Oil mist filters specialist, Filtermist, became its own client recently with the installation of a centralised Absolent welding fume removal system at its new production facility.
Filtermist moved to the £3million purpose built premises in July 2015 to ensure it could meet the growing global demand for its oil mist filters. Sales have increased by 300% since 2000 and this trend is continuing due to the company’s focussed efforts on increasing its share of key markets around the world.
Filtermists are currently exported to more than 60 countries worldwide and every single unit is manufactured at the 1,920m² Telford factory. With the company’s core remit being ‘protecting people through cleaner, safer workshops’ it was vital that Filtermist heeded its own advice when it came to ensuring the air in its own facility is clean!
Managing Director James Stansfield, explains, “We wanted our new production facility to be as airy and light as possible to provide a modern working environment for our engineers, as well as our office based staff.
“The need to provide clean air was an obvious necessity and when it came to fume extraction, our sister company Absolent was clearly the ideal choice!”
Welding forms a significant part of the production process of each Filtermist and the company employs a team of highly skilled welding technicians tasked with ensuring each unit meets internationally recognised quality standards.
Each Filtermist body and perforated internal drum is made from sheet metal which is rolled into a cylinder and then welded at the seam, whilst collecting veins and external drainage channels that return clean oil back to the machine tool are also welded onto the unit.
The extraction system installed at Filtermist’s new facility consists of two Absolent A dust 5 units designed to handle 17,600 m³ air flow per hour. It draws welding fumes and smoke from 16 pickup points through 14 extraction arms, connected by 260m of ducting.
Each point is fitted with an F Monitor from Filtermist which allows engineers to see at a glance that the extraction is working properly. F Monitor uses a traffic light warning system to alert the operator to any reductions in air flow which could be caused by blockages.
Filtermist is the sole UK distributor for Absolent and as such, its engineers are accredited by the Swedish company to survey, recommend, install, commission, and service Absolent extraction equipment throughout the UK.
James continues, “Many of the UK’s leading manufacturers rely on Absolent equipment to ensure the air in their manufacturing facilities is clean and safe. Our team is highly experienced in specifying Absolent extraction systems, but it was interesting to act as the client as well as the supplier for this particular project; if anyone was likely to be a tricky customer it was Filtermist as clean air is our business!
“We’ve been manufacturing Filtermist units at our new premises since August and all of our workforce without exception have commented on the huge difference the new building has made. The extraction system is a key part of the new building and we are really proud of what we’ve achieved.”
As well as manufacturing oil mist collectors, Filtermist also offers a number of services including on-site surveys, air monitoring and LEV testing for all makes of LEV equipment. The Absolent units installed at Filtermist’s new HQ will be regularly serviced and tested by Filtermist engineers to ensure the company adheres to COSHH regulations & HSE guidelines.
Find out more about Absolent in the UK by visiting www.absolent.co.uk or contact Filtermist’s sales team on 01952 290500 to discuss your industrial extraction requirements.