Dry Ice: More Than a Halloween Staple
Dry Ice: More Than a Halloween Staple
For those who love a bubbling, smoking cauldron or a rolling fog to help decorate their doorstep every October 31st, there are thousands of other uses for what fires that Halloween mood in today’s world. That little bit of magic and eeriness that causes that distinct look and feel is what is known as dry ice.
Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide gas. At a temperature of -109.2F (-78.5C), carbon dioxide will sublimate (make the transition from gas to solid) at Earth’s atmospheric pressure. It is colorless, odorless, and is a non-flammable material. However, dry ice is realized at an extremely cold temperature, so it must be handled with the proper protection equipment to avoid frostbite.
Dry ice has many practical applications in today’s consumer, business, medical, and industrial worlds which can greatly aid in getting the jobs done that you face every day.
Consumer Use of Dry Ice
Dry ice can be used in a number of ways in the home, far beyond feeding that fog machine that you use at Halloween. It can be used in spot repair projects to remove floor tile as it helps it release it from its bonding agent. Dry ice can also be used to bait mosquitos away from your outdoor event; they are attracted to CO2, so if you keep some pieces out away from your party, they will be drawn away from you and to the gas relased from the blocks. When transporting plants for an event, dry ice can help you keep the flowers cold as long as you can maintain a temperature of 34F. As long as the dry ice does not touch the flowers and keeps the air cool, they will arrive without wilting. It also can be used on small dents on a vehicle fender, as the application of the dry ice on smaller shallow dents and dings can cause the metal to rebound back into the original shape.
Business Use of Dry Ice
Dry ice is found in use in today’s commercial kitchens, supermarkets, and restaurants. It is used to remove mold, mildew and bacteria from surfaces that come in contact with various food items. In order to maintain a strict standard of cleanliness and meeting and exceeding regulations, dry ice is an invaluable tool in helping to prevent the transfer of foodborne diseases as well as transfer of food elements that can cause allergic reactions. It is also used to store food safely in these environments for long periods of time.
For those food producers and restaurants that have fan bases far and wide, dry ice is used to keep food items cold while on their way to their customers. Various forms of dry ice (blocks, slabs, pellets, chips, etc.) can be utilized for the size and shape of the packaging you need to ship.
Medical Use of Dry Ice
A critical use of dry ice in the medical world comes into wide us in the transport of medical supplies, samples, and even human organs for much needed transplants. Dry ice use in this way avoids any water residue that would be left over by traditional ice, which could cause contamination of the items and possible build-up of harmful bacteria.
In dermatology, dry ice is a product of choice when applied in surgeries to remove skin imperfections such as moles, warts, and other types of growths. It has been used as a good alternative to liquid nitrogen for these types of minor surgeries. Dry ice is also enjoys applications in specialized freezers in the medical world is widely used to keep samples cold in case of an power outage in a medical facilty.
Industrial Use of Dry Ice
In manufacturing, dry ice is used in one of America’s staples; ice cream. Other uses in the food business include the carbonation of beverages.
Cleaning with dry ice pellets has proven to be a safe and very effective way to remove asphalt tiles, paint, rubber, and even mold. Dry ice is a safe and efficient replacement to steam, sand, water and even solvent blasting. The resulting residue is the CO2 gas, which comes from conversion from solid to gas. It has also been used as a cutting fluid in metalworking processes which provide temperature controlled cooling of both the metal and the cutting tool.
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Manufacturing downtime costs American companies billions annually. When production lines halt due to gas supply issues, every minute translates to lost revenue, missed deadlines, and frustrated customers. At nexAir, we've spent decades developing solutions that keep manufacturing operations running smoothly.
The Hidden Costs of Gas-Related Downtime
When manufacturers calculate downtime costs, they typically focus on labor and lost production. However, gas supply disruptions create cascading effects that multiply these losses:
- Production rescheduling that disrupts carefully optimized sequences
- Rush shipping fees to meet customer deadlines despite delays
- Quality inconsistencies when processes restart after interruptions
- Overtime costs to catch up after unplanned stoppages
- Reputation damage when delivery commitments are missed
For a typical mid-sized manufacturer, each hour of downtime represents $5,000-$10,000 in direct and indirect costs. Our analysis shows that gas-related issues cause 7-12% of total manufacturing downtime - a substantial opportunity for improvement.
