Purex International is offering the 1500i Digital Fume Extractor as an ideal solution for larger, professional laser engravers.

The 1500i allows owners to operate their laser in previously ‘off limits’ locations such as schools, malls, offices, exhibition booths and other areas where pumping laser fumes outside the building is not practical, is not allowed or is too expensive to install.

The 1500i filters both dust and fumes from the laser and returns cleaned air to the room and also has innovative safety features such as gas and particle alarms, flow controlled extraction and a graphic display.

For more information visit www.purex.co.uk

Recently we have made a number of changes within our organisation to improve our focus and responsiveness to you the customer. I would like to take this opportunity to share these changes with you.

As you are aware, just over 18 months ago, we purchased the leading manufacturer of extraction equipment for the wide format printing market, PAT Technology Systems Inc of Canada, to strengthen our existing position in North America and to complement our extensive range of extractors for the electronics and laser processing industries.

We are now announcing that we have consolidated both of our North American businesses into a new sales and distribution centre in Fort Worth, Texas. This location was carefully selected to be closer to the majority of our key customers thus reducing delivery costs and lead-times. Our US and Canadian sales team have stayed with the business, Jackie Smith has relocated to Fort Worth to run the day to day support activity, Scott and Jacques will continue to provide field based support to our customers.

Purex are a world leading manufacturer of high performance, advanced fume extraction systems for the electronics, laser and printing industries. Purex systems are available worldwide from a dedicated distributor and OEM network.

Due to the importance of this change, Bob Pitchford our Sales and Marketing Director, has been seconded to Fort Worth to head up the North American business. The manufacturing of the PAT product range has been transferred from Montreal to our main factory in Rotherham, England.

In the UK, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania & Bulgaria we have appointed eTEK Europe Ltd. as our master distributor and service & support supplier for the electronics markets. The cornerstone of eTEK’s business is service and our customers can be assured that the high level of support they previously received from Purex will be continued by eTEK.

To ensure continuity of service our Senior Sales Manager, David Quinn along with our Service Engineering Team of Henk, Andy and Martin have transferred to eTEK.

In Europe we have strengthened our Business Development Team with the addition of Jonathan Long. Jonathan has a proven track record in the sale of technical products into the electronic and CIJ market place. He is also well versed in the training and management of distributors and will be visiting our sales partners across Europe over the coming months. Jonathan joins the team that includes his fellow Business Development Manager, Geoff Williams and our Director of Business Development, Tony Lockwood. This group has over 40 years of experience of providing technical solutions for manufacturing challenges.

Product development continues apace at our headquarters in the UK and I am delighted to announce that our Product Development Director, Chau Vo, previously of PAT Technology, will be re-locating to the UK from 1st March 2010 to head the development team.

As you can see, we have made many positive changes over the past few months and we have more innovative developments to come in 2010. If you have any question then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Priestley

Managing Director - Purex

Etek Europe Ltd have been appointed by Purex International Ltd to help support their sales activity within the UK electronics manufacturing market place for their range of Fume Extraction Systems.

Etek are also the exclusive distributor for Purex in Romania, Bulgaria and the Ukraine. Etek have a comprehensive range of premium products which they sell, service and support throughout the UK.

"Etek supply electronic assembly equipment including AOI, hand and machine soldering products, defluxing systems, dispensing equipment, reflow ovens and screen printers. The addition of the Purex range will enable them to achieve their aim of providing their customers with the total factory solution”, says Bob Pitchford Director of Sales & Marketing at Purex.

Mike Nelson, Managing Director of Etek Europe adds, “We are delighted to add another market leader to our portfolio of products and offer our customers the best solution for their fume extraction problems.”

Purex International Ltd

For more than two decades, Purex International Ltd have manufactured fume extraction systems with theaim of improving product quality, reducing process costs and protecting the health of personnel and the environment.

Aligning ourselves with the strongest Distributor in the UK is the perfect move for Purex. Etek have a well deserved reputation for excellent sales, support and service. They have a very long history of superb customer relationships with all of the major players in the electronics industry at both the end user and OEM level.  Etek are very well set up, with a very informative web site and their impending move to a new building with a well equipped demo facility in Ayrshire will further improve their business. In short, Etek are the ideal partner to take the sales of our machines forward”, said Paul Priestley. Managing Director of Purex International Ltd

Purex fume extraction systems are designed in conjunction with some of the worlds largest Contract Electronics Manufactures and Equipment Providers to protect people when soldering by hand or machine.

Etek Europe Ltd

Etek Europe is now firmly established as a quality provider of products and services to the European Electronics Industry and are very proud of relationships with both customers and suppliers. With a team of factory-trained experienced engineers, Etek is able to provide unrivalled service and support that focuses on quick response times, clear communication and complete customer care.

Etek Europe Ltd
Etek House, Knoweside, South Ayrshire, KA19 8JS.
Tel: +44 (0)1292 500645  Fax: +44 (0)1292 500443  Email: sales@etek-europe.com

Purex International Ltd (Head Office)
Purex House, Farfield Park, Manvers, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S63 5DB.
Tel: ++44 (0)1709 763000  Fax: ++44 (0)1709 763001  Email: purex@purexltd.co.uk

Purex International Ltd, manufacturer of fume extraction systems for the printing, laser and electronics industries has set up a team of people to research and promote green policies within the company with the aim of reducing waste, reducing energy usage and increasing recycling rates.

A team of five people volunteered to meet regularly to discuss, implement and promote as many green projects within the company as possible. Leanne Kilcommons – Green Team Leader explains, “When you first start with a project like this you think you will come up with five or six things to change in the company but once you start thinking green, lots of ideas pop up out of the woodwork.”

“Some of the more obvious things to do are recycle metals, glass, cans, plastics, paper, cardboard, fax/copier and printer cartridges, but what about recycling things like stamps? These can be cut out and donated to charities which can use them to raise funds”

“We also looked at ways to reduce the amount of materials we used such as paper. We did this by doing simple things such as not printing customer orders received by email and only printing one invoice for the customer with Purex only keeping electronic copies. Now all orders are now confirmed by e-mail wherever possible to reduce printing and faxing. We also scan all paperwork to generate an electronic version for use between departments.”

It is vitally important that all employees are on board, otherwise many of the ideas from the Green Team would not work.

Some more ideas the team came up with at Purex include:
• Use cups and glasses instead of disposable polystyrene cups.
• Install water displacement devices in all toilet cisterns to save water.
• Cycle rack installed in car park to encourage employees to cycle to work.
• Recycling old computer equipment.
• Making a charitable donation rather than buy Christmas cards.
• Projectors used in meetings for document sharing rather than printing a copy each.
• Reusing paperclips rather than staples.
• Waste paper re-used prior to shredding to reduce new paper use
• Wooden pallets are recycled along with scrap metal.
• Lighting (tubes) now collected when used for recycling.
• Multiple kettles replaced by an efficient water boiler.
• Paper crumpling machine now used instead of plastic packaging.
• Water temperature reduced on hot taps and auto off taps installed to reduce energy usage.
• Recycle station added to shop floor for mixed recyclate (including plastic bottles, yoghurt cartons and glass etc.)

