Products manufactured at Wavin’s Durham premises are extruded using a combination of virgin and in-house recycled materials, together with the required fillers and stabilisers, which are all mixed on site – activities that generate dust. Re-cycling, for example, involves taking the company’s waste materials and reducing them to granules that can be mixed easily with the virgin materials and additives. For some products, the waste is reduced still further (100µ) using a micronisation/pulverisation process, and both operations create dust.
However, according to Wavin’s production manager, George Hutchinson, the dustiest area is the mixing department where the plastic granules, fillers and stabilisers are all combined. Operators working in this area are provided with overalls to protect their clothes, and a de-dusting system has been installed for personnel as they move between departments, take their breaks, and prior to going home. The key component of this de-dusting system is a blower powered ‘JetBlack’ from Air Control Industries.
Initially, a single JetBlack was taken on a week’s trial. This proved so successful that the company installed another three. “The attraction of ACI’s JetBlack is that it is both efficient and safe,” says Mr Hutchinson. “And what’s more, the staff like it because it is effective and so easy to use.”
Previously, staff were using compressed air lines with pressure reducers - a practice that has now ceased because the JetBlack is not only more efficient but also safe. In addition, with a less than 78dBA noise level, it is also a lot quieter.
Wavin’s JetBlack is a wall mounted unit that delivers high volumes of air at low pressure (less than 29 cubic feet of air per minute at less than 2.5 psi.) which makes it safe to use on bare skin. It is powered by a 1.4kW blower, and filtered air is directed via a triggered hand-gun attached to a 1.5m flexible hose. A touch-timer switch helps avoid excessive power use.