The Ultimate Guide to theย EXAIR Heavy Duty HEPA Vac

In high-dust industrial environments, ordinary electric shop vacs often fall short. They clog quickly, motors burn out from constant use, and they can even return fine particles back into your breathing air. Theย EXAIR Heavy Duty HEPA Vacย offers a rugged, air-powered alternative designed specifically for these harsh conditions.

What is the EXAIR Heavy Duty HEPA Vac?

The EXAIR Heavy Duty HEPA Vac is a powerful industrial vacuum that turns an ordinary 30, 55, or 110-gallon open-top drum into a high-capacity HEPA-grade cleaning system. Unlike standard vacuums, it has no moving parts and uses only compressed air to generate a powerful vacuum, reaching levels of -60โ€ H2O at 80 PSIG.

Key Benefits for Industrial Cleanup

  • Maintenance-Free Durability: With no motors to wear out or bearings to fail, this system is built to last for years rather than months. Its hardened steel alloy construction specifically resists abrasion from heavy materials.
  • Certified HEPA Filtration: Every filter is tested to meet HEPA standards, capturing 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. This ensures that fine dust and contaminants stay in the drum and out of the air.
  • Safety First: Operating on compressed air eliminates the risk of electric shock. It also includes a static-resistant hose to prevent painful shocks when handling dry, dusty materials.
  • Quiet Operation: At only 82 dBA, it is roughly half as loud as many electric vacuums, creating a safer and more comfortable work environment.

Popular Applications

This vacuum is ideally suited for:

  • Abrasive Media: Handling shot blast media, sand, and steel shot without internal wear.
  • Fine Dust Control: Ideal for drywall refinishing, pulverizer maintenance, and mold removal.
  • Critical Cleaning: Removing allergens, industrial contaminants, and irritants from shop floors.

Available Systems

EXAIR offers three main system configurations to suit your facility’s needs:

  • Standard System:ย Includes the vacuum generator, lever lock lid, filters, and hoses.
  • Deluxe System:ย Adds a drum dolly and a variety of heavy-duty aluminum cleaning tools like wands and floor tools.
  • Premium System:ย Includes everything from the Deluxe package plus a 30, 55, or 110-gallon drum.

Pro Tip:ย To extend the life of your HEPA media, consider the optionalย Model 901373 filter protector, which slides over the filters to trap larger particles before they reach the main media.

If you would like to discuss whether EXAIR’s Heavy Duty HEPA Vac would be a good fit for your application, give us a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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How the EXAIR Chip Trapper Transforms Coolant Maintenance

In todayโ€™s manufacturing environment, efficiency isnโ€™t just about cycle times; itโ€™s about reducing waste, extending fluid life, and minimizing downtime. One of the most overlooked areas of optimization is coolant maintenance. Thatโ€™s where the EXAIR Chip Trapper System comes in. Designed for simplicity and performance, the Chip Trapper offers a smarter way to remove chips, swarf, and sludge from contaminated liquidsโ€”without the headaches of traditional systems.

The Problem with Dirty Coolant

If youโ€™re running CNC machines, lathes, mills, or parts washers, you already know the pain:

  • Coolant becomes contaminated with chips and fines
  • Bacterial growth leads to foul odors
  • Pumps clog and maintenance increases.
  • Fluid replacement costs add up quickly.

In many shops, coolant is replaced far more often than necessaryโ€”simply because thereโ€™s no efficient way to clean it.

What Is the EXAIR Chip Trapper?

The EXAIR Chip Trapper System is a compressed air-powered vacuum system designed to separate solids from liquids quickly and efficiently.

It works by:

  1. Vacuuming contaminated coolant into a drum
  2. Capturing chips and debris in a reusable filter bag
  3. Returning clean liquid back to the machine

This simple but effective process allows you to reuse coolant instead of disposing of it.

See It in Action

Key Features That Set It Apart

1. No Moving Parts = No Downtime

Unlike electric pumps, the Chip Trapper uses compressed airโ€”meaning no motors to clog or wear out.

2. Reusable Filtration System

The filter bag captures solids while allowing clean coolant to pass through, reducing waste and operating costs.

3. Fast Operation

Systems can fill a 55-gallon drum in minutes, dramatically reducing cleanup time.

4. Complete, Ready-to-Use System

Available in 30, 55, or 110-gallon configurations, each unit comes with a drum and all necessary components.


Real-World Applications

The Chip Trapper is ideal for:

  • CNC machines
  • Lathes and mills
  • Parts washers
  • Sumps and tanks
  • Grinding operations

Itโ€™s especially valuable in shops where coolant contamination is frequent and costly.


