Manufacturing Challenge
BYK Additives, a leading global supplier of additives, invited American Vacuum to bid on a project to upgrade the vacuum systems for a clay processing facility. The facility was in need of housekeeping vacuum systems for three different facilities on the campus. As a result, three different systems would be required. The project goal was to increase the efficiency of the operations, improve the cleanliness of the facility, and increase workers’ safety.
Clay is used as an additive by many different industries – as diverse as metal processing and food processing. As a result, the vacuum systems for BYK’s facilities need to be flexible enough to processing different mixtures of clay while providing superior cleaning to prevent cross-contamination and meet FDA, NFPA, and OSHA requirements. Efficient dust control is required from pre-production through bagging of the clay additives – as the clay is transported and moved through mixing and processing. In addition, dust accumulates throughout the plant and needs to be cleaned for sanitation and safety. Spills occur during transfer and processing. The requirements for the project included:
- 3 vacuum systems for 3 different facilities on the processing campus
- Ability to clean liquid slurry waste
- Managing dust control and clean up that meets different industry and regulatory standards, including NFPA & OSHA Requirements.
- Explosion venting and proper dust control systems to ensure safe handling of material
- Vacuum system integrated with building automation control systems
- Efficient dust vacuuming and spill control at loading and unloading stations, including railcar unloading and transfer stations within the facility
- Durable, high volume bulk material conveying
- Equipment must operate efficiently in a high volume, demanding 24/7 processing environment
- Meet latest OSHA requirements
Innovative custom-Designed Solution
American Vacuum’s solution combined innovative elements to handle BLK’s requirements to provide superior cleaning and dust control to prevent cross-contamination and meet FDA requirements when needed, and to handle liquid slurry waste. We designed 3 custom vacuum systems for each of the facilities on the campus. Our systems provided high quality dust control throughout the processing facility, high volume conveyor systems, and custom vacuum systems to manage dust and spills at material transfer points.
- Specialty equipment to handle liquid slurry waste generated during processing
- Central vacuum systems, providing multi-operator clean-up throughout the plant
- Integration with building automation control systems
- Stationary and portable vacuum systems for spill, overflow, and dust clean-up at loading/unloading stations and spot clean-ups
- Equipment meets FDA, OSHA, and NFPA requirements
We provided turnkey installation services, from bid through equipment commissioning. Training was provided to plant staff to ensure optimal operations.
Installation of American Vacuum’s equipment met the specific equipment requirements for the project. In addition, the plant reported increased cleanliness, improvements in efficiency, and decreased maintenance manhours throughout the plant.