and more efficient use of manpower and equipment.

• Reliability in Harsh Conditions: Even at high speeds and in abrasive winter conditions, Creusabro® 8000 delivered consistent, reliable performance.

• Ease of Fabrication: Standard processing techniques allowed for a smooth transition to the improved material.

Conclusion

By switching to Creusabro® 8000, operators benefited from a durable, cost-effective, and reliable solution, extending the wear life of snowplow blades by 140% and reducing operational disruptions during critical winter maintenance.

**In this case, increasing the plate thickness was a deliberate and justified choice. With Creusabro®, the material’s wear resistance is homogeneous throughout its entire thickness, which means that increasing the thickness directly and proportionally extends the service life. This approach is viable as long as the equipment can accommodate the additional weight and material without significantly impacting its performance.

Moreover, given the substantial time savings achieved in this case study, it is reasonable to assume that the original blade was not fully optimized for the application. Therefore, increasing the thickness was not only acceptable but necessary to reach an optimal and reliable wear life, aligning with the end-user’s operational expectations.**

Creusabro® once again demonstrates its ability to deliver superior performance and economic value, even in the most challenging environments.

Comparative test