Questions You Should Know about Large Industrial Vacuums

Particularly in industrial settings, to meet even the most demanding, large-scale facility needs, industrial vacuum cleaners must be heavy-duty, durable appliances which are frequently custom designed. Industrial vacuums come in different types to fill various demands such as the following:

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• Pick up spilled liquid
• Pick up solid particles
• Pick up both dry and wet materials
• Lift heavy or light loads

So, the question arises… Which industrial vacuum is appropriate for your needs? By examining the information below, you will be able to make a more informed decision.

Examine the Maximum Capacity

What kind of capacity will you require? For example, there are wet/dry vacuums that, where big jobs are common, have an up to 55-gallon capacity.

Designed to lift dry loads only, dry vacuums pick up things like dust, fine powders, and other dry particles and filter them.

Consider things like pumps, tilt tanks, and other features when selecting a wet vacuum. These are specially built to handle liquids with a waterproof canister design.

How Much Power Do You Need?

The power of a vacuum is designated by more than just horsepower. These factors matter as well:

Measuring a vacuum's static lift is more important than the CFM. High lift specifications will be held by vacuums designed for lifting heavy metals or liquids. The higher the lift, the lower the CFM.

CFM – cubic feet per minute – is how airflow speed is measured. Inside the vacuum, force draws and collects particles. The higher the airflow CFM, the more volume of particles you can expect to collect. This applies in situations where you're picking up dust particles, flour, fine particles, etc.

 Filtration Systems

Many of the questions asked by individuals seeking industrial vacuums revolve around filtration. In some cases, either a standard HEPA filter may be required – or possibly even a ULPA filter – to make sure contaminants do not flow through the air in a facility. Let's look at these filters:

UPLA filter – The letters here stand for ultra-low penetration air filter. By removing no less than 99.99% of particles, these are more efficient than the HEPA filter described below. They even pick up particles as small as 0.12 micrometers in diameter. With a speed that does not exceed 0.025 micrometers per second, the filtering must be slow to ensure high-quality cleaning. Where critical cleaning is positively required, these filters are usually used in settings such as clean room applications.

HEPA filter – Here the letters stand for high-efficiency particulate air filter. According to OSHA, particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter must be removed with a 99.97% efficiency. How small is that? It's a tiny dot. Smaller than a grain of cayenne pepper or coffee ground. Hazardous substances like dust mites are what HEPA filters were originally created to capture.

What Application Will the Vacuum Be Used In?

Match your specific application with the specifications and features of your industrial vacuum for the highest level of customer satisfaction and best product performance. Every detail counts from the largest piece of scrap to the smallest grain of powder. Your decision will become easier the more you educate yourself on the application in which the vacuum will be used. The type of material you're collecting can make a difference.

Ordinarily, the following can be safely handled by industrial vacuum cleaners:

• Sawdust
• Food particles
• Spices and flour
• Paint powder
• Dust and debris
• Floodwater
• Coolant
• Metal chips and scrap metal

Are Special Features Required?

Here are some special features and questions that you may want to consider when choosing an industrial vacuum:

• Are ULPA and HEPA filters available/needed?
• Are you in need of a “clean room” vacuum system?
• Do you require an explosion and static proof model?
• For easier disposal, would you make use of tilts and special pumps?
• Got hard-to-reach spaces? For easier access, consider quick connect wands.
• For less stress on wrists and hands – for hands-free carrying – consider portable backpack vacuums.
• For CNC machining industries, coolant filtering is available.

By closely examining all of the above-stated information, you should be able to gain a good understanding of what's required of the industrial vacuum for your needs and setting.

Do you need an industrial vacuum cleaner but don’t know how to choose the right one? To understand which one to purchase, it’s important to keep the following points in mind:

• The material that needs to be vacuumed (dust, liquids, fumes, etc.)
• The application of the vacuum cleaner
• The location of use

The evaluation of the material you want to vacuum is crucial: depending on the particle size and weight of the dust, it will be necessary to use a vacuum cleaner with specific performance, filtration, and collection specifications.

The application of the vacuum cleaner is a crucial element. If you need a vacuum cleaner to be installed on a production line, it will be necessary to go for a machine capable of 24/7 continuous operation, while for occasional or weekly cleaning, a WD vacuum cleaner with single-phase motors, effective and handy at the same time, will suffice.

The work environment is another important variable to consider. For example, if you work in a high-risk explosion environment (ATEX zones), you will need to opt for a device certified for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

If you want a comprehensive and intuitive guide on the questions to ask yourself to choose the perfect industrial vacuum cleaner for your needs, download our dedicated infographic.

