Clean environment technology gathers more dust than ever.

CLEAN ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGY GATHERS MORE DUST THAN EVER

A review of products and equipment available for meeting clean air requirements and providing efficient wood waste disposal. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's ruling on maximum wood dust levels and the current concerns of wood offal disposal have made manufacturers of dust collection and waste processing equipment construct the quietest, most efficient systems equipment possible. The following review features products that accomplish these various tasks. For additional information on any item, circle the appropriate number on the Reader's Service Card.

Dust collection

Nordfab Products says the Dust Master is a quiet collector that pulls dust through its tabletop and filters the air. Dust is collected in an easy to empty pull out tray and air is returned to the room without heating or air conditioning loss. 701

Dust Hog dust collectors from United Air Specialists Inc. remove large to moderate size airborne particles in a variety of industrial applications. The company also says the efficient systems can be used on rip, table, mitre and bandsaws as well as sanding operations. 702

The pulse jet dust collector from Scientific Dust Collectors has been designed for better cleaning of dust laden air. Operating without venturis, the company says drawbacks associated with venturi systems, such as restricted filtering velocities, difficult cleaning and puffing, are eliminated. 703

Vortec Corporation says its Hand-E-Vac industrial cleaning gun can pick up wood dust, powders, glass and spills quickly. The tool uses no electricity, has no moving parts and consumes less compressed air than a standard blowgun. A complete line of accessories for cleaning versatility are available. 704

The Rota Lean System from Morrison McComas Assoc. has been designed to solve internal air quality problems and meet OSHA regulations by rotating entire plant air, the company says. Benefits include fast filter changes, heavy-duty fan assembly, structured steel framework and reported 90% efficiency. 705

The Model 2500 Wide Mouth air cleaner from Air Cleaning Equipment Corp. was designed specifically for the wood-working industry, according to the company. The Wide Mouth is reported to collect particles without any ductwork, is mobile and is constructed of galvanized steel. Filters are reusable and easy to remove for cleaning. 706

The Moldow GM-20 industrial dust collectors from EAC Engineering USA consist of a fan and motor, filter section and collecting hoppers all built together as one unit, the company says. Hoppers are capable of 10 cu ft of storage capacity and the clean air fan is powered by a 10-hp, 3,600 rpm motor. 707

An efficient dust collector from Murphy-Rodgers, Inc. features cartridge-type dust collection, low profile design and easy cartridge replacement, the company says. 708

The Torit Division of Donaldson Co. has developed the Environmental Control Booth dust collector for hand sanding of wood. The company says the system filters dust out of the airstream using high-efficiency air filters and recirculates the air. No hoods are required and lighting and soundproofing are included. 709

The AR Arrestall self-contained dust collector from American Air Filter is suitable for small- to medium-volume dry dust problems. Air flows range from 200 to 11,500 cfm. The new collector features redesigned pockets and improved separator materials, which improve air flow, the company says. 710

Clarke's Sheet Metal offers the Primary Pneu-Aire Filter in various sizes with capacities up to 70,000 cfm. The company says the Primary filter has the same design parameters as its secondary Pneu-Aire filter. Each is supplied with an indexing manifold drive. 711

The 40-hp stationary dust collector from Kraemer Tool & Mfg. is designed for bin collection. The unit is available with safety railings, platforms and safety ladders both on the blower and filter bag house entrance levels. With its extra storage capacity, the company says the collector can operate when the bin is full or removed for emptying. 712

The Reverse Air Filter System from the Industrial Air Filter Div. of Pneumafil Corp. features systematic cleaning of each bag every 60 seconds. Other features include: built-in large particle deflector, walk-in clean air compartment and reverse air cleaning. 713

Air Handling Systems by Manufacturers Service Co. offers a variety of dust collection components including spiral pipe, fittings and flex hose. 714

From Advanced Machinery Imports, the Felder F3 dust collection system features a durable impeller mounted directly to the motor shaft, a large inlet diameter to prevent clogging, an oversize collection bag for less-frequent emptying and large wheels plus a handle for mobility. It is available in either 1-phase or 3-phase electricals. 715

Dustvent's new line of cyclone dust collectors are reportedly 99.9 percent collection efficient. Available in seven sizes and 14 models, air flow ranges from 500 to 16,000 cfm. Collectors can be installed either indoors or outdoors and are reportedly ideal for coarse dust or to classify fine from coarse dusts. 716

