camfil airmail 2013

NO. 1 2013

CAMFIL – Clean Air Solutions

Celebrating 50 years

THE USUAL SUSPECTS IN OUR AIR

NEW FILTER SCHOOL SERIES

A CEO WITH FILTER FEVER

Camfil’s founder, Gösta Larson.

2 AirMail No. 1 2013

CAMfil AirMAil is a world-wide publication for Camfil customers. Available in nine languages.

Published by: Camfil AB, Sveavägen 56E SE-111 34 STOCKHOlM, Sweden Tel +46 8 545 12 500. fax +46 8 24 96 50 E-mail: [email protected] www.camfil.com

Publisher: Alain Bérard Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing

Editor: liza Braaw Tel +46 8 545 12 513. fax +46 8 24 96 50 E-mail: [email protected]

Text: Camfil/Thorn Pr Sweden AB

Artwork: Kaigan AB

Want to know more? for further information please contact the Camfil sub-sidiary or agent closest to you, or phone, write or fax to Camfil head quarters.

Head Office Camfil AB, Sveavägen 56E, SE-111 34 STOCKHOlM, Sweden. Tel +46 8 545 12 500. fax +46 8 24 96 50

June

3-7 ASME Turbo Expo, San Antonio, TX, USA

4-6 PowerGen Europe, Vienna, Austria

11-14 Brazil Offshore, Macae, Brazil

17-21 Exponor, Antofagasta, Chile

27-28 World Trade Group Bio Pharma Summit, Boston, USA

July

10-12 interphex Japan, Tokyo

31-Aug. 2 BuildTechAsia 2013, Singapore

September

17-20 febrava – The international refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, Heating, and Air Treatment Show, Sao Paulo, Brazil

24-26 Elmia fastighet, Jönköping, Sweden

October

1-3 Nuklea, Orléans, france

10-11 interphex, San Juan, Puerto rico

29-31 China Pharm 2013, Shanghai, China

November

3-6 iSPE Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., USA

4-8 interclima, Paris, Porte de Versailles, france

12-14 PowerGen international, Orland, fl, USA

25-27 WDM Summit, 12th Annual World Drug Manufacturing Summit, Dusseldorf, Germany

28-29 A jour, Odense, Denmark

Editorial – AlA in BérArd

EXHIBITIONS 2013

If you are a regular reader of AirMail, you have already noticed that this issue has a new look and design. We hope you will find it attractive and more visually pleasing when reading the latest news about our company, products and customers.

Inside, we are making a landing in the particle world to describe the main air pollutants and their adverse health effects. We are also introducing some new content features, such as personal portraits and the Camfil Filter School.

For the portrait, you can read about our CEO, who will tell you about his 30 years of experience from the air filtration industry, the road that led him to Camfil and why our company is different. The School article, prepared by our clean air experts, will be a regular series on filters and filtration technology.

This year is also extra special for us, as highlighted by the photo of our founder on the cover. His name was Gösta Larson and he started Camfil five decades ago.

We are commemorating this 50th anniversary with a historical feature that describes how Camfil developed its operations and business to become the world’s leading air filtration company today.

On other pages you will find some of the usual informative articles about clean air solutions for valued customers, new product releases and general corporate news.

So welcome to our world! We certainly hope you will enjoy this issue. Don’t hesitate to contact your local Camfil representative or company if you would like more information.

Alain BérardSenior VP Sales & Marketing

Camfil Group

Welcome to our world

AirMail No. 1 2013 3

ProdUCt nEWS

Camfil Power Systems has an-nounced the development of the CamGT 3V-600. This new inlet air filter has an innovative proprietary design meeting all requirements of the latest gas turbines, diesel en-gines and compressors for increased performance and output, while maxi-mizing yield and minimizing operat-ing costs.

Today, turbine operators often specify an EPA class range of E10 to E12 (EN 1822), which prevents engine fouling but has other side effects. While the interior of the engine may be cleaner, the pressure drop can rise, reducing the turbine’s power output. Fuel consumption can also increase without boosting output.

CamGT 3V-600 delivers the same fil-tration with lower airflow restriction and without reducing turbine output. The design features a 600 mm-deep frame fitting almost 50 square metres

of media in one single cartridge. Fil-tration efficiency is higher than 99.5% at MPPS (Most Penetrating Particle Size). Dust holding capacity is the highest in the industry for this type of filter. A longer replacement cycle also reduces installation, removal and disposal costs significantly.

Tested design for high safetyAerodynamic grids have been added to the air exit sides of the CamGT 3V-600 to minimize pressure and pre-vent the media from bulging or burst-ing when there are extreme peaks in pressure drop. To ensure the highest safety factor, the filter has also been thoroughly tested in Camfil’s unique gas-turbine test rig by simulating dust-loaded, high-humidity condi-tions with a high concentration of salt.

The new double-sealed design – based on the same bonding technique

used in ULPA-class clean room filters – prevents air bypass, a common phe-nomenon in ordinary inlet air filters that lets salt, coarse and submicron particles bypass the filter. This can foul or wear down turbine interiors, resulting in unnecessary and expen-sive downtime.

The vertical pleats and open separa-tors also allow trapped water to drain freely, avoiding re-entrainment of dissolved impurities and keeping the pressure drop low in high-humidity conditions.

These features makes the CamGT 3V-600 the leading choice for land-based, coastal and offshore envi-ronments in the power generation industry and oil and gas sector, where air inlet filters are essential for the operation of gas turbines and other turbo machinery, and when engine availability is the main concern for operators.

Game-changing CamGT 3V-600 takes the lead in turbine filter performance


He started out in the Heating Venti-lation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry as an 18-year-old trainee accountant at Walker Air Condition-ing, an agency for AC equipment and filters in Dublin. The year was 1976. Today, he is President of Camfil AB and CEO of the Camfil Group. Alan O’Connell’s evolution from an ac-counting traineeship to top filter ex-ecutive has been a journey fuelled by a passionate interest in filtration and the industry.

“In my first job as trainee account-ant at Walker’s, I was just a ‘bean counter’ but I was privy to the com-pany’s figures and margins over an extended period and could see how their air filter sales were growing profitably and had potential. This was a promising and exciting busi-ness, I thought, so why didn’t Walker pay more attention to it? I eventually raised the issue with the managing director,” Alan O’Connell begins.

He got an unexpected reply: “Well, if you think you’re so darn clever about the air filtration business, then why don’t you do it yourself,” the MD roared at Alan O’Connell. He did – at the age of 24.