Getting all of the companies employees interested and involved is crucial to success as Leanne explains, “It is vitally important that all employees are on board, otherwise many of the ideas from the Green Team would not work. For example, if only three or four people in the company remember to recycle and the other fifty do not, then the overall impact of the initiative will be minor.

Purex Green Team - Andy Easy, Leanne Kilcommons, Sam Mawhood, Chris Wray, Tony Atkin

“Fortunately, everyone at Purex has grasped the concept with both hands and the results have been amazing. Everyone has put green messages on their emails to remind other colleagues every time they receive an email not to print it off, we have put notices on light switches and electrical equipment to ‘turn off when not in use’, and we even now ask delivery and collection vans to turn engines off when in our car park.”

The recycling theme has also spread beyond the company as members of staff who do not have local recycling collections at their homes can bring in their plastics, cans, etc. and put them in the Purex recycling skips.

Setting up a green initiative is a relatively simple process but it does require people to give some time and effort to achieve results. Not only have Purex found that they can increase recycling rates and charity donations but they have also reduced consumable costs across the company and reduced energy usage so the net result is a cost saving.

Leanne sums up her thoughts, “What surprised me was how easy lots of these changes have been to make. All of our team members have been very supportive and have come up with their own ideas such as removing personal waste baskets to make sure everyone recycles as much as possible. I would think most companies can carry out this exercise and if it results in cost savings then that is even better for the environment and the bottom line.”

For more information please visit http://www.purex.co.uk

Although most printing businesses would rather invest money in inks, media, and new printing equipment to generate revenue, we must not forget that it is the printing professionals who expertly operate the equipment everyday who really make the difference.

A comfortable and safe work environment can go a long way towards maintaining good working relations and promoting higher productivity within the production facility. The printing industry relies on printing professionals to deliver the highest quality product consistently and often to tight schedules. They must therefore be focused, enthusiastic, healthy and energetic to deliver their best consistently, day in and day out.

A major concern among these professionals is air quality. With the many types of inks available today, from solvent inks, mild solvent inks to UV curable inks and variations in between, it is important to know that virtually all of them can degrade the quality of air in the work environment.

Some people may feel and experience the following issues when exposed to a work environment with poor air quality:
• Fatigue and lethargy
• Irritated eyes, throat, and skin
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Distractions due to complaints launched by staff or neighboring businesses.

It is common sense to believe that all of the issues listed above can reduce productivity. In some cases, absenteeism can grind a business to a halt when the key operator does not feel well enough or motivated enough to come to work.

The notion that poor air quality affects productivity is supported by many studies, the most significant of which were those administered by a building controls company (Honeywell Technologies). The survey found that approximately one in five of the 600 worker respondents often or sometimes had difficulty doing their work because of office air quality.  According to Woods (1989),"we could increase the productivity of 20% of our work force" simply by improving the air quality of most offices.

Another study by Evans and Jacobs (1981) states that even the perception that air pollution exists can create stress among employees who believe that it poses threat to their health. In addition to affecting workers' health and productivity, contaminants in building air can harm workers' morale (LaBar 1992). The stress may be particularly intense among people who believe they have no control over the pollution.

 “Solution to the Pollution”

Purex, (working closely with major printer manufacturers), has developed a range of fume extraction systems called Captivair™, which have been designed specifically to improve air quality in wide-format printing applications without the need to pump VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into the environment via an external exhaust. 

Captivair™ MINI	Captivair MAX™

The heart of the Captivair system consists of a filter system loaded with high efficiency chemical adsorbents to capture and lock in the VOCs from the contaminated air. It also has a unique feature that will alert the user when the filter is actually saturated and no longer effective. This takes all the guess-work out of filter replacement schedules which can mean that filters are either changed far too early (wasted money) or far too late (fumes pollute the room).

More good news for the environment is that the Captivair system is designed to be energy efficient, only drawing approximately 200 watts in comparison to other systems, which can draw more than five times more energy to do the same job.

Purex believes that it is important to protect our environment, inside and out, through better design and technology. Each Captivair system is tailored to a specific make and model of printer. All hoses and fittings are included in the system to connect the extractor directly to the printer’s key polluting exhaust points.

Capture the fumes at the source.

Captivair significantly improves air quality in the production environment by efficiently removing VOCs generated by the printing process. Filtered air is re-circulated back into the room, creating a much more pleasant work environment, conducive to higher productivity.

Losses in productivity due to air quality issues caused by the printing process can be rectified or avoided by simply implementing specialized fume extraction solutions such as Captivair. It is a worthwhile and responsible action that will benefit the business and the people who make it possible.

For more information please contact Purex International Ltd on 01709 763000 or visit purex.co.uk.

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Evans, G.W. and Jacobs, S.V. (1981). Air pollution and human behavior. Journal of Social Issues, vol 37, no. 1, pp. 95-125. Honeywell Techanalysis. (1985). Indoor air quality: A national survey of office worker attitudes. Minneapolis, MN.
LaBar, G. (1992). Why employees are sick of Indoor air, Occupational Hazards, August, pp. 32-36.
Woods, J. E. (1989), Cost Avoidance and Productivity in Owning and Operating Buildings. In: Cone, J. E. and Hodgson, M. J., eds., Occupational Medicine, State of the Art Reviews, vol. 4, no, 4, October-December. Problem Buildings: Building-Associated Illness and the Sick Building Syndrome. Hanley & Belfus Philadelphia, pp.753-770.

 

Wendy Like Project Manager BGSU - "We have experience with two laser systems. The Trotec Speedy 300/w self contained ventilation unit and the Universal Laser M- 300."

"BGSU recently purchased a ventilation system from Purex for the Universal M-300 engraver. The Purex self contained unit is exceptional, clean, portable, and quiet. I would highly recommend the Universal Laser engraving systems and the Purex ventilation systems."

"Both companies provide superb technical support and their products are built to outlast students!"

Wendy Like
Project Manager
C.A.T. Lab Bowling Green State University

Paul Priestley will be taking up the reigns of Managing Director at Purex.

Having held previous MD roles Paul joins Purex with an excellent range of UK and international sales experience at both the global accounts and distributor sales level in automotive and SME industries.

For more information visit www.purexltd.co.uk or call 01709 763000.

The use of lasers in the packaging industry, predominantly to code products with use by dates and batch codes is growing. The laser burns away a layer of material in order to produce a mark. The length and depth of the mark determines how much dust and fume is released into the atmosphere. At first glance this may not seem to be a problem, but in a plant coding millions of products per week, the volume of dust and fume generated is considerable.

The importance of an effective fume extraction and purification system is often underestimated. Many engineers understand that extraction is necessary from a health and safety point of view, as laser marking, welding and cutting, produce hazardous dust and fume that cause long-term illnesses like cancer and occupational asthma. The production benefits brought about by using a quality fume extraction system are invaluable in a production environment.