Koger/Air manufactures and installs a wide variety of dust collection systems. Its setup at Hickory Chair Wood Products includes eight systems that total 170,000 cfm of air with 20 percent surplus capacity for handling projected machinery additions. A programmable solid-state control panel provides for automatically timed system startup and shutdown sequencing. 717

Modufil Inc. offers the Mat Maker 4000, a ceiling-mounted recirculator that advances the filter as dust accumulates. The unit eliminates additional bag cleaning that takes up floor space and can lower heating/cooling costs, the company says. In a sanding environment, total dust concentrations were reduced by more than 50 percent, the company adds. 718

At approximately one-third the cost of a conventional dust system, Classic Systems says its modular self-contained sanding booth can be used either off or on line. The unit does not limit product size as with down-draft booths, according to the company. 719

Delta International Machinery offers a booklet, "Wood Dust Control and Collection Systems," which addresses the new OSHA regulations and explains how the company's dust collectors comply with the new standards. The brochure is available for $3 to cover postage and handling. 720

Available from Carolina Air Filtration, features of the DCE filter include: downward flow and top inlet for reportedly more effective dust deposition; easy access for routine inspection and changing of the filter pads; an electronically-controlled filter cleaning system which uses reverse jets of compressed air; available top and rear explosion panels; and easy access to controls. 721

Dixie Air Engineering offers a variety of dust collection systems including the SPB cyclone filter system. A recent SPB installation featured: single-piece, match-marked frame, one-piece fan, motor and drive, ductwork in flanged lengths for bolt-up assembly and 12,750 cfm at a system static of 9.25 in. 722

Air Sentry manufactures a complete line of dust collection equipment from 1/2 to 50 hp. Dry, wet and material-handling systems are available from 300 to 25,000 cfm. 723

With the addition of the SP model to its Filtrex line, Steelcraft Corp. says it has combined the duties of a cyclonic scrap separator and self-cleaning fabric dust collector into a single, continuous-duty collection unit for handling paper scrap, low bulk density materials and dusts. Features of the Filtrex Model SP units include both reverse jet and pulse jet cleaning air systems within one collector. 724

MAC Equipment offers a new dust control filter with a wedge-shaped cartridge element. Each element contains 480 sq ft of filtering area. The filter also features a high-rise inlet which provides a true "down flow" of air, thereby minimizing re-entry of dust particles, the company says. 725

The Samco line of DS1, DS2, DS3 and DS4 collectors, available from Quick-Wood, reportedly offers efficient, convenient portable dust collection with up to four sleeves sized for individual shop machines. The collectors are mounted on four-wheel bases with braces to hold the sleeves, motor and outlet connectors. Bag diameters are 22 7/8 in. with 4 3/4-in. outlets. The outlet collector offers up to five exits depending on the size of the system, the company says. 726

Dust, vapor, fumes and other airborne pollutants are captured and then recirculated by the self-contained back and down draft workstation from AirTechs. The back draft pulls dust and vapors into a filter to protect the work environment. Features include: NEMA enclosure, 3/16-in. plate steel work surface, 8-ft by 3-ft deep table and 34-in. high work area. 727

KEI central bag filtered dust collectors are bag set units with manual shakers and final filters that, when ducted, provide source capture of fine and coarse wood dusts. The smaller units, with nearly 200 sq ft of filter media, will filter 99% of particulate by weight. Five units are available with 1,200 to 5,500 cfm; all are available with motorized shakers and controls. 728

Norfield Mfg.'s dust collection system is designed to remove airborne dust from various cutting, drilling and routing machines. The systems are available on all of the company's machine operations and can be connected to in-plant vacuum systems or individual vacuum units. 729

The Model C self-contained dust collector from Rees-Memphis is available in five different cfm capacities and in 2-, 3-, 5-, 7 1/2- and 10-hp sizes with 1 to 8 collector modules. For waste storage, the collector uses 55-gal drums or plastic or cloth bags. 730

Resource Conservation Group specializes in dust control systems for internal OSHA compliance, external EPA compliance and improved productivity, the company says. Features include: filtered air makeup systems for elimination of surface dust rework, pressurized and heated finishing areas and enclosed sealer sanding areas. 731

Coral SpA's new catalog details its anti-pollution systems, including the electroventilator EER Series. Applications of the EER Series include: extraction of polluted air and fumes, aeration of workshops and air circulation in heat exchanges. Other products include: dust collectors, filtering units, movable aspirators and super cyclones. 732