“Hey, I’m fiery Irish, so I quit and walked out the door.” Alan O’Connell explains. “I love challenges and I had acquired a burning passion for the business. I had a point to prove. Put all that fire together and I guess it will kindle a career,” he says.

Road to CamfilWith the contact network he had built up, Alan O’Connell became the Irish agent for a London-based firm and went into the market. His first encounter with Camfil was in 1983, when he met representatives from Camfil UK at a Birmingham exhibi-tion and secured the Camfil agency for the Republic of Ireland.

Or as he puts it, he was in the right place at the right time.

“Things went gangbusters. Ireland in the early 1980s was a hotbed of in-vestment, attracting U.S. pharmaceu-tical, electronics and food production companies that were eager to set up business there. Filters were in great demand for new plants. My agency

won new customers all the time. Call it the luck of the Irish, if you like – but my agency happened to be well posi-tioned for this boom and things went well – on paper, that is.”

Big sales for a small company typi-cally strain cash flow because it can take a long time to get paid by cus-tomers – up to nine months or a year for some. With his accountancy background, Alan O’Connell knew he could keep sales going if he had a better financial base for tackling his growing business. He found the perfect solution by striking a deal with Camfil’s founder, Gösta Larson, whom he had met in London. Gösta Larson decided to help him out.

He bet on the right horse. Alan O’Connell eventually expanded his business, starting Allied Filters & Pumps in Ireland with a partner.

“Allied became an attractive partner and Irish sales channel for Camfil, which bought a stake in us in 1985” Alan O’Connell says. “In 1993, they bought the remaining shares and we became Camfil Ireland Ltd, focusing only on filters. Now I was working directly for Camfil, the company that made it all happen.”

Onwards and upwardsHe kept climbing the ladder after that. In 1989, four years before Cam-fil bought the rest of Allied, Camfil made one of its larger acquisitions outside Sweden, purchasing Sofil-tra in France (Camfil S.A. today). At the time, Sofiltra had a 50-50 joint venture in the U.S. called Filtra and Alan O’Connell was assigned the task to help develop Filtra’s sales in the American market. He moved to New Jersey, spending 18 months there. This was his first step from subsidiary MD to a management assignment on corporate level in Camfil.

In 1992, he returned to Ireland, us-ing the Irish company as his base. In 1995-96, he became involved in building up Camfil UK’s operations. Camfil then acquired Automet in 1997 and the company reported to him in Irleand, adding to his managerial responsibilities.

Later in 1997, he officially joined Camfil Group Management, becom-

ALAN O’CONNELL

NATIONALITy: irish

AGE: 55

POSITION: President and CEO of Camfil since 2001.

FAMILy: His wife, Anne, and son, Simon.

RESIdENCE: lives in Dublin and Stockholm, holiday home in Portugal.

INTERESTS: Air filtration, the HVAC industry and formula 1 racing. “i love the whole pace of motor sports – the engines, the teams and the politics of racing. One-hundredth of a second makes the difference between winning and losing.”

ON CAMFIL: “it’s a great company, great fun and we have a great 50-year history. i’ve been part of it for three decades and whoever sits in my chair a half century from now will also have a guaranteed good time!”

A fiery Irishman with filter fever


ing VP Sales & Marketing. Over the next few years, the management team started to stake out Camfil’s global expansion.

A string of important acquisitions were subsequently made and Camfil started new companies and invested in new lines of business and plants. The acquisition of Farr in 2000 was a big leap forward, giving Camfil a big-ger footprint in North America.

In 2001, Alan O’Connell reached the top of the ladder, taking the position he holds today – President and CEO.

An evolving industryAlan O’Connell has been associated with the air filtration industry for 30 years. How has the industry evolved?

“There has been a huge consolida-tion of the industry. Standards and legislation have changed a lot and the small guys haven’t been able to make the investments to stay in the busi-ness,” says Alan O’Connell.

“The air filtration business has also evolved in step with technological progress and we have had to develop our filtration technology to meet changing needs in several industries, as manufacturing processes became more complex.”

Parallel with these developments, public awareness of air quality has also grown, Alan O’Connell notes.

“Then there is the leverage from legislation, with agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stipulating stricter and stricter air quality standards to clean up work-places and protect employees and the environment – dust collection sys-tems for mines is an example.”

Formula 1 companyGetting Alan O’Connell to talk about Camfil and air filtration is easy. It is harder to get him to comment on his hobbies or favourite pastime. One was finally revealed, however: he likes to follow motor racing sports like Formula 1 (F1) when he’s not working or thinking about business. In some respects, Camfil’s growth has been atF1 speed since he took over the wheelof the company 12 years ago. What’sthe driving been like?

“This is a fast-paced business. Sometimes it feels like we don’t have

enough hours in the day and we’re all highly motivated and competitive. Camfil is so much fun and I can’t explain how enjoyable it has been to constantly meet new challenges, strike new deals and move onto the next with such highly charged per-sonnel,” he says.

We asked him to describe Camfil’s “personality”:

“We have a strong entrepreneurial spirit. We have a high degree of in-tegrity. Honesty is the backbone of the company. Everything we develop, make and sell is ‘tried, tested and proved’. We deliver what we promise. We also have great personnel.”

Innovation is another important trait. “We invest heavily in R&D. We’re not afraid of failing either. If something doesn’t work, we move on and find another solution. If a com-pany is too sure of its success, not much will happen.”

Being a private, family-owned com-pany, Camfil also benefits from fast action, quick decision-making routes and long-term ownership stability. “There’s no big corporate machinery to deal with,” Alan O’Connell says.

“We can focus long-term – we’re not burdened by the trappings of ‘quar-terly capitalism’ like some listed com-panies, which tend to concentrate on short-term performance and returns instead.”

Most importantly, Camfil is cus-tomer-driven. “We constantly strive to make it easier for customers to deal with us. Refining our internal processes is part of this and we al-ways do what we say, how we say and when we say. We always try to raise the bar to give customers a better experience.”

Pole position for the futureReturning to our racing analogy, what’s it like being in the “pole posi-tion” – the most favourable position as industry leader?

“We’re fortunate to have this posi-tion but we have fought hard to win it,” he says. “As I noted, the air filtra-

tion industry has had to change with its customers and we will be facing many new and exciting challenges in the years to come. There’s no end to it. We can be sure that technologi-cal advances will be good for Camfil’s development. Things certainly won’t go backwards.”

