protect Archives - Unitherm Insulation Systems

May 21, 2015 by UniAdmin

Proactive Maintenance : Insulation

The mindset of “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it” is a thing of the past. It is a mentality that even the best of us have been guilty of from time to time. While it may sound like a good idea, it can be damaging to a company in the long run. Staying the course down a single path can lead to a business owner getting blindsided by future problems. Just because something is working at the moment, doesn’t mean that future problems won’t arise. The new trend is to start protecting your investments and wellbeing by stopping the problem before it ever begins with proactive maintenance.

Preventative Maintenance: Insulation

Stop The Problem Before It Happens = Greater Savings

Whether you’re trying to make the most of an ever-dwindling staff and budget, or looking for even more ways to trim operations and maintenance costs, preventative maintenance on equipment and facilities can help save time and money in the long run.

The key point to preventative maintenance is stopping the issue before it ever begins. While there are some expenses related to running a good proactive maintenance program, it costs less to properly maintain equipment and facilities than it does to repair the damage from a premature breakdown or early deterioration of property.

Proactive maintenance of equipment and facilities is very similar to regular vehicle maintenance. The key to keeping your vehicle running well today and down the road is routine proactive maintenance. Many times significant and expensive repairs can be avoided if the vehicle is properly and regularly maintained.

Increases Life Cycle of Applications

Regular equipment Untitled-2 maintenance leads to an improvement in the overall safety and reliability of the system. Planning and management of asset maintenance improve the life cycle of the assets and keeps them performing at peak productivity levels. As a result, costly unplanned downtime is minimized; workforce productivity increases; and asset lifecycle and return on asset (ROA) are improved.

Increases Performance

Regular improvements to the process for better machine efficiency and product quality increases maintenance productivity by detecting and identifying potential equipment problems before they grow. This reduces the frequency, severity, and cost of repairs while enabling your team to avoid unnecessary and unproductive tasks.

Provides a Safe Work Environment

More efficient and frequently maintained work environments (including equipment and personnel) lead to a safer work atmosphere. When machines break down and errors occur, accidents are more likely to happen.

Where Does Insulation Fit In?

Insulation is built upon the idea of proactive maintenance practices. Insulation does all of the benefits listed above plus more. Once installed, your insulation needs no further maintenance. So you can feel good, knowing you are doing your bit for the planet while creating a more efficient and more collaborative work environment, to reduce costs and support your organization’s work processes.

What’s Next?

You can head over to our online shopping cart and check out all of our possible solutions for your facility. For as little as $16, you could be protecting yourself, your employees, and your business for the future.

For more information about our products and UniTherm, check out our website and social platforms:

April 7, 2015 by UniAdmin

Dangers of Heat Illness

HEAT ILLNESS CAN BE DEADLY. When employees are exposed to hot temperatures, maintaining a safe work environment can be more challenging than you think. As summertime temperatures continue to rise, it becomes increasingly important for employers to focus on providing workplace conditions that are safe from the excessive heat.

Heat Fatalities 2008-2014

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA), thousands of workers become sick and even die as a result of exposure to heat each year. In the United States, an average of 400 deaths per year are directly related to heat, and an estimated 1,800 die from illnesses made worse by heat.

Many industries face challenges when it comes to providing a cool working environment, particularly in heat-susceptible areas such as industrial plants, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. When surface temperatures on pipe and equipment routinely exceed 140° F (60° C), measures should be taken to improve the working environment. Without adequate cooling or precautions, workers are put in danger while equipment and manufactured products are at an increased risk of failure, which can impact worker safety and productivity, and certainly, a company’s bottom-line.

So how can you protect your employees from heat exposure while also ensuring that the work is accomplished on time?

According to OSHA, “The best way to prevent heat-related illness is to make the work environment cooler”. However, the dilemma now becomes how to efficiently and economically cool large, open areas where high ambient outdoor temperatures and heat-generating machinery are factors.

OSHA Touch Safe, Ambient Air temperature

The radiating heat of a running barrel affects the ambient temperature.

Fortunately, the use of industrial insulation on process equipment and piping not only saves money and energy, but also reduces the potential for heat- related illnesses. As insulation is added to systems, the surface temperature of these systems is dramatically reduced. This provides a cooler work environment that yields higher productivity, as workers do not require as many breaks and are less concerned with the potential for burns from hot surfaces. Furthermore, insulation helps reduce the amount of work your machine has to do by decreasing the amount of energy used without sacrificing quality or performance. Learn more about the energy saving benefits of insulation.