We have designed specific ranges of products to meet all common vacuum needs within manufacturing and industrial environments. For the most specific ones, Depureco is always available to create customized solutions.

Read on for an overview of the products.

Table of contents (click to go to paragraph):

• Single phase wet&dry industrial vacuums
• Heavy duty three-phase industrial vacuums
• Dust collectors
• Sump vacuum cleaners for oil and swarf
• Atex certified industrial vacuums
• Welding fumes extractors
• Central vacuum systems
• Pneumatic Industrial vacuum cleaner
• Industrial vacuums for scraps, packaging and OEM

Single phase wet&dry industrial vacuums

Single-phase industrial vacuum cleaners are versatile tools designed for cleaning and vacuuming dust, various kinds of debris and liquids in industrial environments.

Features of single-phase industrial vacuum cleaners

A single-phase industrial vacuum cleaner is compact, ergonomic and maneuverable, with a cart with pivoting wheels that makes it easy to move. It equips single-phase electric motors, which are extremely reliable and can provide up to 1,300 hours of vacuum cleaner life before needing to be replaced.

They are able to inhale:

• Dust: even the finest, in complete safety. In fact, on single-phase vacuum cleaners, which already equip high-efficiency polyester filters (1micron), it is possible to mount an additional filter (HEPA 13 or HEPA 14), which ensures that the air that is fed back into the work environment is always clean, even in the case of very fine dust. If you need to avoid any operator contact with dust, then we recommend that you choose a vacuum cleaner with an Endless Bag collection system. The Endless Bag is a continuous bag system, which is placed instead of the classic container: the collection of the sucked material takes place directly inside it, and the bag is sealed and cut according to the volume reached.
• Liquids: industrial vacuum cleaners for liquids are equipped with a container that allows them to collect in large quantities. They are suitable for cleaning areas with slip hazards, thus protecting the safety of workers. The suctioned liquid is discharged by gravity through a manual ball valve at the bottom of the container, but it is also possible to install a pump to empty the container simultaneously with the suction.

Uses and applications

Single-phase vacuum cleaners are ideal machines for non-continuous use in cleaning and maintenance tasks. They are therefore suitable for:

• Small and medium-sized businesses;
• Laboratories;
• Workshops;
• Light industrial applications.

The choice of the specific model depends on the needs of the end user and the characteristics of the materials or substances to be vacuumed.

Heavy duty three-phase industrial vacuums

Three-phase industrial vacuum cleaners are used in various industries to remove dust, liquids and other material residues from production and processing processes. They can provide high suction performances both on production lines and for general cleaning tasks in working environments.

Features

They are powerful industrial vacuum cleaners, equipped with a side channel blower (up to 25kW power), which allows them to work continuously 24/7, without the need for maintenance. They can handle large volumes of air and collect big amounts of material without difficulty. On three-phase models, a safety valve, which is automatically activated under certain pressure conditions, helps to protect the motor and reduces the risk of damage or malfunction.

Uses and applications

Three-phase industrial vacuum cleaners are designed to vacuum a wide range of materials and substances that can be found in different industrial settings.

They can handle both solid and liquid materials, depending on the configuration and technical features of the vacuum cleaner. They can be configured with specific filters or accessories.

They can be useful for different industries, especially in those settings where a machine capable of working 24/7 without interruption and ensuring maximum reliability is needed.

Grazie alla loro potenza e versatilità sono ottime soluzioni sia per applicazioni di pulizia generale che di aspirazione diretta su linee di produzione, sia come macchina di processo o per semplice manutenzione o anche come unità aspirante di un impianto centralizzato di aspirazione.

In three-phase vacuum cleaners, it is possible to customize:

• Building materials (e.g., stainless steel or painted)
• Filter media
• Filter cleaning systems
• Additional features and specifications, such as remote control of the unit.

Overall, three-phase industrial vacuum cleaners offer significant flexibility in terms of configuration, accessories, filters and materials, allowing precise customization to fit the specific needs of different industrial settings.

Dust collectors

Industrial dust collectors are products capable of generating very high air flow rates. They are easily transportable from one work area to another and are designed to vacuum fine suspended dust and fumes.

Features

Industrial fine-dust collectors are equipped with very high surface area M-category star or cartridge filters (filtration efficiency down to 1 micron) and an optional Hepa filter. Depureco industrial dust collectors are equipped with a manual or automatic filter cleaning system for applications with large amounts of fine dust.

Industrial dust collectors are typically connected to a suction arm or suction hoods located in the production process. The suction is generated by an electric fan, which ensures a high airflow while maintaining a good level of vacuum. The use of a high-efficiency polyester filter ensures maximum air cleanliness.

