TLDR: Bassett Furniture in Newton, NC eliminated their week-long shutdown cleaning process with SonicAire fans, which now automatically clean overhead areas while providing unexpected benefits like temperature reduction in non-AC areas. The system runs on a smart schedule (low speed during production, high speed after hours), saving significant labor costs and allowing more time for equipment maintenance and employee vacation.
Key Points:
• Eliminated week-long shutdown cleanings with airlines through rafters
• Unexpected benefit: temperature reduction in non-AC areas
• Smart scheduling: low speed 6am-6pm, high speed 10pm-midnight
• Freed up time for preventative maintenance on other equipment
• Zero issues with SonicAire service and follow-up
Transcript:
My name is Richard Hammer. I manage all four buildings here for Bassett in Newton, North Carolina. I take care of the facilities, the machinery, upkeep and the safety and wellbeing of the whole facility.
I like seeing the beginning to end process: taking all the raw materials in and then the fabrication process as a whole. It’s very exciting to see the beginning to end process of all the higher-end quality furniture that gets produced here.
One of our higher-ups implemented the SonicAire fans up in Virginia, and he was so happy with the results of it that we wound up deciding to try it here and see how it did for us. SonicAire fans have saved us a tremendous amount of time and labor due to the fact that before, what we would wind up doing is having people run long tubing with airlines through the rafters. And we would take the entire week of a shutdown to blow down everything. Now, it gets done on a regular scheduled basis and it’s hands-free. Realistically, the only thing we have to deal with is, in the morning, we come in and sweep up all the dust and particulate which saves a lot of time and money.
One of the added benefits to it that I didn’t realize before we got it implemented is that it actually decreased the temperature in the facility there in those areas since they’re non-AC’d. So, it wound up dropping the temperature making it more comfortable for everybody. So, that’s an added benefit as well as the cost savings on the energy.
We run the fans low speed 6am to 6pm Monday through Friday to keep the materials from building up on the lateral surfaces in the ceilings and overhead; 10pm to midnight we intend on doing the high speed to get rid of any buildup that did take place during the day during the low-speed operations. Which winds up making it easier for everybody, and it winds up being cleaner.
We are still pleased two months after having the system in place. With the extra time we are able to dedicate more towards PM and upkeep of other pieces of machinery and actually enjoy a little bit more of our vacation time rather than spending the added time blowing down the overhead and everything else.
I was very pleased with my experience with SonicAire. SonicAire has really great customer service. They follow through and give you prompt response whenever you’re requesting them. I’ve had zero issues dealing with SonicAire, and the follow-up on it has been great. So, I’m very happy with my dealings with SonicAire. Moving forward, if we do have any further additions, I’m more than happy to continue the relationship.
I would recommend SonicAire fans due to the fact that it is a large cost savings. Whether it be labor or time, it saves a lot of time, energy, and money.