From Reactive to Proactive: The Supply Continuum
Most facilities follow a predictable pattern in their gas management evolution:
Stage 1: Reactive Management At this stage, facilities order gas when they notice supplies running low or, worse, after running out. Emergencies are common, and disruptions are accepted as "part of doing business." One automotive parts supplier operating this way experienced 14 production interruptions in a single quarter.
Stage 2: Calendar-Based Management Facilities advance to scheduled deliveries based on estimated usage. While better than the reactive approach, this method still results in either excess inventory (tying up capital and space) or shortages when usage spikes occur. A plastics manufacturer following this model maintained 40% more cylinder inventory than necessary while still experiencing occasional stockouts.
Stage 3: Consumption-Based Management Our telemetry systems monitor actual gas consumption, automatically triggering orders based on usage patterns rather than calendar dates. This approach virtually eliminates both stockouts and excess inventory.
Stage 4: Integrated Supply Management The most advanced approach connects gas management directly to production planning systems. Upcoming production requirements automatically adjust supply parameters, ensuring resources are precisely aligned with needs. A medical device manufacturer using this approach reports zero gas-related downtime for 27 consecutive months while operating with minimal inventory buffers.
Our expert KnowHow™ in industrial gas applications allows us to guide customers through this evolution at a pace that makes sense for their operations.
Customizing Solutions for Maximum Uptime
Manufacturing environments vary dramatically in their gas requirements and operational constraints. We've developed flexible approaches that address these differences:
- For high-volume, consistent usage operations, our bulk systems eliminate the cylinder handling that frequently causes supply disruptions. Bulk installations include telemetry monitoring and automated ordering to prevent outages.
- For variable-demand environments, our microbulk delivery systems provide the benefits of bulk supply with lower volume commitments. These systems reduce handling requirements while maintaining the flexibility needed for changing production schedules.
- For specialized applications requiring multiple gas types, our gas management programs combine cylinder tracking, usage monitoring, and automated replenishment. This comprehensive approach ensures that specialty gases are always available when needed, regardless of how infrequently they might be used.
- For multi-site operations, our enterprise supply programs coordinate deliveries and optimize inventory across locations. By treating the organization's gas requirements holistically, we minimize both stockouts and excess inventory across the network.
This consultative approach ensures that manufacturers receive solutions aligned with their specific operational patterns rather than generic "one-size-fits-all" systems.
Beyond Traditional Supply: Integrated Services for Total Reliability
Maximum uptime requires more than just reliable gas delivery. Our integrated services address the full spectrum of gas-related reliability factors:
Equipment maintenance programs that prevent system failures before they impact production Technical gas specialists who resolve application issues that could otherwise cause production problems Safety training that prevents accidents leading to downtime events Emergency response capabilities that minimize impacts when unexpected events occur Supply chain redundancy that ensures continuity despite regional disruptions
These services complement our supply solutions to form a comprehensive reliability strategy. By addressing both everyday operations and exceptional circumstances, we help manufacturers Forge Forward with confidence that gas-related disruptions won't derail their production targets.
Measuring Success: The Results That Matter
The ultimate measure of any downtime reduction strategy is its impact on production metrics. Our manufacturing customers consistently report significant improvements after implementing our comprehensive gas management solutions:
Downtime reductions of 85-95% for gas-related issues Inventory cost decreases of 20-30% through optimized supply management Administrative time savings of 5-10 hours weekly through automated ordering and tracking Production schedule adherence improvements of 3-7% due to improved supply reliability
These performance gains translate directly to bottom-line benefits that typically deliver ROI within months rather than years. More importantly, they allow manufacturers to confidently make delivery commitments, knowing that gas supply issues won't compromise their ability to perform.
Don't let gas supply issues impact your productivity. Contact us today to explore our tailored solutions.
Looking out for your future
Get your career going on the right track with nexAir
Find out how nexAir KnowHow has impacted businesses all over the Southeast
Our expertise makes us more than a valuable partner, it makes us headlines