There are two types of dust collectors:

• Wheeled dust collectors: provide maximum air flow for localized and adjustable suction. They are easily transported from one work area to another and are equipped with adjustable suction arms.
• High-powered chip extractors for on-board machinery application: they are designed to quickly remove chips of different sizes during the machining process. They are integrated directly into the production process, keeping the work environment clean and safe.

Uses and applications

The range of industrial dust collectors can vacuum:

• Fine and difficult suspended dust;
• Aluminum chips;
• Oil fumes and vapors.

They are ideal for use with a suction arm or connected directly to the production line: in this way, filtration of pollutants is done directly at the source, ensuring maximum safety for operators and maximum production efficiency.

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The main objective of industrial dust collectors is to reduce the emission of particulate matter into the air, protecting the health of workers and limiting the environmental impact of industrial activities.

Sump vacuum cleaners for oil and swarf

Sump vacuum cleaners for oil and swarf are designed to remove oil, chips and other solid or liquid residues produced during metal machining processes such as turning, milling or grinding. These residues can be harmful to workers’ health, contaminate the work environment, and impair machine efficiency.

Features

Industrial oil and chip vacuums, in order to do their job effectively, should have some specific features, including:

• High suction power to collect even heavy and viscous materials;
• Dual filtration system to separate chips from oil and allow for proper disposal or reuse. The oil and chips are separated using a metal basket and a PPL filter with a 150 μ efficiency;
• Ease of maintenance: filters and tanks should be easy to clean regularly. Some models are equipped with an immersion pump that allows for continuous aspiration and reinsertion of properly filtered oil, making the process convenient and efficient.

The exact specifications then depend on the needs of each individual application and the amount and type of chips and oil to be handled. Sump vacuums for oil and chips come in different sizes: some are more compact and portable, while larger ones are designed to handle large amounts of swarf and oil.

Uses and applications

Industrial oil and chip vacuums remove machining waste in the metal industry, providing a safer and cleaner working environment.

Their use brings significant benefits to the company and operators, including:

• Recovery and reuse of filtered and cleaned cutting oils;
• Savings on oil purchase and chip disposal costs;
• Reduced maintenance time and downtime.

In addition, reducing residue accumulation reduces potential malfunctions and damage to machinery and improves its performance.

Some of these vacuum cleaners are designed to remove mists or oil emulsions that can form in this type of working environment. They have a special filtering system, capable of capturing solid particles and oils in the air, preventing their dispersion.

Oil and chip vacuum cleaners are widely used in various industries involving metal machining:

• Automotive industry: where large amounts of metal shavings and cooling oil are generated during the production of components such as engines, transmissions, chassis, and stamped parts.
• Aviation industry: Metalworking is essential in the production of aircraft components, such as turbine parts, structural components and engine parts.
• Mechanical and engineering industry: companies involved in the production of machinery, industrial equipment and mechanical tools use industrial oil and chip vacuums to handle machining residues.
• Steel industry: oil and chip vacuums are used to remove metal shavings generated during the processing of materials such as steel.
• Metal processing industry: companies specializing in metal processing, such as milling, turning, drilling, and grinding, use industrial oil and chip vacuum cleaners to manage processing waste. This includes both small workshops and large companies specializing in the production of metal components.

Therefore, these are powerful and durable machines that can work in demanding conditions of working environment and mechanical stress.

Atex-certified industrial vacuums

Atex-certified industrial vacuum cleaners are built to be used in hazardous areas. Due to their compliance with Atex directives, they guarantee:

• High levels of safety even in environments that may contain explosive materials such as gases, vapors, mists, combustible liquids or dusts;
• The prevention of accidents;
• The proper handling of combustible industrial waste.

Features

Atex vacuum cleaners have specific characteristics, making them suitable for use in environments where the health and safety of operators needs to be better protected.

• Certification: these vacuum cleaners are certified to be in compliance with the specific ATEX directives for the prevention of explosions in working environments. The European Union, in the context of the risk due to the presence of potentially explosive atmospheres, has adopted two health and safety directives, known as ATEX /34/EU and ATEX 99/92/EC.
• Construction with appropriate materials: are made of non-flammable and antistatic materials, which reduce the risk of spark generation or electrostatic discharge that could trigger an explosion. Parts subject to wear and tear or contact with flammable dust are made of durable materials that are free of ignition sources.
• Atex-certified side channel blowers: designed to minimize the risk of ignition sources in the vicinity of explosive atmospheres.
• All components of each Atex vacuum cleaner are grounded.

