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SMI Automation

Why Automate?

More snow in less time with less effort results in improved profitability, increased revenue, and decreased costs. There are many benefits for your resort to consider automated snowmaking.

  • Improved snow quality due to constant machine adjustments to changing conditions

  • Increased snowmaking hours to take advantage of short weather windows

  • Increased snow production due to quick acting performance

  • Decreased costs on labor

  • Decreased energy cost due to improved production and less hours running time

  • Improved safety for personnel on steep slopes, in remote areas and due to less operator interface at machine

  • Improved profitability due to more snow in less time with less effort = increased revenue and decreased costs

  • Increased efficiency due to no set up and take down time by using fixed position guns

SMI Snowflake

Flexible and customizable software

SMI SmartSnow™, our automation software and control system, makes it easy to use one platform to operate not only your snowmaking system but also other parts of your ski area.

SMI Snowflake

High-performance snow machines designed for automation

While some of our competitors claim to have fully automatic machines, SMI designs our automatic machines to be truly automatic. What is the difference? Water drainage and hands-off operation.

SMI Snowflake

Integrated auxiliary equipment

SMI can provide pump stations, cooling towers, air compressors and other equipment that are optimally integrated fully with our automation systems.

SMI Snowflake

Communications options

Choosing the right communication options for how to send and receive data between a central computer and equipment within the automation system is critical. SMI offers a multitude of communications options including:

Main Protocols: Ethernet or DF1

  • Ethernet via Fiber, Hardwire
  • DF1 – Allen Bradley Protocol – Wire Signal RS485 Standard Network

Transmission Types:

  • Radio – SMI offers various frequency options that are allowed in different countries around the world (such as 900 Mhz, 869 Mhz, 400 Mhz, etc.)
  • Fiber Optics
  • Hard-wired
SMI Snowflake

Transmission Type

A guide to choosing the right transmission type: 

Radio:
—No digging
—Ability to cover large areas
—Mesh network
—Many repeaters auto-configuring
—Spread spectrum – immune to interference
Fiber Optics:
—Fast response time
—Long-distance
—Lightning proof
—Ethernet network usable for other devices
—Long-life/no degradation
—Wide bandwidth
Hard-wired:
—Lightning protection
—RS485 global standard for wiring
—Use resort Ethernet backbone with terminal servers
—Fastest response time
SMI Snowflake

Accurate weather measurement

SMI’s SmartWeather package is offered as a component of SmartSnow or as a complete stand-alone option for weather data collection and monitoring. SmartWeather options include:

  • Weather data collection and graphing software and reports
  • Proven and accurate weather sensors (for temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, etc.)
  • Weather station mounts and stands
  • Various energy supply options such as solar-powered, battery backup, and direct power
  • Supporting equipment and instrumentation
  • Our automatic valves, water hydrant control actuators, and instrumentation are field-proven for reliability
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