Tag: blower

EXAIR Super Air Knives Help to Dry Labels In Bottling Factory

Published on by John BallLeave a comment

I spoke with a customer from a bottling facility that was using blower-type air knives.  They were trying to cool and remove condensation from the labels.  Their production rate was slow, and they were seeing issues in the labeling process.  Their operation consisted of an applicator that would place the label around the bottle prior to going into a steam oven to shrink the labels.  After this, a blow-off station was used to cool and set the label around the bottle and remove any condensation.  They determined that the bottles were not getting dry enough and the shrink rate was too long.  They were using a blower system, and they were having difficulty when they tried to reach the required bottle rate. 

With blower systems, they blow warm air which affects the cooling results.  Besides the maintenance and loud noises, the turbulent air causes erratic drying patterns. EXAIR products use the power of the compressed air system to give a wide range of blowing forces for drying, cooling, or moving products.  With our Super Air Knives, we have a 40:1 amplification ratio, which means for every 1 part of compressed air, we bring in 40 parts of ambient air.  This adds mass to the airstream to make our Super Air Knives very efficient and effective.  With a laminar air flow, it creates a consistent force while moving the air in one direction.  This was important to push the condensation to the bottom of the bottles.  

Super Air Knife Kits include a Shim Set, Filter Separator, and Pressure Regulator.

So, I recommended two units of the model 110224SS Super Air Knife kits.  The kit includes the Super Air Knife, a filter, a regulator, and a shim set.  They mounted one knife on each side of the bottles to blow off and remove the liquid after the steam cycle.  Even at the increased bottle speeds, the EXAIR Super Air Knives had no issues with keeping the bottles dry and providing enough cooling to set the label.  With the regulator and shim set, it was easy for them to dial in the correct amount of force without using too much compressed air.  The labels remained attached, and the bottling process ran smoothly. 

In using compressed air, the EXAIR Super Air Knives are engineered to be very efficient and effective.  Now, they were able to dry the bottles to allow for a strong adhesion of the labels.  If you wish to speak to an Application Engineer about your cleaning, drying, blowing or cooling applications, we will be happy to hear from you. 

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb

The EXAIR Heavy Duty HEPA Vac for Dusty Environments

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment

At EXAIR, we offer a range of systems specifically engineered to deliver a maintenance-free solution for managing spills and debris in your facility. Our product lineup includes systems tailored for liquids and solids, and a versatile option capable of handling both. These systems are designed for longevity, unlike conventional electric vacuums that often require frequent replacements. For applications dealing with dusty materials, EXAIR’s Heavy Duty HEPA Vac is the ideal choice.

The vacuum generator is made from a durable hardened steel alloy that offers excellent abrasion resistance. Its lever-lock drum lid is compatible with open-top drums of 30, 55, or 110 gallons, facilitating quick transfers between drums. This feature enables users to maintain the separation of various materials for recycling purposes, which is advantageous as recycling companies often pay a premium for pre-sorted materials, enhancing the system’s marketability. It is suitable for use with any open-head steel, fiber, or plastic drum that is in good condition, adhering to ANSI Standard #MH2-2004. For customers lacking a suitable drum, complete premium systems that include the drum and dolly are available. Furthermore, all of EXAIR’s filters undergo rigorous testing in compliance with IEST-RP-CC-007, ensuring a minimum filtration efficiency of 99.97% for particles down to 0.3 microns, thus meeting HEPA standards.

EXAIR’s Heavy Duty HEPA Vac features a design devoid of moving parts, eliminating wear and the need for maintenance, and operates solely on a source of compressed air. Additionally, its static-resistant hose mitigates the risk of painful shocks often encountered when handling dry, dusty materials.

The Model 901373 filter protector is an optional accessory designed to extend the intervals between cleaning the HEPA filter and to safeguard it from wear. To maximize the efficiency of your HEPA-rated filters, this protector is essential. It easily fits over the HEPA filter and pre-filter, securing it in place with a straightforward drawstring mechanism.

If you have any questions about EXAIR‘s Heavy Duty HEPA Vac, or any of EXAIR‘s products, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: jasonkirby@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk

Pneumatic vs Electric Vacuums

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

Most of us think of the electric-powered device that we clean our carpets at home with when we think of vacuum cleaners. The idea of utilizing vacuum in cleaning applications, however, actually predates the widespread introduction of electric power by a couple of decades. The original idea was to marry a manual vacuum-generating device with an existing carpet sweeper that employed a beater brush which turned as the sweeper was pushed across the floor, collecting debris from the floor in its bristles, and depositing it into an internal reservoir. The first “vacuum cleaners” relied on a bellows, piston cylinder, or other such device that was operated by hand, foot – or, according to one source, a rocking chair – to generate a vacuum. It took one person to operate the vacuum-generating part, and another to push the sweeper, though, so they weren’t very popular at a time when folks were generally looking for labor-SAVING products.