The use of UniTherm’s UniVest® and ISOCOVERS Insulation Systems product lines provide easy and efficient ways to save energy and money while creating a cooler and safer work environment. Additionally, these product lines can be purchased online because they now are available in standard “off-the-shelf” sizes, which drastically reduces the time and costs often associated with custom insulation jobs. For all of our heat prevention products, view our online shopping cart here.

For additional tips on how to keep your facility cooler and your workforce happy and motivated, click here for more information about preventing heat-related illness.

Share your stories about dangers of heat illness and let us know how you are preparing for the coming summer months on our social media pages:

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March 29, 2012 by Kendal White

Keep the World’s Pipelines in Good Working Order

We are a world on the move. Transportation is key to our way of life, and I’m not just talking about planes, trains, and automobiles here. Sure we move ourselves all the time, but think about all of the commodities we keep in transit. We send packages, parts, products around the world everyday. From space we probably look like busy worker bees in whirlwinds of constant motion.

The invention of modern vehicles transformed the way we operate in daily life—we revere innovators like Henry Ford and the Wright Brothers for their contributions, but rarely do we recognize how important pipelines are in our society

Pipelines allow us to transport any chemically stable substance. We’ve built pipelines for sewage, slurry water, and even beer. But arguably the most valuable are those transporting fuels. I would venture to say that no one in the oil and gas industry underestimates the value of the pipeline.

Since the 19^th century, we have amassed 2.3 million miles of pipelines in the US alone. Compared to other shipping methods, pipelines have lower cost per unit and higher capacity, and they can handle the dirty stuff we don’t really want spilling out into the environment. For this reason, it is absolutely essential that we take good care of our precious pipelines.

This is how SolarShell has entered the oil and gas industry. The fiberglass laminate is great for repairing steel, concrete, insulation glass, and wood applications, but its capabilities don’t end there. With an infrastructure as massive as the pipeline, we must always be planning ahead. SolarShell is a wonderful way to prevent corrosion and protect against future damage.

SolarShell is resistant to chemicals and thus perfect for protecting pipes. One oil and gas company coated the outside of a large pipe with SolarShell before installing and burying it underground. Pipes protected with SolarShell—whether buried, dragged, or exposed to the elements—show no signs damage.

Laminate curing in the sun

It would be nice if pipes and other important equipment could outlast the relentless forces of Mother Nature, but most of the applications we rely on require extra reinforcement. Luckily, laminates like SolarShell exist for that very reason. What is essential in your industry that could benefit from the added support of SolarShell?

March 8, 2012 by Kendal White

The Dream Team of Repair Products

We’ve talked a lot lately about the miraculous UV-curing laminate known as SolarShell that makes repair jobs much easier and more efficient. Now we’d like to introduce two more agents that also take part in the repair process: (soft drumroll to cue entrance) SolarRes and SolarGel.

Neat names, but what do they do?
SolarShell products are versatile and easy to apply, so they are perfect for repairing, patching, or protecting almost any surface.

SolarRes is like your traditional resin, but it has excellent corrosion resistant properties, so it’s protective power is unmatched when it comes to reinforcing various applications that are often exposed to chemical, industrial, and abrasive environmental conditions.

SolarRes can be used to seal surfaces prior to applying SolarShell, but it also works well on top of SolarShell joints. In some cases, SolarRes is used over an entire SolarShell application to enhance its physical appearance and durability.

SolarGel is (you guessed it) a gel that is ideal for filling pocks, dents, holes, and other surface abrasions. It can be used in combination with SolarRes and SolarShell or as a stand-alone product.

Ready to use SolarShell products are perfect for repairs

What sets these products apart?
Unmatched by standard epoxy, putty, or fiberglass repair kits, SolarShell products work wonderfully for water treatment, marine, and numerous other industrial applications. Here are the highlights:

Comes ready to use in sheets, cans, or caulk tubes — no mixing necessary
Cures quickly — 15 minutes or less in sunlight or under UV lamp
Adheres to steel, concrete, insulation glass, wood, and more
Resistant to the effects of weather, water, and many chemicals

Try out the indomitable trio today — you’ll love how these products complement each other and keep your repairs looking good and lasting much longer than you’d expect.