Over the past few years, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) regulations have become increasingly more stringent, requiring the metals and metalworking industry to upgrade their current operational ventilation systems to comply with regulatory standards. There may also be a need for additional airflow capacity in existing or new areas. Even with the focus on optimizing the operation of existing dust, mist, and fume collection systems, many plants may consider the necessity for new capital equipment or alternative filtration technologies.
Your Industry Faces a Multitude of Challenges:
We can evaluate existing dust, mist, and fume collection systems and equipment to provide detailed technical recommendations, products, and training to solve the specific challenges you may be facing.
You may have a single piece of collection equipment or a large baghouse for your emissions control system. After nearly 50 years in the filtration business, we have dealt with billions of particles from hundreds of sources, in dozens of industries. We have the expertise to optimize your air stream and plant operations.
Characteristics of Contaminants in the Metals and Machining Industry
Contaminants generated from metal grinding may consist of surface coatings on the component, the base material being worked on, and the abrasives or materials from the tool. The particulate size distribution is very broad due to the variety of materials included in the process and is generally between 1-20 µm. The particulate may be abrasive and pose a combustion or explosion hazard. Contaminants from machining processes fall into three broad categories:
Baghouse and dust collection systems create dirty gases that pass through a fabric filter in a baghouse that are typically 1-100 microns in size. Extensive dust properties must be evaluated and understood for the filtration system to work correctly and provide high efficiency and long filter life. Examples of properties include particle size, density, moisture content, stickiness/flowability, temperature, reactivity, toxicity, and flammability.
Metal Fume Hazards
Exposure to fumes over time and in abundant concentrations has been linked to respiratory, neurological, and fertility problems, including Metal Fume Fever and Parkinsonian Syndrome (manganism). Metalworking processes containing chromium, such as stainless steel or chromate coating, are particularly hazardous and linked to various forms of cancer. In addition to health risks, uncontrolled weld fumes reduce worker productivity, product quality problems, factory maintenance issues, and environmental concerns.