These vacuum cleaners can be equipped with additional safety systems and special specifications depending on the environment in which they are designed to work. In fact, there are three Atex zones, differentiated for gases (0, 1 and 2) and dust (20, 21 and 22)

Special certification for zone 20 inside the vacuum cleaner also certifies safety even once hazardous dust has been collected insi

Uses and applications

ATEX industrial vacuum cleaners are needed in a variety of work settings where flammable substances or combustible dusts are present. Here are some examples of areas where the use of ATEX vacuum cleaners is particularly relevant:

• Chemical Industry: In environments where flammable chemicals, such as solvents, paints, resins or combustible gases, are handled and processed, ATEX vacuum cleaners are essential to prevent the risk of explosion when vacuuming volatile substances or cleaning equipment.
• Oil and gas sector: In both refineries and drilling rigs, the use of ATEX vacuum cleaners to extract combustible gases, vapors and dusts is essential to reduce the risk of fire or explosion in areas where flammable hydrocarbons are present.
• Ovens and the food industry: the oven exhaust fan in a bakery, pastry shop, or food manufacturing company involving high-temperature cooking or processing processes must be Atex. Flour dust suspended in the air is surrounded by oxygen and is easily ignited if exposed to a flame or spark.
• Woodworking: The woodworking industry can generate combustible wood dust during cutting, milling or sanding operations. Industrial vacuum cleaners for joinery must therefore be ATEX certified to reduce the risk of explosion or fire.
• Metal industry: In metalworking processes, such as welding or grinding, flammable metal dust or vapors may be present.
• Pharmaceutical industry: In the pharmaceutical industry, there are often flammable chemicals or powders used in the production of drugs.

Welding fumes extractors

Welding fume extractors are designed to capture and remove harmful fumes and vapors generated during the welding process that may contain hazardous substances, thereby improving air quality.

Features

Welding fume extractors are differentiated into:

• Fumes extractors for TIG welders: they are wheeled devices with a suction arm, equipped with a rotating bell and air flow regulator. Due to their mobile and easy-to-use nature, these fume extractors ensure efficient removal of welding fumes, improving the quality of air breathed by workers and increasing workplace safety. Suction is generated by an electric fan to ensure a large air flow rate.
• Fumes extractor for MIG MAG welding torch: it is a specific range of vacuum cleaners designed for direct suction of fumes from the tip of the welding flashlight. They are equipped with remote control: a sensor is installed on one side of the aspirator to control the vacuum directly from the welding machine. Through passing the electric cable through the clip, when the operator starts welding, the unit starts suctioning.

Both types of vacuum cleaners should have some basic features to ensure an effective removal of harmful fumes and the safety of operators:

• Capture capability: they should be able to effectively capture fumes directly from the welding source and thus be equipped with suction systems or fume hoods that collect polluting fumes before they spread into the work environment.
• Filtration efficiency: they should be equipped with high-quality filters that can remove harmful particles in welding fumes and ensure that the air released into the environment is clean.
• Portability and flexibility: in some welding situations, it may be necessary to move the vacuum cleaner from one workstation to another. Therefore, it is useful for the vacuum cleaner to be lightweight, compact, and equipped with wheels or handles for easy transportation.

Uses and applications

The welding fume extractor is a widely used tool in various contexts and industries where welding operations take place, such as:

• Manufacturing industry;
• Mechanical workshops;
• Research and development laboratories;
• Artisan workshops.

In general, these vacuum cleaners can be useful in any context where there is a need to remove and treat harmful fumes generated during the welding process in order to ensure the health and safety of workers and maintain a clean work environment.

Central vacuum systems

Central vacuum systems offer several advantages over localized solutions. First, they provide more powerful and continuous suction due to the presence of a dedicated ducting system. In addition, noise and clutter in the work area are reduced, thus improving ergonomics and worker productivity.

Features

A central vacuum system consists of several elements:

• An extraction unit;
• A network of pipes and ducts;
• A filtration system;
• Safety devices.

The vacuum unit is the heart of the system and is designed to draw air from the work area and convey it to the pipeline network.

The ductwork network consists of pipes and accessories, designed to convey the intake air from the intake unit to the filtration unit. The function of the filtration system is to remove polluting particles from the intake air, taking advantage of specific filters that can separate even the smallest particles.

Once the vacuumed material is collected, it will be possible to manage it easily and safely for operators.

Uses and applications

Centralized vacuum systems are very versatile. Some areas of application are:

• Welding and metalworking;
• Processing of plastics and fiberglass materials;
• Production of building materials;
• Mills;
• Chemical manufacturing;
• Food industry;
• Wood and paper industry.

