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Winterize Your Warehouse with Insulated Industrial Curtains

Winterize Your Warehouse with Insulated Industrial Curtains

Winter is coming. In fact, in many areas winter has arrived earlier than expected. With the change in seasons comes drastic shifts in the temperature. Is your facility weather-proofed? Here is a quick three step checklist to follow in order to winterize your warehouse and get weather ready:

1. Check Your Loading Dock

The loading dock of your warehouse or facility is typically the primary source of energy inefficiency and where your building will most likely experience the highest loss of hot or cold air. Creating temperature separation with industrial insulated curtain walls form an effective barrier between your dock area and the other work spaces within your facility.
Winterize your warehouse with Insulated Industrial Curtains

2. Insulate if You Refrigerate

For many food distribution companies and manufacturing plants where food storage is a primary function, managing temperature differentials within various areas of the facility is a year-round goal. Incorporating insulated temperature control curtains into your space planning arsenal gives you added peace of mind. Primarily because when insulated curtain walls are strategically and properly used to enclose cold storage areas, they can help to maintain the required temperature range without compromise from the heat zones in other parts of the building.

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3. Flex Your Temperature Control

The most important aspect to consider while getting your facility optimized for temperature change is flexibility. Consider the 3 P’s of workflow management: People, Production and Practicality. Will creating separation and insulating certain areas improve the comfort level of your employees? Will this newly enclosed work space require entry and exit points for easier accessibility? Is it practical to erect a permanent wall versus installing an insulated industrial curtain wall that can be relocated if necessary should your spatial needs change? Temperature control curtains certainly can offer the cost-effective flexibility you need to weather adapt your facility.

AmCraft Manufacturing crafts insulated curtain wall solutions that speak to the importance of flexibility and adaptability by offering custom sizes and stationary or retractable mounting options. One of AmCraft’s best-selling temperature control curtains is their 4” thick semi-flexible stationary insulated curtain wall which can be customized to a maximum height of up to 40ft, which is exceptionally higher than the industry standard.

When the big chill hits it’s best to be ready. One of the best decisions you can make for your facility is installing an energy-efficient, temperature control curtain wall solution. Contact the industrial curtain specialists at AmCraft Manufacturing and they will help you determine which insulated curtain wall system best suits your temperature control objectives.

Check out AmCraft’s “Winter is Coming” Promo Video:

The Benefits of Thermo-Block Industrial Curtains (Infographic)

The Benefits of Thermo-Block Industrial Curtains (Infographic)

Thermo-Block Industrial Curtains - Infographic
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The Benefits of Industrial Curtains for Your Dock

The Benefits of Industrial Curtains for Your Dock

Many industrial facilities have interior loading docks, but when the overhead door is open and a truck is in the dock, all the outside weather comes into the facility. This can increase your heating and cooling costs; let in dirt and debris that can damage your products; create unsafe conditions; and make your team miserable and less productive. Fortunately, there is a better way to stay productive and protect your dock from the outdoors.
Industrial Curtains for Your Dock

The Better Way: Industrial Curtains for Your Dock

You can use an industrial curtain wall to protect your facility when the dock door is open and the dock is in use. Industrial curtains come in a full range of sizes to meet the needs of any company. You can choose from a variety of options to get exactly the industrial curtain you need to meet your requirements. For example, industrial curtain walls are available in a variety of materials designed to stand up to various weather conditions. For instance, we usually recommend a PVC coated curtain of 18 ounces per yard or more to protect from snow, rain or other inclement weather.

Industrial curtain systems have an insulating factor rating that ranges from R-4 to R-27 depending on their thickness and other features. This enables insulated curtain wall to create a temperature differential of plus or minus 15 degrees, making them ideal for products that require refrigeration or cooling.

Industrial Curtains for Your Dock
By keeping the cold air where it’s needed, you reduce the costs of refrigeration. The thermal barrier also keeps areas outside the refrigerated area more comfortable, improving the comfort and safety of your staff. Depending on the degree of insulation you select, industrial curtain walls can be either stationary or retractable.
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Customize Your Options

Every company’s needs are different, so we offer a full range of mounting and visibility options for our curtains. You can select from several mounting options for your loading dock enclosures. They can be permanently mounted for use all year, or they can be removable so you can move them away from the dock area when you choose. It’s a simple matter to put them back in place at the change of seasons or during unexpected changes in weather conditions.

