Iron Fox: Carwashes, Concrete, and Paperclips

The foundation of a business is always a point of emphasis when discussing long-term success. On this episode of The Iron Fox Podcast, Brian Schweppe, Lead Install for Iron Fox, and Jay Florence, Installation Supervisor for Iron Fox, sat down with host Sean Heath, and they discussed how the literal foundation of a carwash could impact the lifespan and efficiency of the installation.

The beginning of any building is the foundation, usually comprised of concrete. Schweppe made an interesting statement regarding the initial pour of that material.

“Nobody does perfect concrete,” Schweppe said. “As good as they like to be and as good as they say they are, every person that lays concrete, there’s ultimately divots and dips.”

These imprecise behaviors can have devastating results down the line, according to Schweppe.

“Water is a peculiar substance,” he said. “If gravity is constantly pulling it into the edges of the building, and if you’re in an extreme environment where it gets below freezing, that water in cracks of the building will, over time, destroy the building.”

Another challenge is faced when performing a retrofit or repair of a previous company’s installation.

“We’re always looking for ways to speed it (the wash process) up. We’ve seen where they may have cut some corners while doing it, and that really impacts the life of the unit,” Florence said.

Ultimately, reducing flex points that lead to metal fatigue and possible failure is key.

“As a customer, when their conveyor is down, they can’t operate,” said Schweppe. “If they’re not making money, then their carwash is a liability for them.”

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