Another trend is influencing the industry: people are better informed about the importance of good air quality and are demanding it more and more.

“I heard about a photographer in Hong Kong who takes pictures of people up on the Peak, where there is a spectacular view of the skyscrapers and harbour. For an extra charge, he touches up the picture to ‘paint out’ the pollution and create a blue sky. That’s a quick fix on a computer, but that’s not the case in reality.

“Governments have a tough, long-term job ahead of them to give citizens healthier, cleaner air. I also think that coming generations will be less and less tolerant of atmospheric pollution and poor indoor air qual-ity. Our air filtration solutions are making a difference today and they will continue to make valuable con-tributions in the future,” ends Alan O’Connell.

A fiery Irishman with filter feverPortrait – AlAn O ’COnnEll

“We have a strong entrepreneurial spirit. We have a high degree of integrity. Honesty is the backbone of the company. Everything we develop, make and sell is ‘tried, tested and proved’. We deliver what we promise. We also have great personnel.”


If you travel some 70 kilometers south of Stockholm along the main highway, you will eventually arrive at the exit to the coastal town of Trosa. A short drive inland will bring you to this idyllic place, which is cozily situ-ated by the Baltic Sea on the thresh-old of its own charming archipelago.

But Trosa is more than rustic charm – it is also the original base of the in-ternational Camfil Group, one of the most successful family-owned ex-port businesses to date in Swedish

corporate history. Here, a Swedish entrepreneur and businessman with a solid background in the ventilation products industry founded Camfil AB – Parent Company of the Camfil Group – in 1963.

His name was Gösta Larson. Gösta had worked his entire professional life in the Swedish heating, ventila-tion and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, initially for two large inter-national companies in the trade, Fläkt and Bahco, and later as a partner in a

consultancy firm called VVV. In 1956, VVV started a sister company, Luft-konditionering AB, which moved the business to Trosa in 1960.

Nuclear startTrosa was located near Studsvik, site of a nuclear research center that was started by the Swedish government to develop this pioneering power technology. Some of the best engi-neers in the country worked there and the new energy source required a new approach to safety, not least for the ventilation systems that would be used in planned Swedish nuclear facilities, and particularly for the type of high-efficiency air filters that were required for containment purposes in the event of an accident.

At Luftkonditionering, Gösta Lar-son engineered and specified entire ventilation systems and his experi-ence won him a project to design the HVAC system for the Studsvik R&D center. However, this project also re-quired special high-efficiency filters for containment. Gösta then con-tacted Cambridge Filter Corporation (CFC) in Syracuse, New York, a well-known U.S. manufacturer whose designs and products were derived from technology used in filters dur-ing World War II to remove radioac-tive particles from the exhaust air of various Atomic Energy Commission sites.

After discussions with CFC in the U.S., Gösta Larson returned to Swe-den and demonstrated CFC’s filters for the Studsvik center and convinced the nuclear power engineers of their safety and efficiency. He was then awarded the contract for the Studsvik

center’s ventilation and containment system.

As Luftkonditionering’s business grew, Gösta began to increasingly specify CFC filters for projects for pharmaceutical and electronics man-ufacturers, among other customers. This attracted CFC’s attention and he was informally appointed CFC’s agent for the Nordic region, and later for all of Europe.

This early collaboration with CFC led to the founding of Camfil – as a pure manufacturing company – in 1963 as a joint venture (50-50) be-tween CFC and Luftkonditionering. Luftkonditionering proceeded to specify and sell filters to demanding European companies with stringent air cleanliness requirements in the power and pharmaceutical industries and, at the time, the budding elec-tronics industry. A few years later, the Camfil venture built its first filter manufacturing facility in Trosa and set up headquarters. The first wholly owned manufacturing subsidiaries were started early on – in Germany and Switzerland.

Expansion 1972-1983Luftkonditionering initially func-tioned as CFC’s sales channel to Euro-pean customers and its overseas sales engine. The establishment of Camfil in 1963 enabled CFC to expand geo-graphically in the European market, with Luftkonditionering selling prod-ucts under license through agents in the rest of Europe. Luftkonditioner-ing was split up in 1972, with Gösta Larson selling his stake in Luftkondi-tionering AB and taking the shares in Camfil AB as payment. Gösta Larson

Celebrating 50 years in air filtrationThis year Camfil is proudly celebrating its 50th year of operation. It all started back in 1963, when our

founder entered into a joint venture with an American filter manufacturer and established Camfil AB.

In five decades, a small family-owned business, in a small Swedish town, grew to become the leading

air filter manufacturer in the world. Here’s our story.

A young Gösta larson

CaMFil’S 50th Ann iVErSArY


and CFC then became partners. Cam-fil was now well positioned to develop the European market as an independ-ent sales and production company representing CFC products.

Camfil expanded quickly, establish-ing sales subsidiaries in a number of European countries and focusing intensively on the filter replacement market. The strategy was to develop solid relations with customers by us-ing the type of sales argument that is still valid for Camfil products today: that it pays to invest in quality filters that have a low pressure drop, last longer, clean better, save more en-ergy and do not have to be changed as often. This adds up to a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and other economic benefits for customers.

During this initial expansion phase, Camfil also focused on building up its filtration expertise and expert sales force.

Complete independence in 1983In 1983, Gösta Larson’s family, togeth-er with the Markman family, submit-ted a formal bid for CFC’s remaining interest in Camfil and the company became a 100-percent-owned fam-ily business after 20 years of steady growth.

The rest of the 1980s was character-ized largely by stability and consoli-

dation of the business. In 1989, Gösta Larson stepped down as CEO of Cam-fil and his son, Jan Eric Larson, took over the reins. Jan Eric’s brother-in-law, Johan Markman, was Vice Presi-dent and CFO. These management changes marked the start of a new important era in Camfil’s history.

Camfil now launched an acquisi-tion strategy starting with the pur-chase of several filter companies, including Sofiltra (France) in 1989, Automet Filtration (U.K.) in 1997 and Industrifilter (Sweden) in 1998. The latter acquisition integrated a sig-nificant new growth business: inlet filters and other products for the gas turbine market.

While strategic resources were built up at the head office, Camfil strongly positioned itself in the European market through organic growth and additional acquisitions. Key deci-sions were made to standardize the product range, further automate production, establish production overseas and improve distribution channels and business systems.

