We’ve talked up and down about what a downdraft table can do- but why does it matter? Does it really help manufacturers to make the investment in these dust collection units? And if yes- how? In today’s blog post, we’ll be addressing these questions by going over what downdraft tables can do beyond the obvious. These are our top 5 benefits of using downdraft tables in metalworking shops.
Benefit 1 - Improved Air Quality
The first and most immediate benefit of using a downdraft table in a metalworking shop is improved air quality. It’s no secret that industrial metal forming processes like grinding, deburring, and welding release all kinds of dust and fumes into the air. All it takes is a quick look around any shop to notice how many particles are floating around freely.
Downdraft tables are designed to capture those airborne contaminants at the source before they have the chance to move elsewhere. By preventing the spread of particulate matter and noxious fumes, these tables help improve air quality overall. While air quality may be often overlooked in industrial settings, paying attention to it and taking sufficient measures to improve it can result in many subsequent benefits like the rest listed in this article.
Benefit 2 - Enhanced Worker Safety
The next benefit is a direct result of the first: enhanced worker safety. By removing up to 99% of dust, oil mist, and other unbreathables from the air, downdraft tables drastically reduce the risks to workers’ health and safety that are usually posed by industrial metal forming operations.
In terms of health, removing these particles from the air helps minimize the likelihood of adverse effects on workers. These effects can range from acute respiratory conditions as a result of immediate exposure, to chronic conditions from long term exposure like silicosis and popcorn lung.
As for safety, downdraft tables do much more than just keep dust and fumes out of workers’ eyes. One of the most dangerous safety hazards in any metal working shop comes in the form of combustible dust. Often a byproduct of machining and finishing operations, combustible dust has the potential to be incredibly harmful and even fatal, as any ignition can trigger an explosion. Depending on the dispersal of the combustible dust, these explosions can be localized to a single workstation- or in the worst case they can engulf an entire facility in an instant. By removing these dusts, downdraft tables can prevent workers from being harmed by this easily overlooked safety hazard. However, it’s important to note that not just any table will be effective; to safely neutralize combustible dusts, it is critical to use wet downdraft tables. These differ from regular tables in that they feature a supply of water which bonds to the combustible dust and prevents it from igniting.
Need help assessing your facility’s combustible dust risks? Contact Diversitech today for expert advice on safe dust capture.
Benefit 3 - Increased Productivity
The third benefit of using downdraft tables in a metal manufacturing plant is improved productivity across the board. To put it simply, a clean workplace is a productive one. Not only does a downdraft table help keep the work area free of unwanted dust, it also helps simplify cleaning and maintenance schedules. On top of this, a table can also act as a dedicated station for a given task- one for grinding, one for welding, one for deburring, and so forth- so that setup time can be minimized for the best possible process efficiency. This can help workers focus more clearly on their task at hand without distractions or misorganization, further increasing productivity.
Benefit 4 - Equipment Longevity
On the note of simplifying cleaning and maintenance, the advantages of downdraft tables extend far beyond just increasing worker productivity. Over time, a buildup of dust and contaminants can actually harm metal working equipment. Even the most rugged, industrial-grade machinery can fall victim to damage from debris. All it takes is a little bit of dust to make its way into the wrong crevice to put a piece of equipment out of commission, leading to potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars in lost uptime due to repairs and maintenance. Worst case scenario, the equipment may need to be replaced altogether depending on the severity of any malfunctions. Imagine having to go through all that trouble over just a little bit of dust. By implementing downdraft tables wherever possible, metal working shops and facilities can help prevent this type of equipment damage and consequently extend the life of their machinery and tools. This leads to less frequent replacements, and greater time and cost savings overall.
Tired of messes and maintenance? Contact Diversitech today to find out if our downdraft tables are the solution you’re looking for.
Benefit 5 - Compliance with Regulations
For facilities struggling to adhere to health & safety standards set by OSHA, or environmental regulations set by the EPA, downdraft tables can serve as instrumental tools toward achieving their compliance goals. Due to their high capture efficiency, these tables are more than capable of removing sufficient contaminants from the air to help a metal working shop adhere to OSHA standards for workers’ health and safety. This advantage is two-fold, as that same efficiency is critical to reducing the amount of airborne PMs released by a facility. This helps them adhere to EPA standards and acceptable rates for the facility’s total air pollutant emissions.
Curious what else our downdraft tables can do for you? To explore our available options and find the ideal solution for your facility, contact Diversitech today.
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