The Secrets of Using Custom Fabric Equipment Covers
When using fabric to cover your important equipment, it isn't enough to just drape any old cloth over it. Custom fabric covers need to be purpose-designed and carefully fabricated to give full protection to your equipment, which is how we make them here at Canvas Craft.
We are Minnesota's premier provider of equipment protective covers, including outdoor fabric covers and tarps. Using top-notch fabrics such as Sunbrella, PolyFab, Serge Ferrari, and Surlast, we fabricate premium-quality equipment covers for all types of equipment.
We aren't just sewers though—the team at Canvas Craft also consists of experts in patterning, prototyping, graphics, engineering, and metal fabrication. Some of the types of equipment in which we specialize in covering include:
Covers for farm equipment
Covers for electronics and computer equipment
Engine and vehicle dust covers
Understanding Fabric Covers for Equipment
Just like the fabric used in commercial and residential awnings, fabric equipment covers must protect equipment from dust, moisture, UV radiation, extreme temperatures, and other adverse conditions.
In fact, equipment covers are usually made of the same tough materials used in boat sails, tents, and more. Materials such as Sunbrella and Serge Ferrari are famous for their incredible strength, durability, and resistance to wearing due to the elements.
Your unique needs determine the type of fabric you choose. For example, Aqualon Edge vinyl coated polyester regulates heat, which helps to maintain a cool interior while SurLast is highly resistant to abrasion, making it perfect for boats and other large equipment.
Here's more about why the choice of fabric matters.
Why Invest in High-Quality Equipment Covers
Preventative maintenance—that's the reason why equipment covers are literally worth their weight in gold. Professionals in mining, engineering, manufacturing, construction, and other industries understand the importance of keeping equipment in good working order with proper covers.
Good coverage protects equipment from all kinds of potential damage:
Corrosion
Exposure to elements in the environment such as water and salt attacks equipment and causes rusting and corrosion. This isn't just a problem of aesthetics, though. Rust reduces the strength of metal components and can eventually cause machines to be unserviceable.
The sun's UV rays are also incredibly harmful to equipment, especially to plastic, PVC, and composite parts. It causes them to discolor and crack, which is why a good equipment cover with UV protection is so important.
Marine environments and regions where salt is used to thaw snow and ice are especially vulnerable and require special covers.
Regulate Temperature
In areas with hot days and cold nights, expansion and contraction can cause cracks, warping, and other kinds of equipment damage.
Extreme temperatures can also cause electronic or mechanical components to fail. In this case, insulated equipment tarps help to regulate temperature and protect sensitive equipment.
Dust and Particulates
Dust, stone chippings, and other particulates can get inside your machines and electronic devices. These small particles cause etching, scratching, and can even become fire hazards.
These particles are one of the biggest causes of abnormal wear and can cause expensive repairs. Even in seemingly robust equipment, dust can cake around sensitive parts and cause increased heat, friction, and abrasion, eventually leading to failure.
Animals
Animals such as rodents, wasps, and snakes love to snuggle up inside tiny spaces in equipment. Large machines such as farm equipment are especially vulnerable, and getting the little bugs out can be expensive.
Not only do these covers protect your equipment, they help to keep these little animals safe from harm as well.
Transit Damage
Transporting equipment by road, rail, water or air exposes it to all kinds of debris and conditions. From road grime to snow, rain, and harsh temperature differences, having a robust and sealed environment is necessary for transporting sensitive equipment.
However, you will need to consider factors like cost, weight, fabric strength, flexibility, and fastening options in your choice of equipment cover.
Long-Term Storage Damage
Winterization and long-term storage requires more careful consideration when storing equipment for a long time. You need to create a stable and controlled environment since even fluids such as coolants and lubrication can impact the integrity of the equipment.
The right fabric covers and fabric boxes create a regulated environment against moisture, heat, dust, and other factors. Equipment boxes, rather than just throw-on covers, are especially useful because you can seal them, and they also offer mechanical protection.
Who Are Some of the Clients We Work With?
In more than four decades of experience working in Minnesota, we have had the pleasure of serving clients in all kinds of industries. From medical equipment to large sophisticated projects, we have met and surpassed expectations for clients everywhere.
Apple Tree Dental
Apple Tree Dental is a forward-thinking company that has practiced teledentistry for over 18 years. This requires them to transport highly sensitive and fragile equipment at a high frequency, including digital X-ray machines, Intra-Oral cameras, and 3D imaging equipment.
With such sensitive equipment, we had to supply robust and reliable protection to prevent contamination and damage while on the road. Thanks to our specialized equipment covers, Apple Tree Dental was even able to step up during the pandemic and serve more customers without worry.
PHS West Inc.
PHS West is a manufacturer of medical-grade equipment such as motorized carts, tugs, and other custom indoor transport solutions. Their motorized carts are used in hospitals, data centers, and other sensitive environments.
This hi-tech equipment comes with special handling requirements, so PHS West relies on Canvas Craft to consistently deliver fabric equipment covers to meet client expectations. Thanks to our reliability, we have created trust and a solid business relationship with PHS West Inc.
Evolv Technology
Evolv Technology designs weapons detection systems such as those you find at airports and secure facilities. The difference is, Evolv uses highly sophisticated touchless systems with powerful sensors and AI-powered analytics.
The system is also portable, which means it is in high demand for event security and for VIPs. Evolv needed highly specialized equipment covers that could ensure unmatched protection for its expensive, highly sensitive systems, and we delivered.
By creating custom equipment covers and boxes, we helped Evolv make storing and transitioning their products much easier, faster, and stress-free.
How We Use Digital Technology for Advanced and Efficient Design
Clients like Evolv Technology and PHS West require sophisticated, quality-controlled design and fabrication at every stage. From conceptualization to metal fabrication, Every process needed precision engineering, which would not have been possible without state-of-the-art technology.
Plus, we have to do this quickly to meet short turnaround times, which is why we have invested heavily in technology for digitizing patterns. By moving from hand-drawn models and paper patterns, we now digitize designs to make them reusable.
This makes it easier to alter and reuse designs, streamlining our process and allowing us to make thousands of products at a time.
To supplement this process, we have also invested in automated cutting equipment. This has vastly enhanced precision, speed, and reliability. After exporting patterns digitally, our Autometrix cutting machine cuts patterns from different materials with less waste.
The result is faster, more affordable, and high-quality equipment covers for our clients.
Do You Need Equipment Covers You Can Trust?
We've got you covered. Canvas Craft is the premier fabric equipment cover manufacturer in Minnesota and all around the country. Our technology, decades of experience, and quality guarantees ensure that we will meet your budget and quality requirements every time.
Request your customized estimate now and get your equipment protected now.