Global strategy takes shapesBy 2000, Camfil was ready to become more global and decided to acquire Farr in the United States to become a substantial player in the North Amer-ican market. Farr was a venerable and

reputable U.S filter manufacturer with operations and manufacturing plants across the U.S. and even in Canada. Acquisitions of this size re-quire external financing and Camfil teamed up with Ratos, a Swedish pri-vate equity company, which became a minority stakeholder in Camfil after Farr was purchased.

New management functions were instituted at headquarters, as well as a well-structured strategy for global expansion and additional ac-quisitions. Camfil expanded into new territories up to 2011, including China, Australia, India and Brazil. Initiatives were carried out at the same time to streamline production and distribution. Camfil started new ultra-efficient filter production units in Europe and Asia and purchased a competitor in the Swedish market. Products were refined and improved. New proprietary production tech-niques were developed for economies of scale.

Strategic decisions were also made to focus on Camfil’s core business, resulting in the divestment of the Railroad business acquired from Farr and investments to further expand operations in Power Systems and Air Pollution Control, among other areas.

A family business againAt the end of 2011, the Larson and Markman families redeemed the mi-nority shares held by Ratos, which made its planned exit. Camfil was a 100-percent family-owned business again. A new generation of family members has joined the company to rejuvenate management and pave the way for the future.

Entrepreneurship, constant businessdevelopment, strong core values, skilled management, technological progress and a multi-cultural workforce have been key factors behind Camfil’s progress. Once a small business in a small town, the com-pany now has 23 manufacturing plants, six R&D centers, 3,500 employees and over 65 local sales offices in the Americas, Europe, South East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

CaMFil’S 50th Ann iVErSArY

An expanding enterprise: In the summer of 1968, Gösta Larson personally supervised the move of Luftkonditionering AB and Camfil AB to newly built premises in Trosa. Between 1958 and 1968, the two companies had to find new and bigger premises as many as six times to cope with growth. The original Trosa facility, steadily expanded and modernized over the years, is still being used by the Swedish subsidiary today and remains an important production and distribution center for the Nordic market.


With AirMail’s new Filter School series, you

can choose to return to the school bench

over the next few years to learn some

fundamentals of filtration, get some extra

learning or just bring yourself up-to-date.

Or if you are new to filtration, the articles

will give you a “crash course” on the

subject.

Camfil has run its own Filter School for

many years to educate employees and

customers about the exciting world of air

filtration technology and why we need

clean air solutions. The modules in the

series are very general in nature and

just teach the “ABCs”. The subjects are

described in rather popular terms for easy

understanding.

We would like to take the classroom to you,

right in this magazine, to generally explain

our business in eight separate modules.

Airborne Pollutants – Why We Need Clean AirAirborne pollutants are basically substances in out-door or indoor air that can be in the form of solid particles – like particulate matter, dust and soot – or in the form of gases or fumes. Other airborne pollutants are in liquid form, such as haze, fog or droplets. Nuclear events can also produce radioac-tive pollutants.

Pollutants can be natural or result from the influ-

ence of human beings. They can be classified as pri-mary or secondary. Primary pollutants are emitted from a process, or they are produced by a human activity, such as carbon monoxide from engine ex-haust, or sulphur dioxide from coal and petroleum combustion, or nitrogen oxides from high-temper-ature combustion. Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly but form when primary pollutants react or interact, like ground-level ozone.

Air pollutants cause health problems and much damage. In Europe alone, atmospheric pollution is estimated to cost hundreds of millions of euros per year in terms of eye and respiratory infections, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, and in terms of general environmental damage.

Atmospheric pollution in Europe is estimated to cause up to 500,000 premature deaths annually. On a worldwide basis, the figures are just as alarming: more than two million people die too early because of exposure to air pollution, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Sources of airborne particlesThere are two main sources of particulate matter in the air we breathe. Some occur naturally, originat-ing from sea spray, deserts, living vegetation, and forest and grassland fires. Some particles are im-portant, such as airborne pollen or the very fine dust particles on which water vapour condenses to form raindrops. Then we have anthropogenic particles (produced by human activities) originating from combustion processes and industrial emissions that contain undesired contaminants and damage the environment.

Vehicle traffic is the largest source, with diesel engines contributing considerably to particulate emissions. In 2012, the International Agency for

Research on Cancer (IARC), part of WHO, classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans; it was thought to be a “probable carcinogen” before.

Particulate matter and other airborne pollutants penetrate the indoor environment through open windows and doors and through ventilation sys-tems operating without effective filters. Inside, they mix with a cocktail of other indoor pollutants that may be present.

This is why our indoor air can actually be more seriously polluted – up to 50 times more than out-door pollution, involving greater health risks for the young, elderly and chronically ill, especially in urban environments and in areas with heavy vehicle traf-fic. Filters to clean indoor air – in commercial and public buildings and production plants, for example – is Camfil’s largest business.

Particle sizes and compositionThe composition and size of particulates will vary considerably. Sizes vary from a few nanometres (nm, one billionth of a metre) to hundredths of a micrometre (μm, one millionth of a metre).

Particles are usually divided into two size classes: fine particles with diameters smaller than 2.5 μm, and coarse particles with diameters larger than 2.5 μm. Coarse particles are mainly particles occurring naturally, while fine particles originate from hu-man activities. Then we have the particles that are extremely small, such as ultrafine particles that are less than a thousandth of a millimetre in size (0.1 μm). Nano particles have a size of less than 50 nm (sometimes also designated as 1-100 nm).

Measuring atmospheric particlesThe most common way to measure and describe atmospheric particles has been to measure their

CaMFil FiltEr SChool: MOdUlE 1

MOdULES THAT WILL BE PUBLISHEd IN AIRMAIL

Module 1: Airborne Pollutants – Why We Need Clean Air (featured in this issue)

Module 2: How Air filters function

Module 3: Test Methods and fundamental Concepts

Module 4: fans, Airflows and Energy Calculations

Module 5: Certification Systems

Module 6: Environmental and Energy Aspects

Module 7: Choosing the right filter and filter Class

Module 8: filter replacement and Service

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 µm

Cast dust

Concrete dustOil mist Sand

Hair ØTobacco smokeCarbon dust

Lung damaging dust PollenMitePlant sporesAsbestos

Virus Bacterium

Fly ashes

Micro filter

Coarse filterFine filter

Visible for the human eye

Source: ASHRAE Handbook

The particle size of some different airborne substances


weight and divide them into two fractions – PM10 (particulate mass smaller than 10 μm) and PM2.5 (par-ticulate mass smaller than 2.5 μm). These fractions provide limit values for air quality but are insuffi-cient for describing what the particles actually are because they do not indicate their attributes, actual size and/or chemistry, which are of the greatest im-portance for indicating their health effects. Another problem is that atmospheric dust contains a large number of small particles that have little or virtually no mass or volume. Measuring the particulate mass (weight) of these particles is misleading.

