Selecting equipment
Choosing a Collector
How do I know which type of dust collector I need?
It comes down to your dominant constraint — dust loading, particle size, temperature, available space, and whether the material must return to process. The selection matrix compares six technologies against eleven constraints.
What’s the difference between a baghouse and a cartridge collector?
Baghouses handle heavier loading and higher temperatures. Cartridge collectors pack more media into a smaller footprint and suit finer, lighter dusts where space is short.
How do you size a collector for my process?
From measured data: airflow requirement at each pickup point, dust characterisation, temperature profile, and the air-to-cloth ratio appropriate to that dust. Not from a chart.
Can you work from our existing drawings and specifications?
Yes. We will also tell you if we think the specification is wrong, which is a conversation worth having before fabrication rather than after commissioning.
Combustible dust
Safety & Compliance
Is my dust combustible?
Only laboratory testing of your actual material answers this reliably. See our OSHA requirements guide.
Do I need a Dust Hazard Analysis?
NFPA 652 requires one, and OSHA cites NFPA as recognised practice. In enforcement terms, not having one is hard to defend.
What does NFPA compliance actually require?
Venting sized from your measured Kst, isolation to prevent propagation, ignition source control, and a documented design basis. See explosion protection.
Can explosion protection be retrofitted?
Sometimes. It depends on housing pressure rating, siting relative to safe vent paths, and duct geometry. A site assessment gives you a straight answer.
Operating
Running & Maintaining
How long should filter bags last?
One to five years depending on abrasion, temperature, chemical attack, and how well the collector is sized and cleaned. Short life is nearly always a symptom worth diagnosing.
What causes rising differential pressure?
Media blinding, inadequate pulse cleaning, compressed air problems, or an air-to-cloth ratio that was always marginal. Measurable, and usually fixable.
How often should the system be inspected?
Quarterly visual inspection and annual detailed review suits most industrial duty, more frequently on abrasive or combustible service.
Can you service equipment you didn’t supply?
Yes. Assessment, testing, maintenance, parts, and rebuilds on most manufacturers’ equipment.
Working with us
Projects & Delivery
What’s included in a turn-key project?
Engineering, fabrication, ductwork, fans, controls, installation supervision, commissioning, and operator training. See turn-key solutions.
Do you supply installation, or just equipment?
Both. Many customers use their own mechanical contractor with our field engineer supervising — see supervision services.
What’s the typical lead time?
It depends on size, complexity, and materials. Tell us your outage window and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
Do you have a representative in my area?
We have manufacturers’ representatives across North America. See find a rep.
Talk to Someone Who Knows Your Application
Our team has spent their careers on dust collection specifically. Tell us what you’re working on.