How to recognize high-performance welding fumes extraction systems

Effective welding fumes extraction systems are necessary in workshops because they remove suspended particulates (metals and derivatives) that leak into the environment during machining.

However, it is often difficult to choose the best solution and the most reliable supplier who knows how to make the investment pay off. In today's article, some tips for recognizing a truly high-performing system.

Welding fumes extraction systems: how to choose them

In industrial environments, in engineering and shipyards, welding is an activity that takes place regularly and lasts for many hours. Therefore, to safeguard the health of workers, who remain in contact with the fumes released for a long time, it is necessary to provide for the installation of appropriate fume extraction systems.

There are more than 50, in fact, chemical components and metal particles in a gaseous or very fine particulate state released both in the heating phase of sheet metal and during the eventual melting of metals. These substances are harmful to people's health. An effective fume extraction system picks up suspended particulates and expels them outside the work area.

It is therefore important that workplaces where these types of work are carried out be equipped with welding fumes extraction systems capable of capturing the fumes directly at the source, before they are inhaled or dispersed into the environment.

Features to evaluate when choosing an effective fume extractor

The first element to evaluate is the type of system best suited to the company. There are in fact two main types:

• Fixed systems, which offer great extraction power and require a proper installation.
• Mobile systems, mounted on wheeled units, which are preferred when there is a need to move the extractor from one area to another, or when there is no possibility of installing a fixed system due to the structure of the building.

Fixed welding extractors can be part of two different types of systems:

• Systems with wall- or ceiling-mounted arms or hoods: fumes are captured by means of appropriately sized articulated arms or hoods and conveyed to the welding fume extractor, to be then expelled outside.
• Ducting with sliding elements: which makes it possible to share the arm between several stations, located along the ducting. In this way, depending on the station in use, the arm is manually slid by the operator.

Mobile systems, on the other hand, can are composed of two macro solutions:

• SMOBIPLUS- very compact and suitable for extracting welding fumes in light and infrequent applications.
• SMOBIMAX- for heavier and medium duty applications given its equipment with more powerful fan.

What makes a fume extraction system perform?

All components of a system are essential for its proper functioning and high performance.

The suction arms must be of high quality, strong and flexible, and have:

• A robust structure and internal parallelogrammic support fitted with special clamps that allow them to move in any position and then remain stable in the chosen position.
• A variety of lengths (from 3 to 9 metres) and diameters (150 or 200 mm) to always reach the correct point with an adequate flow rate.
• The steel swivel for 360° rotation.
• A range of accessories such as wall or celeing bracket and integrated shutter.
• The possibility of installing a LED lighting kit in the hood and an airtight closing dumper designed to ensure complete closure.

This makes the arms adaptable to any situation and ensures the correct extraction of welding fumes from the working areas.

Combining the arm with the extraction fan results in a simple, compact and functional system that has an incredible impact on workers' health.

In addition to the arms, therefore, the fan is certainly crucial for proper fume extraction. The fan must be correctly sized to ensure maximum efficiency, depending on the company's needs.

Choosing the most suitable fume extracor means assessing the needs of the company accurately and appropriately, considering:

• The size of the working area.
• The arrangement of existing rooms and machines.
• The number of workstations and their layout.
• The extent of the welding work.

The help of an experienced partner can be really crucial in making an appropriate investment that brings significant improvement to the company's business.

WORKY designs fume extraction systems according to customers' needs, assisting them with

• field consulting
• attentive and punctual commercial service
• system installation
• after-sales service

It is also possible to request a three-dimensional design service of the working area, to get a clear idea of what the final result will look like even before starting the project.

Book a free consultation with our experts to find out more!