Genesis MK II lightweight, all plastic clear hose from Flexaust Co. is designed for conveying air, dust or lightweight materials. MK II maintains its flexibility across a wide temperature range of -40 to 140 F, according to the company. Stock sizes include 1 1/2-in. to 4-in. inlet diameters, with smaller sizes available from the company. 733

A variety of dust collection products is available from Woodstock International. Included are: blast gates, floor sweeps, exhaust hoods, universal hoods, hose clamps and connections. Products are made of tough plastic, the company says. 734

Hoppers from Gulf State Iron and Metal are available for front or rear load. According to the company, attachment of these hoppers to forklifts can cut labor and save time in collecting and discharging of wood waste and other scrap items. Features include a 3/16-in. steel base and corrugated sides with 1/4-in. angle edges for strength; the hoppers have 6,000 lb capacity. 735

The Dynatrol high or low level switch from Automation Products Inc. can be installed in bins, hoppers and silos. Reported to be suitable for an extensive range of bulk densities, the level detector tolerates material buildup and can even be used in vessels equipped with vibrators, the company says. 736

American Moistening Co. says its system can improve the effectiveness of dust collection by reducing the static accumulation and increasing the weight of dust. The company also said that laboratory tests have shown that emissions can be suppressed by as much as 50 percent. 737

A new spark extinguishing system is available from GreCon Electronics Inc. The company says the system is designed with a new close-coupled, in-line valve/nozzle arrangement that reduces the extinguishment reaction time. The system detects sparks in factory blow pipes and activates the extinguishment system. 738

Grinding and compacting equipment

West Salem Machinery Co.'s pallet grinding system has been designed to reduce large volumes of whole pallets and pallet scrap into a recylable product in just one pass. The company says the model 2852BH horizontal hog has a 50-in. wide throat for easy feeding of whole pallets and pallet scrap. Other features include: heavy-duty power feed mechanisms, three-way hammer design, extra-heavy duty design and construction and built-in magnetic separation of ferrous metals. 739

Available from Tryco Mfg. Co. Inc., the Untha grinder/shredder features: slow cutter speeds of 15 to 25 rpm which reportedly produce high torque and keep energy requirements low; 60 to 75 dB noise level; and zero vibration, which eliminates the need for special bases and bolting, the company says. Twelve models are available for shredding wood, veneer, foam, plastic and other materials. 740

Jacobson Inc.'s 24-in. series wood hogs are available in 10-in., 25-in. or 35-in. wide models. All three widths offer the choice of either top or horizontal feed. The horizontal feed hogs allow the swinging hammers to shear wood rippings and pull them directly into the grinding chamber. This results in a positive pull of material into the hog, eliminating any need for power feed rolls, the company says. 741

Sprout-Bauer manufactures a full line of pellet mills for wood waste applications. The company says it supplies the total system, from the preparation of feedstock to the bulk handling after the pelleting job is done. Pellets can be produced for home pellet-burning stoves or industrial use. Pellet mills also can be custom designed. 742

From Schutte Pulverizer, the Model 5635 Hogerizer grinder handles standard 48-in. wide pallets which are placed on a steel bed and fed into the mouth of the unit. There, four rows of steel hammers "hogerize" them. The particles are sucked into a sheet-metal tunnel by a 40- to 50-hp fan. In a hump in the tunnel, Eriez Superbrute magnets attract the nails and other metal objects from the flow. The ground wood continues through the fan blades and into a trailer. 743

The LogMaker from Costa America Ltd. automatically turns scrap wood into clean-burning logs. The machine runs unattended, the company says. Seven models are available. 744

Pallmann offers the Series PZKR of knife ring flakers, which flakes chips, coarse material and pre-chipped veneer waste into flat flakes with pre-determined thickness. A special feeding system ensures equal feeding and eliminates fines and foreign matter, the company says, thus reducing wear inside the machine and power consumption. 745

The Model C-32 "no-knife" hog from Williams Patent Crusher & Pulverizer Co. is the workhorse of the wood products industry, the company says. The C-32 is ruggedly built with no knives to sharpen, the company says. Alloy steel hammers and massive breaker plates fight wear. The welded steel frame has replaceable liners. 746

American Pulverizer Co. hogs are available in ten different models with capacities from 3/4 to 40hp, the company says. Wood scraps, veneer, chips, bark and shavings can be turned into boiler fuel or raw material for particleboard. 747

Offering a complete line of wood grinders for pallets, Eurohansa Inc. says its low noise grinders feature automatic metal separation and special cutters to reduce wood waste into chips sized to the customer's needs. 748

