With ever more pressure being placed on manufacturing operations to remain competitive, focus is being directed to ensuring an operational environment that is conducive to the production of consistently high quality products and a reduction in wastage. Among the factors that influence this are employee working conditions as this impacts directly on issues such as quality and productivity.

While an adequate heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system can play an important role in ensuring the comfort of workers, this is not always a feasible option. In some instances, the plant design does not lend itself to the inclusion of an HVAC system. In others the capital cost and running costs of a power-hungry HVAC system makes it impractical.

Wim Dessing, managing director of Apex Strip Curtains & Doors, says that a cost effective and practical alternative to an HVAC system is Apex General Purpose Strip Curtains.

Over the past more than 37 years, Apex Strip Curtains & Doors has refined its product offering by closely collaborating with industry on the optimal product solutions for each application. The resultant Apex General Purpose Strip Curtains have been designed and developed with the variable South African climate in mind.

“Some parts of South Africa are considered to be desert, while other parts have a temperate climate and yet others are sub-tropical. Such extremes in temperature and humidity require careful attention to design and engineering detail to ensure a strip curtain that works effectively, irrespective of the location,” says Dessing.

In addition to being able to control the influx of cold or hot exterior air, the Apex General Purpose Strip Curtains are designed to reduce the levels of dust as well as the ingress of birds, rodents and insects.

In industries where hygiene and cleanliness are critical, these strip curtains can prevent the passage of unwanted contaminants, but still allow the unhindered and safe passage of people and forklift trucks. Another added benefit is the reduction of noise levels, from either inside the plant facility or from outside.

The specially formulated PVC material used for the company in the manufacture of its strip curtains provides a durable, yet flexible barrier that does not become brittle over time.

Another design element that the company has incorporated and patented is the Balledge® feature. This rounded edge on the strips not only ensures an effective thermal seal at all times, but also allows the strips to part easily under pressure for the easy and scratch-free passage of people and goods from one area to another.

The strips are available on a metre by metre basis, or as a complete installation together with hanging hardware. A network of agents represents Apex Strip Curtains & Doors throughout South Africa, and technical and installation support is readily available from the company.