Extracting the Dust: Fercell Installs LEV Solution for Display Stand Manufacturer

Established in the seventies, our customer, a manufacturer of display stands is a one-stop shop for all your signage, joinery and printing needs. From design through to installation. Manufacturing all their signage solutions inhouse, allows our customer to deliver tailor made solutions with optimum lead times. Plastic fabrication is just one of the many processes undertaken onsite. There is a dedicated workshop equipped to manufacture a multitude of plastics, from line bending and heat forming jigs, to UV bonding and solvent adhesives. Plastic fabrication is the craft of cutting, heat forming, folding and bonding of plastics. Everyday examples include display units, bespoke shelving, storage containers, sign trays and built up lettering. Within the workshop there are two CNC routers, used for the sole purpose of creating various plastic signage. It is paramount when using CNC machinery or in fact carrying out any manufacturing processes that adequate ventilation is used. Fercell were delivered a brief to implement an industrial ventilation system for their CNC machinery within the plastic fabrication workshop. LEV Solution There’s no denying it CNC machines create a whole lot of dust. To create a safe working environment, it was essential to put in place LEV (Local Exhaust Ventilation) equipment. LEV systems are designed to reduce the exposure of airborne contaminants such as dust, fume and vapour in the workplace. After an initial site visit by Fercell a solution was proposed to the client. It was vital that ventilation system was suitable for high dust loading applications. Therefore, a UF dust extraction and MV fan were ideal. The UF dust extractor is a popular choice, designed to complement various fan sizes for matching materials to filtration velocity. Waste material is discharged directly into refuse sacks, which use a rapid over-centre toggle system for easy release and locking into position, minimising any downtime. With the CNC machinery frequently in use, the UF system offers a large collection capacity, generous filter area and economical solution. To meet our customers’ requirements the MV was the fan most suitable to work with the UF dust extractor. It offers a robust solution, with the movement of heavily contaminated air for medium volume and medium pressure duties. The MV is a centrifugal fan, constructed from heavy-gauge steel plate, designed for the transportation of medium to heavy particulate materials, including dust, shavings and chips. The fan uses a highly efficient, self-cleaning, steel radial impeller, which is statically and dynamically balanced to ensure a very stable and vibration free performance. Airflow indicators were also included. Airflow indicators are great way to visually check if your LEV system is working effectively. The analogue gauge required installation and commissioning by Fercell, with zones set up to fit the system design. It is important to ensure it is installed correctly by a competent engineer as it is possible to set it up incorrectly, which would result in inaccurate readings. The Importance of LEV In any working environment it is paramount that it is safe. It’s also important to make sure that any ventilation equipment you do have in place is tested regularly to ensure it is fit for purpose. The purpose of a Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system is to maintain control of any hazardous substances for which the exposure level is above a safe limit. Following the installation of the LEV system a LEV test was carried out to make certain that dust, fume and vapour wasn’t escaping and potentially poisoning or harming staff and employees, operators or anyone in the vicinity. If you are using a LEV, you must maintain that the system is in working order and providing protection to any workers. LEV equipment should be tested at least every 14 months, with a record kept for at least 5 years. Information on the installation of the LEV equipment to confirm it has adequate protection should be kept for the lifetime of the equipment (source HSE). LEV tests are sometimes referred to as a CoSHH report or test. CoSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and it is stated under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 that employers need to either prevent or reduce their workers’ exposure to substances that are hazardous to their health. Fercell Fercell have been successfully delivering industrial ventilation equipment and complete industrial recycling and size reduction systems for over 4 decades. No one customer is the same and Fercell can design a solution to meet your exact requirements.

For more information on Extracting the Dust: Fercell Installs LEV Solution for Display Stand Manufacturer talk to Fercell Engineering Ltd