How Dry Ice Blasting Can Help the Electrical Industry Forge Forward
How dry ice blasting can help the electrical industry Forge Forward
We’re sure that you are aware by now that incorporating dry ice into your business has major benefits, but did you know it could play a key role in allowing your electrical company to Forge Forward? Cleaning electrical equipment in a safe and effective manner can be time consuming and requires a high attention to detail, as well as time and money. However, it doesn’t have to be a burden. That’s where dry ice comes into play!
What is dry ice blasting?
Dry ice blasting can be defined as a modern non-abrasive cleaning method where dry ice, the solid form of carbon dioxide, is accelerated in a pressurized air stream and directed at a surface in order to clean it. What makes this different is that instead of turning into a liquid, it immediately converts into a gas in a process called sublimation. This cleaning method is highly sought after by many industries including the food, medical and fabrication industry to name a few. Using dry ice pellets allows the same, if not better, clean as other more harsh chemicals and tools, while ensuring a safe, less abrasive surface cleaning.
Benefits of Dry Ice Blasting
- No waste disposal
- Environmentally friendly
- Efficient and effective
- Cost effective
- Non-toxic, non-abrasive and non-flammable
Dry ice in the Electrical Industry
Electrical equipment typically requires routine maintenance, care and each component needs thorough cleaning regularly. In most cases, this equipment needs to be treated with an environmentally friendly cleaning, that meets the high health and safety standards within the industry. Dry ice blasting checks off all of the boxes and then some when it comes to the best clean possible. In the electrical industry, dry ice can clean equipment such as generators, steam generators, boilers, turbines, rotors, compressors and more. As previously mentioned, this process in non-abrasive, environmentally friendly and non-conductive when compared to other more traditional methods. Dry ice blasting dramatically reduces the cleaning time while providing a near perfect clean, resulting in faster time during, in between and after cleans – further reducing the overall cost. Not to mention, you won’t need as many hands on deck for this job, allowing your employees to be able to focus on other, more time consuming jobs. Dry ice blasting is easy to learn and takes less training time as well!
Benefits of Dry Ice Blasting in the Electrical Industry
- Safer on the equipment
- Safe for employees
- Environmentally friendly
- Non-abrasive
- Non-conductive
- On-site cleaning method
- Cost effective
- Efficient
Over all, dry ice makes for an ideal process when it comes to cleaning electrical and power equipment of all kinds. It is a safe, easy to learn process that doesn’t break the bank! At nexAir, we have a reliable and constant source of dry ice waiting to be used by you and your business. As always, you can lean on our employee’s KnowHow in the gas industry to help you to make educated decisions allowing you to Forge Forward in every project that you encounter.
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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.
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