ROI: Where It Pays Off

The biggest advantage of the Chip Trapper is cost savings. By extending coolant life, shops can:

  • Reduce fluid replacement costs
  • Minimize disposal fees
  • Cut maintenance time
  • Improve machine uptime

In some cases, coolant life can be extended several times over with regular use.

The EXAIR Chip Trapper System isnโ€™t just a cleanup toolโ€”itโ€™s a productivity upgrade. By turning dirty coolant into reusable fluid in minutes, it helps manufacturers cut costs, reduce waste, and keep machines running at peak performance.

If youโ€™re still dumping coolant instead of reclaiming it, it might be time to rethink your process. Give me a call and let’s talk about the application!

Jordanย Shouse
Application Engineer
E:ย JordanShouse@exair.com
O:ย (513)ย 671โ€‘3322
F:ย (513)ย 671โ€‘3363
A:ย 11510ย Goldcoastย Dr Cincinnati OH 45249
www.exair.com

Findย timeย onย myย calendarย byย schedulingย aย meetingย here.

Getting to Know the ATEX EasySwitch

EXAIR has a new addition to our Industrial Housekeeping product line, the ATEX EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vacuum System. This system will give all the convenience of our traditional EasySwitch, but suitable for use in ATEX rated zones. Below is a brief video highlighting the product’s grounding continuity.

If you have questions about the ATEX EasySwitch, or anything regarding EXAIR and our products, please do not hesitate to reach out.

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

Meet the Next Evolution in Industrial Cleanup: The EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac โ€” Now Available in ATEX

In fast-paced industrial environments, cleanup demands can change in seconds. One moment youโ€™re recovering spilled coolant, the next youโ€™re vacuuming metal chips or fine dust. Equipment that canโ€™t keep up slows productivity, increases risk, and drives maintenance costs. Thatโ€™s where the EXAIR EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac changes the game โ€” and now, with the introduction of the ATEX version, itโ€™s ready for even the most hazardous environments.

One Vacuum. Two Modes. Zero Downtime.

The EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac was engineered to eliminate one of the most common pain points in industrial housekeeping: switching between wet and dry cleanup.

Traditional vacuums often require time-consuming filter changes, tools, or even separate units. The EasySwitch simplifies this process with a patented, tool-free design that allows operators to transition from liquid recovery to dry debris removal in seconds.

A single latch releases the filter element for quick removal when moving to liquid mode โ€” then reinstalls just as easily for dry applications.

Powered by Air โ€” Not Electricity

Unlike electric shop vacs that rely on motors prone to wear, the EasySwitch operates entirely on compressed air.

This pneumatic design delivers several operational advantages:

  • No motors to clog or burn out
  • Maintenance-free operation
  • Safe for liquid recovery
  • Continuous duty capability
  • Reduced risk of electrical hazards

With no moving parts in the vacuum generator, reliability increases while maintenance requirements drop โ€” a major win for plant managers and maintenance teams alike.

Not that it’s particularly difficult to change the filter in my trusty shop vac, but this is indeed an “Easy Switch”.

Introducing the ATEX EasySwitch: Built for Explosive Atmospheres

For facilities operating in hazardous locations, standard equipment isnโ€™t enough. Thatโ€™s where the ATEX-rated EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac comes in.

ATEX certification refers to equipment approved for use in potentially explosive atmospheres โ€” environments where flammable gases, vapors, mists, or combustible dust may be present.

These include industries such as:

  • Chemical processing
  • Oil & gas
  • Paint & coatings
  • Food processing (combustible dust)
  • Pharmaceutical manufacturing

The ATEX EasySwitch is engineered to mitigate these risks through explosion-protected design, allowing safe pneumatic vacuum operation in classified hazardous areas.

Because the EasySwitch already operates without electricity, it provides a strong foundation for hazardous-location safety โ€” now enhanced with ATEX compliance for regulated environments.

The Bottom Line

The EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac redefines industrial cleanup with:

  • Instant wet/dry conversion
  • Tool-free filter changes
  • Pneumatic, maintenance-free operation
  • Powerful vacuum performance

And now, with the ATEX version, it extends those benefits into the most demanding and hazardous work environments.

Whether youโ€™re managing coolant recovery on the shop floor or maintaining compliance in explosive atmospheres, the EasySwitch platform delivers the flexibility, safety, and performance modern industry demands. If you have any questions, please reach out.

Jordan Shouse, CCASS

Application Engineer / Sales Operations Engineer

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