This is why it is becoming more common to count the number of particles as a complement to the par-ticulate mass (PM10, PM2.5). This requires a particle counter, an electronic instrument in which air pass-es through a laser beam. When the particles pass through the beam, the particle counter measures their reflection. The larger the particle, the larger the reflection, and the particle counter counts both the number of particles and measures their size.

Another way to measure the particle content is to use a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Parti-cles are collected on special specimen stubs for later analysis. The analysis provides detailed information about the number, size and shape of the particles. Individual particles can be analyzed for their com-position of various elements.

The SEM method identifies the airborne con-taminants, such as mould spores, dust and biologi-cal matter that can pose a health risk for people in homes and workplaces. The method has been typi-cally used to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools and hospitals. In a typical field measure-ment, particles are collected from at least two meas-uring points: from outdoor air and in a ventilation duct after an air filter. By comparing the results from the two sources, it is possible to measure the efficiency of the filter. Measurements can be made in several different places to localize the source of an IAQ problem.

Why we need clean airAir filters are necessary to provide a healthy indoor environment. Air filters protect people, processes and operations. They protect manufactured prod-ucts and building ventilation systems. Sometimes air filtration is also used for environmental protec-tion.

A number of airborne pollutants come from out-doors, while others are produced indoors. They can be generated by a manufacturing process or by some activity that we perform. Examples are heat, carbon monoxide and dust.

The main task of a ventilation system is to remove airborne pollutants to keep air clean on the premises.

Air (exhaust air) is removed from rooms and filtered before it passes through an air handling unit (AHU), which helps protect the AHU and its internal com-ponents. After the AHU, the air is exhausted outside the building.

Outdoor air is brought into the building and fil-tered before it passes through a heating/cooling coil and the AHU, and before it is supplied to rooms (supply air). Supply air can also be subjected to additional filtration.

An air purifier can be used to supplement the existing ventilation system and further improve IAQ. In manufacturing facilities, for example, air purifiers (mounted on walls or ceilings, or stand-alone) can reduce energy costs, boost production efficiency and create a healthier work environment containing less dust and fewer harmful particu-lates. In homes and schools, air purifiers reduce the number of airborne particulates and improve IAQ.

CaMFil FiltEr SChool: MOdUlE 1

WRAPPING IT ALL UP

in summary, airborne pollutants cause billions in damage, no matter which currency you calculate it in. They have negative effects on our health and well-being. A growing number of studies confirm that particulates have serious health impacts. reducing the number of airborne parti-culates reduces the health risks.

Atmospheric dust contains a very large number of fine particles that are invisible to the naked eye.

Air filters protect people, processes, manufac-tured goods, the building ventilation system and the outdoor environment.

For more information about filters and filtration technology, or Camfil’s products and operations, visit www.camfil.com, or download one of the many reports and brochures that you will find in our online file archive. A free app for browsing our file archive is also available in online stores for smartphones and tablets (both Android and Apple iOS).

Illustration of PM2.5 and PM10 particle size

Human hair 50-70 m(microns) in diameter

PM2.5Combustion particles, organic compounds, metals, etc.< 2.5 m (microns) in diameter

PM10Dust, pollen, mold, etc.< 10 m (microns) in diameter

Fine beach sand90 m (microns) in diameter

Source: EPA, 2010


There is no doubt about it: air pollutants harm health, the environ-

ment and property, and the link between short-term and long-term

exposure to air pollution – and how it negatively affects human

health – has been confirmed and strengthened in recent years.

The large number of scientific studies and medical reports bear

witness to this and their findings are reflected more and more

in tougher air quality guidelines and policies, clean air acts and

programmes, emission ceiling directives, and the recommenda-

tions of ventilation and air filtration experts.

The UsUal sUspecTs

PARTICULATE MATTER (PM)

Airborne particles 10 microme-tres (μm) in diameter or smaller can be inhaled. Coarse partic-les – found along roadways, for example – are larger than 2.5 μm but smaller than 10 μm in diame-ter, while fine particles in smoke and haze are 2.5 μm in diameter and smaller.

However, size matters here. The most harmful particles are much smaller than 2.5 μm.

The weight-based method to mea-sure particle concentrations, such as WHO’s air quality guideline of 10 μm/m3 for PM2.5, does not truly reflect the actual hazard because it does not take into account the smallest particulates, such as ultrafine particles and nano size particles, which can penetrate our lungs and blood more easily. To take into account all health effects, particle concen-trations need to be measured and counteracted as a mass, such as PM2.5, but also by number in order to include fine, ultrafine and nano-sized particles.

EFFECTS: PM can cause or aggravate cardiovascular and lung diseases and heart attacks. PM can also affect the central ner-vous and reproductive systems, cause cancer and lead to prema-ture death.

GROUNd-LEVEL OzONE (O3)

The saying for ozone is “good up high, bad nearby” because ozone acts as a protective layer above the earth but can be harm-ful to breathe at ground level. “Bad” ozone on ground level is created by chemical reactions of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in sun-light. industrial emissions, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapours and chemical solvents are major sources of NOx and VOC.

EFFECTS: Breathing ground-level ozone can trigger health problems, such as chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. This can decrease lung function, aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, leading to premature mortality. Children are at the greatest risk from exposure because their lungs are still developing.

NITROGEN dIOXIdE (NO2)

The two most common oxides of nitrogen, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO), are toxic gases, with NO2 being a highly reactive oxidant and corrosive. The major sources of NO2 emis-sions are combustion processes (heating, power generation, and engines in vehicles and ships). Gas stoves, vented applian-ces with defective installations, welding, and tobacco smoke are indoor sources.

EFFECTS: Symptoms of bron-chitis in asthmatic children increase in association with long-term exposure to NO2. reduced lung function growth is also linked to NO2 at concentrations cur-rently measured (or observed) in European and North American cities.

SULPHUR dIOXIdE (SO2)

This highly reactive gas typi-cally has its source in emissions from fossil fuel combustion at power plants and other industrial facilities.

EFFECTS: Short-term exposure to SO2 has adverse respiratory effects, such as constriction of the airways and increased asth-ma. it can also cause headaches and general discomfort. High concentrations of SO2 can lead to the formation of other sulphur oxides (SOx), which can react with other compounds to form small particles that penetrate deeply into the lungs and cause, or worsen, respiratory disease such as em physema and bronchitis, leading to increased hospital admissions and premature death.