There is no limit to what a centralized system can be used for, as long as it is designed, constructed and installed with the location in which it is to be operated in mind. A centralized vacuum system for woodworking, for example, has to be Atex-certified given the flammable nature of the material being vacuumed. These systems can vary in size, depending on the size of the area to be vacuumed, the type of pollutants present and the power required for vacuuming.

To ensure maximum efficiency and safety, it is important to rely on experienced professionals who can design and install a customized central vacuum system that complies with current regulations.

Pneumatic industrial vacuum cleaners

Pneumatic industrial vacuums are devices used to remove dust, debris, and other pollutants from the air using compressed air as a power source. These vacuums are particularly useful in environments:

• Where electrical power is not available;
• Where the use of an electric motor could pose an explosion hazard.

Due to their portability and ability to adapt to different power sources, compressed air vacuums are a flexible and versatile solution for air cleaning in many industrial and commercial settings.

Features

Pneumatic industrial vacuums can be divided into 2 categories:

• Pneumatic vacuum cleaners for dust and liquids;
• Industrial Pneumatic vacuum cleaners for liquids.

Compact, transportable, and high filtration efficiency-they are an efficient solution for shipyards, sandblasting dust extraction, and various industries with large availability of compressed air.

In this type of industrial vacuum cleaners, the suction unit consists of powerful Venturi units, a device used to generate a vacuum or differential pressure using the principle of moving fluid.

Air vacuums are also equipped with advanced filtration systems to ensure superior air cleanliness. High-efficiency filters allow dust and solids to be safely vacuumed, returning only filtered air to the work environment.

Uses and applications

Because they are powered by compressed air, these vacuum cleaners are suitable for use in settings where there may be a shortage of electricity, such as:

• Maritime navigation: on ships, especially during long journeys or in remote areas;
• Oil and gas industry: in offshore installations or oil and gas extraction sites, where it can be challenging to provide stable and reliable electrical power;
• Construction in remote locations: during the construction of infrastructure in remote or isolated areas where a reliable electrical grid may not be available.

They are preferred over conventional electric-powered vacuum cleaners even in those industries where compressed air is widely used, such as in the automotive industry.

In terms of benefits and advantages, compressed-air vacuum cleaners are particularly versatile, and their use can be more economical in some contexts than electric-powered vacuum cleaners.

Industrial vacuum cleaners for scrap, packaging and OEM

These are compact industrial vacuum cleaners for direct suction applications on automatic process machines. Different types of dust, including toxic and hazardous dust, can be vacuumed, ensuring the highest level of hygiene and no contamination of environments and products.

Features

Each solution is easily integrated on machines due to its modular construction.

These vacuum cleaners are all equipped with side channel blower and built-in safety valve. They have a high level of filtration:

• High-efficiency filter class M;
• Possibility of installing Hepa H14 filters.

The range of industrial vacuum cleaners for the food and pharmaceutical industries can be equipped with tangential inlet to protect the filter from even the finest and most volatile dust.

These vacuum cleaners can be divided into:

• Ergonomic and sanitizable vacuum cleaners: easy to clean and sanitize, with very high filtering efficiency, ideal for vacuuming in environments that require the highest standards of hygiene.
• Vacuum cleaners for scrap and waste: designed to vacuum up scraps and cuttings from production processes (such as packaging or textiles), they have a large collection capacity.
• Ultra-compact modular vacuum cleaners: can be adapted and installed on the machine, even in narrow or hard-to-reach places. Ideal for vacuuming small amounts of material directly along the production process.

Uses

With the installation of this type of on-board vacuum cleaner, dust, waste and residues are immediately eliminated, thus reducing the possibility of production interruption caused by production machinery malfunctions and jams.

They especially use:

• Food industry: Vacuum cleaners are used for the removal of paper and cardboard waste generated during the product packaging process. By capturing and removing such waste, they keep the work area clean and reduce the risk of machine clogging or product contamination.
• Textile industry: On-machine vacuum cleaners are used in the textile industry for the removal of fabric scraps generated during cutting, sewing, and packaging operations.
• Pharmaceutical industry: Direct-application vacuum cleaners are used for the removal of raw material waste (powders, granules, non-conforming tablets), cleaning of production lines, adherence to specific hygiene standards, and control of dust and fine particles. Vacuum cleaners used in the pharmaceutical industry must adhere to strict cleanliness, hygiene, and safety standards. These devices are essential for keeping work environments clean, improving the efficiency of production processes, and ensuring the quality of the final products.

In conclusion, choosing an industrial vacuum cleaner correctly is critical to ensuring a safe, clean and efficient working environment.

By carefully considering your specific needs, evaluating the technical features and taking into account the advantages and benefits offered by each model, you can make the best choice for your industrial applications.

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