Anderson Innovations is a family-owned company based out of Duluth, MN. We specialize in the design and manufacturing of walk-behind floor scrapers and ride-on floor scrapers. With generations of experience under our belts, we made it a primary goal in the design phase of our scrapers to make them as efficient as possible.
One of the main features in our machines, which we developed as a result of this goal, is what we call Forward Slope Technology (FST™).
What is Forward Slope Technology™?
If you look at other floor scrapers on the market, you will notice that the support structure of the machines will be parallel to the floor when the blade is not contacting the ground. To begin scraping, the user needs to apply pressure on the blade by increasing the height and/or the angle of the blade, which will lift the front of the machine up. This will put the machine in a “hunched” position for flooring removal (see Figure 1). This position is not ideal because the support structure of the machine won’t be in line with the direction of force from the blade. This misalignment will cause a loss of efficiency. The drive force from the wheels meant for the blade to remove material is instead directed into less sturdy components which can flex, a spongy hydraulic system, cylinder shaft bolts (that can break), etc.
In addition, as pressure increases at the blade when the machine is in a hunched position, the resistance from the flooring material wants to push the blade up and back. This will cause it to hop out of the material. The only way to combat this is by putting more and more weight on the front of the machine. Think of it like trying to scrape ice off your car window with a hand scraper, but instead of a straight shaft, the scraper handle is in a “Z” shape. You can make it work, but you will need to use one hand to put pressure on the scraping edge, or it will jump out of the ice. With this issue in mind, the forward slope you can see in our machines is not there for aesthetics but rather to increase the performance of the machine by keeping the force from the blade in line with the heavy-duty support structure of the machine when scraping (figure 2).
By doing this, the geometry of the machine is working with physics rather than against, and allows the force from the drive wheels to go directly to the blade with minimal loss. As a result, our machines can operate as effectively as much heavier machines without the bulk and hassle that heavier machines bring with them. Our floor scrapers are also easier and safer to operate because their center of gravity is much lower, preventing the user from being pitched back into their seat. This makes our machines more comfortable to operate, and the chance of tipping the machine over far less likely.
Figure 1 Figure 2
Our floor scrapers
All of our Ride-On floor scrapers are designed to handle large jobs. However, the lower weight and compact size allowed by FST™ make our riders a very good option even in smaller spaces, whether on a commercial or residential job. Because of their size and weight, they can also be transported in most elevators. Our Forward Slope Technology is most noticeable in our ride-on scraper line (the ES 2000, ES 1300, and ES 1000). However, we have used this design principle in all of our walk-behind floor scrapers, too.
To learn more or become an Anderson Innovations customer, contact us!