Of particular interest is the new LASEREX range of machines from Purex, which have been specifically designed to combat the harsh conditions caused by marking or coding plastics. For example, PVC and PET release both particles and fumes when marked with a laser. The particles are sticky and can block normal filters within minutes. The fumes released are toxic, and include Hydrogen Chloride and Benzene. HCl fumes are a particular problem as they combine with moisture in the air to form Hydrochloric Acid that attacks and corrodes machinery. These particular plastics are used in a wide variety of products from wrappers and bottles to tablet blister packs.

The LASEREX systems employ a multi-stage filtration system to combat hazardous materials and to increase filter life. Air is drawn in from the process using specifically designed extraction nozzles to prevent particles and fume building up around the laser head and the product. Particle build up can deflect the laser beam, resulting in blurred or distorted marks and therefore increased reject rates. Cool particles can come into contact with the laser, potentially cracking the lens, which would obviously incur replacement costs and lengthy production downtime. Another problem (particularly in the food and pharmaceutical industries) is that particles generated by marking can settle onto the product, again leading to increased reject rates.

A recent Purex installation at a bottling plant in France has seen production rates triple overnight. Phil Mullins, MD of PUREX International explains, "This particular customer was marking soft drink bottles at the rate of 20,000 per hour. The line could potentially operate at 70,000 per hour, but due to insufficient extraction, the product throughput had to be limited as the debris build up at high speeds was causing the mark to blur and become unreadable. We surveyed the process and installed a Purex system that allowed the company to run at full production, with obvious results in the lines profitability."

Once contaminated air is drawn from the process into a Purex machine, it is passed through a patented "concertina prefilter". The life of a filter is directly proportional to the area of filter media it contains, therefore the unique design of the concertina offers around 10 times the life of a normal filter. If you consider that (due to health and safety legislation) the production line has to be stopped in order to change a filter, the resultant savings in terms of downtime are tremendous.

In the case of PVC marking, Hydrochloric Acid has been proven to corrode packaging machinery, rendering it inoperable. Purex systems prevent this happening in a unique way. The acid is removed from the atmosphere and condenses inside the prefilter to form a liquid that is absorbed safely in a specially positioned chemical pad. The Purex machine itself is manufactured from chemically resistant materials to prevent corrosion.

Once through the pre-filter the contaminated air is passed through a main filter. This HEPA/Chemical filter removes the remaining particles and gases, allowing purified air to be returned to the workplace. In this way heating and air conditioning costs are reduced and factory emission regulations are avoided, as air is not vented outside the factory. Purex machines use a microprocessor controlled flow control system that slowly increases power to the pump as a filter becomes blocked. This maintains a uniform flow rate and the pump is not always running at 100%, wasting electricity. With the recent moves to curb power usage, i.e. the climate change levy, this feature is particularly beneficial.

Phil comments, "The main reason for fume extraction is to protect personnel and equipment from hazardous particles and fume. Our products do that, but also offer much more in terms of production benefits. These machines are the result of years of research and trials with our laser customers, who came to us seeking solutions to particular problems."

"Purex machines offer the longest period between filter changes on the market and unlike vent to atmosphere systems, Purex machines are portable so they can be moved with a production line if required. Every factory manager wants increased and problem free production, without unnecessary downtime and rejects. Unfortunately, buying other, low quality fume extraction can prove costly in the long term, so we offer free site surveys and demonstrations to allow our customers to see the benefits of Purex systems."

Purex International will be launching their new Laserex-Alpha™ fume extraction system at the Laser 2003 exhibition in Munich in June.

The Laser 2003 - World of Photonics exhibition is held at Messe München from the 23-26th of June 2003. Laser 2003 is staged in several halls with Purex exhibiting in hall B2 - Production Engineering on stand number B2.679. On show will be several units including:-

• Laserex 1500i - for heavy duty laser applications
• Laserex 400i - for general laser processing
• Laserex-Alpha - economic solution for laser applications
• Fume-Cube - for light usage

The Laserex-Alpha is an economic unit which is designed to purify hazardous fumes that are generated during the laser processing of a variety of materials such as paper, card, glass and plastics. It incorporates a patented concertina pre-filter which can last up to 10 times longer than a standard pad filter. This means that the downtime required to change filters and the cost of filters is greatly reduced.

The main HEPA/Chemical filter removes the remaining particles and gas from the airstream and a powerful high pressure pump is employed in the Alpha which can overcome resistance in the filter (as it becomes blocked) for much longer to further extend filter life.

For heavier laser processes such as etching, cutting, and fast marking lines the Laserex 400i and 1500i units will also be on show.

The dangers that rosin-based fluxes pose to the health and safety of employees who are working in soldering applications have been well documented. The combination of solder and flux produce a complex fume (colophony) that can cause serious medical conditions such as occupational asthma.

Fume extraction equipment for hand soldering, wave soldering machines and reflow ovens is often seen as a necessary capital expenditure on health and safety grounds. What is not always considered is that a good fume extraction system can actually increase uptime and reduce reject rates.

Good fume extraction equipment can prevent the build up of contaminants within, for example, a reflow oven. These contaminants reduce the efficiency of the oven, can be deposited on the boards and worse still, force production to cease while the oven is cleaned. When you consider the cost of shutting a reflow oven down for half a shift or more to clean it (potentially 1000's €), the relatively low cost of a quality fume extraction system to prevent this becomes very appealing.

Another common practice in PCB production is to link the oven to an external venting system, yet this practice has its own problems. Atmospheric conditions can create drafts in the system that can make the temperature profile of the oven unstable; the result being, increased rejects and higher rework costs. To avoid this an extraction system that purifies process air and recirculates it back into the workplace should be used along with a closed loop flow control system to maintain the correct extraction rate throughout the life of the filter.

The Purex Powerflow™ fume extraction system incorporates a whole host of features that actively increase uptime. For example, a unique and patented concertina pre-filter is available that can last 10 times longer than a normal pre-filter which, not only means that consumable costs for the unit are low but also that the line can operate for much longer between filter changes.

Purex International has incorporated a unique vacuum control capability in its Purex Powerflow fume extraction systems. By automatically keeping air flow constant, accurate temperature profiles can be maintained in reflow ovens and wave soldering machines. The risk of thermal shock is therefore minimised, which improves product quality and reduces reject rates.

Using conventional fume extraction systems, the air flow will vary as filters fill up with solder particles through their life and become partially blocked. With the Purex system, Purex International's microprocessor-controlled IPCP (Intelligent Purification Control Program) monitors the vacuum in the system and automatically varies the pump's motor speed to keep a constant vacuum. The air flow rate is therefore kept constant, to within a variance of less than 1% throughout the filter life.

Due to the cooling effect of the extraction air flow, conventional extraction systems require frequent and time-consuming manual adjustments to the heating elements of the reflow oven or wave solder machine. These adjustments, with the resultant potential for operator error, are necessary to maintain the required temperature profile. The Purex system avoids this problem completely, with automatic control taking the place of operator modifications.

With a new, unblocked filter, the IPCP's motor control capability allows the motor to be run at a lower speed. This saves power, leading to lower running costs, and extended motor life. The flexibility of the IPCP also means that the motor can be driven at higher speeds when required, enabling higher pressure extraction to overcome the increased resistance as a filter blocks.

