Factory Heating Success Story at Arkansas Steel Mill
Learn how an Arkansas Steel Mill Prevented Rust with HTHV technology.
Big River Steel started in 2014 in an area of northeast Arkansas that has been called “steel mill heaven.”
When it comes to steel mills, it’s hard to imagine the need for mechanical HVAC equipment to provide heat for the factory. The electric arc furnace used in the Melt Shop at Big River Steel exemplifies how unnecessary additional heat can be in a factory environment that already has plenty of heat sources.
But there is more to the mill than just the Melt Shop. Before a 50,000 lb. roll of high-quality Big River Steel leaves the plant, it needs to pass through the Finishing Mill. In this facility, massive rolls of steel can be pickled, galvanized, or annealed. The need for mechanical factory heating solutions becomes critical: as these rolls of steel are waiting to be processed, they are susceptible to environmental conditions that create rust.
Problem:
If the temperature inside the Finishing Mill falls below the dew point temperature, flash rusting of the rolls of steel can occur within a 24-hour time frame. In the worst-case scenario, rusting can cause revenue loss for Big River Steel, leaving them no choice but to scrap the steel altogether.
Solution:
That’s where the Cambridge Air Solutions High Temperature Heating and Ventilation (HTHV) technology helps save the day. These industry-leading factory heating systems in the Finishing Mill protect the coiled steel, working to keep the air warm, dry, and above the dew point in order to prevent moisture from forming on the rolls. When you have millions of dollars in inventory waiting to ship to your customer, you want to make sure they receive the high-quality steel they have come to expect from Big River Steel, according to Bryan Tidwell of Big River Steel.
Ever since the plant opened several years ago, Big River Steel has been using HTHV factory heating technology to help prevent the loss of inventory within the Finishing Mill. When they decided to add an additional 80,000 SF onto the Finishing Mill, they didn’t consider anything but HTHV technology to continue to keep their inventory rust free.
To date, the Finishing Mill at Big River Steel uses a total of (10) S-2200 HTHV S-Series industrial space heating units to keep the steel inventory safe from rusting. Cambridge's factory heating systems also help keep the facility warm for the employees on cold winter days as well.
HTHV Benefits:
- Improved air temperature uniformity due to superior destratification without supplemental fans
- Improved indoor air quality due to use of 100% outside air
- 92% ultra-high efficiency resulting in energy savings and better indoor comfort to enrich the lives of factory employees
Whether it’s controlling the dew point or heating high-bay factories, HTHV technology is the most energy-efficient solution for these types of structures. Learn more about the energy efficiency and destratification of HTHV technology.
Discover the Cambridge S-Series
Cambridge’s S-Series heating system was the best solution for Big River Steel because it is an energy-efficient, large industrial space heater that is designed to help meet a factory’s heating and air load requirements, eliminating higher ceiling temperatures and uncomfortable drafts. It utilizes 100% fresh air to dilute contaminants and greatly reduces air quality problems associated with indoor manufacturing environments.
Manufacturing Facility Heating Systems
Cambridge understands the unique requirements of manufacturing facility and factory heating solutions. These high-bay buildings require heating systems with different specifications and thus require a different mix of products to achieve the desired Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort needs. Learn more about our unique heating, make-up air and cooling solutions for manufacturing facilities.