Dehumidification in the Automotive Industry
Efficient dehumidification is not only beneficial but also necessary to several facets of the automotive industry. In fact, dehumidification plays a role in everything from automotive manufacturing to testing, shipping, and storage. In this article, we’ll detail a few of the main applications of dehumidification in the automotive industry. We’ll also discuss a few of the dangers that humidity can present to this industry and give you an idea of what kind of dehumidifier is best for reducing those potential complications.
Dehumidification in Automotive Manufacturing
Perhaps the most important use of dehumidification in the auto industry occurs during the manufacturing phase. There are countless machines and mechanical processes involved in the creation of a car, and nearly all of them will suffer in the face of excessive humidity.
Moisture in the air typically makes machinery in the automotive industry less efficient and accurate. It also leads to corrosion, which can dramatically reduce the lifespan of the machines involved in the manufacturing process.
Introducing dehumidifiers into auto manufacturing facilities reduces the risk of these negative outcomes by creating an environment in which automotive machinery can operate as efficiently as possible. In the end, this allows for a more precise manufacturing process and reduces the frequency with which machinery will need repairs and replacements.
Dehumidification in Automotive Testing
When new cars enter the market, there is plenty of testing that goes on behind the scenes to ensure those cars are effective for their purposes and safe to use. Unfortunately, humidity can become a major challenge when attempting to perform these tests accurately.
For example, humidity is especially bothersome during engine testing. When testing an engine, it is important to monitor and record the emissions the engine produces to ensure they are within an acceptable range. Excessive air moisture can make it difficult to detect and record these emissions correctly. Simultaneously, humidity can also make the measurement tools themselves less accurate.
Without accurate testing, new cars will never gain approval for safe use among the public. However, with the addition of dehumidification in the automotive testing phase, it becomes much easier to perform these tests and ensure that all cars on the road are as fit for use as possible while also not posing a threat to human health via their engine emissions.
Dehumidification in Automotive Shipping
After the successful creation and testing of an automotive vehicle, the next step is to ship that vehicle to a location where it can become available for consumer purchase. However, the shipping phase itself can present some moisture-related issues that threaten the integrity of the car.
Consider the fact that many automobiles must sit in an enclosed area during shipping, whether that be a truck or some other form of storage container. In those enclosed areas, it becomes easy for humidity to rise as there is little opportunity for moisture to escape. When that moisture level gets too high, corrosion and other complications can occur.
As such, using dehumidification during the shipping stage allows the automobile to reach its destination in essentially the same condition they were in when shipping began. This ensures that every new car that goes on the market is in peak condition for those who buy them.
Dehumidification in Automotive Storage
The same moisture-related issues present during automotive shipping are also relevant whenever you store a car. In fact, whether you are a manufacturer, a dealership, or a private individual that stores cars for whatever purpose, you stand to benefit from using a dehumidifier in your storage space.
Using a dehumidifier during storage is especially important when dealing with classic cars, but they are useful no matter what car you are storing. Ideally, you’ll want to keep the relative humidity in your storage area somewhere between 35% and 55% to prevent issues such as mold, rust, and corrosion.
Simply put, anyone who wants to preserve the car they own for as long as possible should take time to invest in a dehumidifier for their storage space. Running a dehumidifier and keeping air moisture in the appropriate range is the best way to ensure the greatest longevity for your automobile.
Dangers of Humidity in the Automotive Industry
Now that we have covered a few of the main ways that dehumidification can benefit the automotive industry let’s take some time to discuss what happens if you forgo dehumidification. Unsurprisingly, if you do not run a dehumidifier, air moisture will inevitably rise, which gives way to many different complications.
One of the primary problems with air moisture is that it leads to corrosion in both automobiles and the machines that we use to produce them. This, in turn, drastically reduces the effectiveness and lifespan of those machines.
However, corrosion is not the only issue that humidity can cause in the automotive industry. It also leads to complications such as mold and rust, and it limits the effectiveness of automotive testing. On top of all that, excessive humidity can eventually pose a health risk for those who work in automotive manufacturing facilities. As such, there are more than enough reasons to use a high-quality dehumidifier at all phases of automotive manufacturing, transportation, and storage.
What Kind of Dehumidifier is Best for the Automotive Industry?
Now that it is clear why dehumidification in the automotive industry is so vital, the next step is to understand which type of dehumidifier is best for this industry. As you might guess, not all dehumidifiers are equally capable of reducing humidity in the automotive field.
In general, the best type of dehumidifier to use for the automotive industry is a desiccant dehumidifier. Compared to other dehumidifier options, desiccant dehumidifiers have several advantages.
Overall, desiccant dehumidifiers are more effective than other dehumidifiers when operating in colder temperatures. Additionally, desiccant dehumidifiers are often able to maintain lower humidity levels than other dehumidifier types while also typically being quieter during operation.
Using any dehumidifier in the automotive industry is sure to provide some amount of benefit. However, if you want the best possible dehumidifier for automotive purposes, then a desiccant dehumidifier is the way to go.