Wood energy systems

The Tornado UF 150 burner from Econo-Energy Inc. is reported to control burning temperatures from 500F to 1800F, is totally electronic-controlled, burns clean and is easy to clean and maintain. Safety features and precise controls prevent operating damage, the company says. 749

The Bio-Master heat exchanger furnace system from Sukup Mfg. Co. is designed for high-temperature combustion of wood wastes. The furnace will accept wood measuring up to 12 in. by 2 in. by 4 in., eliminating the need for grinding wood. The company adds that normal operating temperatures range from 600 to 1400F. 750

Industrial Boiler Co. offers the 25,000 lb/hr Modul-Pak wood fired steam boiler. The boiler can be used to replace natural gas and fuel oil that would conventionally be used to kiln dry lumber. The system includes a flue gas filtering system, which meets EPA requirements. 760

The Wood Gun from Eshland Enterprises Inc., is a completely automatic wood waste combustion and fuel handling system for burning sawdust, shavings and similar material. Due to a patented down-draft gasification design, the unit cycles on and off in response to demand, so overheating is never a problem, the company says. Automatic oil or gas backup is available and models range in size from 100,000 to 3.3 MM BTUH with either steam or hydronic controls. A heat rejection coil can be supplied for applications requiring incineration throughout the year. 751

G & S Mill Inc. introduces a new brochure which highlights its line of low-emission boilers and boiler retrofits. The company says the boilers use wood fuel to generate hot water or steam for heat or process needs. Operating in compliance with current EPA regulations, the system operates without costly pollution control equipment. 752

Wood-fired boilers from Wood Energy Systems are reportedly a simple and cost-effective way of producing hot water or steam for kilns, pre-dryers, plant heating or cogeneration. Units are available to utilize all types of wood waste, from green bark to dry sander dust, with systems available to convert or retrofit existing boilers. 753

The Eliminator Combustion System from Cresswood is reported to provide efficient heat, meets E.P.A. requirements, will burn particleboard and MDF and can be used as an air makeup unit. 754

Dry kilns and controls

Manufacturing high performance drying kilns and drying centers for lumber yards, Eisenmann Wood Technology says its systems are fully automatic and can be easily loaded and unloaded. 755

The Lignomaster G100 moisture meter from Lignomat USA Ltd. uses microprocessor technology for easy use and reliability, the company says. Benefits include accuracy in low moisture readings, handy pushbuttons and saving and recall of readings. 756

The Model G-70 moisture meter from Delmhorst Instrument Co. has a range of 6 to 70 percent. It incorporates a single, four-function switch which activates the meter, checks battery voltage, checks calibration and activates the automatic shutoff. Features include: temperature stable circuit, automatic shutoff timer and capability to accept any of the company's electrodes for specific applications. 757

The TR250 wood dryer from Ebac Wood Drying Systems can dry hardwoods or softwoods with capacities ranging from 40 bd ft to 250 bd ft, the company says. Designed for the small cabinet and furniture maker in mind, the kiln will dry wood to 6 to 8 percent moisture content and offers low operating costs. 758

Brunner-Hildebrand offers the Turbo Drying Process BTT, which it says shortens drying schedules, increases drying quality and reduces energy consumption. It allows the air flow to be directed and focused to special portions of the lumber stack. The direction of air flow is changed by automatic adjustment of turbo baffles 759

PHOTO : Morrison McComas Assoc.'s Rota Lean System has a reported 90% efficiency.

PHOTO : The Handi-Vac industrial cleaning gun from Vortec Corp. uses no electricity

PHOTO : EAC Engineering's Moldow GM-20 dust collector has the fan, motor, filter and hopper built together in one unit.

PHOTO : The pulse jet dust collector from Scientific Dust Collectors operates without venturis.

PHOTO : United Air's Dust Hog can be used on sawing and sanding operations.

PHOTO : Air Cleaning Equipment Corp.'s Model 2500 Wide Mouth air cleaner collects dust particles without ductwork.

PHOTO : Murphy-Rogers Inc.'s dust collector can be installed indoors or outdoors.

PHOTO : Donaldson Co.'s Environmental Control Booth is designed for hand sanding of wood.

PHOTO : The special feeding system in Pallmann's Series PZKR flaker reduces power consumption.

PHOTO : West Salem Machinery Co.'s 2852BH horizontal hog has a 50-in. wide throat for easy feeding.

PHOTO : Sukup's Bio-Master omits the need for wood to be ground into chips.

PHOTO : Eurohansa's grinders feature automatic metal separation.