The Purex system also solves the problem of fume build-up in the reflow oven caused by extraction speeds dropping. The fume build-up leaves debris on the products, the heating elements and the inside surface of the oven. This debris makes the oven less efficient, and leads to higher product reject rates. It also requires maintenance to remove it, leading to down-time and lost production.

The IPCP allows the Purex extraction system to be easily linked to the reflow oven control system via an industry-standard RS423 interface. The Purex system can then automatically switch off the oven if extraction is insufficient, and the oven can automatically switch on the Purex system at start-up. An optional feature is the Intelligent Purification Network (IPN) which allows remote diagnostics and adjustment of a group of extraction systems from an office PC.

For further information please call Purex International on 00 44 (0)1709 763000.

• Lead Oxide
• Aliphatic Aldehydes
• Carbon Monoxide
• Hydrochloric Acid
• VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
• Isocyanates
• Abietic Acid
• Isopropyl Alcohol
• Pimaric Acid

Young engineers, children and teachers (who will be exposed to fumes over longer periods of time) can develop many serious medical complaints such as sionasal cancer, bronchitis and especially asthma, a condition already prevalent in children.

It is for this reason that Caerphilly County Borough Council carried out a survey of its comprehensive schools to assess the hazards found therein. To help them perform this task, the council employed the talents of PUREX International, specialists in fume extraction and the manufacturers of the Purex range of extraction and purification equipment. Mike Workman, Principal Commercial & Trading Standards Officer for Caerphilly says "If there is specialist advice available regarding such important matters, it is incumbent on local authorities to make the best use of it"

The outcome of the survey was the fitting of Purex Extraction machines in the CDT Departments of various schools in the region, including St Cenydds, St Martins and Pontllanfraith Comprehensive schools. David Eynon, the Headteacher at St Cenydds asserts "Everyone is entitled to expect safe working practices, and that includes children. It is the responsibility of schools and colleges to educate students in ways of working safely".

The Purex systems are of robust design and operate on several different levels to ensure the working environment is protected. As soon as air is drawn into a Purex machine, its direction of flow is diverted through 90 degrees. This throws larger particles out of the air stream and into a collection tray, thus preventing them from entering the filter and prematurely reducing its life span. Relatively inexpensive pre-filters are used to collect larger particles over 2 microns and prevent them from prematurely blocking the HEPA filters.

The filters used in Purex machines have been designed to offer many unique features: -

• Maximum airflow - Used in conjunction with high-pressure pumps the maximum possible airflow is achieved, which extends filter life.
• Guaranteed unburstable - By employing a unique reinforcing membrane that is 100x stronger than the filter media itself.
• Pleat design - This unique design gives around twice the filter media area than in other filters, thus extending life span.
• Pre-tested - All filters are tested and certified with serial numbers and unique holograms.
• Maximum filtration - In independent tests, these filters remove 99.997% of all particles above 0.3 microns and 95% down to 0.01 micron.
• Precise and rigid construction - Ensures that no fumes are allowed to pass around the filter and escape into the workplace.

The equipment was installed with the minimum of disruption to the schools involved, and is small enough to fit under benches or desks. Pupils can easily plug in and out of the system by means of On/Off Taps and there is a minimum of day-to-day maintenance required, as filters can be changed in seconds. Full annual service and certification to the COSHH Regulations is available from PUREX International along with a 24 hour response guarantee for maintenance calls.

Phil Mullins - Managing Director of PUREX International comments, "Our company has invested heavily in research and development of these systems for schools. They are manufactured using the highest quality materials and very stringent production and testing procedures as we are, at the end of the day, protecting future generations from developing serious medical conditions."

PUREX International has produced useful free information datasheets for local authorities and schools. A video is also available which demonstrates the hazards due to fumes, explains the legal obligations of schools and colleges, and discusses the best solutions to these problems. Useful literature from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can also be obtained.]]> http://www.purex.co.uk/news/22

Laser Generated Airborne Contaminants (LGACs) is a term used for dust and smoke, which is generated when a material is processed with a laser. Jon Young - Marketing Manager for Purex International, manufacturers of purification equipment explains why and how LGACS should be dealt with…

Lasers are increasingly used to mark, etch, cut and weld a wide variety of materials. They offer an alternative to traditional machining methods and coupled with the right fume extraction system, deliver excellent results in terms of precision, machining time, flexibility and performance. To comply with COSHH regulations, fume extraction is required for most laser operations in order to protect personnel and to enhance the performance of the laser system itself. It is therefore of paramount importance that the correct fume extraction system is specified.

What happens when laser processing?
When a laser beam is applied to the surface of a material, several conditions can occur:
1. High temperatures that are generated cause the air near to the contact point to expand, generally back in the direction of the lens.
2. The laser beam causes incineration, vaporisation, melting and softening of the material depending upon the distance from the contact point. Rapidly expanding gases pick up and carry the removable particles and droplets at relatively high velocities away from the product material. (fig.1)

3. The contaminants released consist of a wide variety of gases, in some cases noxious i.e. benzene, phosgene. They also consist of the products of complete and partial combustion, including possible oxides of the base material. Stainless steel, for example, releases Chromium and Nickel, which can cause chronic toxicological effects such as liver/kidney disease and cancer.

Production problems caused by LGACs
During laser processing, gases, vapours and particulate matter are released as airborne contaminants, which in most cases, can be classified as harmful if inhaled. Airborne particles also cause problems for the laser if they are allowed to be deposited on the lens, or remain in the processing area, causing beam attenuation and therefore reject rates to increase (fig.2)

Deposition of particulates within the laser enclosure can result in contamination of the product and also the need for regular cleaning of associated operating equipment. The only practical method of overcoming the above problems is to remove these airborne contaminants as quickly and completely as possible by the provision of a fume extraction and purification system.

The range of materials that are processed with lasers is wide and varied so any purification system must be flexible enough to cope with different volumes and types of contaminants.

Purification system design
Airflow rates of between 80 and 5000 m3/hr will ensure the correct level of extraction from most laser processes. The correct rate required depends on many interacting factors and should therefore only be specified by experienced professionals to prevent the provision of an inadequate extraction system. The position and design of the extraction nozzle or enclosure is also a prime consideration if effective extraction is to be achieved, oval or round nozzles should generally be used in preference to thin, slot varieties.

One of the major cost benefits of using lasers instead of conventional methods to process materials is that there are few or no consumables such as drills, milling cutters, saws, etc. Therefore it is important that any purification system does not nullify this benefit by incurring excessive filter costs upon the user.

One method of prolonging the life of a main filter is to use a pre-filter to remove larger particles (=1µm) from the air stream before they enter the main filter. These are supplied in different forms, ranging from pads to bags to a patented concertina design that, as filter life is proportional to the area of media employed, offers around 10 times the life of a normal pre-filter. Pre-filters are made from a variety of filter media and it is vitally important that the correct type is specified by the supplier, otherwise the life of the main filter will be significantly reduced. This is especially true if the material that is processed releases oily or sticky particles.

