UniTherm Archives - Unitherm Insulation Systems

January 21, 2015 by UniAdmin

4 Common Misconceptions About Industrial Insulation

We come across many people who have the wrong idea about industrial insulation and think what we offer is not right for them. We ask them a few questions, and usually they are left wondering why they haven’t insulated their equipment sooner. We throw them a UniVest and they rush out the door to install it (cause it’s really that simple).

So we don’t have to go through the same spiel every time, we’ve compiled the most common misconceptions people have when it comes to industrial insulation.

1. Insulation is for my home, not my machines

This is the most common one we come across and it’s pretty obvious why. The first thing people think about when you say insulation is their home and what’s inside their walls. That’s a perfect analogy because UniVests work the same way. Properly insulating your home saves you hundreds of dollars a year on home heating and cooling costs. It protects outside temperatures from affecting the temperatures you want inside. The easier it is for your home to maintain its temperature, the less you spend at the end of the month. UniVests are no different, except we deal with higher inside temperatures. Take a second and think, if you save hundreds by properly insulating your home, imagine how much could be saved when insulating your machine. We’ll give you a hint…its much greater!

2. No Budget for Insulation

We all have budgets. Yeah, and we know they can be small and hard to deal with. Trust us, Windows 98 is getting really old at the office. Making new purchases on things that you are already operating without can seem like a luxury purchase. Little known fact is that with proper insulation, a company can see ROI (Return on Investment) in under 12 months. In the right conditions, a single set of UniVests or ISOCOVERS can last 5+ years after installed. That’s 5+ years of return. In 12 months or less, most companies make back the purchase price of a UniVest from energy savings alone.

3. My machines are working fine now without insulation

We’re sure they do, but wouldn’t you like for them to work better? Insulation minimizes the downtime of the machines they are on and relieves stresses from a hard working machine. This even increases the lifespan of the equipment. Wouldn’t we all like to work a little easier? Your machines would too.

4. Who Needs Protection Anyway

The biggest thing that people don’t realize is that insulation also improves workplace safety. As seen in a few of our videos on Youtube, a heated barrel with a UniVest on it can be touched and worked around without any special protective gear. More Safety = Less downtime and less liability. Insulation can also decrease surrounding ambient air temperature. Decreasing work fatigue due to high temperature and more comfortable work areas.

Here’s typically the point where some people are kicking themselves for not already having insulation installed. If you didn’t make it this far, we completely understand. Our insulation systems are much more than the sum of their parts and offer a lot more usability than most people realize. If you’ve finally come to the conclusion that insulation could benefit you, take a look around our online shopping cart at www.shop.unitherm.com. For some help finding the product, measuring, or just want some more insulation entertainment like this blog, visit our youtube page: www.Youtube.com/UniThermInsulations

September 24, 2014 by UniAdmin

New Shop Experience

We’ve just released our latest version of our new shop and we are excited for our customers to start using it. Shop.Unitherm.com is a little different and is much easier to use than our old shop. What we wanted most from our new store is ease of use for the customer and usability, and we think we’ve achieved that. On the store front, you can see our running specials and featured products, along with all of our product categories, and helpful links.

Ease of Use

The main goal of our new shop was to make the shopping experience easy and accessible to the customer. On our old shop, we found many customers would get lost or not know how to find what they are looking for. Now we have multiple avenues to search for what you need. Every page can be found with a couple of simple clicks. Whether you have a question or need to check out, you can get there from every page.

New Shop Features

Crucial to our design was adding a few new features to aid the customer. Some are more subtle than others, but here are a few of my favorite.

What we consider to be best new feature of the site is how easily you can find the right product for you. Each product is set into specific categories based on your needs, applications, or industry. Within each category you can set custom search perimeters to find the right size product you need. By selecting:

Diameter or Circumference
Width

You can have the exact fitting UniVest ordered in seconds. This makes our selection process even easier.

You can now also compare multiple products to be certain which is perfect for you. Selecting up to 5 items, and clicking the “compare” button will bring up a screen that will list all of the products benefits and features side-by-side for your viewing. From here you can add to cart or click an individual item for a closer look.

My Account adds the ability to return to your personal preferences and shopping history. From the My Account tab you can track your orders, change your preferences, and manage all of your information. This gives our customer the benefit of a personalized shopping experience.

