[Fly Control] Breath of Fresh Air

The delicate nature of food processing makes it imperative to create an environment that is resistant to extreme temperatures, chemicals, gases and one of the oldest and most persistent foes, flying insects. Those involved in food handling and processing know the annoyances and health hazards of insect infiltration. Something as simple as common flies can wreak a considerable amount of havoc.

Consider for a moment that flies do more than alight on food particles. They have no teeth; they consume their nourishment in liquid form. To get their nourishment from foods, flies spit on it, wait for it to dissolve and then "suck" it up. They also like to eat human and animal waste; bacteria from this waste sticks to their mouths, footpads and hairs, making it easy to transport this matter to food products.

A RESOURCEFUL ENEMY. Extremely resourceful, insects find clever ways to infest buildings, feed lots and shipping docks. Their most straightforward approach, however, is by flying through any openings.

In earlier civilizations and in underdeveloped countries, techniques such as netting, various scents and herbal applications have been used with varying degrees of success for fly control. But in the society in which we live, where high production and worker comfort are paramount, something more proactive is needed.

Strip curtains, pesticides and fly traps are popular in some food environments, especially in loading and shipping areas where there is constant movement through doors and wide openings. The nature of strip curtains hinders their effectiveness, however. Designed to allow easy movement in and out of otherwise open spaces, the curtains part easily to allow unhindered flow of personnel and product. This is the strip curtain’s downfall in that, when the strips are pulled aside, there is easy access for flying insects of all types.

Chemical solutions present a different challenge. Some pesticides have attracted litigation in recent years, in claims brought forth by individuals, environmental groups and government agencies.

For generations, fly traps have provided an effective way to contain or redirect flies and other insects. They do not prevent the fly from entering through the air space. As the old adage goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

In some places, screen doors are still used with a degree of success. But what’s the first thing someone does when carrying boxes in and out? They use one of the boxes to prop open the screen door. Again, it’s an invitation that most flying insects are likely to accept. Like most unwanted guests, they never know when to leave either.

AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM. What is needed is a product that efficiently solves the problem either by itself or in combination with other preventive measures. Air curtain products have proven to be useful in all types of environments where food is present, from supermarkets and bakeries, to beverage bottling plants, shipping departments and fast food restaurants. Air curtains can be installed in unobtrusive places above the doorway or window openings they protect and can be adjusted to produce various amounts and velocities of air. They are equally effective in areas constantly open to the elements or in air-conditioned or heated environments, such as supermarkets where doors open only to allow for customers to enter or leave the building.

Air curtains, also known as air doors, not only help to power up productivity and keep operational costs down, but they also protect the workplace against flying insects, dust, pollen, odors and extreme temperatures. Whether you are trying to keep flies away from a restaurant, stabilizing the temperature and insect resistance of customers’ walk-in coolers or creating a more comfortable working environment on the shipping dock, air curtain products provide the answers in a sanitary, environmentally friendly way. These mean, lean "green" machines utilize a housing and specialized fan as an integral part of their design, which allows a stream of air to create separation between one side of an opening and the other. This sets up an invisible barrier for flying insects while enabling the normal flow of business. Air curtains or air doors are installed either as horizontal units blowing air downward or as vertical units blowing air across the door.

Better air curtain products feature an advanced energy-efficient design and are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation. Not only do they protect against flies and other flying insects, but they improve doorway visibility because of their placement above the door. This results in better safety and security.

PREVENTION & OPPORTUNITIES. Air curtains provide an effective means of keeping flying insects out. They also complement to other flying insect control methods, enabling companies to provide all-inclusive pest prevention packages featuring several different proven products and technologies.

Air curtains are a tough, battle-tested ally in providing a clean, healthy work environment free of flying insects and other particles and irritants. There’s no better time than now to draw that proverbial line in the sand and to keep the threat of flying insects limited to the backyard barbecue grill.

The author is founder of Mars Air Doors.

One of the many advantages of a Mars air curtain is that, before installation, the company takes into account the entire building operation to determine customers’ needs. This could mean anything from a single air curtain placed above a door or ordering window, to a complete air balancing system or any number of combinations in between.