Many purification systems work on the outdated principle of "top down" filtration, which has been proven not to offer the best filter life and may cause filters to split. A filter for laser processes generally contains HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arrestor) media to filter out harmful particles (99.997% at =0.3µm and 95% at =0.01µm) plus a chemical layer to filter gases. In low pressure, "top down" purification systems, the contaminated air enters the machine at the top and takes the least line of resistance, at a high velocity through the filter (fig.3). This means that only part of the HEPA and chemical filter media is used and that the air is allowed to pass through the media at much more than the most effective dwell time. Both of these factors reduce filter life and therefore increase consumable costs for the user. Particles can also collect in the pleats of the HEPA media due to gravity and can cause it to split (especially when the particles are moist), releasing hazardous material into the workplace, without the operator's knowledge.

The solution to the aforementioned problems is found in the "Reverse Airflow Principle". This causes the contaminated air to slow and turn through 90 degrees when entering the purification machine. This action causes larger particles to drop out of the air-stream, thus preventing premature filter blockage (fig.4) and particles can no longer collect in and cause the pleats of HEPA media to split because the air is travelling upwards. Air equalisation plates containing holes with a cross sectional area which, correspond mathematically with that of the pump air inlet, should also be used. These, in conjunction with the reverse airflow system, cause the air to slow to the speed at which the filter media is most effective and ensure that the full area of filter media is used. They also increase the rigidity and security of the filters themselves. Some materials release corrosive vapour when processed with a laser, for example, PVC produces Hydrochloric Acid vapour, which coalesces inside the purification machine. In "top down" systems, the liquid HCl can travel through the filters and collect on the electrical wiring and the motor below, causing corrosion and a possible fire risk. Reverse airflow systems on the other hand, allow the acid to drip onto an absorbent pad where it can be safely dealt with (fig.4)

Another method of greatly increasing filter life is to utilise high-pressure pumps that are able to overcome the resistance in a filter as it becomes blocked, for far longer than a low-pressure system is able. The high pressures that are generated necessitate the use of reinforcing that should be employed between the pleats of HEPA media to prevent them from splitting.

Health and Safety
A pressure monitor should be employed to alert the user when a filter is nearly full, this allows them to schedule the purchase of filters, ensuring that extraction from the process is continuous. However, the pressure sensor does not alert the user if:
1. A filter is ruptured
2. There is no filter fitted
3. A seal is broken
4. A filter is damaged
5. The chemical layer that filters out noxious gases is exhausted

Although the use of reinforcing guarantees that filters do not split and a pressure sensor indicates when a filter is full, it is vitally important that the exhaust of any purification system that re-circulates air to the workplace is constantly monitored. It is very concerning that many commercially available laser fume purification systems rely on the operators nose to tell if a filter is blocked or there is a problem with the system. Automatic gas sensors should be used to identify if a chemical filter is exhausted and particle sensors should be employed to ensure that the operator is alerted, if for example a filter has not been fitted or it is damaged and is allowing hazardous particles to pass through it. If these monitoring systems are not in place, conformity with the COSHH regulations will be prejudiced and the users are at risk of potentially developing serious medical complaints through exposure to harmful substances. Such purification systems should also be annually certified by the installer and be well maintained to ensure compliance with the COSHH regulations.

Helping the environment
Perhaps the first thought of many is to vent contaminated air from a laser process out to atmosphere. This method of extraction is not environmentally friendly and there are stringent regulations which govern what and how much can be released into the atmosphere. These regulations can carry large financial penalties should the limits be exceeded.

Apart from regulations, it costs money to either heat or cool a factory. Therefore the venting of air that has in effect been paid for, into the atmosphere is not economical.

External venting does not usually offer precise control of airflow rates. Two common problems with this method are that if the airflow rate is two high, then small components can be sucked into the pipe-work and if the airflow rate is too low, then particles and fume will escape into the workplace.

In a modern production environment, it is necessary to have flexible production lines that can be moved as the factory grows or the production emphasis is altered. Vent to atmosphere extraction requires extensive, fixed pipe-work that cannot easily be moved. If moved, this pipe-work can harbour contaminants that must be cleaned up and made safe. Also, planning permission is often required to cut holes in the factory roof or walls and these holes must be sealed again if the pipe-work moves! This lengthy, expensive process interrupts valuable production time.

A re-circulating system avoids any regulations that govern external emissions. Purified air is returned to the workplace in virtually the same conditioned state/temperature, as when the air entered the machine, therefore air conditioning costs do not rise. Vacuum levels can be set and altered easily for each individual process and most systems can be easily moved, should the process move. Altogether a re-circulating system is much more cost effective, flexible and environmentally friendly than an external system.

Closed loop flow control
A good purification system should employ a closed loop flow control system to automatically adjust motor speed to provide several desirable outcomes. When a new filter is fitted into a purification machine there is little resistance to the air flowing through it, therefore a lower motor speed is required. As a filter becomes blocked, a higher speed is required to pull adequate air through the filter until the filter becomes "blinded" or full.

A fixed motor speed system fails on several counts because the motor will always run at 100%, so the extraction rate cannot be adjusted to the optimum level. If the motor speed is fixed then the extraction would either:
1. Be correct when the filter is new, but as the filter becomes blocked it would fall uncontrollably.
2. Or be far to high while the filter is new (which leads to reduced filter life), then slow as the filter becomes full.

A closed loop flow control system automatically adjusts the motor speed as a filter becomes full, so that the extraction rate remains constant with a variance of less than 1% throughout the life of the filter. The climate change levy introduced recently has seen energy costs rise for manufacturers, so another benefit of flow control is that energy usage is kept to a minimum, which is a most welcome feature.

The use of lasers in the packaging industry, predominantly to code products with use by dates and batch codes is growing. The laser burns away a layer of material in order to produce a mark. The length and depth of the mark determines how much dust and fume is released into the atmosphere. At first glance this may not seem to be a problem, but in a plant coding millions of products per week, the volume of dust and fume generated is considerable.

The importance of an effective fume extraction and purification system is often underestimated. Many engineers understand that extraction is necessary from a health and safety point of view, as laser marking, welding and cutting, produce hazardous dust and fume that cause long-term illnesses like cancer and occupational asthma. The production benefits brought about by using a quality fume extraction system are invaluable in a production environment.

Of particular interest is the new LASEREX range of machines from Purex, which have been specifically designed to combat the harsh conditions caused by marking or coding plastics. For example, PVC and PET release both particles and fumes when marked with a laser. The particles are sticky and can block normal filters within minutes. The fumes released are toxic, and include Hydrogen Chloride and Benzene. HCl fumes are a particular problem as they combine with moisture in the air to form Hydrochloric Acid that attacks and corrodes machinery. These particular plastics are used in a wide variety of products from wrappers and bottles to tablet blister packs.

