Winter is on its way, which leaves contractors in many industries vulnerable to the damaging conditions of freezing temperatures. However, extreme and unfavorable weather conditions no longer need to affect your bottom line—thanks to innovative heating solutions.
LOOKING AFTER YOUR BOTTOM LINE
In recent years, Walsh Construction (known for their expertise in large civil projects) contracted to repair a portion of the Illinois Waterway. The project consisted of 2.5 miles of concrete wall that needed to be reinforced and repaired via a panel construction.
The timeframe of the project dictated that concrete pours needed to continue during the icy Illinois winter. Since water in concrete can freeze and the hydration process can stop entirely, cold temperatures posed a significant risk, and the integrity of the concrete needed protection.
Walsh concluded that they needed a system that could maintain temperature control, that wouldn’t use an open flame, and that could retain moisture in the concrete—and if they could find such features in a single solution, it would save them fuel and labor costs.
Accordingly, the company ended up purchasing eight PowerBlanket® Multi-Duty heating blankets. After calculating the total savings, Walsh Construction realized it saved more than $5.43 for every $1.00 spent on the PowerBlanket® product—a really phenomenal return on their small investment.
What’s more, the workers on the site found the blankets incredibly easy to work with. In fact, Vern Adkins, carpenter foreman with Walsh Construction, states that “this was the best cold-weather heating /curing system he’s ever worked with.”
PowerBlanket started in 2005 in Salt Lake City, Utah, with one goal in mind: to solve weather-related heating problems. Through PowerBlanket patented technology, the company’s products offer a barrier of uniform directional heat where it’s needed most—preventing fluids from freezing and maintaining optimal temperatures. They provide maximum freeze protection as low as -40°F/-40°C.
PowerBlanket offers a huge variety of quality products designed to protect your assets, save you time, return money on your investment, and help you meet your deadlines and operational demands. Additionally, because PowerBlanket products are easy to install, uninstall, and reinstall (at only a fraction of the cost of the expensive alternative systems) companies will save on labor and maintenance. With their patented technology and design, PowerBlanket can lower energy-related expenses and overall project and equipment costs. Here are just a few of its products:
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PowerBlanket Concrete Curing Blankets
These blankets can cure concrete 2.8 times faster than conventional insulated blankets. While maintaining moisture throughout the hydrating process, they produce a cold-weather concreting strength of 3,925 in 72 hours. They also maintain ACI compliance for cold-weather concreting. Because of its patented technology, the heat spreads evenly, and even the corners and edges of the concrete receive protection.
Dale Helming, project manager with Massman Construction, describes how PowerBlanket provided a solution at a critical time for an important project. “We didn’t have the time to wait out the winter for the temperatures to become more moderate. The PowerBlanket heating blankets certainly played an important role in keeping us on schedule and not having to postpone the pour on an important Kansas City bridge.”
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PowerBlanket Ground Thawing Blanket
With high watt density that thaws frozen ground fast, snow and ice can be quickly melted off of roofs, walkways, and construction areas to maintain safety and keep your project moving. These blankets quickly remove frost in preparation to pour concrete and can also be used to cure epoxy and other resins at an accelerated rate.
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PowerBlanket Barrel and Drum Heaters
These Barrel Heaters have a full wrap-around design that provides complete insulation and ensures equal heat distribution. They work with both steel and poly containers and can be depended on to deliver safe, uniform heat to expensive materials without overheating or burning your valuable supplies. Since some materials are temperature-sensitive, PowerBlanket Drum Heaters decrease and prevent product waste by maintaining consistent storage temperatures without significant fluctuations.
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PowerBlanket IBC/Tote Heaters
You are in total control of the PowerBlanket IBC/Tote Heaters with an always included, thermostatic controller to prevent accidental overheating. They safely heat a wide variety of materials and are certified to UL/CSA/CE standards.
Eric, from a Colorado energy company, had this to say: “Our Totes are outside and have been kept warm and protected from the harsh conditions here in the cold Rocky Mountains. We have loved the functionality of these blankets because they are extremely easy to wrap around our totes, strap shut, plug in, and maintain desired temperature with the thermostatic controllers. We have not had any issues with the blankets flaking, tearing, or ripping in any way, and have found it beneficial that they are water resistant. As the blankets have been prone to getting dirty due to being outside, we have easily sprayed and wiped them down to help keep them clean and looking new.”
PowerBlanket also offers custom solutions for Truck Mounted Tanks, Frac Tanks, Instrumentation, Valves, and Manifolds. These blankets are available in multiple lengths and diameters to fit most custom applications. But if you can’t find the precise solution you need among the listed products, you can collaborate with one of their skilled engineers to develop heating solutions for your customized requirements—whatever your industry.
This winter, don’t allow extreme weather conditions to affect your company’s materials and productivity. PowerBlanket “brings the heat” to insulate and protect your bottom line. ■
For More Information For more information on PowerBlanket’s innovative heating solutions, visit www.powerblanket.com.


Modern Contractor Solutions, October 2014
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