My personal favorite feature is the new Wish List. The Wish List is your own personal shopping cart that you can come back to at anytime. Unsure about a product, not ready to check out, or are just making a dream Christmas List, the Wish List makes it simple to keep track of your items. Inside the Wish List page you can view products, compare, and add to cart normally. This list is saved to your customer account so it will be there next time you choose to visit.

Checking Out

Lastly (and probably most important), we felt that our check out process was a little overcomplicated and some customers had issues submitting their order. We condensed the order process down to 3 easy steps and can be completed in the matter of seconds. The checkout process becomes even easier and faster when My Account is used with the new checkout process.

Let’s Go Shopping

Enough talking about the new shop, take it for a spin, and see all our new changes for yourself. Let us know what you think and what your favorite new feature is on our Facebook & Twitter pages. Stay tuned for more exciting content soon.

New Shop Page: Shop.Unitherm.com

Facebook: facebook.com/UniTherm

Twitter: twitter.com/UniTherm

March 17, 2014 by UniAdmin

Check Out Our New Website!!!

UniTherm Insulation Systems, manufacturer of insulation blankets for high temperature applications, is excited to announce the launch of its redesigned website this week at: www.unitherm.com.

The design, e-commerce software platform and infrastructure of UniTherm.com have been completely reengineered. The goal is to provide a more personalized and simplified user experience on the website and e-commerce site. The revamped site also boasts ad units and integrations that are larger, more effective, and newly optimized for mobile users. Visitors of the site can now enjoy a seamless experience across all screens — desktop, mobile and tablet.

With the launch of the e-commerce website, the company’s President, Dan Sherrill, explains that, “In today’s market the launch of a new website may not be seen as groundbreaking, but within our niche, we recognized a need for and developed an e-commerce site that provides clear-cut, detailed information (such as delivery, product care, common FAQ’s, technical specifications etc.) on every product or part we sell.”

The new website includes a clean design, with brand new content that enables customers to easily search for new products and services. It is fully integrated with the company’s social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and its blog, and has an integral customer relationship management system to ensure that UniTherm’s sales and after-service professionals are fully informed of its customers’ needs.

Furthermore, the new web site showcases UniTherm’s pioneering efforts in offering a standardized product line –including product specifications for a broad range of available sizes and levels of performance– to make it easy for customers to order our products. This product line, along with the instant quoting, has eliminated the need for each project to receive a custom estimate and allows all orders to be instantly placed and processed.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with our new website. It’s well-designed, streamlined, and easy to use – just like our products,” according to Sherrill. “Our goal was to create a website that meets the needs of both our customers, who need easy access to our information, and the UniTherm staff, who need to be able to update the content easily to keep our customers informed. What we ended up with is a web site that looks great, is loaded with features, and has the ability to grow.”

April 25, 2013 by Kendal White

Earth Day 2013 & 5 Native Wonders

Earth Day is an environmental movement celebrated each year on April 22. Earth day was founded in 1970, when hippies and the Beatles ruled the land. At the time, the environment was not a chief concern, and pollution was an accepted piece of economic growth. Environmental efforts began to take popularity after a New York Times bestseller capitalized on our endangered environmental state. Earth Day met the concerns in a society growing in environmental and public health anxieties.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency was birthed after the first Earth Day, as well as the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. Throughout the years, Earth Day has tackled challenging environmental issues. Despite these challenges, Earth Day 2013 was bursting with countries eager to do their part.

Here is our list of noteworthy, unfamiliar Earth Day countries:

Copenhagen, Denmark: Carbon emissions are a serious problem, and this city spelled ‘CO2’ via satellite navigation devices.
Tokyo, Japan: 100,000 people gathered in Yoyogi Park for a two-day music and art festival to commemorate Earth Day.
Pakistan: An initiative to plant 50,000 trees is being led to combat deforestation.
Philippines: The Solar Revolution Pavilion is a solar-powered building constructed with plastic bottles. 1,600 plastic vegetable crates were used to build this 200 square, 6-meter high structure.
Indonesia: A parade to honor Earth Day was held; environmental issues include dwindling marine life and deforestation.
Taipei, Taiwan: Canon Marketing (Taiwan) Co. sponsored “Plant for the Planet: The Bill Tree Campaign” where participants plant trees. The company promotes “kyosei” – working and living together for the good of the community.
Seoul, South Korea: Gangnam Style was revamped for an Earth Day flash mob. Seoul also hosted an Earth Day exhibition and a walkathon.

