With the incorporation of advanced equipment in virtually every business vertical and the growing concern for sustainability, the modern connotation of industrial flooring systems has undergone a drastic transformation of sorts over the last decade. Even though it was largely a much-neglected aspect of safety and aesthetic consideration, the upkeep of floors by utilizing high-performance coatings has now become a common practice across a host of diverse industries.
The latest range of floor coating solutions encapsulates an impressive set of characteristics along the likes of high moisture resistance, eco-friendliness, durability, functionality, slip resistance, longevity, pace of installation, economy and aesthetics. Evidently, there can be different floors for different departments in a single industry these days, and the permutations and combinations can be countless when it comes to optimal protection of these flooring systems. In fact, reliable experts claim that the revenue scale of worldwide industrial floor coating market is anticipated to exceed as much as USD 7 billion by 2024.
An experienced professional from the floor coating sector would take into account various factors such as the ambience of the manufacturing unit, nature of activities taking place within the building, and movement of machinery/employees in a premise before recommending an efficient coating solution. In this context, it would be quite imperative to take note of the fact that safety of the workers and machinery is also one of the major factors that has been pivotal in the selection of the appropriate coating required for the flooring systems.
Preventing Industrial Workplace Accidents with Effective Floor Coatings
As per the statistics published by the National Floor Safety Institute, a nonprofit organization that aids in the prevention of slips, trips and falls through standards development, research and education, the slip-and-fall accidents are to be blamed for around 85 percent of the worker’s compensation claims in the United States. Apparently, it has been reported that about 55 percent of these falls are caused by hazardous flooring conditions.
Unfortunately, human workers who are prone to error, the necessity for repetitive tasks, and powerful manufacturing equipment are all aspects of the industrial workplace that bring with them inherent risks. However, it is a well-documented fact that workplace accidents and injuries are preventable. Today’s floor coatings provide long-term durability, which prevents cracks and contamination in corrosive elements and heavy machinery – factors that invariably mitigate loss of productivity to injury or shut down, workers compensation claims and damages from lawsuits.
Launch of New Production Units and Product Ranges: The Quest of Manufacturers to Expand Across New Regions and Diversify the Existing Set of Offerings
The major manufacturers of floor coatings are increasingly seeking assistance from the regional governments to set up new manufacturing facilities and tap into opportunities opened up across unexplored industrial heartlands. For instance, Alberta has recently committed USD 70 million in future royalty credits toward Inter Pipeline’s next production unit as part of its Petrochemical Diversification Program. The Canadian province would witness the construction of a USD 600 million acrylic acid and propylene derivatives plant which would convert 60,000 tons of propylene into 80,000 tons of propylene derivates. As has been reported, these products would be high-grade floor coatings, adhesives, floor polishes and paints.
In addition to building new facilities, manufacturers of floor coatings have lately focused on upgrading their offerings so that the products have high tensile strength, adhesion and wear resistance to sustain the chemical and physical exploits the industrial floors undergo. The US-based protective paints and coatings maker Rust-Oleum recently launched a new range of coatings named the RockSolid Professional Polycuramine. These floor coatings are reportedly low-odor, VOC free, chemical and impact resistant. Moreover, these new coatings are 20 times stronger than conventional epoxy floor coatings and come in different colors such as Clear, Mocha, Gray and Dark Gray. Needless to mention, the launch of such advanced floor coatings coupled with the construction of new manufacturing facilities would be pivotal in transforming the facets of industrial floor coatings business sphere.
The Growing Necessity of Utilizing Floor Coatings in the Manufacturing Facilities of the Food Processing Industry
Industries have diverse requirements while designing a new production facility. Flooring system and coating selection are crucial to comply with government standards and determine profit margins based on their ability to perform. This is true in case of the food and beverage industry whose manufacturing plants are mandated to meet stringent safety and sanitary standards of numerous regulatory authorities of regional governments such as the Environment Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and NSF International. Constant scrutiny and compliance checks by these regulators means that flooring systems in this industry must be equipped with sterile and hygienic surface coatings, mostly chemical formulations of epoxy resins and additives.
Taking into account the aforementioned constraints, epoxy and properly coated concrete flooring systems are ideal solutions for the food and beverage sector, especially in facilities that handle production equipment, packaging and cold storage machinery. Moreover, commercial kitchens, bakery, meatpacking, poultry and diaries – in addition to fryer lines, freezers, chemical and secondary containment, etc. – require floor coating solutions that would assist in optimizing cost benefits and meeting regulatory guidelines.
Industrial Floor Coatings in the Aviation Sector: Safeguarding Floors of Hangars from Harmful Corrosive Substances
From hydraulic fluid and aircraft fuel to oil, grease and grime, there are a number of corrosive substances that can potentially be harmful to the floors of hangars. The epoxy floor coating systems are not only concrete flooring solution but also are extremely durable and incredibly aesthetic. These coatings are known to withstand short-term and long-term exposure to an assortment of chemicals such as lubricants, fire-resistant fluids and hot tires without staining or deteriorating. Moreover, they provide ample light in low-light settings, which makes routine maintenance work on the aircraft a lot easier.
Undoubtedly, flooring for aviation facilities has to be performed under the arduous environment of daily operations, yet retain a highly reflective finish for a longer duration. A well-applied floor coating can withstand wear-and-tear and frequent chemical spills, while enhancing the safety of facility occupants and the aircrafts alike.
Even though there exists a ton of experience and know-how in terms of the application of floor coatings, there is still room for innovation and technological advancement in terms of product upgradation. The growing environmental concerns and the need to incorporate sustainable solutions has given rise to a new breed of green industrial floor coating products, changing the workplace scenario of industries that are characterized by the occurrence of hazardous accidents and mishaps.
