AIR CLEANING O
ne of the big industry trends in 2025 is likely to be an acceleration
of automation across even more manufacturing sectors. New technologies are
developing rapidly, spawning an emerging ‘Industry 4.0’ environment. This heralds new opportunities for productivity gains, but to optimise the value of this investment, every part of the production process needs to align …and that includes fume and dust extraction. At the root of this industrial revolution is data – and the ability to capture information about every part of a production process and share it automatically and remotely for performance monitoring and system analysis.
In the case of fume and dust extraction technology, this data is critical to ensure that the system that filters potentially harmful emissions resulting from, say, a laser process is functioning correctly. This is important not just for the health of operatives but to ensure that equipment remains free from dust that might otherwise impact on product quality. A fully functioning industrial extraction system also plays a vital role in avoiding costly unplanned downtime.
Take canning lines for example. Here, the lasers used to apply marks or coding to cans are known to generate airborne particles with the potential to be harmful to health. These emissions can also settle on laser lenses, which can over time distort the laser beam and degrade the mark being made.
This is why companies invest in fume and dust extraction technology, such as that developed by Donaldson BOFA, to help keep production lines moving and to contribute to effective workplace atmosphere management. So how does fume extraction fit into this new era of automation? A few years ago, Donaldson BOFA was the first in the industry to introduce remote extraction system diagnostics and dynamic control through its Intelligent Operating System (iQ). This provided data log downloads from the physical machine.
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Now though, in what is thought to be another industry ‘first’, the company has developed an operating system capable of delivering a two-way, real-time data stream that satisfies the requirements of a fully automated, end-to-end manufacturing control process. This new solution – Pro OS – can supply a data feed of production- critical fume extraction information across a local area network, combining a range of advanced features into a single, powerful operating system. These features include a high-resolution color touchscreen, 20 onboard language options, continuous system pressure and filter condition monitoring and configurable alarms. Critically, Ethernet (RJ45) connectivity delivers two-way data sharing for the centralised monitoring and control of multiple Donaldson BOFA systems. So, Pro OS provides end users with live visibility of filtration performance and, as such, is a control system aligned with the vision for Industry 4.0. With such connectivity, operators will have the ability to view and manipulate system-wide data remotely and in real-time to drive extraction-focused productivity and reduce waste. This offers the potential not only to monitor performance more effectively, but also to influence productivity through automated functionality, whether for a single production line or in a multi-process, multi-line environment.
The new operating platform is being launched on two systems serving laser applications, with further releases due later this year. The AD Oracle Pro OS Connect is a mid-sized system designed for laser coding and marking, selective laser melting and sintering, and laser engraving, cutting and welding, while the AD 1000 Pro OS Connect is ideal for heavy-duty applications. Both are enabled with two-way, real-time data stream capability.
The new platform has the potential to deliver data-led productivity gains across a wide range of industrial sectors, including food and beverage, PCB production, medical devices manufacture, as well as gifts and merchandise.
Donaldson BOFA
www.donaldsonbofa.com
Summer 2025 UKManufacturing
DUST AND FUME EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGY TO MANUFACTURING CHALLENGES
Arran Morgan, product director at Donaldson BOFA, outlines the role of advanced fume and dust extraction in the era of Industry 4.0.
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