In order to keep workers safe and production lines running smoothly, temperature control is a must. Freezing cold can threaten workers’ wellbeing, stop production, damage your equipment, materials, and product, and ultimately drain your profits.
Industrial heaters are the go-to solution for manufacturers. We’ll explain why industrial heaters are needed to mitigate cold, how they work to provide optimal temperature control, and how to find the right industrial heater for your space.
How Cold Disrupts Industrial Workplaces
Cold temperatures can harm your production in many ways. When it comes to your production line, freezing pipes will burst and cause an immediate system shutdown. Cold thickens hydraulic fluid, rendering machinery slow or fully inoperable. It also causes material to clump together, stick in hoppers, and block conveyors.
Cold also impacts the materials themselves. Water freezes into ice, which expands and creates cracks in metal, plastic, and concrete pipes and tanks. Freezing temperatures also makes rubber gaskets, seals, and metals brittle, causing them to crack and leak. For seals, lubricants, and coatings, cold temperatures cause them to lose their effectiveness or solidify.
Cold temperatures also impact your worker’s safety. OSHA doesn’t have a set temperature standard, but the agency does recommend “temperature control in the range of 68-76°F.” Staying within these parameters will not only benefit your production line, but your worker’s safety and productivity as well.
Cold air will hit your wallet in ways you may not see coming. Emergency repairs due to burst pipes or broken machinery, production shutdowns, product loss, and rising energy bills to try and combat the cold will all drain your wallet. Implementing an industrial heater from a trusted provider like Vactagon will circumvent these headaches and keep your operation up and running.
How Industrial Heaters Provide Efficient Temperature Control
As air control experts, our heating solution recommendation is to equip your facility with a portable electric heater. They are easy to operate and provide heat wherever it is needed. Electric heaters are particularly beneficial because they are highly controllable; you can set them to work only during certain hours or to start working when your facility drops to a predetermined temperature. They also come with safety switches that automatically shut off the unit if it reaches a maximum temperature. Industrial Vacuum exclusively manufactures portable electric industrial heaters due to their superior efficiency and effectiveness.
Industrial Heaters Use Cases
To illustrate how portable duct heaters work in the real world, we have compiled examples of industrial heating solutions we handle regularly:
Construction and Concrete Work
The problem: The minimum ambient temperature for concrete curing is 50°F. Curing under 50°F causes concrete cracking and structural failure.
The solution: Curing concrete within a temporary enclosure equipped with an industrial heater facilitates a streamlined concrete curing process year-round.
Oil and Gas
The problem: Freezing temperatures greatly increase the viscosity of fuels and lubricants; this restricts their flow and leads to equipment failure.
The solution: An industrial heater provides warm air for your equipment bays and valve houses, which maintains fuel and lubricant viscosity to prevent equipment failure and shutdowns.
Aerospace and Defense
The problem: The precision parts needed to build aerospace and defense equipment require strict temperature control during assembly and testing. Even the slightest fluctuation can lead to materials expanding and contracting, causing major equipment failures.
The solution: Hangars and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul/operations) facilities utilize industrial heaters to keep temperatures consistent.
Agriculture and Food Processing
The problem: Cold snaps can decimate stored crops as well as cause equipment failures that stop food processing lines and damage equipment.
The solution: Industrial heaters maintain safe, regulated temperatures for food storage and processing.
Automotive Manufacturing
The problem: Cold temperatures embrittle materials, thicken fluids, and drastically reduce the effectiveness of paint curing and adhesive bonding.
The solution: Industrial heaters provide a precise, consistent airflow for automotive manufacturing plants and paint booths.
Warehouse and Cold Chain Logistics
The problem: Freezing temperatures in loading docks and staging areas threaten workers’ safety and product integrity.
The solution: A robust industrial heating system provides blanket heating without hot or cold spots.
Mining
The problem: Harsh outdoor and underground mining conditions face brutal seasonal cold.
The solution: Pre-heated equipment and a heated worker safety area effectively combats seasonal temperature drops.
Selecting the Right Industrial Heater for Your Facility
How do you know which industrial heater best meets your needs? There are a few key factors to consider. First, figure out how much power you need based on the size of your space. Calculations for square footage, ceiling height, number of occupants, insulation condition, sun exposure, and climate all need to be taken into account. To make this simple, you can use a BTU calculator.
Next, consider whether you need single-phase or three-phase power. Single-phase operates on a two-wire AC circuit and is better for smaller, less demanding applications. Three-phase power is more robust, running on a three-wire AC current to deliver higher density power. We recommend three-phase power for most industrial applications.
It’s also important to consider any safety certifications that are required for your application, such as UL 823 for heaters used in hazardous conditions.
At Industrial Heater, our range of Vactagon portable heaters provide two levels of heating power, depending on your needs:
60kW Portable Heater with Blower
- 204,780 BTU of heat
- 460 volts
- 3-phase power
- 3 HP VFD motor
- Automatic thermal shutdown
- Carbon steel base with fork pockets and lifting cage; Insulated foil face compartment
150kW Portable Electric Heater with Blower
- 512,000 BTU of heat
- 460 volts
- 3-phase power
- 10 HP VFD motor
- Automatic thermal shutdown and LED indicators
- Carbon steel base, pleated intake filter, and insulated foil face compartment
To get advice straight from the heating experts, contact us today for personalized guidance.
Find Optimized Industrial Heating Solutions with Industrial Vacuum
Regardless of your industrial application, proper temperature control is essential – and portable heaters are a proven effective method to provide consistent, precise heat.
If your facility is lacking adequate temperature control, don’t hesitate to request a quote today for your heating solution.