Rubber Parts for Snow Plow Blades: Deflector Strips and Cutting Edges


Although winter might seem a far way off whilst we are still in the throes of summer, this is the time when many municipalities and snow plow operators are preparing their equipment for the season to come. Since our inception in 1987, CRG has helped plow operators keep their equipment in tip-top shape with the provision of critical rubber parts. In this blog we highlight two key rubber parts for snow plow blades that CRG can supply: deflector strips and cutting edges.

Rubber parts for snow plow blades: deflector strips

Rubber deflector strips are mounted onto the top surface of a snow plow blade to improve containment and blade efficiency.

CRG snowplow deflector strips are made from a heavy-duty rubber belting that will stand up to the worst that winter can throw at them. Our deflector strips are long-lasting and will maintain their flexibility in cold weather without cracking or becoming brittle, thereby reducing the need for frequent replacement.

CRG rubber deflector strips are individually fabricated to each customer’s specific requirements. Our deflector strips can be custom fabricated to fit almost any blade size or configuration. Optional imprinting of deflector strips with your organization name and logo is available upon request.

Rubber parts for snow plow blades: cutting edges

Snow plow blades fitted with a rubber cutting edge are becoming increasingly popular as a means of achieving effective clearing with minimal surface damage. A blade fitted with a rubber cutting edge works with a squeegee-like action on road surfaces, removing more accumulated snow and slush than a steel blade and leaving behind a drier road surface. Since the rubber cutting edge leaves behind less residual moisture, there is a reduced risk of the road surface freezing over, making for safer driving conditions after plowing.

CRG fabricates rubber cutting edges from a specially formulated compound that is both flexible and tough. The flexibility allows the cutting edge to adapt to irregularities in the road surface, resulting in more complete clearing of snow and slush. An additional benefit is that unlike a steel-only blade or edge, a rubber cutting edge will not gouge or damage the road surface or any raised reflective markers (“cat’s eyes”) mounted into the road.

The compound we use to fashion our rubber cutting edges is extremely tough, with a high tensile strength of 2,500 psi (pounds per square inch) minimum. With a tear resistance of 504 ppi (pounds per inch), this strong and resilient compound will service operating temperatures down to -40°C without becoming brittle.

CRG rubber cutting edges can be custom fabricated to fit on most types of steel plow blades, including straight plows, V-plows, Jeep-type plows, under-mounted plows and scraper blades. Each cutting edge comes provided with slots which permit easy installation and adjustment. With a CRG rubber cutting edge fitted to their steel blade, plow operators can enjoy the lower operating costs that come from more efficient clearing and less blade damage. Blades fitted with a rubber cutting edge also absorb shocks and bumps better than their steel-only counterparts, yielding a smoother cab ride for the operator.

CRG rubber cutting edges are available in a variety of lengths and three standard widths:

  • 12 inch width – suitable for V-plows

  • 10 inch width – front-mounted plows

  • 8 inch width – underbody-mounted plows and graders

For more information on the rubber parts for snow plow blades which CRG can supply, please contact our sales department at crg@canadarubbergroup.com.