In manufacturing warehouses, the ability to operate smoothly, safely, and efficiently are keys to success. And this is not something that happens overnight, but rather it’s the culmination of planning and execution. You’ve got to have the right team, the right setup, and the right tools.
Key to a well-run manufacturing plant is the ability to move product in and out. And key to this is a well-equipped door and dock system. No dock door is truly complete without a properly installed air curtain, which helps control temperatures, streamline operations, and ensure a more comfortable and safe workforce. Let’s take a look at some core benefits air curtains offer to dock and warehouse doors in manufacturing facilities.
Powered Aire’s line of industrial air curtains offers a highly flexible solution to a myriad of dock, door, and productivity problems within a warehouse. From streamlined operations to insect control and employee comfort to energy savings, a properly installed air curtain is an ideal complement to a dock door.
- Energy Savings – A busy dock door is a good thing, but the constant opening and closing allow for the infiltration of outside air, which increases the strain on the HVAC system, which must work harder to maintain indoor temperatures. With an air curtain installed, the barrier of air prevents the outside air from entering. This reduces the load on the HVAC system and generates considerable energy savings. When properly installed, an air curtain can pay for itself in as little as two years due to the energy savings it helps generate.
- Insect Control – A core benefit of air curtains, especially in food processing/food service warehouses, is their ability to prevent flying insects from entering a controlled environment. Flies can lead to poor sanitation scores and spoiled products, all while creating a nuisance for employees. Air curtains prevent flying insects from entering at critical points, such as open dock doors or delivery doors. Moreover, air curtains help ensure compliance with health and building codes.
- Employee Safety – One of the most overlooked benefits of an air curtain is its ability to create an effective barrier without obstructing workflow or visibility. When forklift traffic is heavy with the loading and unloading of delivery trucks, it’s critical that drivers have complete visibility, which can be hindered by strip doors or roll-up doors. Air curtains provide the necessary barrier while ensuring complete visibility.
- Streamlined Workflow – While nothing beats a closed door in terms of separating environments, when trucks are being loaded or unloaded, a closed dock door is simply not an option. This is where air curtains provide so much value. They allow for uninhibited workflow while providing the benefits of a closed door (temperature separation, insect control, and energy savings).
- Employee Comfort – Whether in a sweltering summer or a frigid winter, when the temperature inside a warehouse is not much better than the outdoor conditions, workers will suffer. This can lead to an unmotivated, unhappy, and unproductive workforce. Air curtains create a buffer from the outdoor extremes and help ensure a more comfortable workspace for employees critical to the operational success of a facility. In colder climates, consider adding electric, hot water, steam or indirect gas heat to an air curtain to help keep out chilly winter weather.
Have questions about a specific dock application? Let us help.