Reducing Zoo Maintenance Costs: Custom Protective Covers for Outdoor Attractions
No attractions operate on tighter budgets than zoos, yet valuable equipment is routinely left outdoors, exposed to the elements. Everything from outdoor digital kiosks to concession stands to interpretive signage to AV systems are expensive to replace, and when they are left exposed to weather and debris, replacing them happens more often than it should. Instead of dismantling or moving bulky equipment to protect it, there’s a better way: custom protective covers.
Custom covers are not just a convenience for zoo operators—they’re a cost-reduction strategy that can aid attractions in preserving the lifespan of vital equipment.
Today, we’ll highlight what’s at stake and why zoo equipment needs protection, then dive into the real costs of reactive maintenance. From there, we’ll explore how custom covers change the game for zoo operators, along with where zoos see the biggest returns when protecting equipment. Finally, our last two sections will cover what to look for in a custom cover manufacturer and a quick custom cover ROI checklist for zoo operators.
What's at Stake — Zoo Equipment That Needs Protection
There are a wide variety of assets that are at the risk of damage or failure due to weather and debris exposure, such as:
Digital interpretive displays in exhibits
Concession stands
Ticketing, donation, and retail kiosks
Outdoor AV/PA equipment
Zookeeper and staff control panels near habitats
These assets are uniquely vulnerable to wear and tear and damage, as they are located outdoors year-round, often in proximity to water features and animal habitats that contain moisture and waste. The near-constant exposure puts a lot of stress on equipment, shortening lifespans and leading to shorter replacement timelines, which ultimately affects a zoo’s bottom line.
The Hidden Cost of Reactive Maintenance: Guest Impacts
Unprotected zoo equipment can carry hidden costs that trickle down to affect guest experience. For instance, if outdoor screens and kiosks degrade or are damaged years ahead of their expected lifespans, that can lead to IT costs to remove, store, and reinstall the equipment, ultimately resulting in guest-facing downtime when the damaged technology goes offline for repairs. Emergency vendor fees are another consideration to keep in mind—calling out repairmen can be costly, especially if the damage occurred because equipment wasn’t protected in the first place.
Most zoos track these costs as different line items in their budgetary considerations, but they all lead to the same thing: higher costs across the whole facility and less satisfied guests.
How Custom Covers Change the Math for Zoos and Attractions
Custom covers are so much more than just protective fabric casings—they can come with a whole host of features that can make them easy to install and built to last. From lockable zippers to mesh ventilation panels, these are features that you will not find on generic tarps or one-size-fits-all covers. Plus, custom covers can be made of any fabric you desire, allowing you to utilize the strongest materials that will last for years to come.
In fact, zoo equipment is often built in irregular shapes, which can be difficult to cover with generic covers, as they may gap or shift, trapping moisture instead of repelling it. Custom covers also win out when it comes to branding, as they can be customized to have logos or informational sayings on them, something that one-size-fits-all solutions cannot offer.
Which sounds more cost-effective: a one-time cover investment or repeated purchasing of generic cover solutions? It’s clear that custom covers beat generic covers in durability, quality of materials, and precision fit.
Where Zoos See the Biggest Returns with Custom Covers
Here are some scenarios of how custom covers can change the game for zoos and become an excellent return on investment:
Rotating exhibit closures: When zoos close exhibits for maintenance or renovations, equipment in those areas can sit exposed for weeks or months. With the addition of custom covers, equipment is protected throughout the closure cycle, saving zoo operators money on replacement or repair costs.
Extended equipment lifespan: Outdoor kiosks can cost upwards of $4,000-$8,000 to replace, and each replacement cycle can eat into a zoo’s already-tight budget. With the addition of custom covers for nightly shutdowns, kiosks are protected from the elements, extending the lifespan of the equipment and giving you a great return on investment.
Reduced downtime for damage: Instead of facing downtime for costly repairs due to weather events or vandalism that may damage equipment, keep guest-facing technology online and operational with custom cover protection.
What to Look for in a Custom Cover Manufacturer for Zoos and Attractions
Zoos are high-demand environments, and custom covers need to be made with materials that can withstand sunlight, rain, humidity, and even animal waste if they’re located inside of an exhibit. That’s why Equip utilizes one of the toughest outdoor fabrics on the market, 600D solution-dyed polyester—it is a water-resistant, UV-resistant, and mold and mildew resistant fabric that excels at protecting equipment from the elements.
Another consideration to keep in mind when choosing a custom cover manufacturer is custom-sizing versus one-size-fits-all solutions. If the manufacturer does not offer custom sizing for special shapes, you’re likely going to be stuck with a generic cover that won’t fit or protect well enough to justify the purchase.
Here are a few questions to ask a potential custom cover manufacturer:
Can you accommodate non-standard shapes?
What materials do you recommend for high-humidity or outdoor habitats?
Can branding/logos be incorporated?
A Quick ROI Checklist for Zoo Operations Managers
☐ Identify all outdoor guest-facing tech assets
☐ Estimate current annual replacement and repair spend per asset
☐ Calculate labor hours spent on seasonal equipment removal
☐ Note which areas have heightened environmental exposure (aquatic zones, aviaries, etc.)
☐ Request a custom quote and compare projected replacement cost savings
Custom Cover Protection Is an Investment, Not an Expense
When budgets are tight, every decision should be made through the lens of return on investment. Being proactive and protecting outdoor equipment may add another line item to your budget, but when you can avoid the far more costly surprises of failure, repair, or unplanned downtime, it’s worth the expense. By extending equipment lifespans and reducing the amount of reactive maintenance, operators can stabilize budgets and keep guest-facing assets running properly.
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There are several ways that protective covers can save zoos money, such as extended equipment lifespans, lower labor costs for nightly removal, and less guest-facing downtime. A single avoided equipment replacement can offset the cost of multiple custom covers.
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Digital displays in exhibits, electronic and retail kiosks, outdoor digital equipment, and control panels near exhibits can all benefit from the addition of custom covers. Anything that has digital or technological components and is expensive to replace should be covered up each night to protect it against the elements.
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In order to receive a quote from Equip, please provide equipment dimensions, photos or line drawings of what needs to be covered, and any special fabric considerations that you may want to keep in mind.
If you’re not sure what you need, give us a call and we’d be happy to help you come up with a custom cover solution that fits your needs.
Request Your Quote for Custom Covers for Zoos
Looking for custom covers for water parks, zoos, and other attractions? We specialize in custom commercial covers built for attractions.
📧 Email: info@equipinc.com 📞 Call: 719-599-0300
Request a quote today and keep your assets covered, protected, and ready for anything.