Most of us take for granted the beautiful creation of Earth and we would like to give you five stunning places protected by Earth-lovers in the United States.

San Francisco Bay, CA: The San Francisco Bay Association or Save the Bay, paved the way for the Conservation and Development Commission. Windsurfers, birders, and boaters enjoy this clean bay today.
Storm King Mountain, NY: The Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference was formed in the 1960s to combat a hydroelectric power facility. The court ruling established conservation groups could challenge developments threatening the environment.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, TX: Lady Bird Johnson co-founded the Wildflower Center in 1982, which today runs a seed bank and aids in green community concepts. Native Texas plants provide a beautiful backdrop to its landscape.
Pelican Island, Florida: President Theodore Roosevelt declared Pelican Island a Federal Bird Reservation in 1903. Pelican Island is a nesting site for egrets, herons, spoonbills, and an array of tropical birds.
Dinosaur National Monument, Utah and Colorado: Thousands of dinosaur fossils were discovered here in 1915. In the 1950s the Bureau of Reclamation attempted to build a dam here, which would flood the Yampa and Green River canyons. Congress blocked the dam in 1956, and today white-water rafters flock to this mecca.

UniTherm International is a manufacturer of green-friendly insulation blankets for all applications, specializing in the plastics and oil and gas industries. UniTherm strives for energy efficiency with all of our new and existing innovations.

May 3, 2012 by Kendal White

How to Conduct an Energy Study at your Facility

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure.”

It’s true. We offer a lot of general advice about how manufactures can save energy, and we have a great deal of data showing the results of different energy-saving strategies, but each facility operates differently, and in most cases, energy plans must be tailored to fit the facility. Your measurements govern how you manage and guide your strategic course of action.

That’s why DIY approaches are so beneficial for facility owners and managers—they offer adaptable tools that bring you closer to remedying a problem or operating more efficiently.

We can all agree that energy prices are high and machines consume huge amounts of energy, ergo operating machines is an enormous expense (the third largest, behind materials and labor, to be exact). But let’s take a step back. Before you seek out solutions, it’s important to know exactly how much energy the machines in your facility are consuming.

That’s where the Power Sight PS 2500 comes in to play. Experts at your energy company use this handheld meter to measure and log energy output. But if you don’t want to hire a professional, you can easily do it yourself. Here’s how:

Connect the PS2500 to your computer via Bluetooth. This will allow you connect wirelessly, install Power Sight software, and sync the PS2500 with your computer.
Check the settings in the electrical panel. Identify the relays, the power source supplying them, and the direction of power to ensure accurate measurements.
Connect the PS2500 to the machine using the voltage, amperage, and natural clamps. When all three are attached, the machine will connect to the computer.
Run the test. Initiate the test using the keys on the PS2500. Data logging parameters can be set within the software. The meter will measure and log energy output until you discontinue the study. You can use the Remote Control option and control the meter completely from your computer.
Create a report. Save the data uploaded your computer, and the Power Sight software will generate a report. From there you can compare, summarize or compile the data as you like.

image from summittechnology.com

Armed with facility-specific data about energy consumption, you can take an active approach to managing your energy costs. Like the idea, but bogged down with a countless other to-dos? Click here for a customized energy report from UniTherm.

April 17, 2012 by Kendal White

The New Heating System that will Radically Change the Way You Heat

Imagine a world where heat is always consistent, quick, efficient, and safe. Imagine a heating system that is 70% more efficient than the way you heat now and still safe enough to touch with bare hands. Is this some distant dream, or have we truly arrived at the future of heat technology?

At NPE 2012, UniTherm International introduced its latest product—RapidTherm, an innovative heat solution designed for plastics machinery. UniTherm has been manufacturing insulation jackets for over 20 years, but this new jacket is truly the first of its kind.

RapidTherm is unique in that it combines heating elements and insulation in one easy to use, easy to service unit. The 1-piece, removable insulation jacket includes a built-in thermal vein powerful enough to heat an entire machine. Not only is the thermal vein a more efficient heat source than traditional heater bands, but because it’s encased in high temperature insulation, it saves energy by eliminating excess heat loss.