The LASEREX systems employ a multi-stage filtration system to combat hazardous materials and to increase filter life. Air is drawn in from the process using specifically designed extraction nozzles to prevent particles and fume building up around the laser head and the product. Particle build up can deflect the laser beam, resulting in blurred or distorted marks and therefore increased reject rates. Cool particles can come into contact with the laser, potentially cracking the lens, which would obviously incur replacement costs and lengthy production downtime. Another problem (particularly in the food and pharmaceutical industries) is that particles generated by marking can settle onto the product, again leading to increased reject rates.

A recent Purex installation at a bottling plant in France has seen production rates triple overnight. Phil Mullins, MD of PUREX International explains, "This particular customer was marking soft drink bottles at the rate of 20,000 per hour. The line could potentially operate at 70,000 per hour, but due to insufficient extraction, the product throughput had to be limited as the debris build up at high speeds was causing the mark to blur and become unreadable. We surveyed the process and installed a Purex system that allowed the company to run at full production, with obvious results in the lines profitability."

Once contaminated air is drawn from the process into a Purex machine, it is passed through a patented "concertina prefilter". The life of a filter is directly proportional to the area of filter media it contains, therefore the unique design of the concertina offers around 10 times the life of a normal filter. If you consider that (due to health and safety legislation) the production line has to be stopped in order to change a filter, the resultant savings in terms of downtime are tremendous.

In the case of PVC marking, Hydrochloric Acid has been proven to corrode packaging machinery, rendering it inoperable. Purex systems prevent this happening in a unique way. The acid is removed from the atmosphere and condenses inside the prefilter to form a liquid that is absorbed safely in a specially positioned chemical pad. The Purex machine itself is manufactured from chemically resistant materials to prevent corrosion.

Once through the pre-filter the contaminated air is passed through a main filter. This HEPA/Chemical filter removes the remaining particles and gases, allowing purified air to be returned to the workplace. In this way heating and air conditioning costs are reduced and factory emission regulations are avoided, as air is not vented outside the factory. Purex machines use a microprocessor controlled flow control system that slowly increases power to the pump as a filter becomes blocked. This maintains a uniform flow rate and the pump is not always running at 100%, wasting electricity. With the recent moves to curb power usage, i.e. the climate change levy, this feature is particularly beneficial.

Phil comments, "The main reason for fume extraction is to protect personnel and equipment from hazardous particles and fume. Our products do that, but also offer much more in terms of production benefits. These machines are the result of years of research and trials with our laser customers, who came to us seeking solutions to particular problems."

"Purex machines offer the longest period between filter changes on the market and unlike vent to atmosphere systems, Purex machines are portable so they can be moved with a production line if required. Every factory manager wants increased and problem free production, without unnecessary downtime and rejects. Unfortunately, buying other, low quality fume extraction can prove costly in the long term, so we offer free site surveys and demonstrations to allow our customers to see the benefits of Purex systems."

Introduction
Marking (or coding) lasers are used in a huge variety of applications to add traceable information such as use by dates and batch codes to packaging and products. Examples of these applications are marking bottles in a beverage plant, batch coding of medical devices, marking PCBs and components in the electronics industry, adding data to cables and pipes and many others where permanent information needs to be added to a product. Engraving lasers are commonly used in the gift industry to mark logos and information onto pens, coasters etc. and can also be used to cut shapes in a variety of materials. Due to their increasing affordability and versatility, engraving lasers are also becoming more popular with school and college art and craft departments.

Both laser marking and laser engraving systems burn away layers of material to cut or mark a material. This process generates a fume that contains small toxic particles and gases that are hazardous to health. Some examples are Benzene and Toluene released from certain plastics and Chromium and Nickel given off by some metals. Virtually all materials (when processed) will emit some fumes that are hazardous to health; even cardboard and paper labels can produce respirable dust and formaldehyde.

Worldwide health and safety legislation deems it vital that these fumes are dealt with effectively as they can cause serious long-term medical conditions such as occupational asthma and leave employers open to expensive compensation claims by employees.

The particulate generated by laser processing can also coat or even damage expensive laser optics and cause beam attenuation leading to blurred or incomplete marks. If this dust is not removed efficiently it can also contaminate products that may need to be rejected and it can coat the laser enclosure and associated machinery meaning increased downtime for cleaning. A failure in fume extraction is usually a ‘line stopper’. In high volume production (e.g. PCBs, pharmaceuticals, food/beverage packaging) improperly coded products and the resulting downtime due to fume extraction failure can cost thousands.

Selling or buying a laser.
It is now widely accepted that some form of fume extractor will be required when purchasing a laser. On the one hand the customer has to consider their budget and performance requirements and on the other hand the laser sales person wants to clinch the sale of the laser. There are two ways to go in this situation. (1) The customer can purchase both the laser and a fume extractor from the Laser OEM or (2) they can only purchase the laser and source an extractor from elsewhere. Option (1) is the better method for several reasons.

The laser sales person may think that quoting a laser with an extractor will put the customer off because of the additional cost, but this is usually not the case as the customer knows they will have to buy an extractor from somewhere anyway. By not quoting for an extractor the sales person is losing extra potential revenue and the customer may end up with an unsuitable extractor from another source. The unsuitable extractor may then cause problems with the laser process, for example causing the laser to produce blurred marks. This can leave the customer unhappy and potentially wondering if it is the laser that is at fault.

It is much better then to quote a whole package to the customer who can benefit from the laser manufacturer’s knowledge of specifying the correct extractor. The laser OEM also gets the long-term benefit of supplying the customer with replacement filters and the customer gets a problem free laser process. We (Purex) have even seen the quality of the fume extractor be the deciding factor for the customer when comparing two laser brands.

Budgets are of course a consideration for the customer, however, very low cost fume extractors available on the market can trade performance, filter life and even safety for cost. Simple fans which vent to the outside may seem an economical solution at first but they have significant drawbacks, i ) holes need to be cut in walls / ceilings. ii ) planning permission may be required. iii ) environmental legislation comes into play iiii ) bulky, fixed pipework is required and iv ) what happens if the laser moves? The fan, holes, pipework, fixings etc need to be reinstalled in the new position and the old ones filled and sealed which will be expensive. Also an external venting point may not be available; for example in a shopping mall or school.

A cheap extractor may also cost much more in terms of replacement filters. Worse still if the extractor is inadequate then the health and safety of the operator will be at risk.

What to consider
What does a budget conscious customer and a laser manufacturer need to both be happy with the laser/extractor package? New lasers coming onto the market are less expensive, more compact and are sold into new areas such as schools, offices and shops. So a good extractor needs to be compact, affordable, quiet, mobile and deliver excellent extraction rates and filter life.

The new Laserex Alpha from Purex has been designed along these key principles. The basic machine offers the customer a very affordable solution and comes in two models, a 200m3/hr and a 400m3/hr version depending on the size of the laser. Both models have a small footprint of only 465mm2 so they take up minimal space in areas where this is a consideration. All units are mounted on lockable castors to make the machines highly mobile so if the laser moves the user can simply push the extractor after it.

