General purpose strip curtains offer a means of improving workplace health and safety by offering solutions for controlling dust, insects and temperature fluctuations.

Large volumes of pedestrian and vehicular traffic in food manufacturing facilities and retail stores lead to an associated ingress of unwanted elements, such as dust and insects.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) strip curtains are suitable for use in the food, pharmaceutical and heavy engineering industries, as control mechanisms against various foreign elements.

General purpose strip curtains from Apex are transparent, allowing improved visibility aimed at preventing accidental collisions between pedestrians and vehicles. In addition, the PVC material aims to provide durability and extend longevity.

Specific elements controlled by strip curtains include:

• Humidity
• Noise
• Temperature
• Hygiene
• Dust
• Insects
• Health
• Safety

In sensitive environments such as the pharmaceutical or printing industries, control of the level of humidity is critical to ensure the quality of finished products.

Noise pollution from machinery, such as in the printing and engineering environments, can be contained with PVC strip curtains with minimal obstruction or hindering of production.

Temperature control is crucial in food processing and handling facilities, such as the dairy industry, as well as in food preparation and storage, cold storage, freezer areas and in refrigerated trucks.  In addition, the maintenance of hygiene in such facilities is also paramount.  Strip curtains have been found to contribute towards both improved levels of hygiene and effective temperature control.

Local manufacturer, Apex, explains that its general purpose strip curtains have a patented reinforced edge, referred to as the Balledge, which provides an overlapping secure seal aimed at keeping in cold air while reducing the inflow of warm air, thus maintaining thermal control.

In pharmaceutical and chemical plants, PVC strip curtains are used to help ensure dust-free and hygienic manufacturing areas. The curtains are also used around pill packaging areas, in powder rooms, mixing rooms and warehouses.

In the food processing sector, strip curtains are used in wash areas, deboning sections, mixing rooms, vacuum packing facilities, holding and freezer rooms or delivery trucks, in order to reduce the influx of insects that are attracted to raw meat products.

Open areas at dust filtration and extraction units can also be enclosed using PVC strips. Additional applications are found in mine hostels, kitchens, food preparation areas and workshops.