How Cold Weather Can Impact Your Industrial Business

Cold weather can have major impacts on industrial businesses, especially those in the manufacturing and construction sectors. When the temperature falls, these industries face significant weather-related challenges that range from low employee morale to costly machine breakdowns. If you run an industrial business, read on to understand how cold weather can impact your operations.

Low Employee Morale and Productivity

"Dressing for the weather" is a common phrase that describes how people tend to prepare for harsh cold temperatures. If you have an industrial business that operates outside, the work environment will be more uncomfortable for your workers. Unless you provide warm indoor areas for employees to take breaks, the bitterly cold temperatures can significantly affect their morale and productivity.

Machine Breakdowns

Industrial businesses with liquid storage and machines with moveable parts often experience frequent failures during the winter months. This is because fluids inside machines lose their normal viscosity when the temperature drops below freezing. This, together with the compromised lubrication system, causes machine breakdown.

Increased Energy Bills

When the temperature drops, the company's energy consumption definitely increases. This is due to the fact that the air conditioners, HVAC systems, and water heaters run over time to keep the workplaces at a comfortable temperature. Eventually, the company will have to spend a significantly high amount of money on its energy bills.

Corrodes Metal Parts

Cold weather can also cause industrial equipment to corrode. Generally, when the temperatures drop below dew points, it makes water condense on metal surfaces such as industrial cylinder walls and pipes. If this condensate mixes with sulfur, it forms sulfuric acid, which causes corrosion. Unless you use non-corrosive materials such as stainless steel valves, pipes, cylinders, and fittings, you will have to incur high replacement costs.

Affects Industrial Coatings

Industrial coatings are often applied to steel surfaces to add strength, durability, and other specific properties. Unfortunately, most coatings are not immune from the effects of cold weather. An extreme drop in temperature can make industrial coatings shrink or even crack, thereby affecting the durability of the covered industrial equipment.

Final Thoughts

Cold weather temperatures present real challenges to many industrial organizations. Unless you take proper precautions, these challenges can put your operations at a disadvantage. Besides causing operational disruptions and loss of productivity, cold weather can also lead to costly repairs or replacements. This can result in a financial burden on your company, so always plan ahead to avoid any major issues before the winter season arrives.