To reduce noise levels the machines employ Whisper Stream technology, a unique powerful blower and silencing system that delivers excellent performance, maximum reliability and whisper quiet operation at less than 45dBA – essential in places such as schools or shops. It is also of paramount importance that the health and safety of employees is protected. To ensure this the Alpha features the VariColour warning system. This system constantly monitors the condition of the filters and reports automatically via a single variable colour LED.
• Green shows the filter is clean.
• Amber warns the operator that a replacement filter will be required soon.
• Red (along with an audible alarm) tells the operator when to replace the filter.
Filters

A major benefit of buying a laser is that they have few consumables when compared with other methods of marking such as inkjets. Therefore the last thing the customer wants is to have to buy lots of replacement filters for their fume extraction system. Several design features are employed in the Laserex Alpha to ensure filters have a long lifespan and therefore consumable costs are low for the customer.

The first of these is Reverse Airflow, a system pioneered by Purex in the electronics industry and now used in laser fume extraction. Large particles within laser fume will prematurely block a filter over time. To prevent this the speed of the air is slowed when entering the Alpha machine and the direction is changed from horizontal to vertical forcing larger particles out of the air stream in an action similar to a centrifuge. These particles are deposited in the base of the Labyrinth pre-filter thus prolonging its life.

The Labyrinth pre-filter is used to protect the main HEPA filter from premature blockage. It does this by removing particles from the airstream at ≥1 microns in size. This quick change, patented filter technology is not available from any other manufacturer and is designed to overcome inherent weaknesses in pleated paper and bag filter design. The filter’s unique shape, dust holding capacity and deep graded filter media means that more particles can be captured and therefore the main HEPA filter lasts that much longer.

The small, lightweight and robust construction of this filter means that storage and shipping costs are minimal compared with other larger and heavier pre-filters. Also, problematic materials that produce sticky particles can be handled safely and efficiently.

A reinforced, submicronic HEPA media is used in main filters to remove small hazardous particles from the airstream. Purex filters are proven in independent tests to capture 99.997% of particles at 0.3µm and 95% at 0.01µm in size. A high performance deep chemical layer in the filter then adsorbs toxic gas before clean air is returned to the workplace. All filters are easily accessed from the front of the machine and can be changed in seconds without having to move the machine and without using tools.

These design features ensure that filter changes are kept to a minimum therefore consumable costs for the customer are low. This is an attractive fact for the customer and a good selling point for the laser sales person. In many cases the savings made by reducing rejects and downtime caused by incorrectly specified fume extraction systems would pay many times over for a new Laserex Alpha.

Additional features.

As always the customer may require additional control of a fume extractor or they may not, depending on the individual application. The Laserex Alpha has the option to interface with the laser for better control and also to precisely control airflow and speed, increasing filter life and further reducing cost to the customer.

Upgrade pack-1 – Flow Control.
In their most basic form most fume extractors simply turn on or off without the option to raise or lower their extraction rate. This fixed speed method of operation is not as energy efficient as a variable speed drive and having too high an extraction rate can cause drag marks on the product during engraving.

Filters will last longer if the speed at which the particles pass through the filter media is controlled and maintained so the Alpha upgrade pack-1 includes a speed control system that allows the customer to set the airflow to the optimum level on site (particularly useful for engraving lasers). To prevent the extraction rate falling as the filter becomes blocked this upgrade pack also includes a fully automatic “Closed Loop Flow Control” system. This system maintains the airflow at precisely the level set by the operator by automatically adjusting the motor speed. The cost of the upgrade pack is quickly offset by the extension of filter life and increased control.
Closed Loop Flow Control Ensures:
• Filter life is maximised.
• Consumable costs are lowered.
• No manual intervention is required to maintain extraction rate.
• Personnel are constantly protected.
• Airflow is constant throughout the life of the filter.

Upgrade pack-2 – Laser Interfacing:
Additional safety functions and controls are available by simply interfacing the Laserex Alpha with the laser using upgrade pack-2. Interfacing with the laser provides a closed loop, automatic solution where operator intervention is kept to an absolute minimum.

For added safety, the extraction is automatically started when the laser is switched on. This prevents any damage to the laser optics or any hazardous fume entering the workplace. To ensure that all fumes are removed when the laser is switched off, the Alpha will continue to run for a short period before switching off.

If any alerts are generated by the extraction system then a signal is sent to the laser. This signal can either trigger an alert on the laser and associated alarm systems (e.g. a beacon) or it can shut the laser down.

Summary
Health and Safety legislation and the need to protect the product and laser optics make the need for a fume extraction system undeniable. By producing the Laserex Alpha at the right price, with such a good standard feature set and with affordable upgrade options Purex believe that they have catered for everyone’s requirements. The laser sales person increases their turnover and their customer gets the right solution at the right time and price.

For further information visit http://www.laserfume.com for your local office or call Purex on +44(0)1709 763000.

Purex International will be launching their new Laserex-Alpha™ fume extraction system at the Laser 2003 exhibition in Munich in June.

The Laser 2003 - World of Photonics exhibition is held at Messe München from the 23-26th of June 2003. Laser 2003 is staged in several halls with Purex exhibiting in hall B2 - Production Engineering on stand number B2.679. On show will be several units including:-

• Laserex 1500i - for heavy duty laser applications
• Laserex 400i - for general laser processing
• Laserex-Alpha - economic solution for laser applications
• Fume-Cube - for light usage

The Laserex-Alpha is an economic unit which is designed to purify hazardous fumes that are generated during the laser processing of a variety of materials such as paper, card, glass and plastics. It incorporates a patented concertina pre-filter which can last up to 10 times longer than a standard pad filter. This means that the downtime required to change filters and the cost of filters is greatly reduced.

The main HEPA/Chemical filter removes the remaining particles and gas from the airstream and a powerful high pressure pump is employed in the Alpha which can overcome resistance in the filter (as it becomes blocked) for much longer to further extend filter life.

For heavier laser processes such as etching, cutting, and fast marking lines the Laserex 400i and 1500i units will also be on show.

Practical activities such as soldering, cutting and welding are increasingly common in the classroom, lab and workshop but the hazardous dust and fumes generated are not always considered. Indeed, the hazard may not have been identified. Purex International of Rotherham, South Yorkshire has worked closely with several local authorities to identify sources of potential hazards and develop cost effective solutions to the problem.
Soldering - an example of a hazardous fume

The process of melting solder can produce some, if not all, of the following fumes: -

- Lead oxide
- Carbon Monoxide
- Volatile Organic Compounds (V.O.C's)
- Abietic Acid
- Pimaric Acid
- Aliphatic Aldehydes
- Hydrochloric Acid
- Isocyanates
- Isopropyl Alcohol

These fumes can cause occupational asthma, long term carcinogenic diseases and other serious complaints. The result of these illnesses can be expensive compensation claims, long term sickness and poor employee/student relations.

Purex International has produced useful free information datasheets for local authorities and schools. A video is also available which demonstrates the hazards due to fumes, explains the legal obligations of schools and colleges and discusses the best solutions to these problems. Useful literature from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can also be obtained.

