When to choose a portable fume extractor?

An important consideration to make when deciding to invest in a welding fume extraction system is to understand whether the company needs a stationary or portable fume extractor.

What are the differences? Which ones to install?

Let’s discuss about it in today's article!

Fixed vs portable fume extractor: the differences

A portable fume extractor, also called mobile or wheeled, is a unit mounted on a cart with a fan, a filter and an articulated arm.

The trolley allows the extractor to be easily moved to different zones of the working area, while the articulated arms, being of different lengths, allow it to reach any area where welding fumes need to be extract. These are compact and extremely maneuverable systems.

A fixed fume extractor, being permanently installed, cannot be moved from one area to another.

Therefore, it is necessary to plan a permanent installation made up of following components:

• extractor
• wall-mounted or sliding articulating arms
• hoods of various sizes
• filters
• galvanized hoses

Fumes can be expelled into the atmosphere or can be re-emitted into the environment, after an attentive filtration in way to remove pollutants and toxic agents.

Fixed systems also include welding benches, which are workbenches equipped with a work surface. The great advantage is that there is no need for extraction systems or the technicians’ intervention, since the dust is extracted from, both the work surface and the side walls, then collected in a drawer.

Smoke is extracted by a special extraction filter system. Since it can be used as a normal workbench, space is optimized.

How to choose the best system?

A high-performance welding fume extractor is essential in manufacturing industries, machine shops, specialized workshops, shipyards and assembly lines, where welding activities are intense and frequent.

The welding process produces a mix of different chemicals that, if inhaled, can cause very serious respiratory problems.

A good welding fume extractor intercepts the harmful gases and particles directly at the source, improving the healthiness of the work environment, which results in higher productivity and quality of the work.

Welding fumes consist of microparticles that, if deposited on walls, tools, floors and objects ready for painting, could affect the quality of the work.

For a greater efficiency, speed and quality, it is therefore important to choose the fume extractor that best suits the company's needs.

When selecting a portable or stationary fume exhausted, there are several factors to consider.

The main ones are:

• the frequency of use
• the extraction needs
• the available space
• the number of the available stations
• the design of the building

Turning to a reliable and competent supplier who can recommend the optimal solution, based on the requirements of the company and the technicians, is the best choice when you have to decide between installing a fixed or portable fume extractor extractor.

We can state that:

• fixed vacuum cleaners are preferred when welding is carried out in a dedicated area, where the operator carries out only that activity; they are often used in big companies, where welding is a very frequent activity
• mobile welding fume extractor are ideal if there is no a dedicated welding area inside the company, but the technician needs to move the extractor system from one area to another; they are usually the most used solution in small businesses, where welding activities are not standard

WORKY offers various types of portable fume extractor, including:

• SMOBIPLUS, ideal for light and not frequent welding activities, especially inside body shops
• SMOBIMAX, a mobile solution suitable for heavier, medium-duration welding activities, equipped with one or two arms and a more powerful motor

One of WORKY's strength is the ability to personalize the projects responding to customers' needs, meeting the highest quality standards and ensuring the best long-term results.

One of our most appreciated services is the three-dimensional design of work environments to place and contextualize products, optimizing spaces through a photorealistic rendering service.

If you are looking for a portable or stationary fume extractor or you need advice for a customized project, do not hesitate to contact us: book a free consultation with our experts!