How Businesses Extend and Enhance Asset Lives
According to findings by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE), rusting and corrosion of assets costs the U.S. economy approximately 3.1% of its GDP – that’s a mind-boggling $276 billion! And because of their more rigorous application (compared to residential assets), industrial equipment and machinery are more vulnerable to the vagaries of rust and corrosion.
Fighting Back
Unfortunately, where there is air, sunlight, water or moisture, which, unfortunately, is pretty much everywhere except in a vacuum, there’ll be rust. So, does this mean that owners of industrial assets should simply accept rust damage as a normal cost of doing business? The answer – NO!
By anticipating the need to meet rust head on, at the source, many factory, plant, building and warehouse owners are now fighting back. Here’s how some industrial application of rust inhibitor paints have helped projects not only save cost but also extend the lives of those assets:
- Public Infrastructure: Unlike private property and assets, that are less exposed to access by the general public, the use of public property, like bridges, roads and highways, is not so restricted. And, in the interest of public safety and continuity of service, other project operators can never allow other assets, like dams and utilities, to deteriorate or succumb to rust and corrosion.
Because these projects are heavily exposed to the whims of mother nature, they are very susceptible to rust and corrosion. If left untreated, the effects of rust can be devastating on a project like a dam, for instance.
The Chief Joseph Dam Project, run and maintained by the US Army Core of Engineers, is a prime example of how public infrastructure project managers fight back against rust. Continually submerged in water, the spillway gates therefore have high risk of corrosion. But the use of rust inhibiting paints and other corrosion protection solutions help keep rusting at bay.
- Rail and Marine Industrial Assets: Whether it’s steam locomotives, oil storage tanks, deep-sea vessels, oil rigs and platforms, rail and marine assets are another area where project operators constantly do battle with rust and corrosion. In fact, because of the marine air environment and the constant fog they operate in, assets like tugs, tankers, rigs and storage tanks are most susceptible to rust damage.
While some converter products are adequate to keep rust at bay for a few years, the more robust one’s act as a near-perpetual defender against corrosion and rusting. Not being proactive with rust inhibitor treatment in such environments can sometimes add thousands of dollars in reactive maintenance, repair and replacement.
- Historical Military Assets: Rust inhibitive coatings are also a potent force when it comes to protecting military and government assets – including historic relics like battleships and sea craft. Assets like these typically rest in highly corrosive brackish waters. Salty sea winds batter them constantly. And moisture remains a continuous enemy.
Curators of such assets turn to revolutionary rust inhibitor treatments in their fight against corrosion and rust. A single treatment protects these sensitive and historic assets for years ahead. Even as they experience heavy traffic, as a result of visitors and the general public viewing them, the rust inhibitor paints act as protective defense mechanism against possible rust damage.
These are just a few industrial uses of rust inhibiting paints. In fact, these inhibitors are great tools in the arsenal of any maintenance supervisor, foreman or manager that wants to fight rust and corrosion head on. Regardless of what industrial application you are looking at – manufacturing, drilling, farming, resource industry, public utilities, shipping, railroads – the use of the right rust inhibitor keeps rust and corrosion away from your assets for years to come.
Proactively Extending Your Industrial Asset Lives
As owners of high value industrial and commercial assets, you owe it to yourselves to do everything possible to extend the life of your assets, and enhance their productivity. However, reactive strategies – like treating rusted surfaces once rust is visible – won’t work well for large and expensive projects.
To keep rust at bay in factories, warehouses, production facilities and manufacturing plants, requires asset owners to be proactive in how they deal with rust challenges. And that’s where the proactive use of rust inhibiting paints and coatings comes in. In treating your industrial assets with these products, preempt any plans that rust may have to interfere in the normal operation of your assets. Additionally, though, you also save hundreds of thousands of dollars – over the life of the asset – in rust-related repairs and replacements.
With the Rust Bullet range of rust inhibiting paints and corrosion prevention solutions, it is now possible to proactively fight against the dual menace (rust and corrosion). For most applications, using these products is as simple as brushing, rolling or spraying the surface. UV, chip and crack resistant, these rust inhibiting paints are quick drying, which means your industrial assets don’t stay out of commission for extended periods.