Indoor air is more toxicOutdoor pollution infiltrates build-ings, and without proper ventilation and filtration, it can accumulate and react with other indoor air pollutants, such as a mixture of material and chemical emissions, making indoor air up to 50 times more polluted that outdoor air.

With people spending most of their lives indoors, the case for properly maintaining and operating air filters in ventilation systems is clear and needs to be increasingly addressed in building design in harmony with energy efficiency requirements.

To protect occupants, air has to be filtered and cleaned through high- efficiency filters with the least air resistance, which maintain their efficiency over a long lifetime and re-quire less frequent changes. These fil-ters can be particulate filters or com-bined particulate/molecular filters that also remove harmful gases and even fumes and VOC, such as Camfil’s “City” series for urban environments. With these filters, air handling units in buildings save energy because they need less energy to drive air through the filters. The end result is reduced energy consumption, a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for building owners, and higher indoor air qual-ity for health, comfort and increased productivity.

Camfil filters known for their high efficiency, minimum energy con-sumption and low TCO include the Hi-Flo™ XL series in Europe, the ener-gy-saving Hi-Flo™ ES and Durafil™ ES in North America, and the City series of combination filters, offered in both Europe and the U.S.

The most common air pollutants of concern to health are generally

described here. Particle pollution, nitrogen dioxide and ground-

level ozone are considered to represent the most widespread

threats.

CARBON MONOXIdE (CO)

This colourless, odourless gas is emitted from combustion pro-cesses and comes mostly from mobile sources in urban areas, such as vehicle exhaust.

EFFECTS: Carbon monoxide redu-ces the delivery of oxygen to the heart, brain and tissues. it can cause headaches, dizziness and fatigue. CO exposure can lead to heart disease and damage to the nervous system. At extremely high levels, CO causes death.

HEAVy METALS

This group of highly toxic metals includes arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel. Sources can be emissions from combustion plants, incinerators and industrial processes, for example.

EFFECTS: Arsenic is a carcino-gen. it can lead to damage in the blood, heart, liver and kidney. Cadmium is likely to be a carci-nogen and may cause damage to the reproductive and respira-tory systems. lead can affect almost every organ and system and impair mental development. Mercury causes damage similar to that caused by arsenic. Nickel and several nickel compounds are carcinogens. They cause allergic skin reactions and have adverse effects on the respiratory and immune systems.

BENzENE ANd PAH (BENzO(A)PyRENE)

Sources of benzene in the environment include gasoline, automobile exhaust fumes, and emissions from some factories. PAH, standing for polycyclic aro-matic hydrocarbons, represents a large number of compounds that may cause cancer. The level of benzo(a)pyrene is often used as an indicator of the total amount of PAH. The major indoor sources are wood-burning fireplaces and stoves, and tobacco smoking. in outdoor city air, the most important source is traffic-related, mainly exhaust from diesel vehicles.

EFFECTS: Both are carcinogenic. Benzene can cause leukemia and birth defects. it can affect the nervous system and normal blood production. Benzo(a)pyrene is associated with irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and bronchial tubes.


Simplifying clean room design with CREOCamfil’s Clean Room design & Energy Optimization (CREO) software is an advanced computer-based tool that simplifies the selection of air filters for clean spaces.

The software was originally devel-oped by marrying Camfil’s renowned LCC (Life Cycle Cost) and Clean software to optimize the selection of filters and housings for the sup-ply and exhaust side of clean rooms, focusing on minimizing energy costs.

Developed by a team of Camfil specialists in the U.S., Sweden and Malaysia – and originally launched in selected regions in 2011 – the new web-based software will be launched globally in the summer of 2013.

Key features of CREOSome CREO software features in-clude a unique up-to-date simulation engine based on clean room theory and design. Users can select and

simulate human particle generation depending on the garment type and activity level, air change rates, the percentage of recirculated or supply air, ventilation effectiveness calcu-lations, and the ability to simulate recovery time and steady-state condi-tions for different applications.

The theory, selection data and calcu-lations can be found in a CREO man-ual that contains the latest and his-toric clean room standards for the life science and microelectronic indus - tries, including comparisons between ASHRAE and EN 779 2002/2012 HVAC filter standards.

You can view a webinar, and download the CREO manual from the Life Science page, at www.camfil.com/Industries/Life-Science/ or request a demonstration by contacting your nearest Camfil office or representative.

Protecting patient health and comfort during rebuilding projectsCamfil’s CamCleaner™ line of mobile, stationary and standalone air puri-fiers is used to supplement existing ventilation systems in industry, offi-ces and homes. The product is stead-ily finding other application areas, most recently at Mid-Western Re-gional Hospital in Limerick, Ireland, where CamCleaner solved an indoor air quality (IAQ) issue while the hos-pital was being rebuilt.

When the refurbishment pro-gramme was carried out at Mid-Western, patients needed protection from the spores of the Aspergillus fungus. These particles, which can be present during rebuilding projects of this type, become airborne in outside air and can seriously affect the im-mune systems of patients if inhaled.

To protect patients, Mid-Western had to seal off all windows in order to cut off all possible routes for spores to penetrate wards. However, this prevented fresh air from entering the unventilated wards and affected the indoor comfort of patients.

The CamCleaner solutionFor rebuilding projects like this, the Health Service Executive (HSE) of Ireland usually recommended hos-pitals to install an air cleaner made

by one of Camfil’s competitors. This unit introduces cold outdoor air but causes drafts that require a high level of heating, increasing hospital oper-ating costs.

Camfil Ireland approached Mid-Western and presented a better solu-tion – a CamCleaner that introduced cold outdoor air but used a dual filtra-tion arrangement that allowed simul-taneous recycling of warm room air for a heat exchange effect. The Cam-Cleaner could also clean the air more efficiently and reduce the particle count for added patient protection.

Winning the contract, Camfil Ireland’s site team installed a total of 30 CamCleaner 800s in two stages that provided patients with higher in-door air quality while protecting their sensitive health during the refurbish-ment project.

Camfil Austria moves to new modern premisesPlease note that our Austrian sub-sidiary, Camfil Austria GmbH, has relocated in Vienna and is now oper-ating from new premises at Hermann-Mark-Gasse 7 next to the Central

European Hub from Stiegl. The new offices are conveniently located just a few minutes from the airport by one of the most important traffic junctions in the Austrian capital. Welcome to

Camfil Austria’s new modern ware-house, offices and state-of-the art meeting rooms in Vienna.

