Dry Ice Blasting & Cleaning Blog

Case Study: Dry Ice Blasting Makes Short Work of High-Proof Job at Kentucky Distillery

Whiskey distilleries practice a methodical art that combines carefully curated recipes, charred oak barrels and a process that takes its sweet time.

It’s an incredibly meticulous undertaking, so when a venerable Kentucky distillery discovered that an invasive beetle was eating away at the timbers of a decades-old storehouse, they looked for a meticulous process of eradication and repair. Dry ice blasting played an important role.

Fast, Thorough Cleaning in a Flammable Environment

Following an inspection of the wooden timbers, pinhead-sized holes were discovered despite being concealed beneath layers of mildew, dirt and algae throughout the seven-story structure where barrels of whiskey are aged.

No electricity nor anything electrically powered can be introduced in such a highly flammable setting. Abrasive cleaning was off the table as well. Like other food and beverage producers, whiskey makers don’t take chances of abrasive media or other debris being introduced near their products.

The only alternative in this setting was cleaning by hand, which is a tedious month-long process by a team of two or three workers using chisels, hand planers and sanding blocks, and complicated by the enormous surface area – and height – of the timbers.

The Polar Clean Sweet Spot: Layered on Dirt with Layers of Difficulty

All in all, it was a job that fell squarely into the sweet spot for dry ice cleaning and the Polar Clean team that provided the following:

  • Cleaning of hard-to-reach areas
  • No secondary waste
  • Removal of stubborn build-up on delicate surfaces
  • A safe, water-free and chemical-free process
  • A team trained in OSHA-mandated safety procedures for working at heights and within confined spaces
  • Faster and more effective results than hand cleaning
  • Custom-engineered equipment that required no electrical outlets

Clean as New

Four days into the job, using battery powered headlamps and safety harnesses, the Polar Clean team had transformed three floors of the building, leaving the surfaces so clean that the tiniest holes in the beams were visible.

Before Dry Ice Cleaning

Before Dry Ice Blasting

After Dry Ice Cleaning

After Dry Ice Blasting

 

Before Dry Ice Cleaning

Before Dry Ice Blasting

After Dry Ice Cleaning

After Dry Ice Blasting

“The client was absolutely thrilled,” recalled Polar Clean’s sales engineer Devin Baier. “It looks like new timber.” Our technicians, who love a unique challenge, were also thrilled to learn they’d be going back. The client was quick to engage us for a second round.

Do You Have a Cleaning Job that Needs the Polar Clean Touch?

Polar Clean dry ice blasting is the answer to the toughest, most delicate and hardest-to-reach cleaning challenges. Customizable processes allow us to remove buildup and grime with a touch that can be as delicate as a “dusting.” Polar Clean’s proprietary methods are prized by industries where abrasive, chemical-based and water-drenched processes won’t cut it.

Speak with one of our dry ice blasting experts to learn why power plant operators, food manufacturers and historic renovation contractors rely on Polar Clean for safe, fast and thorough cleaning by reliable and well-trained professionals.

Contact us to learn more about dry ice blasting