Some of the basic concerns affecting modern industrial plants and logistics facilities include energy efficiency, safety and productivity. Doors play a big role in addressing all of these concerns, and choosing the right door type will save money, improve operations, and also lower safety risks.
Expenditure on energy consumption continues to rise in the manufacturing sector, with the increase in wholesale gas prices only making the energy cost issue worse for all industries. These costs are putting industrial businesses at risk, meaning that plant owners need to carefully consider how their operational elements can help them save on energy.
Industrial cooling is potentially one of the biggest areas for energy savings, with doorways being a significant source of energy loss. Internal temperatures can vary by as much as 10°C when a doorway is left open to the elements. This is because infiltration of outdoor air into a contained work area causes air conditioners to work less efficiently to maintain the desired temperature. This can be especially costly for chillers and cold storage warehouses.
This energy loss can be minimised by selecting doors that combine high speed and safety with the ability to operate multiple times per hour. The facility’s cooling system will need to draw less energy to cool the space when the door opens and closes quickly. High speed doors are characterised by a rolling or folding action that is suitable for high cycle use. Their fast opening and closing times help reduce energy loss, avoid airflow and allow smooth operation, while also creating an effective barrier against outside elements.
However, safety is an essential requirement with these types of doors. This means preventing the entrapment of workers as well as avoiding lateral impact with vehicles and other equipment. This safety system can be activated by a pneumatic safety edge, or light or motion sensors that can detect an obstruction and reverse a closing door back to the open position.
Some door models can even have the option of incorporating lightweight, soft and flexible bottom edges. The flexibility of these edges helps to prevent entrapment, and their softness means they strike with less force than doors with hard edges, thereby, preventing injury. This is especially ideal for locations with high pedestrian traffic since the ‘impact’ is injury-free.
Lateral impact can also be prevented by increasing visibility with full width clear vision panels that are built into the door blade.
All of these features and more can be found in DMF Series RL3000, a medium-sized high speed, high cycle industrial door from DMF International for internal and external applications. The door can combine a soft leading edge and a pressure sensitive safety edge for maximum protection, as well as offer excellent sealing and wind load capabilities.
While the RL3000 rapid roll doors can be used across a wide range of industries, these are particularly suitable for customers who need to close large openings in warehousing and logistics facilities. DMF Series RL3000 offers durability and minimal maintenance, while reducing energy loss as well as risk of worker injury or damage to goods.
