LASER-FOCUSED PRECISION ICE RESURFACING

It's going to save time, money, and labor. The players say they notice the difference — they can skate easier and the puck moves easily.

A recent year long study at Family Ice Centre showed an overall operating cost reduction of $21,500 during its first year of use, while allowing the facility to sell hours it once allocated for ice maintenance. Rinks use the laser systems are able to raise ice temp set points anywhere from one to two degrees during normal operation, resulting in reduced compressor run time.

Why do I have Level-Ice? I would have to say that, as a facility manager looking to find ways to raise the bar, find ways to reduce expenses, find ways to create more energy efficiencies throughout the building and efficiencies throughout the operation, that is one thing that I have put a lot of research into. And also working with the partners such as Zamboni, was able to come up with a solution and a game plan that worked to install on our ice resurfacers, that met all the criteria that I was looking for to raise the bar, elevate our efficiencies and create a better product. It was a no-brainer at the end of the day. When you do the cost analysis on it and the savings that we were looking at, it was less than a two year payback.

We purchased the Level-Ice^® system in 2018 and we've significantly reduced the amount of time spent on ice maintenance. Our operations crew takes time here and there to maintain the ice, but we no longer have six to ten hours of weekly ice maintenance like we did before. There is a noticeable difference from the new machine with Level-Ice and using the EZIII once a day. We now only spend about two hours a week doing minor maintenance using the machine.

I have been working with the Laser system now for over 8 years. With a daily edging plan, you can basically cut the ice maintenance out of your week. It keeps your ice level and looking good at all times, while keeping your ice safe for your customers and ready to use. This is definitely the way of the future, if not already the future and the way all facilities should go when it comes to maintaining your ice. The Level-Ice^® system allows you to see where your ice is thickness is sitting at all times and gives you the options to cut more or less manually if needed depending on the situation. You can see the difference in the ice from going without the laser to the laser, and you know that everything is set at the proper depths that are regulated in our industry. It puts your thoughts at ease knowing that no matter who is driving the machine with the level ice system, they are taking off the right amount of ice every time. Once I got to know how the system works and have worked with it for some time now, I would never go back to the “old” way of doing things. It is revolutionary for our industry.