Adapting Metal Construction Amidst a Pandemic

By New Tech Machinery.

Learn the different ways to keep your portable rollforming machines functional and your business operational.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected millions of people and businesses worldwide.  These are unprecedented times filled with unknowns and constant change. While metal construction operations can be a challenging business to sustain right now, especially with stay-at-home orders, there are some ways to remain operational. 

At New Tech Machinery, our sincere thoughts are with everyone affected by this global pandemic.  We understand that this time brings about so much uncertainty in many industries and for many businesses.  One of the best things you can do for yourself, your employees and your business is to remain educated and positive.

In this article, we’ll talk about how the portable rollforming machinery you use can benefit your business, and how to best prepare your equipment for future work.

How Portable Rollforming Machinery Can Benefit Essential Businesses

The good news is that in most states construction is still considered an essential service.  According to the Department of Homeland Security, and for this article, here are the descriptions that best fit those essential workers using portable rollforming machinery:

“Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, builders, contractors, HVAC technicians, landscapers, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, business and buildings such as hospitals, senior living facilities, any temporary construction required to support COVID-19 response.”

Also essential are: “Workers supporting essential maintenance, manufacturing, design, operation, inspection, security, and construction for essential products, services, and supply chain and COVID-19 relief efforts.”

As always, we urge everyone to follow their local and state guidelines to remain safe and healthy.  If your business is still open during this pandemic, here are some ways you can get the most out of your portable rollforming machinery, and why these machines are beneficial to metal construction.

Expand Your Services Into “Chop and Drop” Operation

If you own a portable rollforming machine, this gives you a great opportunity to expand your services beyond what you currently do.

Some companies may only want to focus on metal roof or gutter installation, but others can expand their business into a “chop and drop” operation.  You’d be able to produce panels with your machine, leave them there, and be able to supply several different customers with needed panels or gutters.  This is just another avenue that can help you make a little extra profit as a machine owner.

Maintain Safe Social Distancing

Portable rollforming machines are smaller than those found in a large factory supplier.  This means that you don’t need as many people to operate the machines, and your crew can be scalable to adapt to the ever-changing regulations set forth by the CDC, state, and local governments.

Financing Options Available

If you’re unsure about buying a portable rollformer, there are options available for you to finance your machine.  During this slow economy, it’s hard to predict what will happen once this is all over.  Financing is a great way to invest in your rollforming machinery and equipment, while still preserving your cash flow.

Some benefits to financing include:

• You’re able to manage your cash flow

• Equipment Finance Agreements have fixed interest rates

• You may be eligible for a tax write-off

• You can develop credit for your business

• No additional collateral required

Allows for Flexibility and Versatility

Portable rollforming machinery allows for continuous operation of the machine, producing panels or gutter, and installing finished product onto the building.  They are also easily transportable to job sites, which adds to their versatility.

With portable rollforming machinery, you can also set the pace, moving at your company’s speed which is especially vital during an ever-changing economy.  Once this pandemic is over, there could be a new demand for construction and rollforming equipment will be highly coveted, so you can be ahead of the curve if you plan accordingly.

Preparing Your Portable Rollforming Machine for Future Work at Nonessential Businesses

It’s no doubt that COVID-19 has greatly affected the construction industry in all parts of the United States.

So many metal roof and gutter installation and contracting jobs are stopped or delayed by state-at-home orders and the closing of nonessential businesses.  We understand how difficult the uncertainty is, but there are still things you can do to prepare your employees and business ahead of time.

Here are some options for you to keep your rollforming machinery in top shape, so you’re ready to get back to work soon.

Keep Your Equipment Maintained and Cleaned

This might be a great time to get your portable rollforming machine and equipment cleaned and maintained.  Routine maintenance is one of the best ways to ensure your machine lasts a long time, produces quality panels or gutters, and saves you money you could end up spending on major repairs in the future.

Easy maintenance items you can do during this time include:

• Inspect all moving parts to make sure they work properly

• Check for fluid or oil leaks

• Inspect electrical connections inside the machine as well as fuses and the controller

• Clean out any dust or debris from inside the machine

Talk to Our Techs About Service, Repair, or Troubleshooting Problems

Machine service and repairs are great things to do during this kind of downtime.  It’s important to keep these things done, so when things go back to normal, your machine is ready to go to work for you.

Our service techs are available by email or phone for troubleshooting help, or to discuss your options for machine service or repair, as long as it doesn’t require them to come to your site or involve travel at this time.

Sign Up for Machine Training

We offer an initial free training session at our facility in Denver when you purchase a new machine, but we can also do subsequent training sessions on purchased machines.  This can be good if you have newly hired employees. While we might not be able to travel to your location to do the training, we can schedule something so that you’re already booked when the pandemic is over.

We also offer a range of free resources at your disposal including:

• Videos and tutorials on portable roof panel and gutter machines

• Portable rollforming machinery and metal construction industry blogs and articles

• Download free checklists and guides

• All of the machine manuals

Maintain a Clean and Sanitary Work Environment

Businesses everywhere are utilizing any downtime they have to keep their work environments clean and sanitary.  Even if your state has deemed construction nonessential, you should still keep up with maintaining a clean work environment and providing workers with the means to stay safe, even when allowed to go back to work.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outlines these cleaning tips to help keep your work environment clean:

• Promote frequent hand washing, and provide a place for workers to wash their hands with soap and water.  If soap and water are not immediately available, provide hand sanitizer (must contain at least 60% alcohol).

• Wear disposable gloves when disinfecting or cleaning your work facility.

• Routinely clean frequently touched areas and surfaces, as well as equipment, tools and other elements of the work environment.  Consult manufacturing recommendations for proper cleaning techniques and solutions.

• Provide trash bins and tissues at job sites.

• Discourage the sharing of worker’s tools if possible.  This helps prevent the spreading of germs.

• Provide all necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  During such a pandemic, the recommendations for PPE specific to job tasks may vary based on location, risk assessment to workers, and effectiveness of PPE for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Final Thoughts

No matter if you’re currently still working, or if your business has been temporarily halted during this extremely uncertain economy, you’re not alone in this.  We need to stand together now more than ever and follow the guidelines and rules set in place to make sure we come out of this safer and healthier.

During this time there are benefits to using portable rollforming machinery in your business operations.  If your operations are currently at a stand-still, there are things you can do to prepare for future work after this pandemic subsides.

What are some of the best ways to adapt your business during this pandemic?

• Expand your business into a “chop and drop” operation

• Look into financing for flexible payments, while still maintaining cash flow

• Keep your machines maintained and cleaned

• Utilize educational resources for yourself and employees

• Keep your work environment clean and sanitary

At New Tech Machinery, we want to wish good health and safety to you, your families, your loved ones, and your employees during this trying time.

We’re here to answer any questions you have about staying productive during this time, expanding your current business, or what to do if you need service or training on your machines.  We are open for business and fully operational during this time, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Learn more about New Tech Machinery.  

Source: New Tech Machinery