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FILTRATION & SEPARATION


KEEPING UP WITH PROCESSING SPEED


Geoff Sagar, Product Manager, BOFA International, discusess how productivity can be driven by efficient and effective filtration


result of increasing processing speeds and consumer demand for high quality output. In the post-pandemic world,


I


manufacturers are becoming more agile and employing automated processes to deliver new benchmarks in output. The safety, performance and reliability of these systems is paramount in maintaining optimum productivity – and many rely on effective fume and dust extraction to play a part. In the fast-moving consumer


goods (FMCG) market, filtration technology is playing a vital role in helping to keep production lines moving, maintaining quality and contributing to effective workplace atmosphere management. As a result, there is an increased reliance on automation and the role that operational data can play in enhancing productivity. When we look at today’s laser marking lines for aluminium cans, they are able to operate


8 SEPTEMBER 2022 | PROCESS & CONTROL


n recent years the productivity value of fume and dust extraction in laser packaging and labelling has significantly increased as a


at more than 100,000 units per hour, so for operations of this scale, the pain of unscheduled downtime can be significant. For this reason, companies look for associated technology solutions that can be net contributors to productivity. This includes extraction systems that can filter airborne emissions which would otherwise have the potential to contaminate laser lenses and impact product quality. Extraction systems have a role to play in helping


businesses implement safe working practices in the work environment, for example by mitigating any potential


distribution of airborne emissions. A properly installed and maintained


extraction system can also make a positive contribution to productivity by helping to minimise the potential for downtime caused by laser system contamination. Specifying such systems needs reference to


Safety Data Sheets of the materials used in the laser process to understand the properties of contaminants to be filtered. As a company, BOFA works closely with


industry to help businesses choose the most appropriate system for their process by determining the type, volume, size and velocity of particles being emitted. This will help companies achieve compliance with regulations that are designed to improve the workplace environment.


Optimising filtration This information, together with data-driven airflow analyses and control parameters, will help define the optimal filtration technology, which will usually include pre-filtration, a main High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter and a layer of activated carbon to capture and contain vapours and gases. System design should also take account of


the quantity and size of particulate emitted and its chemical composition, including toxicity of each element of the process and any resultant chemical interaction. A well-designed filtration system starts with


assessing risk and understanding the factors which may compromise performance, for example ensuring that particulate does not gather around the laser area, either in hoses/ducting or in filters. Any such build-up will impact the quality of the code or shape being cut, marked or engraved. From a technical perspective, fume and


dust filtration systems, such as those designed and manufactured by BOFA International, perform two primary functions: 1) to help filter particulate emitted by laser


processes that might otherwise contaminate high value equipment or end product and


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