You can find the importance of dust collectors right in its name. These pieces of equipment keep harmful dust from floating around the workplace and negatively affecting employees, equipment, and products. In order to avoid contaminating your facility with harmful dust, make sure you buy a dust collector that’s right for your specific needs. This guide will introduce you to what to consider when purchasing a dust collector for your facility.
Where Your Dust Is Coming From
Depending on where your dust is coming from, as well as how much dust you’re generating, you may need either a central dust collection system or a point-of-use system. If one component of your facility is generating dust, then a point-of-use dust collector can help keep contaminants out of the air. Central dust collection systems are for daily operations that generate dust in large volumes and from more than one location. If you don’t have a sufficient dust collector, it won’t be able to effectively clear the contaminants out of the work environment.
The Properties of Your Dust
Not all dust is the same, so take special note of your dust characteristics before buying a collector. Some facilities will produce dust from wood products, while others will produce dust from raw grain, and those are far from the only two culprits. Characteristics you need to look for are size, density, abrasiveness, and toxicity of the dust particles. Those first three factors will determine choices such as the filtration method used in your dust collector. If you use the wrong filter, you’re obviously not going to receive the proper amount of protection.
Furthermore, how toxic your dust is will determine factors such as where you can set up your dust collector and what type of collector you can use. Understanding the properties of the dust you produce in your facility is essential for putting the right safety precautions in place.
The Available Space You Have
When taking details like dust texture and size into account, don’t forget one of the most basic details. Know the size of the dust collector before buying and likewise, know the space you have available in your facility. Not only do you need available space for the system itself, but you’ll also have to take into account easy access for repairs and routine maintenance. If you don’t have enough space, then you may have to put your dust collector outside. This can be an issue because the outdoors creates its own considerations, such as poor weather conditions.
Your Local Climate
Dust collectors can be outdoors or indoors, and the choice you make doesn’t always come down to personal preference. For instance, if you don’t have enough space available indoors, you’ll have to place the dust collector outdoors. However, if your dust collector can’t stand up against your local weather, then it can’t go outside. It’s understandable not to expect taking local weather into account when shopping for a dust collector, but in special cases like this, you’ll have to.
The Available Power Supply
Having a sufficient power supply for your dust collector is a necessity prior to installation. If your power supply doesn’t meet the voltage requirements of your dust collector, you run the risk of blowing a fuse. If you’re not familiar with the power/wiring specifications in your facility, then take the time to research them in order to find a dust collector that can effectively work with the given power supply.
The Warranty
Ask your equipment manufacturer about the dust collector’s warranty, which will come in handy if an issue occurs with your machine. Don’t just commit to a warranty because it’s a warranty. Read through it and take the time to understand under which circumstances the warranty protects you and how long it will cover you. Research your equipment manufacturer ahead of time so you can see whether or not they have a good reputation. That way, you’ll be able to tell whether or not you can rely on them to stay true to the warranty and to help you with maintenance and repairs when necessary.
Maintenance/Repairs
Before buying a dust collector, ask the supplier about their repair/maintenance protocols. Your equipment provider should come out to your facility in a timely manner whenever repairs or routine maintenance need to take place. If their protocols don’t fit within their needs, consider shopping around to other suppliers. Don’t be afraid to be picky when perusing the market for any kind of industrial equipment, especially dust collectors. These machines play a key role in keeping your facility safe, so don’t settle for less than what you require for your specific needs. This is why, as we touched on before, making sure you allow space for maintenance and repairs is key when buying a dust collector. If you don’t have enough room for repairs or maintenance, you’re going to find yourself replacing that dust collector much sooner than you were probably hoping.
Downtime
Something else to consider when shopping for a dust collector is how detrimental its downtime will be on your workflow. Some machines will require more downtime in order to complete repairs and maintenance than others. For instance, if you need your dust collector functioning in chunks of time throughout the day, then downtime might not be a huge issue. Although, if you need a dust collector working 24/7, then downtime is a detail you’ll need to pay more attention to. Not all facilities require round-the-clock dust collection, but some do, so it’s key to know which one of these facilities you are beforehand.
As you can see, understanding what to consider when purchasing a dust collector is key if you want to properly keep your facility safe and clean. There are so many factors to consider that, if you’re new to this subject, it might feel like a lot to take in. Thankfully, this guide will help you navigate the dust collector market much more comfortably and coherently. At DoverMEI, we can help you outfit your facility with a wide range of equipment, whether you need a dust collector or bulk plastic pellets. Choosing the right manufacturer is the first step in choosing the right equipment for your workplace.