While industrial curtain wall systems can have retractable or stationary mounts, many companies choose to have a combination mounting. When one half of the curtain has a stationary mount and the other half is retractable, you have the best of both worlds for your dock enclosure system.

In areas where the dock is open to weather, you can choose to have a strip door built into loading dock enclosures to enable your team to load or unload trucks without having to move the curtain. This helps protect your inventory from the ravages of inclement weather. Protecting your inventory from outdoor weather conditions can reduce damage and spoilage, and it can save money on your HVAC spend by helping to stabilize inside temperature and humidity levels. In addition, by keeping the floor clean and dry, your team doesn’t have to worry about slips and falls on wet or slippery floors, enhancing operational safety.

If wind is an issue around your dock, an industrial curtain wall will help keep dirt and grime out while reducing noise and distractions. The curtains can be attached to the side of the dock or the floor to keep them from blowing around, helping to keep the area more comfortable, safer and cleaner than an open dock that is exposed to wind and weather conditions.

Industrial curtains for your dock can be equipped with vision panels for viewing the outside. These panels improve visibility to traffic and increase the safety of your team.

Industrial Curtains: An Ideal Solution for Every Dock

Industrial curtain walls and loading dock enclosures buffer indoor areas that are exposed or partially exposed to outside conditions. Curtains help create a barrier between environmental conditions such as wind, rain or dirt that can damage your products, hamper your business processes and even potentially endanger your staff.

Almost every company can benefit from adding an industrial curtain or loading dock enclosure. Curtains are available in many materials and with a variety of options, so you can have exactly the right curtain for your needs. We have experts on staff that can advise you on the right combination of features that meet your needs as well as your budget.

If you would like a free, no obligation quote or if you would just like to learn more about industrial curtains and loading dock enclosures–or any other AmCraft curtain wall system – Contact us today!

A Creative Way to Boost Insulation Value with Industrial Thermal Curtains

A Creative Way to Boost Insulation Value with Industrial Thermal Curtains

As we move into a cooler time of year, many of you will start to focus on the temperature in your facility. Typically an HVAC technician is called in to check up on furnaces, heating vents are unblocked, and additional insulation may be added to existing walls and ceilings.

Another option for assisting with insulating your facility, especially if it is an industrial facility, are industrial thermal curtains. These are industrial curtain walls with insulation inside of them. These thermal industrial curtains can assist with beefing up the insulation level of an entire facility, or sectioning off certain areas for additional insulation. Additionally, these thermal curtain walls can be moved if need be, or taken down when cold temperatures let up; two benefits that traditional insulation options don’t typically boast.

As an example of the potential effectiveness of these thermal insulated curtains, a test study was done. A customer in Texas has utilized our 1” insulated curtains, with an R value of 4, in a cold room for food storage. This facility cools the entire room down to 40 Degrees Fahrenheit when they have larger amounts of product to store. When they do not need the whole room, they divide the room with the 1” thermal insulated curtain. They shut the HVAC off on one side of the room, allowing the temperature on this side to heat.

Aviation Curtain
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The temperature can reach as high as 70-80 Degrees Fahrenheit when not cooled down. The curtain divides the 80 Degree side of the room from the 40 Degree side of the room.

This application utilized the curtain, a filler panel, Velcro on the side edges, and a floor sweep on the bottom, so that the curtain is completely sealed. The customer’s feedback is that between the curtain and their HVAC system, they are able to maintain the two different temperature zones. They do not experience condensation forming on the curtain.

The insulation value of thermal insulated curtain walls is measured by what is called an R value. R value, as defined by standard ASTM C168, is:
“Resistance, thermal, n: the quantity determined by the temperature difference, at steady state, between two defined surfaces of a material or construction that induces a unit heat flow through a unit area.”

Basically, R value measures the resistance to heat transfer across/through a given barrier. The higher the number attached to the R value, the greater the barriers resistance to heat flow is.

