Wisconsin Cheese Group, LLC., is a manufacturer and distributor of Hispanic cheeses located in Monroe, Wisconsin. Operated by more than 30 employees, the facility identified a need for process sanitizing washdown stations.

For production facilities everywhere, time is money. Lines need to keep moving, batches completed, and deadlines met. The brief pause in the choreographed movements of people, parts, and products to sanitize equipment must be minimized to stay on track. Employees cannot be waiting around for water to warm up or for routine maintenance to be completed.

Wisconsin Cheese Group chose ThermOmegaTech’s STVM® Steam & Water Washdown Station to satisfy the plant’s need for consistent availability of high-temperature water. The STVM® Washdown Station delivers a high-temperature wash at a user-defined temperature using ThermOmegaTech’s proprietary mixing valve to combine steam and water. The mixing valve’s design is self-scouring, preventing mineral buildup in tight spaces and reducing maintenance frequency.

To minimize downtime during routine maintenance, the STVM® Washdown Station has a simple cartridge design and is in-line serviceable. The operator can simply switch out the cartridge with a spare, and the unit will be operating again in minutes.

The facility installed 12 STVM® Washdown Stations and has reported positive feedback. “We needed consistent hot water for sanitation, and we really liked the cartridge technology,” Dave Treuthardt of Wisconsin Cheese Group commented. “The washdown stations were easy to install and run effectively, leading to increased production time.”

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Here are a few freeze protection tips for surviving this winter with no frozen equipment, stranded cars, interrupted schedules, or schedule delays.

1. Monitor Weather Forecasts

According to a Railway Age article, the railroad industry suffers hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and lost profits every year due to weather-related incidents. Many of these occur from December through March due to winter storms bringing snow and ice that freeze pipes and blanket rails.

Consider implementing an intelligent weather monitoring platform that provides updated weather data and insights across various locations so that you can be prepared for unexpected weather extremes, no matter where your locomotives and passenger cars are.

2. Be Prepared to Clear The Rails

Implementing a snow & ice removal system throughout the winter will ensure safe and on-time rail service.

Here are some of the basics for using a system:

• Inspect your grounds early on – clean switches, derails, frogs, and flangeways
• Clear switch handles of any debris or snow build-up
• Clear blockages from drains and gutters
• Ensure railroad ties are visible
• Keep a minimum depth of 1.5-inch clearance under flangeways

There are several different methods for keeping your tracks clear, including switch heaters, hot air blowers, and glycerin-based anti-freeze. Talk to a professional to determine the right one for your specific needs.

3. Winterize Locomotives & Passenger Cars with Freeze Protection Valves

Railroad tracks aren’t the only thing that needs to be winterized. Locomotives & passenger trains are at high risk of freezing during the winter months if left unprotected.

ThermOmegaTech recommends preventing fleet freeze-ups with the GURU line of thermostatic drain valves for locomotives and passenger cars.

Self-operating and compact, the GURU Plug for locomotives and the GURU PC valve for passenger cars are designed to monitor water temperatures continuously and automatically open to drain cold water before it can freeze and cause damage.

Implementing ThermOmegaTech’s reliable thermostatic freeze protection technology into your annual winter prep procedures will ensure your rail vehicles are protected from freeze damage, lengthy repairs, and interrupted schedules all winter long.

4. Have a Plan & ACT FACT

Winter can be a challenging time for railroad operators. But with a
well-structured, comprehensive winterization plan, you can have a stress-free season knowing your equipment is protected from extreme weather damage.

Dana Logue, Rail Division Product Manager at ThermOmegaTech, suggests starting winter prep early before cold winds start blowing, as temperatures often dip sooner than people anticipate, leaving their equipment unprotected and open to freeze damage. Having a plan already in place while it’s still beach season will mitigate the winter risks often seen in the railroad industry.

It might not be the coldest December we’ve had, but the weather sure can be unpredictable. Don’t let cold weather sneak up on you – prepare your systems now with ThermOmegaTech’s freeze protection valve.

