Schmidt Senior 2000 trailed/towed high-suction airport sweeper (distributed by Manmachine Works)

The Schmidt Senior 2000 is a heavy-duty towed sweeper that uses a mechanical conveyor-belt system rather than a suction fan to move collected material — a design choice with practical consequences for high-load applications. Without a suction fan, the machine generates less dust re-suspension and operates more quietly than equivalent suction-based towed sweepers, making it appropriate for noise-sensitive airside environments and operations near passenger terminals. Material throughput is the standout specification: at sweeping speeds up to 20 km/h, the Senior 2000 can load up to one tonne of sand, rubble, or mixed debris per minute onto the towing vehicle's bed via a height-adjustable conveyor belt, making it particularly effective for post-construction clear-out, runway excursion recovery, and heavy sand or grit accumulations common in GCC desert environments where windblown sand ingress onto aprons and taxiways can reach significant depths after shamal events. The three-brush configuration — two towed disc brushes sweeping inward to a rear cross brush, then conveyor-loading — covers a 1,900–2,100 mm working width. Brush speed is hydraulically variable from 0–140 rpm, and disc-brush ground pressure is controlled from the cab. The 1,150-litre steel water tank feeds spray nozzles at up to 36 l/min for dust suppression. The height-adjustable drawbar accommodates a wide range of tractor, UNIMOG, and utility truck tow-hitch heights, and an optional hydraulic swivel drawbar simplifies reversing manoeuvres in tight apron layouts.