NEWS BriEFS


PO

INTS

CITy COUNTRy AUTHOR yEAR MUSIC

5

The first atom was split in this city in 1917 by the chemist and physicist Ernest Rutherford. This happened during a nuclear reaction between nitrogen and alpha particles.

A monarchy in Southeast Asia that consists of 13 states and three federal territories. Camfil merged two factories here in 2003 that specialize in HEPA filters.

This internationally known author was born in Salinas, California in 1902.

Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Vladimirovna, 26, becomes the first woman to fly in space. She orbits the Earth 48 times in a capsule. The flight lasts almost three days. Which year?

This group never officially an-nounced its end, although it is considered dissolved. Their last public performance was on the TV program “The Late, Late Breakfast Show” on December 11, 1982.

4

This city is considered to be the world’s first industrial city and was granted city status in 1853.

The flag of this country com-prises a field of 14 alternating red and white stripes along the fly and a blue canton bearing a cres-cent and a star with 14 points.

He was one of the first West-erners to visit many parts of the USSR after the Communist Rev-olution. He traveled there with the renowned photojournalist Robert Capa.

The British pop group the Beatles releases their debut al-bum “Please Please Me”. In 2012, the record was No. 39 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

This quartet was famous for its colorful and trend-setting cos-tumes. Their music videos were directed by Lasse Hallström, di-rector of “My Life as a Dog”, “The Cider House Rules” and “Chocolat”.

3

APC (Air Pollution Control), one of Camfil’s four business units, manufactures industrial dust collectors. In 2013, Camfil APC is opening up its first European factory in this city.

The currency of this country is the ringgit. The currency code is MYR.

In 1962, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his “realistic and imaginative writing, com-bining as it does sympathetic hu-mor and keen social perception.”

On a summer afternoon in the year we are looking for, Martin Luther King gives his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, in which he called for an end to racism in the United States.

In 1974, this group won the Eu-rovision Song Contest with its song “Waterloo”, which gave them the chance to tour Europe and perform on major television shows.

2

Many famous pop bands emerged from this European city, especially indie bands like The Smiths, Joy Division, Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.

This country has its origins in the Malay Kingdoms present in the area. The kingdoms became British protectorates in the 18th century but received their inde-pendence in 1957.

Camfil developed air filters for a “Mouse Drawer System” used for a live-animal science investiga-tion. Mice are also included in the title of one of the most famous lit-erary works by this author.

On November 22 of this year, Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated the 35th President of the United States in Dallas, Texas.

The musical “Mamma Mia”, was based on the songs of this mu-sic group. A film with the same name was released in 2008, star-ring Meryl Streep.

1

This city has two premier league football teams. One has won a record 20 league titles and jersey No. 7 is considered iconic for this team. David Beckham has worn the legendary No. 7 jersey.

The capital and the largest city in the country is Kuala Lumpur.

This American author is most famous for depicting the period during the depression-era in the U.S. in novels like “Grapes of Wrath”.

This is the year when Camfil was founded in Sweden as a joint venture with Cambridge Filter Corporation, an American com-pany. In 2013, Camfil will cele-brate its 50th anniversary.

The name of this group, which has the same country origin as Camfil, is an acronym of the first initials of the band members’ first names.

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Stockholm Sweden Alfred nobel The girl with the dragon tattoo Sour harring ABBA1963John SteinbeckMalaysiaManchester

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The Camfil Filter Management programme (CFM), offered by a number of Camfil companies around the world, allows customers to manage all their air filters to maintain an optimum level of air quality in their installations.

This has proven to be a winning concept in France, where Camfil has about 30 CFM agree-ments with customers operating in the automotive, life sciences and food & beverage industries. Other CFM-contracted customers include hospitals and facility management companies. CFM gives each a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for their air handling installations.

The first CFM agreement in France – a global man-agement contract for paint booth filtration – was signed in 2002 with the Dieppe (Normandy) plant of the famous French sports car manufacturer Alpine Renault.

A full range of services is provided to this facility, located about 200 km west of Paris. Here, Alpine Renault specializes in the manufacture of limited-edition cars and competition cars, including both sports and family vehicles. The Renault Clio Sport is also produced in its paint and assembly workshops. Between 5,000 and 6,000 cars are manufactured annually, including Formula Renault 2.0 racers.

At the Dieppe plant, Camfil experts help Alpine Renault select the right air filters for the application. Camfil ensures their safe and correct fitting, replac-es them at the right time, controls filter efficiency with air audits and tests, and even keeps track of the plant’s filter inventory. This cost-effective solution ensures that Alpine Renault’s filtration systems are performing to their full capability.

direct savings with CFMThe savings have been directly measurable in terms of a reduced number of filter changes and less labour and maintenance. For example, during the first three years of CFM alone, Alpine Renault cut costs by almost EUR 57,000 or 17%.

The single-source approach of CFM is a major factor behind these savings because Camfil has a helicopter view of all of filtration needs and services and can optimize Alpine Renault’s filter programme and costs.

Indirect savings have also been achieved: the sports car company has gained several hundred square metres of extra area to optimize its produc-tion line – space that was previously used to stock filters on site. The plant’s administration has also been simplified – now filter orders, invoicing and deliveries are all managed just once a year.

No filter worries“The Dieppe facility has been collaborating with Camfil for more than a decade and we have just signed a new three-year contract because CFM con-tinuously helps us save money. We don’t have to store filters on site anymore and we no longer have to think about our filter replacement schedule – all of this is done automatically by Camfil and every change-out is optimized because Camfil monitors the pressure drop regularly,” says Frédéric Lefebvre, Purchasing Manager at Alpine Renault in Dieppe.

He says that Camfil always provides the best air filtration solution for the application. “Thanks to the CFM concept, which covers the filtration sys-tems for our clean room, vacuum table, paint-sludge handling unit and tightness booth, filtration is now more efficient, enabling us to improve production quality. Since the filter contract is managed effi-ciently, we have more time to devote to our core business – the manufacture of niche vehicles, as-sembly of sports and racing cars, and sales of racing vehicles and spare parts,” ends Frédéric Lefebvre.

