April 2009 - Low Resolution - PAWPRINT PUBLISHING

NEWS
DCS locks out dust at Assa Abloy
ENGINEERS from Dust Control Systems Ltd recently demonstrated their ability to
provide effective dust extraction solutions for two wholly different production
processes at Assa Abloy’s UK manufacturing operation at Willenhall in the West
Midlands.
Assa Abloy is believed to be the world’s biggest lock maker, with brands that include
such well known names as Chubb, Union and Yale. The company’s Willenhall manufacturing
centre produces a wide range of locking systems and is home to Safeguard Doors,
a leader in the manufacture of high security, bullet resistant and bomb blast doors.
DCS Ltd was called in to fully evaluate the company’s requirements and come up with
dust extraction solutions for the security doors woodworking shop and also for extracting
dust generated in the brass polishing workshop.
Recent investment in new woodworking machinery, and a decision to relocate the
Safeguard Doors operation from Wednesbury to Willenhall, prompted the company to
consider replacing its old wood waste extraction plant with a more efficient system capable
of meeting current and future dust extraction requirements.
Extraction was required for a total of seven woodworking machines plus four joiners’
benches and, like most systems today, energy saving was an important consideration.
The system proposed and installed by DCS comprises an externally sited, high-efficiency
modular filter unit designed to handle large volumes of material contamination.
The system has an airflow capacity of over 16,000 m 3 /hr and is fitted with the patented
Superbag polyester filter bag. Superbag employs a patented weaving technique, in tubular
format, that gives the filter bag a surface which can cope with varying filter loads
with all types of wood dust and chips. Collected waste is discharged ‘pressure-free’ via a
rotary valve into a container housed beneath the filter.
Running costs are reduced through the use of variable speed technology, which automatically
adjusts fan speed to suit the actual volumes required. Volume is ramped up
when dampers on specific machines open and lowers when dampers are closed. The
project also involved the installation of a Hi-vac extraction system for four joiners’
benches with ductwork linking back to the filter unit.
A further energy saving benefit comes in the shape of return air ductwork, which enables
filtered warm air to be fed back into the workshop in winter to reduce heating costs.
An efficient ‘capture at source’ solution was required in the polishing
workshop to extract brass/zinc dust and mop fibres generated during the
linishing and polishing of mortise lock components, cylinders and night
latches. Each twin-headed lathe station and automatic polisher has been
fitted with a custom-designed hood that captures and entrains the dust
for transportation, via ductwork, to one of three separate internally located
filter units. Automatic shaker filters, suitable for potentially explosive
dusts, have been installed to handle air volumes in excess of 11,000
m 3 /hr. The filters are fitted with a pre-separation section to provide added
volume below the filter bag, particularly beneficial when dealing with
higher loadings of very fine dust. An efficient cleaning mechanism has a
short, three minute off-line cycle time and dust is discharged into quickrelease
dust bins located at the bottom of each filter unit.
Dust Control Systems Ltd
Tel 0800 040 7116
Email sales@DCSlimited.co.uk ● www.DCSlimited.co.uk
DCS high-efficiency modular filter deals with wood
dust and chips from seven woodworking machines
and four joiners’ benches.
Automatic shaker filters, suitable for potentially explosive dusts,
have been installed in the brass polishing workshop.
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface April 2009 Page 9