US-based chemicals producer Rivertop Renewables has unveiled a new tool, which determines the return on investment (ROI) of adding the company’s Headwaters corrosion inhibitors to road salt brine.

The new corrosion reduction calculator has been developed using the latest research, case studies, as well as government agency data, and is useful for states to get an initial estimate.

It also provides decision makers with financial analysis, including ROI calculations, annualised costs/benefit and direct payback analysis.

According to the company, it compares the cost of purchasing and handling the inhibitor to the savings of eliminating vehicles’ repair and replacement, snow-fighting equipment, roads and bridges that are corrosion-induced.

"Adding Headwaters inhibitors to the mix reduces the negative impacts of brine without impacting its efficacy in reducing snow and ice."

Rivertop Renewables chief executive officer Mike Knauf said: "Adding Headwaters inhibitors to the mix reduces the negative impacts of brine without impacting its efficacy in reducing snow and ice.

"We designed our calculator to reveal the savings that states, municipalities, commercial trucking and other road users can realise by reducing the corrosive side effects of brine, without sacrificing public safety."

Savings that are displayed by the new tool are projected over a five-year period and fall into two primary categories, which include direct and indirect savings.

The calculator uses data from the state of Montana to project that addition of the inhibitor saves the state an average of $3.9m annually in avoided repair and replacement of fleet vehicles and snow fighting equipment.

It also predicts that use of the product will save $2.7m in repair and replacement costs a year for the trucking industry, public fleets outside of the state department of transportation, as well as individual vehicle drivers.