Today, of course, the availability of electric power is a given in any industrial or commercial facility, so these manually driven units have long gone by the wayside. That’s not to say that they’re all electrically driven, though – in fact, the most common alternative – compressed air-operated industrial vacuums – are widely used in a variety of situations. Their popularity is due to several key advantages they have over their electric-powered counterparts:

  • No electric motor to burn out.
  • No moving parts to wear or break.
  • No impeller to clog.
The next time you need to replace a failed electric powered vacuum, consider an EXAIR compressed air operated model!

Whether your needs are for a liquid vac, dry vac or both, EXAIR has a comprehensive selection of Industrial Housekeeping Products to choose from. They incorporate a number of features that are quite beneficial in a number of industrial settings:

Filtered exhaust:

  • Heavy Duty HEPA Vacs offer powerful vacuum performance, superior resistance to abrasive materials, and High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) cartridge filters that are 100% tested in strict accordance with IEST-RP-CC-007 for a minimum of 99.97% filtration at the 0.3 micron level.
  • The EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vacs can likewise be supplied with HEPA Filters as well.

Ease of cleaning:

  • Most EXAIR Industrial Housekeeping Products are designed to fit standard size drums (30, 55, or 110 gallons). The lids for the 30 & 55 gallon models have a simple hand-operated latch ring to facilitate drum removal. The 110-gallon ones have a bolt ring, so you do need a wrench for those.
  • The particulate filter for the EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac is accessed with a rubber-handled latch to lift the hatch & remove the filter.

Cross-contamination prevention:

  • Since they’re made to fit standard-size drums, you can simply remove the lid assembly from any EXAIR drum-mounted Industrial Housekeeping Product and put it on another drum.
  • Drum liners can also be used for different materials. These are readily available from a number of industrial equipment suppliers, and even most hardware stores.

Additionally, EXAIR compressed air-operated Industrial Housekeeping Products have no moving parts to wear, or electrical components to burn out. As long as you supply them with clean air, they’re going to run darn near indefinitely, maintenance free. And since they don’t use impellers, there’s nothing in the way, from the suction tool to the drum, for debris to clog or nest.

Whether you’re looking for a liquid vacuuming system, or something for picking up solid particulate – or both – EXAIR has a comprehensive line of Industrial Housekeeping Products to choose from. If you’d like to find out more, give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Custom Air Amplifiers: Customization to Fit Your Needs

Published on by codybiehleLeave a comment

EXAIR’s line of Air amplifiers can be found in thousands of applications across the world from everything as simple as blowing parts off to exhausting fumes. The Air Amplifier comes in two different styles either the Super Air Amplifier or the Adjustable Air Amplifier. Super Air Amplifiers come in a stock Aluminum Body with a diameter that ranges from ¾” to 8”. This differs from the Adjustable Air Amplifier which comes in either type 303 Stainless Steel or Aluminum and are Sized from ¾” to 4”.

Super Air Amplifiers are supplied with a .003″ (0.08mm) slotted air gap which is ideal for most applications. Flow and force can be increased by replacing the shim with a thicker .006″ (0.15mm) or .009″ (0.23mm) shim. Model 120028 is supplied with a .009″ (0.23mm) air gap. A .015″ (0.39mm) shim is available for Model 120028.

    Even though there is a wide variety of sizes and materials for the Stock Air Amplifiers they don’t always match a customer’s specific need or application. Over the years EXAIR has produced a slew of different custom Air Amplifiers for a customer’s specific need and the following are just a few of what we have done.

    • Depending on the environment certain specific materials may be required like the food industry which requires specific Stainless Steel for various applications. One customer had a special PTFE plug made for the Adjustable Air Amplifier to help pull a sticky material through the process. The PTFE helped prevent the material from depositing on the inside diameter of the Amplifier.
    • For applications where mounting may be an issue, special attachments have been made to assist. For instances where an Amplifier may need to be mounted to a pipe, we manufactured a custom Stainless-Steel Adjustable Air Amplifier with class a 150 raised face flange.
    • Applications that are in a hot environment may require a special high temperature version which has be developed to operate in areas up to 700°F. The High Temperature Air Amplifier was so widely sought after that we turned it into a stock item.

    No matter what your application is EXAIR is capable to work with you to create custom solutions for your application. Whether you need a different material, size or shim thickness, EXAIR is able to meet your requirements. These Air Amplifiers represent only one of our many product lines that can be custom made to your specifications. 

    For more information on EXAIR’s Air Amplifiers or help with customizing any of EXAIR‘s Intelligent Compressed Air® Product lines, feel free to contact EXAIR and myself or any of our Application Engineers can help you determine the best solution.

    Cody Biehle
    Application Engineer
    EXAIR Corporation
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