Author: Tony Fleming, Managing Director, JS Air Curtains

Why air curtains are the smarter choice for industrial warehouses

In busy loading bay environments, maintaining control over internal conditions can be a constant challenge. Frequent door openings, fast-paced vehicle movement and exposure to the elements create the perfect storm for temperature loss, airborne contamination and pest intrusion.

Left unmanaged, these issues can lead to product damage, energy inefficiencies, staff discomfort and costly equipment strain - all of which affect operational performance and profitability.

Traditional barriers like PVC strip curtains and roller doors have long been used to manage these risks, but they come with limitations.

Air curtains offer a cleaner, safer and more energy-efficient alternative. By producing a high-velocity stream of air across an open doorway, they create an invisible but powerful seal that separates internal and external environments, without interrupting the flow of people, vehicles or goods.

This allows operations to continue at full speed while maintaining stable internal conditions, making air curtains ideal for temperature-controlled facilities, logistics hubs and high-throughput loading areas.

Clearing the view

One of the biggest problems with PVC curtains is visibility - or the lack of it. They quickly become grimy, greasy and scratched, obscuring forklift drivers’ line of sight. That’s a health and safety issue.

They’re also unhygienic. Slats can trap and transfer dirt, presenting a contamination risk for goods passing through. Frequent cleaning or replacement is required, and that means more downtime and higher costs.

Air curtains eliminate this problem completely. There’s no contact, nothing to obscure vision, and no need for cleaning. You maintain 100% visibility, enhance hygiene, and remove a significant safety hazard.

Air curtains form an invisible seal that stops thermal transfer...

Keeping temperatures steady

Roller and shutter doors may close fast, but when they’re open - which is often - the cold or heat gets in. That disrupts internal temperatures and pushes refrigeration or heating systems into overdrive.

Air curtains form an invisible seal that stops thermal transfer, even during active loading, ensuring more stable temperatures, less stress on cooling/heating systems, and significant energy savings.

Real-world installations have shown the impact air curtains can make. At one chilled food facility, temperatures near the loading bay dropped from 8°C to a consistent 2°C after installing an air curtain. Another business maintained a steady 12°C directly outside a 4°C chill store, perfectly matching the ambient warehouse temperature and eliminating costly hot spots.

Driving efficiency

Internal roller doors are a bottleneck. Drivers must stop, exit their cab, activate the door, re-enter and drive through. Multiply that by hundreds of trips a day and you’re losing hours - even days - every year.

Air curtains remove this barrier. The door stays open, temperatures stay stable, and drivers stay productive. Operations move faster and more smoothly, and every second saved adds up.

Roller doors aren’t just slow either - they break. Forklift collisions, motor failures, misalignments, the list goes on. Repairs are costly and disruptive.
Air curtains don’t have that problem. They’re static, durable, and require minimal maintenance. Plus, they offer added protection by reducing the ingress of pests and debris. Dust, litter and insects are kept at bay by the constant wall of air.

Return on investment

While the upfront cost of an air curtain may be higher than traditional solutions like PVC strip curtains or roller doors, the long-term return on investment is significantly greater.

Air curtains offer a practical and cost-effective solution for busy industrial environments...

Air curtains reduce energy consumption by maintaining stable internal temperatures during active loading, minimising the load on refrigeration and heating systems. This can lead to substantial savings on energy bills, especially in temperature-controlled environments.

They also reduce wear and tear on mechanical doors by allowing them to remain open for longer periods without compromising internal conditions. That means fewer maintenance callouts, less downtime, and longer equipment lifespans.

Operational efficiency improves too. Forklift drivers move freely without having to stop and activate doors, goods move faster through the facility, and hygiene standards are easier to maintain. For high-throughput operations, these time and quality savings quickly add up.

Combined, these factors contribute to a fast payback period - often within months - making air curtains a smart, future-proof investment for any industrial facility.

In summary

Air curtains offer a practical and cost-effective solution for busy industrial environments. With improved hygiene, lower energy costs, and minimal maintenance, they remove many of the limitations of traditional PVC curtains and roller doors, helping operations run faster, safer and more efficiently.