In tests, the RapidTherm jacket heated barrels twice as fast (cutting start up time in half) and dramatically decreased energy usage. On production equipment, the new heating system

Decreased start-up time by 50%,
Cut energy usage by 70%
Kept the outer surface cool enough to comply with OSHA hot surface standards
Increased worker safety
Cut maintenance time and costs
Eliminated hot spots on the barrel heating profile
Eliminated the need for a barrel shroud

RapidTherm has proven itself as an efficient heating system and promises to liberate processors from the hassle of heater bands. “For years, we’ve known there has to be a better, more efficient way to heat machines,” explains UniTherm president Dan Sherrill. However, previous alternatives to heater bands have been plagued with problems. NPE 2012 was the perfect opportunity to unveil the new heating system, and RapidTherm sparked interest among processors looking to save time and money at their machines. It seems RapidTherm will be the solution that finally puts the heater band headache to rest.

It’s certainly an exciting time for new technology in engineering and manufacturing. Subscribe to our blog for more innovative ideas and industry updates.

October 7, 2011 by Kendal White

Plastics Manufacturing Insulation Jackets – Site Visit, Manufacturing, Install, and Support

At UniTherm International it is our goal to provide outstanding experiences and solutions for our customers. If you are in the plastics industry this post can serve as a guide to the process of outfitting your facility with UniTherm products. [Read more…]

August 9, 2011 by Kendal White

What’s New at UniTherm International?

2011 has been an exciting year at UniTherm International! Over the last year, we’ve taken major strides in improving our facility and R&D capabilities, strengthening marketing efforts, and broadening our representative base. We’re pleased share a sneak peak inside UniTherm HQ to show you changes we’re making to improve our products and services.

Research and Development Updates

Using state-of-the art technology and equipment, UniTherm engineers are more focused on research and development than ever before. This year we’ve rigorously tested our products’ performance which has led to the release of new and improved models of FirePro, discovered new applications for UniVest and FlexWatt and even launched a new product, SolarShell.

SolarShell is a glass-reinforced, plastic laminate that cures and hardens when exposed to UV rays. Be sure to stay tuned for future SolarShell updates, as we’ll release a series of test videos for this multipurpose product later this summer. [Read more…]

May 4, 2011 by Kendal White

All-Purpose, UV Curing GRP Laminate – New to the US

UniTherm Insulation Systems, a company specializing in industrial insulation fabrication and innovative applications, introduces SolarShell – an easy to apply glass reinforced plastic laminate that starts as a flexible sheet – either from a roll or patch and cures to a hard, impermeable material when exposed to UV light.

SolarShell can be cut to any shape and used to reinforce, repair and/or protect virtually anything from PVC pipe and plastics to fiberglass panels, sheet metal, wood and concrete. The unique nature of SolarShell allows for a seamless chemical bond – no primer needed. SolarShell is durable and can withstand abuse from weather, chemicals, and fire creating a system that traditional products cannot offer.

For over 6 months, UniTherm Insulation Systems’ R&D department has been working with the material, testing various applications and creating systems. SolarShell has an adhesive property to it that allows for a wide offering of applications, including home repair, auto, RV, farm equipment, marine, and numerous industrial application, such as oil and gas.

The boundaries for the application and markets of this product are virtually limitless.
“No other product like SolarShell exists in the US and UK. We have only begun to tap into the potential applications and markets for this product,” says Dan Sherrill, President of UniTherm Insulation Systems. “We’ve had our R & D department working with the material and creating systems for the past 6 months and are now hand-picking the manufacturer’s representatives who will take SolarShell into their markets.”

“So far the response to SolarShell is phenomenal, everyone who uses the product is blown away by its simplicity and ease of use” says Sherrill. “And the applications for this product just keep coming; we’ve brought SolarShell into several industries with considerable success.”

About UniTherm
UniTherm Insulation Systems, located in Lewisville, Texas, is a manufacturer of custom insulation systems for all applications; specializing in the plastics and oil and gas industries. Our goal is to create systems that are energy efficient, provide personnel protection, and are easy to use, long lasting insulation solutions.

We are constantly working to create new insulation products that benefit the environment through increased energy efficiency and protect personnel from the hot applications they work around. Our dedication to providing the very best in insulation systems has led us to create several unique, patented products to serve various industries around the world.

Our number one objective is serving our customers and distributors in the very best way possible. We hold the highest standards for the quality, delivery, cost, and ease of use of our products – and consistently build on that standard of excellence through continuous product improvement and customer interaction.
For additional information, please contact Heather Steele, Director of Marketing at marketing(at)unitherm(dot)com