Thermal curtain systems can boast a variety of different R value, each of which can be tailored to meet a customer’s needs. While thermal industrial curtains can be a great tool to effectively contain heated or cooled air, it is recommended that you consult an HVAC technician in order to make certain your enclosed area will render the desired net result.

This will assist with confirming that your heating or cooling system has the capacity to deliver a sufficient volume of air heated or cooled to a reasonably higher/lower temperature that is required inside of your enclosure. The thermal curtains alone cannot be responsible for the net effectiveness of the enclosure/curtain system if this is not effectively addressed with available equipment upgrades, if necessary.

When installed properly and used within their means, thermal insulated curtains can be a highly effective tool for maintaining temperature within a facility. The thermal curtain wall professionals at AmCraft Manufacturing can guide you through the process of selecting the best curtain solution for your facility and provide expert advice on how to best insulate or divide your facility. Contact AmCraft today!

Prepare for Summer with Industrial Insulated Curtains

Prepare for Summer with Industrial Insulated Curtains

When you think of summer, you want to envision sunny skies and soaking up the warm air. Although we enjoy all that summer brings, it can be a difficult time for businesses and their inventories. There are many useful applications for industrial insulated curtains in the workplace in all seasons, but with summer approaching, you may want to consider how insulated curtain walls can be used to benefit your business. 

Using Insulated Industrial Curtains in the workplace is a great way to control energy costs by isolating areas in large spaces into separate temperature zones. Insulated curtain enclosures and insulated wall barriers are a temporary, or permanent solution for controlling temperature zones and air flow in your facility.
Choose the amount of insulation you need.

Industrial Insulated Curtains are most often used in cold storage applications. Whether you’ll need to isolate a small or large area, an insulated curtain is easy to configure to any space. AmCraft provides different R-Value insulation levels for the amount of insulation required to control humidity and temperature to your specific need. R-Values are used as a measurement to determine the temperature differences that can be maintained on each side of the insulated curtain. Many times these temperature differentials can be substantial, especially when containing food or pharmaceuticals.

Retractable Insulated Enclosure Pass-Thru
This Measurement Chart will help you to determine the amount of insulation needed for your application:
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Control temperature zones in & around air conditioning units

Controlling and containing air conditioned areas is not only an economic necessity, but it also affects how you use your space. Warm summers cause air conditioners to kick in, sometimes randomly or continuously, causing extreme temperature fluctuations and blowing air. Insulated curtains are a great way to control both air flow & room temperatures in a facility as retractable walls or an enclosure.
Retractable Insulated Enclosure Pass-Thru

Insulated Curtains as wall barriers in the workplace

Warm weather also brings more open doors, whether to get some fresh air, or when dock doors are left open longer than usual. Many cooled, frozen, and refrigerated areas can benefit from insulated curtain barriers over other options as the cold air can be contained to specific areas, and at separate temperatures to protect inventories from spoiling or becoming damaged. With the proper input of air conditioned air, insulated industrial curtain walls retain the temperature and humidity levels required to store, protect and even produce temperature-sensitive products in manufacturing facilities.
Light Insulation Open Side

Insulated Industrial Curtains can be retractable

AmCraft insulated curtains provide retractability, allowing for easy access into an enclosure or into work areas. Depending on the amount of insulation you use and the way the insulated curtain is attached to structural ceilings, our mounting options provide a number of solutions for each application. Whether you need to create an enclosure for total temperature control, create a barrier wall to isolate an area, or create access into climate sensitive manufacturing & distribution facilities, a retractable insulated curtain is not only a great solution and easy to install, but the cost savings is significant when compared to building structural walls or rooms to solve an air flow or room temperature problem.
Insulated Curtain Folding
Find out more about how you can use Insulated Industrial Curtains in your facility. We’ll help you to determine the best R-Value, mounting option and layout configuration to create a custom solution for your business. Create Your Curtain Online Now!

Commercial Restaurant Curtains vs. Decorative Curtains

Commercial Restaurant Curtains vs.
Decorative Curtains

Find out how Decorative vs. Industrial Restaurant Curtains bridge the divide when a decorative room divider solution is attained for a restaurant from an industrial application.

