Heated pads for your mobile stage, a solution that grips!

Ensuring Safety and Performance in Winter Conditions

The Reality of Winter Events

It’s a fact that winters can be harsh, unpredictable, snowy and icy. Stageline products are designed to handle such conditions and can be used safely with a few smart adaptations. 

Surface adherence, ground types, winds and snow or ice accumulations are all critical factors that have different impacts. They may require us to adapt our uses depending on the activity and environment. 

Operational Adaptation for Low-Grip Conditions

For comparison, consider standard road travel: when driving in icy conditions, the main risks are related to the low grip of the tires on the road. To compensate, we reduce the forces applied to the surface: we brake and accelerate more gently, we reduce our speed in curves, and we increase the distance between vehicles. 

When it comes to Stageline products, implementing certain key measures will mitigate the risks associated with these factors. To take full advantage of your equipment in freezing conditions, some adaptations are therefore necessary. 

Four Key Stageline Adaptations

A safe winter setup relies on these four core adaptations: 

• Specialized Equipment: Use specific equipment to maintain an optimal level of adherence. 

• Ground Preparation: Prepare a known type of ground to significantly improve overall adherence. 

• Rigging Plan Modification: Adjust your rigging plan to correctly account for potential snow and ice accumulations. 

• Ballast Use: In certain cases, employ ballast to improve wind resistance reduction. 

 

We start with the key to adherence and wind resistance: our specialized equipment solutions. 

Specialized Equipment: Heated and Studded Pads

Heated Pads with Rubber

The use of these Heated Pads with Rubber allows for 100% wind resistance when utilized on a certain type of prepared ground. The specialized pads are heated from an electric source to maintain the right level of grip. Depending on the stage model, the size and quantity of heated pads required varies. 

Increased Flexibility with Studded Pads

To further enhance adaptability, Stageline also offers specialized studded pads. These pads can be combined with the Heated Pads on certain ground types, offering even more flexibility and ensuring maximum adherence in the harshest winter environments. 

Streamlining Winter Setups: The Advantage of Stageline Pads

Achieving maximum wind resistance traditionally relies on complex ballast solutions that introduce significant logistical challenges, including dedicated transport, specialized handling equipment, and increased setup time. Stageline’s specialized heated and studded pads are engineered to eliminate these hurdles. 

Designed as a fully integrated solution, these pads ensure maximum resistance while dramatically enhancing operational efficiency. They are dimensioned to be effortlessly loaded and secured directly inside the stage trailer and require zero specialized handling equipment—no forklift is necessary. This rapid deployment capability means the pads can be positioned in seconds, critically ensuring they do not affect or lengthen the stage setup timeline. 

Furthermore, Stageline designs, calculates, and manufactures these pads. This end-to-end control guarantees seamless compatibility and provides the ultimate peace of mind that your wind resistance solution is perfectly integrated and functional with your Stageline equipment. 

To illustrate the clear return on investment in an integrated system, this table compares the two approaches: 

Feature	Stageline Pads (Heated/Studded)	Traditional Ballast
Wind Resistance	Achieves 100% resistance	Depends on weight/quantity
Transportation	Easy, loads into trailer	Requires separate transport
Handling	No specialized equipment required	Always requires a forklift and operator
Setup Time	Fast, seconds to position	Can lengthen setup time
Logistics	No external coordination or schedules required	Requires coordination, delivery, and pickup scheduling
Cost	Eliminates external rental and logistics fees	Incurs external rental, transport, and labor costs
Compatibility	Stageline engineered and manufactured	External component; can be difficult to position and secure to the stage

Investment vs. Recurring Cost: The Financial Advantage of Stageline Pads

Stop converting profit into recurring expense. For maximum wind resistance on a stage like the SL260, renting and transporting 10 traditional ballast blocks costs an estimated $2,600 per event, plus mandatory forklift and labor fees. In sharp contrast, purchasing the 4 required heated pads is a single, one-time investment of approximately $4,600. This purchase eliminates perpetual rental costs, turning a major variable expense into an owned asset that pays for itself in as few as two events, drastically improving your profitability and setup efficiency year after year. 

Stageline’s Pads are the ultimate winter solution. They eliminate logistical complexity, ensure maximum safety and wind resistance, and convert perpetual rental expenses into a single, high-value asset for long-term operational excellence. 

 

ACTION REQUIRED: All the details related to the contexts of use in freezing conditions are gathered in a practical document to help you understand the steps to be taken in order to use your Stageline products safely. Reach out to our Service Dept. to discuss your situation and obtain a PDF copy of the SMS4000 and SMS4410 Stages in freezing conditions procedures.

 

Please contact your after sales service account executive for more information!