Project Description

INTRO

A large food and beverage manufacturer saves costs and energy with new high speed doors.

PROBLEM

The food manufacturer had overworked their high speed freezer doors to the point to which they were no longer operational. The facility knew the doors needed to be replaced and the manufacturer had proposed a capital project to replace them. Unfortunately, the freezer doors gave out before the capital project was approved. This meant that the cooler doors stayed in the upright position because the facility operated around the clock 24/7. Since operating the door manually took a huge amount of time, the manufacturer had no other choice but to leave the cooler area open and exposed. Over time, maintaining the appropriate temperature without cordoning off the area became extremely costly. Losing the conditioned air from the cooler represented a huge energy loss.

SOLUTION

DH Pace provided and installed eight USDA and FDA-compliant high speed insulated doors in the cooler area where the manufacturer kept raw product. Seven of the doors offered extra-high-speed operating speeds; the additional speed is designed to minimize the opportunity for any potential impact through trafficked areas. At 100 inches per second, the opening speeds were a huge improvement over what the facility was previously used to. These 3-ply door panels were an ideal long-term investment because the counterweighted operation also reduces motor wear which increases the life expectancy of the door. The icing on the cake was that these doors were specifically for high-cycle applications, which was ideal given the 24/7 foot traffic at the facility. The project also included a replacement door for an interior opening in another part of the facility. Since this opening was not inside the cooler area, it did not need to be insulated. DH Pace recommended a 2-ply door panel that offered a tight perimeter seal and durable components for long-time reliability.

CONCLUSION

Installing the right equipment for the environment put the manufacturer back in control of their operations. They were able to maintain their cooler area at the appropriate 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and other areas between 68 and 79 degrees. As a result of partnering with DH Pace, the manufacturer can continue their operations in a drastically more cost-efficient and energy-efficient manner.