How can oil mist and welding fumes be effectively removed?

In the metal industry, machine shops, and machining facilities, clean breathing air and heating energy have taken on a central role. As production technology advances, the contaminants generated by machining processes have become increasingly challenging. Suomen Imurikeskus Oy designs and delivers customized solutions for the removal of oil mist, machining fumes, and welding smoke, always taking into account the health of employees and the requirements of the machinery.

Why are there more oil mist and gases than before?

The metal machining centers currently used in machine shops are extremely fast and efficient. To maximize production flow, the machines operate at high cutting speeds and with deep cutting depths. As a result, enormous amounts of coolant are fed to the cutting edge under high pressure. When the fluid strikes the rapidly rotating cutting tool and the hot workpiece, it vaporizes and breaks down into a fine aerosol, or oil mist. Similarly, welding and oil quenching generate harmful gases and fumes that must be effectively removed directly at their source.

Serious health risks lurk in poor waste disposal

If local exhaust ventilation and oil mist separators are inadequate or undersized, contaminants can spread into the breathing air and onto surfaces in the workspace.

• Oil mist: May severely irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract, causing coughing and headaches, as well as other adverse effects. Long-term exposure increases the risk of asthma-like symptoms and more serious health hazards, depending on the composition of the cutting fluid. In addition, oil that settles on surfaces makes floors slippery and unsafe.
• Welding fumes: Contain extremely small metal particles and toxic gases. For example, welding stainless steel produces chromium and nickel compounds that have been linked to a proven risk of cancer. Acute symptoms, such as metal fume fever and respiratory irritation, significantly impair workers’ alertness and well-being.

A real-life situation where the old extraction unit ran out of capacity partway through

At one of our customers’ machine shops, a situation arose in which significant amounts of oil mist were escaping into the breathing air, and the air in the shop was visibly contaminated. The problem stemmed from the fact that the company had invested in a brand-new, high-speed machining center but had connected it to an old exhaust system designed for the capacity of their previous machines. This combination was simply not sufficient to handle the large volume of cutting fluid produced by the modern machine.

With guidance from our experts, the airflow rates and separator capacity of the equipment were updated to meet current needs, and the work environment was restored to a clean and safe condition.

Does your machine shop's exhaust system need an upgrade?

If you’re concerned about the extraction capacity or oil mist control at your machine shop or production facility, designing the right solution always starts with a careful assessment of your needs. Our experts will help you select equipment that is precisely the right size and sufficiently efficient, while meeting the requirements of your new machinery.

 Learn more about Suomen Imurikeskus Oy’s solutions for oil mist, gas, and smoke extraction, and contact our experts so we can work together to solve your indoor air quality challenges.

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