ELECTRONICS
By Arran Morgan, product and engineering director at Donaldson BOFA, which designs, develops and manufactures portable fume and dust extraction solutions for a wide range of industrial sectors and applications across the world.
fume and dust extraction systems are increasingly becoming a feature of automated electronics production processes. This includes processes such as wave and reflow soldering in factories producing high-volume, high- quality PCBs. Portable filtration supports a ‘make anything anywhere’ production culture. It is simple for production teams to set up with minimal disruption, and it can be scaled progressively to meet demand.
The quick and flexible deployment of portable fume extraction systems means that installation and maintenance costs tend to be lower. In contrast, a vent-to-air system requires a greater initial investment due to the need for a larger- scale, centralised infrastructure. This involves complex ducting and pipework, which not only adds to the initial cost but can also make future changes to the factory floor layout more expensive and time-consuming.
Traditional vent-to-air systems expel both air and fumes outside, which can increase energy consumption as heated or cooled air must be continuously removed from the workplace. However, portable systems recirculate filtered air back into the workplace, which helps to retain heated air within the building and reduces the need for it to be replaced with cold outside
air. Consequently, energy consumption for space heating can be lower for portable fume extraction systems.
OPTIMUM COMBINATION
While portable systems offer significant flexibility, it is important to remember that a fixed or centralised vent-to-air system might be better suited to certain applications. This includes large-scale industrial processes where centralised systems are designed to handle the emissions from multiple stations or processes, which can be more efficient for large installations. They are also central to the prevention of line contamination, as a centralised vent-to-air system removes potentially harmful airborne contaminants, reducing the risk of particles settling on production equipment, which could potentially damage product quality. Also, for high-volume and stationary process situations that are not expected to change, a fixed system can provide a robust and permanent solution to ensure consistent fume removal where there is no need for frequent repositioning.
However, it is not necessarily a ‘one size fits all’ option, as portable and fixed fume extraction solutions can be combined effectively to optimise production. Portable systems can be used to augment an existing vent-to-air (VTA) system, addressing specific processes or workstations that may not be a good fit for the main centralised exhaust. This dual functionality is particularly useful in agile manufacturing environments where a business might use a fixed VTA system as a base but also needs the flexibility of portable units. This can help businesses adapt to changing production layouts and processes without incurring any significant costs and downtime associated with modifying a fixed, centralised infrastructure. This multi-layered approach creates a more flexible and comprehensive fume extraction strategy in the factory environment strategy.
UKManufacturing Summer 2026
EFFECTIVE AIR MANAGEMENT Effective fume and particulate extraction play an important part in helping electronics manufacturers create a clean environment for their teams while maintaining high levels of quality and productivity. Such a system will contribute to optimal automated electronics manufacturing performance through effective air management and multi-stage filtration technology. This now increasingly includes Industry 4.0 considerations, where portable fume extraction solutions are proving to deliver enhanced support through greater flexibility in an agile manufacturing setting. However, portable solutions can also be deployed to effectively support more traditional fixed fume extraction systems. This will enable manufacturers to optimise investments already made in factory processes, infrastructure and equipment, while taking advantage of new smart factory approaches that enhance production, minimise downtime and eliminate inefficiencies. Alongside fume and particulate extraction, venting solutions play an increasingly important supporting role in electronics manufacturing environments. As devices continue to shrink and enclosures become ever more compact, the need to protect sensitive electronic components from pressure differentials, moisture and particulate ingress has grown considerably. Specialist venting solutions allow pressure equalisation whilst maintaining a barrier against contaminants, which is particularly relevant in automated production lines. Achieving consistent air quality across all aspects of electronics production therefore demands a comprehensive, consultative approach, drawing on expertise that spans filtration assessment, system design, filter media selection and ongoing performance monitoring.
Donaldson BOFA
www.donaldsonbofa.com
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