Zamboni Company Celebrates 60th Anniversary

For Immediate Release

ZAMBONI COMPANY CELEBRATES 60th ANNIVERSARY

PARAMOUNT, CALIFORNIA (April 7, 2009) – Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. proudly announced that the company is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2009. Frank Zamboni introduced the world’s first ice resurfacing machine in 1949 and its impact on ice sports has continued to grow since that time.

Paramount Iceland
In 1940, Frank Zamboni, his brother and a cousin opened the Iceland skating rink in Paramount, California. While managing the business, Frank soon learned that maintaining the ice was a labor intensive task and set out to develop a machine which could create a good sheet of ice in a fraction of the time previously required.

The Model A
After numerous attempts, by 1949 Frank had a working prototype, the “Model A” for which he applied and was granted a patent. Frank J. Zamboni & Co. was established and soon rink owners throughout North America were hearing stories of a machine which could resurface their ice, saving them valuable time and resources. Frank used feedback from the arena managers and owners of his new machines to continually improve upon his previous models.

Ongoing Innovation
Frank Zamboni’s many innovations gave arena operators the ability to make a superior sheet of ice. Zamboni introduced the world’s first electric powered ice resurfacer in 1959 and two of these units were used during the Squaw Valley Winter Olympic Games in California in 1960. Frank made significant enhancements to the design of the machine in the 1960’s, including the addition of a high capacity snow conveying system, a dumping snow tank, and a hydrostatic transmission. The introduction of the 500 Series in 1978 set the standard for ice resurfacing and the Model 550 initiated a renewed interest in the development of reliable electric powered products. Today, the Zamboni Company continues to lead the way, building four models in their Paramount, CA factory and three models in their Brantford, Ontario factory in Canada.

Clean Air
The machines being built today by the Zamboni Company are almost exclusively alternative fuel powered, with 90% of the products leaving the Zamboni factories being either propane, natural gas or electric powered. All of our machine choices provide a clean option and they allow a “green” choice for arena operators, based on their specific needs.

Industry Leader
With a history that spans over six decades, the Zamboni Company preserves its founder’s legacy as the leader in ice resurfacing technology. Zamboni remains the overwhelming choice for ice rink operators throughout the world.

Attachment: NEWS_RELEASE_60th_Anniversary_040709