Alpine Renault races to savings with CFM

A GREEN APPROACH

CfM helps customers green their operations and achieve environmental goals. The service also has environmental benefits: CfM allows customers to cut their energy consumption and waste, which reduces their environmental impact and carbon footprint. CfM also guarantees customers the best treatment network for filter waste in compliance with local regulations, with guaranteed traceability.

in addition, customers are discovering the economic advantages of CfM: when ventilation systems are optimized with Camfil’s low-energy filters, they reduce the operating costs of their air handling systems considerably.

CfM services are tailored to the customer’s requirements. for more information, contact your nearest Camfil company or representative.


Over the next two years, Camfil India is sponsoring a Village Upliftment Programme (VUP) in partnership with Hand-in-Hand India (HiH), a charitable trust working to reduce poverty through job creation and income generation.

In the programme, Camfil India and HiH are working with the rural villages of Devarayaneri and Asoor, both located near Camfil India’s Trichy production plant. HiH aims to alleviate poverty in India through a unique approach to integrated community development. The organization has so far changed the lives of several thousand poor families in more than 135 villages.

The Camfil-sponsored HiH programme involves promoting self-help groups, creating jobs, eliminating child labour, improving villager health and education opportunities, establishing citizen centre enterprises, and a range of activities to build general awareness about the environment and renewable energy.

Part of CamfilCairingThe HiH India project is part of Camfil’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focus. Community efforts like the VUP help build CSR awareness among our employees. This is also being accomplished through Camfil’s internal “CamfilCairing” program to integrate sustainability and corporate citizenship in every aspect of Camfil’s business strategy. The name is built around Camfil, our environment, caring and air – key words that are associ-ated with Camfil.

CamfilCairing activities are conducted annually. Over the past five years, Camfil companies around the world have carried out measures to mitigate the environmental impact of Camfil’s products and operations, introduce green measures and care for people in our local markets through commu-nity initiatives like the VUP project in India.

An uplifting project in CSR

The logistics of clean warehouse airCarl Zeiss IMT has three production sites and more than 100 sales and service centres worldwide. The company is a technology leader for bridge-type and horizontal-arm measuring machines, and for instru-ments measuring form, geometry and surface.

Carl Zeiss IMT puts special emphasis on optimis-ing processes and early detection – and prompt cor-rection – of any problems. The same also holds true for the Schwarz Group, which handles a large part of the logistics activities and warehousing for Carl Zeiss IMT at its Aalen-Ebnat site in Germany. Here, two large warehouses are used for interim storage of components. Each has an area of approximately 4,000 square metres and a height of about nine square metres.

With stock moved on a daily basis, the stored Carl Zeiss IMT components soon gathered dust, creating a risk that problems would arise later during further processing. Healthier, cleaner indoor air was also

wanted in storage areas to safeguard the health and availability of staff.

Comparison testIt was paramount for Carl Zeiss IMT to find a safe, long-term air cleaning solution that could cope effec-tively with considerable amounts of dust in large areas while using only a small amount of energy.

The Carl Zeiss IMT and Schwarz logistics teams de-cided to visit Camfil Germany to inspect the operation of a prototype CamCleaner™ installation at Camfil’s warehouse and logistics centre in Ellwangen, in the south of Germany. The result was convincing, since the Zeiss team noticed that significantly less dust is produced when CamCleaner air purifiers are used.

The testing phase was next. For 24 hours, test pallets loaded with clean room discs were stored simultane-ously and in similar positions at Camfil’s warehouse in Ellwangen and the warehouse in Aalen-Ebnat.

Particles on the discs were counted afterwards. The result showed that dust accumulation in the Ellwan-gen facility, where CamCleaners were in operation, was three to four times lower than in the warehouse in Aalen-Ebnat, proving the reliable operation of the CamCleaner solution.

Choosing CamCleanerToday, the Aalen-Ebnat logistics centre is using Camfil CamCleaner 6000 units to purify the air in storage areas used for Carl Zeiss IMT products. Prior to installing the units, particle concentrations were measured. The optimum positions and equipment types for both warehouses were also defined. The units are placed for proper airflow in the warehouse but do not encumber activities.

The logistics staff is also very pleased with the increasingly dust-free storage area and improved working conditions. Furthermore, the highly effi-cient CamCleaner filtration system reduces the num-ber of required air changes, which in turn reduces maintenance and operating costs.

NEWS BriEFS

Gold-medal extraction for thermal sprayThermico is a German-based com-pany that develops, produces and dis-tributes robot-based coating centers. The company is a leader in the field of thermal spray systems, a specialized surface-coating technique.

Thermico is well-known for its plas-ma and High-Velocity Flame (HVOF) spraying systems that provide coat-ings for a wide range of products – from aircraft turbine blades to non-stick frying pans. The company’s hardware and software make ther-mal spraying a high-performance, cost-effective application in many systems.

When Thermico recently installed new state-of-the-art plasma and HVOF systems at its Dortmund plant, the equipment needed a new

extraction system to handle dust and fumes. Strict safety procedures had to be addressed, as thermal spray operations can be explosive and/or flammable.

Thermico turned to its long-term supplier, Camfil Air Pollution Con-trol (APC), for a solution meeting the requirements of this demanding application.

Energy-saving configurationCamfil APC addressed the issue by supplying an extraction system with an ATEX-compliant Farr Gold Se-ries™ GS40 dust collector. The system is fitted with explosion venting panels and 40 high-efficiency fire-retardant HemiPleat™ Gold Cone™ cartridges to handle thermal spray dust and fumes.

This configuration provides high- efficiency filtration in a special pack-age for all of Thermico’s thermal spray processes. A heat exchange sys-tem was also installed to save energy during the winter by passing warm air from the collector through the ex-changer, which heats up fresh supply air for the building, reducing heating costs and eliminating the need for additional heating during winter.

The GS40 collector provides a safe working environment complying with all legislative requirements, while saving on energy costs and ensuring higher sustainability. The success of this solution has led to orders for additional Camfil APC ex-traction systems for other Thermico projects.

Some things are harder to get through than others

View of the heat exchange system installed above the GS40.

ABSOLUTE™ – THE MOST RELIABLE HEPA FILTERSAbsolute is a HEPA filter with no compromises. Anything else would be unthinkable, since its job is to protect people. But it is also responsible for protecting sensitive processes, where dangerous particles cannot be permitted to enter the air.

The first Absolute filter was developed in our own research lab many years ago with the highest quality in mind. Now Camfil is launching a new generation. Keep track of our best Absolute filters ever at: www.camfil.com

ABSOLUTE™ C Series ABSOLUTE™ d Series ABSOLUTE™ V Series

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