Zirocco jet dryers extend Straat1's road marking season by at least 10% each year

For road marking companies, every working day that can be utilized has value. The weather determines how much work can be done, how efficiently employees can use their time, and whether time-sensitive contracts can be completed on time.

For Straat1 GmbH, Zirocco jet dryers have made a significant difference. By making it possible to continue working in rain, cold, and frost, they have extended the company’s working season. This results in more productive workdays, greater planning reliability, and better utilization of employees and machinery.

That is why Straat1 has confidence in Zirocco

• Extends the road marking season by at least 10%
• Adds 15–20 extra workdays per year with the large machines
• Keeps work going in rain, cold, and frost
• Provides greater planning certainty for time-sensitive contracts
• The lightweight Hammer Jet machines are easy to use in urban areas
• Fast and friendly service, as well as expert technical support

The Path to the Right Solution

Straat1 performs road marking projects throughout northern Germany—from city streets and parking lots to highways and airports.

Like many other contractors, the company had been using gas dryers and other drying equipment for many years to prepare wet surfaces. This worked well for less demanding tasks, but the equipment was often slow, cumbersome to transport, and could not provide the reliability required for larger and more demanding projects.

The search for a better solution began with the compact Zirocco Hammer Jet. Its light weight and excellent maneuverability made it ideal for employees in urban areas who needed equipment that could be quickly transported and put into operation.

An internal test confirmed the machine’s performance, and it was well received by the employees. At the same time, Straat1’s confidence in Zirocco grew thanks to responsive service and close collaboration with both the workshop and the employees out in the field. These positive experiences gave Straat1 a solid foundation for expanding its investment from the Hammer Jet solution to the larger F200 jet dryers.

More and more productive workdays

For Straat1, the biggest advantage of the Zirocco jet dryers is that they increase employee productivity and thus generate a direct business benefit.

The company reports that the jet dryers add 15–20 extra workdays per year with the large machines, thereby significantly extending the road marking season. These extra days enable Straat1 to make better use of its employees, vehicles, and machinery while reducing the disruptions that bad weather would otherwise cause.

“The key benefit is that we can extend our road marking season by at least 10 percent.”

The dryers have also improved planning reliability. Instead of postponing or canceling jobs due to wet or cold surfaces, employees can quickly prepare the road surface and continue working with minimal downtime. This helps the company meet its deadlines—even during the busiest periods.

Proven under extreme conditions

One project in particular clearly demonstrated the difference Zirocco's equipment can make.

In the first week of January, Straat1 was scheduled to apply temporary road markings in preparation for a bridge project on a highway. The temperature was well below freezing, and the road surface was completely frozen solid. Without a reliable method for preparing the surface, the work simply could not have been completed.

“It wasn’t the largest project in terms of scope, but it clearly demonstrated what a Zirocco jet dryer is capable of. Without it, it wouldn’t have been possible to complete the task.”

By clearing the frozen road surface, Straat1 was able to complete the work on time. The project demonstrated that time-sensitive tasks no longer have to come to a standstill simply because weather conditions are not optimal.
‍
An integral part of daily operations

Today, Zirocco jet dryers are an integral part of Straat1’s operations. In addition to extending the road marking season, they have increased planning reliability, enabled employees to work productively for more months of the year, and reduced the operational impact of bad weather.

“I highly recommend this product. I am fully convinced that it works.”

For Straat1, this has made a significant difference. Tasks that previously had to be postponed can now be completed as planned. This gives the company greater flexibility, increased planning certainty, and a competitive advantage throughout the road marking season.