Time to double-check – are the below systems in your facility fully protected?

• Water supply lines
• Condensate systems
• Piping
• Safety showers
• Face/eyewash stations

Effects of Freezing Temperatures

If the 2020 winter taught us anything, it’s that extreme cold weather is unpredictable and can impact even those areas not accustomed to frigid winter weather.

Without a proper freeze protection solution for your cold-sensitive water-bearing systems, you are at risk of the following during the winter months:

• Interrupted system
• Overheated equipment
• Dangerous working conditions

Protect Your Systems with The HAT/FP Freeze Protection Valve

Safety Showers & Face/Eyewash Stations

The self-operating HAT/FP valve is designed to protect emergency equipment from freeze damage and malfunction automatically.

Installed at the lowest point on a safety station, the HAT/FP automatically monitors and bleeds cold water to prevent freezing and maintain safe working conditions for employees.

Condensate Systems

An unavoidable by-product of steam-heated processes, steam condensate, is often captured for reuse via steam condensate return lines. The HAT/FP guards these often-lengthy return lines against costly damages due to freezing temperatures.

Attention all railroad operators – the freeze season is rapidly approaching! Get your rail vehicles protected with freeze protection drain valves.

Locomotives and passenger train cars are at risk of freezing whenever temperatures drop below freezing, which will happen before you know it. To prevent expensive damage and lengthy repairs, make sure to get ahead of your winterization procedures to ensure a freeze-free winter.

Of course, no winterization procedure is complete without a reliable freeze protection drain valve, and none are more trusted to prevent freeze damage than the GURU line of thermostatic valves.

See the complete list of freeze protection drain valves here.

Freeze Protection Drain Valves For Your Railroad Vehicles

Stay ahead of cold weather and protect your fleet with a freeze protection solution that will keep your vehicles running on time all winter long.

The GURU PC® For Passenger Cars

The GURU PC® is a self-operating, thermostatic freeze protection valve specifically designed to protect passenger car potable water-bearing systems from freezing whenever the car’s heating system is turned off.

The GURU® For Locomotives 

The GURU® Plug is designed to constantly monitor water temperature and automatically snap open to drain a diesel locomotive’s engine cooling system if the temperature drops close to freezing.

The Trusted Solution Since 1983

ThermOmegaTech’s tried-and-true GURU line of railroad freeze protection valves have been protecting railroad operators from freeze damage since 1983.

Trusted by all North American Class 1’s to protect their assets each winter, the GURU is the preferred choice of freeze protection valves that keep trains running on time all winter long.

ThermOmegaTech recommends getting an early start to your railroad winterization procedures as temperatures often drop quicker than anticipated, and having a freeze protection plan in place will guarantee a freeze-free winter.

Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare – contact ThermOmegaTech to get your fleet winterized today!

Lubrication oil systems are designed to reduce wear, improve performance, and extend component and overall system life in many industrial applications. However, these systems can become compromised without a proper thermostatic control solution if temperatures are not adequately controlled.

How to Maintain Optimal Temperature with TBV

ThermOmegaTech’s Thermal Bypass Valves (TBVs) use self-actuating thermostatic technology to constantly monitor inlet temperatures and automatically divert fluid to one of two outlet ports. The purpose is to ensure proper temperature control in lube oil systems by keeping the fluid temperature within a narrow and pre-defined range.

How TBV Thermostatic Control Valves Work

Cooler fluid will be directed through the bypass to the reservoir & recirculated through the system. Hotter fluid will be sent through the system cooler.

4 Benefits of Thermal Control

ThermOmegaTech’s Thermal Bypass Valves provide precise temperature control for lube oil systems. With a self-actuating, thermostatic design, these valves combine improved system performance with optimal reliability.

1. Keeps lube oil temperatures within a narrow range to ensure appropriate viscosity.
2. Prevents temperatures from spiking and degrading components.
3. Increases system availability and efficiency, improving equipment productivity.
4. Increases machine uptime and reduces shutdowns for service and repairs.