Metalwest Eliminates “Sweating Slab” and saves $250,000

A Dangerous & Costly Problem

Located in Garland, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, Metalwest processes and distributes flat roll metals. The non-insulated metal facility is 85,000 sq ft with 50-ft ceilings and has two large, frequently used bays. Its geographic location poses a Texas-size problem: extreme temperature swings and high humidity resulting in severe condensation on metal products and the floors, especially prevalent during the spring and fall. Typically during these months, the floors suffer from “Sweating Slab Syndrome” and are “like ice skating rinks, which makes for a safety hazard to employees,” explains Phill Cavender, Texas Regional GM for Metalwest. And what’s more? In one product alone, in this case aluminum, Metalwest writes off an average of “$28,000 per year due to the sweating concrete that creates rust on the metal,” he said.

An Effective Solution

After visiting manufacturing facilities that have installed Big Ass Fans to solve similar concrete sweating and rust concerns, and listening to recommendations from O’Neil Industrial Metals Group, their parent company, Metalwest decided to install four 20-ft Powerfoil X fans in the warehouse.

Money-Saving, Comfortable Results

Cavender says that within one year, their Big Ass Fans have saved Metalwest approximately $250,000 across the board indevalued inventory by minimizing concrete sweating issues. When used to mitigate condensation, the fans destratify the space, maintain even temperatures from ceiling to floor, and hinder the development of naturally occurring condensation and mold. “And, our employees are more comfortable in the summer because it’ hot here and now they have a breeze … they have nothing but good praises for the fans,” Cavender said.