Businesses usually know where to go to purchase standard products that are used within their industry. When a new need presents itself, a business owner will look to suppliers in their industry first. However, sometimes there is a need these suppliers can’t meet. A restaurant room divider curtain falls into many industry categories that include commercial draperies, home goods, custom designers as well as restaurant equipment suppliers. Because it can be very loud in the restaurant, retractable acoustic sound barrier curtains are just a sample which most likely cannot be supplied by a restaurant supplier. In the case of Ravinia, an outdoor musical and theater venue in Highland Park, IL, their indoor restaurant was in need of a large, decorative, and retractable curtain to separate space in the banquet room. The banquet room Mirabelle, is professionally decorated and the new room divider curtain needed to look attractive and fit with the decor.

Acoustic solutions baffle sound panels restaurant
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Looking Outside The Normal Distribution Channels

Jim R., the facilities manager for Ravinia was tasked to find a solution for concealing a large storage area inside the room. He determined early on that the best way to do this was with a retractable fabric curtain that would need to be structurally mounted to the ceiling beams.

He had the perfect, quality material for making the curtains, but no way to mount it to the ceiling. His calls to existing vendors did not produce a good option for hanging the curtain, and he had another problem. The decorative material of the curtain was semi-transparent when used with the existing lighting on either side of the curtain. He looked for a way to not only add a liner to the material, but also for a way to support the weight of the finished curtains. At this point he decided to perform some internet research to find other options.

Don’t Give Up, Instead, Think Creatively

When used inside a quality banquet facility such as the Mirabelle, the curtains need to meet the requirements of fashionable and modern décor. Industrial curtains are typically constructed of vinyl, as they are used for purposes required inside manufacturing plants, factories, warehouses and work shop type situations. Although using an industrial curtain was not an option, the method used to mount the large curtain wall looked promising.

A Track System Used As Great Design

Jim called AmCraft and found that he could indeed use a steel structural track to mount the curtains. But, the track is fabricated from polished steel and is industrial looking in appearance. AmCraft provided an option to powder coat the steel track to make the color better blend with the existing pipes and beams on the ceiling. This solution solved the appearance issue and provided a way to support the weight of large retractable curtains. The structural mounting system with a color change was perfect!

Custom Sewn Curtains From Supplied Material

Jim supplied the decorative curtain material to AmCraft and a nylon liner was sewn to it, making it opaque, but still lightweight. The decorative material was sewn to the nylon with double side hems, which created a more rigid curtain that allowed it to hang smoother and more evenly. It also eliminated the transparency of the decorative curtain material.

The combination of the two textile materials produced a high-quality, decorative curtain that is not only beautiful, but also durable enough for everyday use.

A Beautiful Outcome

Reaching out to vendors outside of your industry makes you realize there are many ways to get what you need. AmCraft enjoyed working with Jim to determine the best fabric, mounting option and construction method for the creation of a this decorative, yet industrial solution to his needs.

If you need ideas for restaurant curtains or help in dividing areas for any type of space, call AmCraft Manufacturing for custom curtain solutions at 847-439-4565 or visit our website www.amcraftindustrialcurtainwall.com

How Can You Use Industrial Wall Curtains to Save Energy and Money?

How Can You Use Industrial Wall Curtains to Save Energy and Money?

If you work in a factory or other large building, chances are you’re always looking for ways to cut operating costs. One way to do so is by saving energy on heating and cooling. If your workspace is located in an area where winter and summer temperatures are often referred to as “extreme,” then even opening a door to take trash out or accept a delivery can have a serious impact on your heating and cooling costs. Aside from simple enclosures within your workspace, there are ways that you can use industrial wall curtains to save on energy costs.

Around the Trash Compactor

This may seem nearly frivolous, but think about how many times your employees venture outdoors to throw away garbage, get rid of boxes, or dispose of materials. Even if the doors are only open for a few seconds every time, if the weather outside is humid or hot, that air is getting sucked into your building, causing the cooling systems to work overtime to bring the temperature back to normal. The same can be said for opening the space up during the winter. If you’re paying to heat the inside, introducing much colder air will only cause the heater to work harder to keep up. Instead of putting your building at the mercy of your employees’ swift exit and reentry, consider enclosing the area surrounding the platform of the compactor or dumpsters – not enclosing the trash compactors or dumpsters within the building, just installing curtain walls outside the exterior doors to limit the amount of temperature change that happens when employees take out trash. This is an effective method for saving on energy costs.

