Salt spreader
Overijssel is home to a wide range of manufacturers and suppliers of premium vehicle technology and salt-spreading mechanisms, from winter road treatment to street cleaning and park and garden equipment. This factsheet from the Regional Transition Agenda Manufacturing Overijssel breaks down the material value, supply risk and circular revenue models of salt spreaders.
What is a salt spreader?
Overijssel is home to a wide range of manufacturers and suppliers of premium vehicle technology and salt-spreading mechanisms, as well as related equipment such as feed cutters, self-propelled feed mixer wagons and feeding robots. Alongside these, many machines and vehicles are produced for winter road treatment, street cleaning and park and garden equipment.
These products largely consist of steel and plastic components with technical additions. Steel components make up roughly 36% of the product, plastics are often used as the material for components and account for roughly 30%, and a small share of 4% consists of electronics such as GPS, modem and display.
Part of: the Regional Transition Agenda Circular Economy Overijssel, manufacturing industry · main project. Commissioned by: Province of Overijssel. Analysis: product footprint, material impact, supply risk and circular revenue models.
Product components
Seven component groups together make up 95% of the total weight. The augers, chassis and mixing hopper weigh the most and carry the largest share of eco-costs, followed by the salt bin and the front-mount systems in DINS sheet steel.
| Component | Weight | Value per tonne | Eco-costs per tonne | Share of eco-costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augers, chassis and mixing hopper | 39.00% | €1,652.43 | €168.65 | 36.35% |
| Salt bin | 32.00% | €1,142.86 | €132.34 | 28.52% |
| Front mount (chassis) | 20.00% | €1,000.00 | €60.00 | 14.22% |
| Hydraulic systems | 5.00% | €441.67 | €64.61 | 13.92% |
| Rubber connections | 3.00% | €120.00 | €17.81 | 3.83% |
| GPS, modem and display | 0.90% | €1,661.54 | €13.56 | 2.92% |
| Auger bearings | 0.10% | €15.00 | €1.04 | 0.22% |
Environmental impact and supply risk
The largest environmental impact comes from polyester, steel and iron, RST37-grade steel, manganese, copper and rubber. Manganese is used mainly to harden steel: giving steel these properties makes the material more durable than it would be if it wore down faster during use. Copper is present mainly in the electronic components.
Energy transition. Palladium belongs to the platinum-group metals, designated a critical raw material by the European Union. Platinum-group metals play a significant role in the energy transition, making supply security part of product strategy.
| Raw material | Risk | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester | high | small gap between price and eco-costs; a CO₂ levy on environmental costs would significantly affect this component |
| Rubber | high | rubber production requires substantial raw materials |
| Palladium | high | platinum-group metal, designated a critical raw material by the EU, significant for the energy transition |
Where is value retained?
Value retention per phase is high. Products such as the salt-spreader mechanism often consist of heavy components, made from various types of steel. There is an active secondary market where products and components trade at different quality standards. Some larger players buy back their own salt spreaders and resell them as refurbished units.
The value-chain analysis compares the regional economic perspective by chain phase, from new materials to landfill.
| Chain phase | Regional economic perspective (€ millions) |
|---|---|
| Materials (virgin/new materials) | €69.38 |
| Components (new components) | €341.65 |
| Product | €1,359.00 |
| Reuse (product) | €815.40 |
| Repair (product) | €951.30 |
| Refurbish (product) | €951.30 |
| Remanufacture (secondary components in/for product) | €273.32 |
| Repurpose (components for or as another product) | €170.82 |
| Recycle (materials) | €65.91 |
| Landfill (lost) | €−69.38 |
Revenue models and scores
All five revenue models, from classic to performance-based, apply. The balance of this value may shift as more circular interventions are made: one example is choosing an upgraded steel grade that lasts longer, which feeds through into value across the chain. Most value lies in extending the lifespan of the product and its components.
Opportunities and points of attention for circularity:
- Most components are suitable for various circular revenue models.
- Products are not always used at optimal frequency; demand is reasonably predictable and there is potential for shared-use solutions.
- Extending component lifespan allows the product to function for as long as possible.
Product properties that support circularity, scored from 1 (low indication) to 5 (high indication):
| Product property | Score (1–5) |
|---|---|
| Modularity | 5 |
| Price per unit | 5 |
| Technical lifespan | 4 |
| Predictability of demand | 4 |
| Recyclability | 4 |
| Frequency of use | 3 |
| Product simplicity | 3 |
Further reading
This factsheet belongs to the main project on circular revenue models in the Overijssel manufacturing industry and connects to New Economy’s broader services around product footprint and circular design.
Insights from this project
Frequently asked questions
A salt-spreader mechanism consists largely of steel components, roughly 36%, such as augers, chassis and mixing hopper, a salt bin and front-mount systems, plus rubber, hydraulics and a small share of electronics. Plastics make up roughly 30% of the material used in components.
Polyester, rubber and palladium all carry a high risk. Palladium belongs to the platinum-group metals designated a critical raw material by the EU and plays a significant role in the energy transition. A CO₂ levy would significantly affect polyester.
Highly circular: modularity scores 5 out of 5 and all five circular revenue models apply. There is an active secondary market, and larger players buy back their own salt spreaders to resell them as refurbished units.
At product level, the chain represents 1,359 million euros in the region. Most value lies in extending the lifespan of the product and its components, with repair and refurbishment each at 951.30 million euros.
From factsheet to circular strategy
The analysis makes visible where material value, critical raw materials and revenue models converge. Product Footprint and circular design translate these insights into choices in design, procurement, service and reverse logistics.
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