Home / Air Roller Q & A

Air Roller Q & A

Questions & Answers

The Air Roller is an inflatable cylinder that carries the weight of sporting covers and rolls them on and off a playing field in all weather conditions.

The Air Roller is cost effective and requires less time and manpower than traditional methods. 

The Air Roller method is a practical way to significantly reduce manual handling risks associated with cover handling including lifting, pushing, pulling, bending and twisting to place covers.

Cover Pro Air Roller requires less force to be applied in windy conditions having far less impact than using traditional methods

Questions & Answers

1) How does the Air Roller Work?

  1. Inflate the air roller in around one - two minutes. A petrol driven blower is the best option
  2. Attach one cover edge to the air roller using clips provided.
  3. Commence rolling the Air Roller.
  4. The cover’s weight is carried by the special design of the inflated Air Roller.
  5. The Air Roller can be re-inflated with the covers wrapped around thanks to the special design.

 

2) What is Air Roller?

  1. The Air Roller is an inflatable pvc cylinder used to move and carry the weight of cover (wet or dry)
  2. Designed for limited staff.
  3. Reduces risk of injury.
  4. Saves significant time in handling covers
  5. Manufactured custom sized to suit your covers
  6. Larger covers now a viable alternative
  7. Eliminates frustration dealing with tangled, heavy covers.
  8. Makes the storage of covers easier.

 

3) How many people are required to operate the Air Roller?

  1. All manual handling situations require risk assessment and evaluation of resources required prior to moving covers.
  2. Limited people can operate most sized Air Rollers up to 15 meters wide in ideal condition.
  3. Larger Air Roller systems, between 15 meters - 30 meters benefit from multiple people in certain conditions. This also includes strong winds or when there is significant water on the covers.
  4. The ability of one person being able to operate the Air Roller varies with physical limitations and existing conditions.

4) What about windy conditions?

  1. The Air Roller works impressively in windy conditions compared to traditional methods.
  2. Simply peg fixing point Air Roller / cover edge and start rolling for a few meters before pegging both parallel edges after tensioning cover. Continue to roll, tension and peg in stages until the cover is fully extended. Re tension cover in its entirety until full cover is without ripples and creases which allows wind to travel over the top rather than underneath the cover avoiding possibly blowing the cover off.
  3. To remove the cover simply perform the peg and roll in reverse.  Un-peg a section then roll the Air Roller before stopping to un-peg again.
  4. The Air Roller can be rolled with or against the with the wind.

5) Can The Air Roller be used in different directions?

  1. The Air Roller can be rolled in either direction depending on what best suits the user's resources.
  2. For example a 30m x15m cover (4-5 Cricket wicket square approx) can have either a 17m  Air Roller to run north south or a 32 meter Air Roller to run east west or north south.
  3. Running the Air Roller east west allows the user to roll the cover to expose any of the 5 pitches being worked on leaving the remainder of the cover still in place.

6) What about water on the cover?

  1. Usually the person operating The Air Roller determines how much water on the covers they can manage
  2. Water on the covers means more weight. For example 1mm of water over a square meter is a 1 litre of water that will weigh 1kg.
  3. Water on the covers moves forward and off to the sides with the momentum of the covers rolling. Some water remains
  4. Many Air Roller users and ground staff determine how much water can be left on covers according to time  / available. It is possible to move The Air Roller with water on allowing some of the water to disperse off the edge of the cover
  5. Users with 1 staff are recommended to remove all or most of the water to lighten the load prior to rolling the Air Roller, depending on the cover size

 

    7) How is The Air Roller stored when not in use?

    1. When the Air Roller is not in use it can rest neatly deflated off the field of play.
    2. Storing the Air Roller as above ensures that covers are neatly stored and prevents extra time untangling them manually
    3. If needed it can be folded up neatly with or without the covers attached for garage or gear storage room.
    4. The Air Roller can be stored neatly at the squares or wicket edge either inflated or deflated when working on surfaces then quickly rolled back into position when needed.

     

      8) How does The Air Roller move from the boundary or storage to the cricket square?

      1. Limited staff can move the Air Roller deflated from the boundary to desired area by either towing with a vehicle or depending on the covers size, distances and sloping ground from boundary to square the Air Roller can be re-inflated and rolled out.
      2.  Some clubs have been known to just leave their covers and Air Roller deflated of the field.
      3. Prior to moving the Air Roller a thorough risk assessment should be carried out.
      4. To change direction in travel simply slide the inflated Air Roller in opposite directions at each end to suit angle of travel.

        9) What if the Air Roller gets a puncture or hole?

        • Repairs can be carried out simply and quickly with supplied compatible material and specialized glue-similar to a bicycle Tyre repair.

          10) How long does it take for the Air Roller to inflate?

          •  Roughly one - two minutes depending on the Air Roller Size.