Areas That Require Higher or Lower Temperatures

If you’re adjusting your entire building’s temperatures to keep up with the needs of one specific project, you could be wasting a lot of money on heating or cooling the building when an industrial curtain wall could contain the area that needs to be a different temperature. The same can be said for areas that need higher or lower humidity. Enclosing these project spaces with retractable curtains allows you to have greater control over your heating and cooling costs, while simultaneously giving the employees who are working on these types of projects a designated area to work and contain their progress.

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Delivery & Loading Docks

A similar situation to the trash compactor and dumpster issue, delivery and loading docks can be spaces that let a lot of heat and cold into the building in just a short amount of time. Even if a delivery or loading job only takes five minutes, and the trucks are backed up to the dock, there is still a good amount of external air that can seep into the building and cause your systems to work hard to get the temperature back to what it needs to be. Installing curtain walls outside your building’s loading and delivery docks can give your trucks’ beds a secure, weather-guarded solution for loading and unloading, which is not only energy efficient but ideal for employees as well, if it is storming outside—this way, they can stay under the enclosure to help load and unload shipments.

If you’ve been trying to think of ways to lower your energy costs, look around your workspace and consider whether there might be areas that could benefit from using industrial curtain walls. For more information about them, contact AmCraft today.

Three Benefits of Using Retractable Curtain Walls

Three Benefits of Using Retractable Curtain Walls

If you’re considering installing industrial curtain walls in your workspace, you’ve likely already researched their benefits and functions and know what they can add to your space. They’re non-permanent which makes them an ideal choice for areas that may shift in functionality with time, and they allow larger spaces to be sectioned off for different departments or jobs. Past the somewhat more obvious benefits of simply having industrial curtains, the fact that they are retractable can offer its own set of benefits.

Safety

A lot of the industries that use curtain walls perform jobs that are either messy, loud, dangerous, or some combination of all three. Installing retractable curtain walls can add a level of safety that standard walls can’t offer. For example, the areas surrounding the curtain-enclosed can become contaminated with the materials used within—chemicals, oils, and other matter that may cause problems with not only cleanliness but also employees’ respiratory systems. Particles can get in the air and into people’s lungs, but even less serious complications with airborne particles, like contaminating other projects or getting equipment dirty, can be mitigated with retractable curtains. They also offer the potential for ventilation if necessary, since they can be immediately pulled back.

Privacy for Classified Projects

Some of your business’ projects may require privacy or secrecy, and if you work on them out in the open while ever having visitors to your workplace, there’s always the risk of your projects being seen, copied, or stolen. Retractable industrial curtains give you not only the safety you need within the space you’re working on your project, but also privacy. Keep those secret projects behind closed doors, so to speak. Because the curtains are retractable, however, they’re perfect for showing off a project to a group, presentation-style. This allows you the privacy you need when you want it, but also allows you to open up a workspace to present the projects you’ve been working on. Engage your employees by showing the progress your team is making.

Saving Energy

Retractable curtains can also help you save energy and save money on heating and cooling costs within your workspace. For instance, if the project you’re working on requires a warmer or cooler temperature than the rest of your building, retractable curtains can enclose the space and hold it at a different temperature, rather than paying extra to change the temperature of the entire area. Retractability means that you won’t have to always keep that space a different temperature, either—so you’ll save money both on not changing the temperature of a large space, as well as not changing the temperature of the small space – a win-win situation.

Industrial wall curtains are used in a number of different industries, but the fact that they can be retracted offers even more benefits than if the curtains weren’t retractable. The level of impermanence is ideal for many businesses, and the additional safety, privacy, and energy efficiency are all benefits when considering retractable curtains. Contact AmCraft if you have any questions or would like to learn more about industrial wall curtains.

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Advantages of Using Insulated Curtains

Advantages of Using Insulated Curtains

When you work in an industrial setting, you probably encounter areas within your workspace that could benefit from some form of separation. For example, if you work in a food industry setting, there may be areas of the warehouse that need to be kept at a different temperature than the rest of the space. You may also be using curtains as a flexible means of entry from the outdoors, in which case it may be ideal to have the insulated curtains keeping the temperature zones separate. There are a number of

advantages to using insulated curtains

instead of traditional, non-insulated industrial curtains.

