One of India’s leading air filtration solutions providers assures that clean air and dust extraction systems at shop floors can enhance men and machine productivity, also keeping operational costs at bay.
Cleaner air for us to breathe the living is a virtue these days; neither our workplaces nor our living spaces are free from the perils of particulate pollution. We literally live in a world of dust and particulate matter floating around in the air, causing a wide range of respiratory illness. If that’s the case with our outdoors, think about an environment where particle dust, mold, and chemical gases are created out of various industrial processes in a closed sphere, where our men who aid those processes are conspicuously exposed to high levels of health and safety risks. Shop floor illnesses out of impure air may range from occasional cough and scratchy throat to serious maladies like chronic asthma, cancer, and internal chemical burns. Ultimately, indoor air quality of a manufacturing unit ultimately determines a worker’s ‘feel good’ factor and EHS (Employee Health Safety) levels, which in turn influences his productivity and efficiency.
That’s not all. Many manufacturing processes require clean and sterile environment at the shop floor free of particulate dust and impurities in air, may it be pharmaceutical drug manufacturing or an automotive paint booth. Large turbines and turbo machineries require pristine air for optimum efficiency and lower maintenance. The quality of air coming into the facility and efficient dust management determines the quality of the processes and end products. Thus, clean air management takes care of risk mitigation, productivity, and efficiency of manufacturing processes, also enhancing competitiveness.
Clean Air Commitment
With increasing awareness on environmental concerns and worker health safety, the air filtration and industrial conditioning systems in India are gaining immense momentum in recent times. Especially in the burgeoning automotive components manufacturing, clean air management practices are progressively getting more attention in pursuit of higher production standards and sustainability, says Mr. PKSV Sagar, Managing Director of Camfil Air Filtration India Pvt. Ltd., a leading clean air and associated solutions provider to many major automotive plants in the country. “Our growth since the last decade is in good pace and the next five years quite promising, as more and more OEMs and component makers are shifting towards sustainable shop floor practices which inherently include clean air management”, he adds.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Sweden-based Camfil AB, Camfil India was the first to offer air filtration systems for the industrial sector in India. With initial attention focused on air filtration products catering to industrial turbo machinery, the company since the last two years is concentrating more on comfort and ventilation products for both industrial and office spaces. These products are applicable to shop floor and automotive workshops where the existing ventilation systems are ineffective to rising pollution levels of PM 2.5 or 1 micron. They are also relevant to offices, showrooms, airports, shopping malls, etc. Camfil claims that its dust and wielding fume extraction systems are state-of-the-art, with cutting edge filter technologies that are even pro-safe for highly-sensitive food and beverages manufacturing.
Another automotive-related vertical that Camfil India is strong at is ‘Clean Processes’, where production processes necessitate sterile and clean working environment. Take for instance automotive paint facilities. Paint spraying requires a constant supply of fresh and clean air at specified temperatures for quality, hygiene and safety reasons. Globally, Camfil has annual maintenance contracts of paint booths and oil-mist extraction systems with leading OEMs including CV manufacturers. “Our products are compliant to stringent American and European standards… our parent company is a market leader worldwide with phenomenal expertise in air filtration and clean air management gained from market experience of over five decades across various industrial sectors and applications”, claims Mr. Sagar.
Think Global, Act Local
As a system supplier, Camfil offers innovative customized products to suit specific needs of the production units and workspaces that are cost-effective. “System design and installation determines both overall air quality within the facility and the ease of maintenance required. Thus, we custom fabricate systems using suitable products with a particular space and set of needs of the client in mind, may it be large industrial units or MSMEs”, says Mr. Sagar. We conduct a series of air quality tests to establish the extent of the problem and recommended products based on the space and layout of the premises, he adds. This involves a two-pronged approach – firstly through aiding existing ventilation systems and devising standalone systems for advanced heavy-duty applications. The components used in air filtration and dust extraction systems are highly energy efficient and last for longer periods without any maintenance or replacements, thereby keeping additional costs at bay, claims the company.
While going through various case studies that Camfil has done on the effectiveness of their system, cost benefits out of dramatic reduction of operating costs are quite evident. For instance, the company has commissioned dust and chip extraction system from PU/PE synthetics, timber, clay and loam at a Daimler AG´s milling facility. The system featuring compact Micro Filter line and frequency-controlled fans, along with pneumatic delivery of dust handling, has achieved optimal dust disposal under 0.1 mg and higher degree of air purity for an extended lifetime of three years. Interestingly, the entire facility has recorded significantly less maintenance work, high machine availability, and reduction in operational costs including energy cost savings of more than 50 per cent.
In India, Camfil’s Air cleaner with Camcarbs (for arresting dust and oil burning smell on floor due to honing operation) at shop floor of Anand CY Myutec Automotive (ACYM) has achieved impressive levels of air ambience and fume control. ACYM manufactures synchroniser brass and steel rings for automotive gear boxes, where dusts arising out of grinding processes are a menace. The company has also installed a variety of customized dust and pollution control systems for renowned clutch and brake component makers in India. “Customer response to our products in clean air management are extremely encouraging, the comfort and ventilation vertical in particular. We are part of their smart manufacturing strategies and their success stories ultimately”, rejoices Mr. Sagar.