Maars Living Walls

Safe extraction of aluminium dust at Maars Living Walls

A new machine often marks the next step in the production process. This was also the case for Maars Living Walls. Before commissioning a new wrapping machine, the company was looking for a reliable extraction solution to capture fine aluminium dust.

Although aluminium is a widely used material, different rules apply once it is released in dust form. Fine aluminium dust is flammable and can be explosive under certain conditions. Therefore, safety was the top priority in the search for a suitable extraction system.

Safety as a starting point

To find the right solution, Maars Living Walls approached several suppliers. They evaluated not only the performance of the system but also how well the suppliers understood their specific application.

Eline Bakker from Maars Living Walls explains:

"Before commissioning our new wrapping machine, we were looking for a reliable extraction solution to capture fine aluminium dust. Because this dust is explosive, safety was our main priority when selecting a suitable system."

After comparing various solutions, the choice ultimately fell on Kiekens.

"During the selection process, we approached several suppliers and evaluated different solutions. We ultimately chose Kiekens. The deciding factors were the excellent price-quality ratio, the compact design of the extraction system, and the pleasant communication throughout the entire process."

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Aqua Clean 40N wet scrubber

For this application, Kiekens recommended an Aqua Clean 40N wet scrubber. A wet scrubber is a safe solution for extracting aluminum dust. While a dry filter system collects dust in filter elements, a wet scrubber binds the dust particles directly in water. This significantly reduces the risk of a dust explosion.

The Aqua Clean is specifically designed for applications where flammable or explosive types of dust are released. The extracted air is passed through a water curtain, causing the dust particles to adhere to the water and be safely removed. At the same time, the cleaned air leaves the system, keeping the work environment clean.

For Maars Living Walls, the system was installed with an extraction capacity of 3,000 m³ per hour. Via a short duct and a flexible hose section, the aluminum dust is extracted directly at the wrapping machine and led to the wet scrubber. Thanks to its compact design, the system was also easily integrated into the available space around the machine.

A solution that inspires confidence

A good extraction system is not just about technology, but also about the collaboration that precedes it. Throughout the process, we actively considered the available space, the characteristics of the production process, and the safest way to capture the aluminum dust. This resulted in a solution that aligns with both the daily operations and the safety requirements of Maars Living Walls.

Eline Bakker looks back on the collaboration with satisfaction:

"The Kiekens system provides the performance we need to safely and effectively extract fine aluminum dust, while its relatively compact dimensions fit well within the space available around the machine. Furthermore, they actively thought along with us to find the best solution for our situation, which instilled confidence in both the product and the organization."

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