Storage/Staging: Air cleaners control dust in massive warehouse

Third-party logistics firm ES3 operates a 1.5 million-square-foot warehouse in York, Pa., that is one of the largest automated multi-manufacturer food warehouses in the world. Serving more than 60 manufacturers, the facility sees 1,000 trucks in and out each day. When keeping dust and dirt away from product became a major operational issue and expense, the company installed an air-cleaning system.

Weekly audits in the pallet resorting area, which is located near product storage, had shown a significant amount of dust, both airborne and on flat surfaces. ES3 needed a solution to create a healthier environment for employees while keeping the building food-safe and inspection-ready.

“The dust was causing numerous problems,” says Mark Franke, vice president of automation engineering and maintenance for C&S Wholesale Grocers, parent company of ES3. “We installed barriers to address the high haze levels, spent thousands of dollars a day on manual cleaning, and experienced costly equipment wear and tear due to the accumulation of dust on pallet jacks and forklifts.”

The new air-cleaning solutions include two remote dust-monitoring sensors that provide real-time feedback. Franke says the reaction from ES3’s customers and employees was immediate.

“Within just a few weeks of installation, we saw an 80% reduction of dust in that area of the warehouse,” he says. “Safety concerns for our employees were greatly reduced, and we were able to remove the barriers and redeploy our sanitation labor to other critical areas.”

Zehnder Clean Air Solutions
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