ACI Air Movement Products are used in a vast array of industries and applications.
Featured here are a number of examples of how our equipment has been employed.
Kimberly Clark
“At the Kimberly-Clark Northfleet Mill ‘health & safety’ is very much in evidence from the moment you set foot on the site. It is also very much an issue that is foremost in the mind of every operative throughout the plant and one that has recently been improved upon by the installation of ACI’s Jetblack that is used for removing tissue debris from personnel clothing,” says Facilities Manager, Bob Ramsey.
At Northfleet, the production of toilet tissue is a moist and dusty operation and minute paper/tissue particles settle on personnel. Removal of such production debris is necessary before entering the Crew Rooms, where lunch etc is taken, and other 'clean rooms'
“Initially, we commissioned a ‘Blow Down Booth’” added Mill Safety Manager, Brian Glover, “but before it was finished we purchases an ACI portable Jetblack. Trials in the worst area of mill proved its effectiveness, resulting in wide acceptance by all employees and subsequent installation of five additional units.”
The advantage of using the high volume, low pressure air, JETBLACK system is that it also conserves energy compared by comparison with expensive generator produced compressed air.
British Velvet
British Velvet is one of the last UK manufacturers of premier quality curtains, producing millions of metres annually. Quality and environmental best practice is the company’s benchmark. Similar attention is given to its operator comfort, which has led to the installation of an ACI Jetblack at its Padlam, Lancs premises.
Yarn is transported to two beaming machines which, at 700-800 metres/per minute, produce six ‘beams’, daily. The yarn ‘beams’ are then sized to strengthen them. This allows the weaving machines to run at the high speed but it also reduces ‘fly’ - minute airborne fibres that get on the clothes of all who work there.
“We have used a variety of methods to remove fibre deposits from clothing so staff can go home as they arrived, including Velco-type brushes and compressed air. Nothing seemed to work and meet Health & Safety standards - until we purchased the ACI Jetblack”, comments Patrick Saunders, Operations Manager.
“It has a foot operated on/off switch and an airflow speed controller for ease of use. The gun has received approval by all our staff in the removal of ‘fly’ from footwear and clothing.
“My requirements were understood immediately,” says Paul Knight, “and the solution offered has met all our needs. It’s quiet, it’s efficient and its electricity demands fall within the power limitations of our on-site generator.”
DEK Precision Printing
When DEK replaced compressed air screen drying systems with blower-driven driers, as part of a continuous up-grading process of the company’s screen production operation, they benefited from more than improved drying procedures.
DEK specialises in the supply of precision screens for printing electronic circuitry, working to accuracy’s of 10 microns.
“Previously we used compressed air to dry screens, which measure from 150mm x 130mm up to 1200mm x 1500mm. Drying takes place after degreasing them to remove the lubricants employed during the weaving process of polyester and stainless steel mesh and then to remove water the image areas of the developed screen”, said Brian Greatrex, Process Engineer at DEK’s Weymouth plant. “The small orifice of the jet resulted in times of up to 10 minutes drying time per screen.”
“However, with the new blower powered drying equipment, ‘Jetblack’ units from ACI, that time has been cut down to 2 minutes or less. Also, in addition to the significant time advantage the Jetblack provides, it is safer, quieter and more comfortable to use whilst eliminating screen rejects resulting from contaminants from the compressed air line”, he added.
Lafarge Plasterboard
The very nature of the materials involved in the manufacture
of plasterboard means that dust is ever-present in production
areas. Consequently, dust is collected on peoples’ clothes
and transferred continuously into non-production areas, vehicles
and even homes.
To help reduce this problem, Lafarge Plasterboard Ltd of
Bristol has installed a number of blower-powered personnel
cleaning devices. These units, ‘JetBlacks’ from
Air Control Industries (ACI) of Chard, are located at strategic
locations in the plant to enable plant workers to de-dust
themselves as and when necessary, thereby limiting dust transfer.
Principal advantage seen to be offered by the JetBlack was
a safe means of de-dusting achieved through the use of high
air volumes delivered at low pressure (less than 3psi), making
it safe even when directed at bare skin. Other benefits include
lower costs and noise levels compared to compressed air
systems.
ACI’s JetBlacks are wall mounted units powered by a
1400W blower. Filtered air is directed via a triggered hand-gun
attached to a 1.5m flexible hose. A touch-timer switch helps
to avoid excessive power usage.
Trelleborg
“Safety, noise reduction and reduced costs are all factors that led to the company installing the blower powered ‘JetBlack’ personnel de-dusting units”, said Mick Wragg, Health & Safety Officer for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions of Rotherham.
At its Rotherham factory, Trelleborg manufactures its ‘Orkot’ tube and laminate bearings from polyester resin and fabric composites for the marine industry. Components are machined using conventional techniques, producing both swarf and dust. Most of this dust is eliminated by efficient extraction systems but employees still get some on their clothes and themselves. Noticing some employees were using the dangerous technique of blowing it off with compressed air the company sought an alternative, safe means of de-dusting to eliminate this health hazard. The solution found by Mick Wragg was the JetBlack from Air Control Industries of Chard.
Initially, the company took one unit on a free trial basis. The JetBlack proved so effective Trelleborg purchased four units which are now installed in strategic locations in the production area where machine operators are using them to remove dust and fragments from their clothes and bodies - even their hair.
Steetley Dolomite
They say that in order break bad habits something positive must be put in their place. So it was at the Whitwell Works of Steetley Dolomite Ltd who quarries and produces magnesium limestone products for the steel, refractory and agricultural industries.
The processing of the limestone to produce these products results in the creation of a lot of dust which gets deposited on the overalls of workers.
To de-dust themselves, although advised frequently not to because of the very real danger that it poses, many of the staff used to clean their overalls down with compressed air.
Thankfully that situation has now changed. This has come about since John Collins had a blower powered ‘JetBlack’ personnel cleaning unit installed on trial. The trial proved so successful because of its safety and ease of use that a second unit has been installed.
“Everyone is really pleased with the ACI JetBlack”, said John Collins, Steetley Dolomite’s Senior Electro Technician. “It cleans down effectively and is safe. It eliminates all the health hazard risks present when using compressed air. By providing the JetBlack as an alternative we have broken the bad practice of using compressed air for cleaning down.”
Air Control Industries Ltd Silver Street, Chard, Somerset, TA20 2AE, UK -- Tel: UK 0845 5000 501 | ROW +44 1460 67171 | Fax: +44(0)845 5000 502-- -- Email: sales@aircontrolindustries.com
ACI supplies industrial fans, axial fans, air blowers, centrifugal blowers, centrifugal fans, air knives and nozzles. We also supply ebm papst products.