Save Money on Energy Costs

Installing insulated curtains in your workspace can help you save on energy costs by isolating specific work zones into their own temperature-controlled areas. Because insulated curtains ensure that, for example, cool air in a refrigerated zone doesn’t escape to the non-refrigerated area, you’ll end up spending less over time because the air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep the designated work environment at a consistent temperature. By containing temperature zones, your heating and cooling equipment have an easier job, which naturally costs less money. You’ll start to notice the savings sooner than you think – equipment working hard can really add up fast!

Keep Temperature Zones Consistent

Insulated curtains also ensure that the aforementioned temperature zones stay at the temperature they need to be. For instance, if the curtains are being used to contain indoor work areas from outdoor exposure, the insulated curtains will help prevent outside weather from changing the climate within the building. That means that in a building where the curtains are installed at a loading zone, the curtains’ presence helps keep the inside of the building at a comfortable temperature, regardless of what’s going on outside. These systems help you focus more on the activities of your business and less on temperature control.

Enjoy a Non-Permanent Solution

Of course, if the main goal is to separate different temperature zones, building walls and doors can get the job done as well, but one advantage of using insulated curtains is that they are an impermanent solution. Over time, your needs for the workspace may change or shift around, and because the curtains can be moved around, changing how they work for your space is not as involved as it would be to get rid of or move walls and doors. Impermanence may not always be seen as a positive thing; however, in the case of insulated curtains, it often is.

If you’re compelled to discuss your project, or if you have any questions about insulated curtains, contact AmCraft today.

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Industrial Insulated Dividers for ALL Four Seasons

Industrial Insulated Dividers for ALL Four Seasons

While the remnants of a harsh winter pass us by, it seems to be a ritual task to be able to store those thoughts of

industrial insulated divider walls

away and not worry about it until the next snow fall. Don’t pack those thoughts just yet! Thermal industrial partitions can be used year-round.

Spring Forward… and Back – Retractable Insulated Curtain Panels

Out with snow and cold, in with life sprouting everywhere! With wildlife crawling out of hibernation and trees coming back to life, it is almost impossible to think that insulation within your facility is necessary. While spring is an indication of warmer weather around the corner, there are still several reasons why it is vital to use an insulated industrial curtain barrier. With trees, flowers, and wildlife, come bugs, pollen, mold, and other allergens and contaminants that can pollute your workspace. Increasing amounts of rainstorms, wind, extreme temperatures, and dust tend to make their way into warehouses that do not have proper air flow containment methods. To protect products, processes, workers, and equipment, an insulated divider curtain can be installed to protect against substantial temperature fluctuations and control outside pests that can gain access through open warehouse doors and dock stations.

Keep Your Cool This Summer – Industrial Insulated Partitions

Summer is pleasant when you clock out, but if you work in a warehouse, you will have wished that you had a thermal industrial curtain divider! Many industries use loading dock stations for receiving and delivering raw materials; additionally, products are being shipped out on a consistent basis. Warehouse personnel are constantly being exposed to the summer heat and some of that heat (and humidity) is being trapped inside! An insulated warehouse curtain wall solves this problem by containing the cool air conditioning within the work areas to create a more comfortable and ultimately productive environment for your workers. The containment of air flow and control of temperature zones provide a substantial cost savings by reducing the amount of exposure that is infiltrating your entry and exit points.

Fall Into Winter – Thermal Industrial Separation

In the fall, Mother Nature prepares for hibernation. Leaves start to fall from the trees, the temperatures drop considerably and it’s time to turn up the heat again! The same insulated industrial divider can be used to contain the heat generated within the facility and control the wayward air flow, the same way it does in the summer. You can see that this multi-use insulated industrial curtain provides your company with energy cost savings throughout the year, and protects your employees and warehouse merchandise from all the changing seasons.

As you can see – the need for industrial insulated dividers remains constant. It is just the seasons that change! For more information or assistance with your project, contact one of our technical specialists at 847-439-4565 or email us at sales@amcraftonline.com.

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