A survey carried out by the National Asthma Campaign shows that over 100,000 people are admitted to hospital annually with asthma - half of these are children. The COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations place a legal responsibility on employers to ensure that their employees and other persons in the workplace are protected from hazardous substances. This legislation applies to local authority and education establishments just as it applies to industry.

Purex International manufactures the Purex range of fume extraction and purification equipment, which includes a number of products ideally suited for use in the processes described above.

To request a free copy of the information and further information on the video, please phone Graham Mattok on 01709 763022.

Many automated processes and those carried out by hand, produce hazardous particles and fume which can cause serious medical conditions such as sionasal cancer and occupational asthma. Purex International have launched the "Fume-Cube" to combat this problem.

The Fume-Cube is the result of customer requests for a low cost, portable arm extraction and purification system for single users and is used to protect personnel from hazardous particles and fumes which are created during:

- Soldering assembly
- Gluing and chemical treatments
- Laboratory/cleanroom tasks
- Rework and repair

The Fume-Cube comes complete with a fully adjustable stainless steel arm and can be used in two ways. It can sit under a workbench and connect to the arm via a simple clamp bracket and flexible hose, or the arm can be inserted directly into the Fume-Cube, which then sits on the workbench. Either way - if the application moves - the Fume-Cube moves with it.

Phil Mullins - Managing Director of the company says, "We have invested heavily in R&D to produce machines specifically for the growing laser marking, etching, cutting and welding industries. Problems of blurred marking and lens damage due to dust and fume can now be greatly reduced. This means that the throughput of the product can be greatly increased, thus reducing the cost of the production cycle." Currently over 3000 PUREX systems have been installed in laser processes worldwide.

Phil continues, "One of our other key markets is electronics. We supply many blue chip multi-nationals with Purex equipment for production and hand soldering applications. Purex patented filter designs provide a longer filter life that obviously reduces expensive downtime on production systems including reflow and wave systems."

Purex systems also protect personnel and the environment by filtering hazardous dust and fume from an application and recycling purified air back to the workplace.

The Purex Factory

Many processes where dust and fume extraction is necessary take place in an environment where electrostatic discharge can cause problems.

The actual process of air passing through an extraction system can create a static charge. This charge can damage sensitive electronic components, resulting in expensive reject rates. In applications where powder or dust is mixed with the airflow, for example in the chemical handling and pharmaceutical industries, a build-up of static electricity can pose a potential explosion hazard.

To combat this, Purex International, in conjunction with customers and research establishments, have developed Purex ESD (Electro static discharge) safe air extraction and purification systems. A material comprising of 30% stainless steel fibres has been used in the patented knuckle joints and air flow valves to create earth continuity in the extraction arms.

Purex systems are used in many applications where ESD can be a potential problem, for example in cleanrooms, laboratories, circuit board production, handling of sensitive components and reworking.

For further information or a free site survey contact Purex International on 01709 763000 or visit www.purexltd.co.uk

Conventional "vent to atmosphere" extraction systems waste energy by expelling warm air outside the factory which can also raise issues over environmental emission control. Powerflow systems recycle purified air directly back into the workplace thus saving on heating and air conditioning costs.

Powerflow machines also incorporate an electronic flow control system that utilises a variable speed pump. Power to the pump is only increased when a filter starts to become blocked, in this way the correct airflow is always maintained and electricity consumption is always the lowest possible. All of these features are designed to make PUREX systems energy efficient, increase filter life, reduce downtime/reject rates and improve production.

The unique high pressure filters inside Purex machines ensure that no hazardous material or gases are released into the workplace, thus ensuring the health and safety of personnel and reducing impact on the environment.

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Many CEMs are increasingly using lasers during the manufacture of PCBs, for example laser drilling systems. They can also utilise wave and reflow or robotic soldering systems as well as traditional hand soldering stations.

The process of lasing a material produces what is known as a 'laser plume' whilst soldering produces a complex cocktail of hazardous materials called colophony. The laser plume can reduce the efficiency and accuracy of the laser by causing beam attenuation whilst both the plume and colophony contain particles and gases which are hazardous to the health of employees, should they inhale them.

To combat this problem Purex International has developed a range of microprocessor controlled extraction and purification systems which remove the laser plume or colophony from the process area and then filter any hazardous particles and gases before returning clean air to the workplace.

A new brochure is now available which details the Purex units and accessories that are required to safely deal with contaminants. It is available for download directly or by calling a local Purex distributor.

Purex also manufacture units which extract and purify fumes that are generated during gluing applications and chemical treatments. Call 01709 763022 for further details.

Purex International are now offering their dust and fume extraction arms as a new product range that is available from their website.

A large variety of arms, nozzles, cowls and connections are available depending on the application which can include; laser processing, laboratory/cleanroom work, medical procedures, soldering, welding and glue/solvent use.

The website shows full technical details and prices, the range includes 25, 38 and 100mm Flexible Arms, Plenum extraction chambers and Cleancabs but of particular interest are the 54mm Multi-Position Arms, which feature a patented joint design to ensure reliable positioning, time after time.

The joint has been designed to overcome an inherent problem with other Multi-Position Arms, which is that over time their joints lose the tension between each of their halves causing the arm to slip. Consequently the extraction nozzle could: -

• Drop into the path of oncoming product if used for example on a laser marking line
• Knock over bottles of chemicals in a laboratory.
  
• Damage the product being worked on, for example a PCB in a soldering application.
  
• Be dangerous if used in a medical procedure.

A spring loaded tensioning bolt enables the operator to tighten the Purex 54mm arm using minimum force, creating a positive lock between serrated inner cams on the inside of the joint. Once set to the correct tension, the position of the arm can be adjusted without unscrewing and re-tightening the bolt. The spring action allows the cams to ride over each other and click back into place as the arm is rotated, relocking the new position automatically.

Most of the arms can be used with an existing extraction system by using a suitable conversion kit or alternatively extraction and purification units are available from the Purex range. For further information visit www.purexltd.co.uk

Hazardous fumes and dust from wave soldering, laser marking and other demanding production processes are dealt with safely and reliably by an advanced purification system designed by a British company.

Purex  fume purification and extraction machines from Purex International Ltd, connect to standard or custom extraction manifolds, and offer extended filter life, reverse airflow filtration, temperature and flow control, ease of maintenance and worldwide legislation compliance. System controls can be integrated with production control circuits.

Minimum levels of extraction and hazardous gas particulate sensing can be set for each process, and failsafe controls will stop a production line if the extraction flow rate falls below the pre-set figure.

Purex machines are available, housed in corrosion-resistant castor-mounted stainless steel cabinets and designed for installation with reflow, curing, and wave ovens, lasers, selective soldering, screen printers and conformal coating machines. A special vacuum control feature allows accurate temperature profiles to be maintained in wave soldering and reflow ovens, thereby minimising the risk of thermal shock and offering improved product quality and lower reject rates.

Purex units help maintain the temperature profile of soldering machines

Purex units can interface with all types of capital equipment

As part of our ongoing plans to develop and grow our business we are re-branding the company. As part of this re-branding we have created a mission statement and designed a new logo.

These two elements together will help to reinforce our excellent reputation in the industry with a fresh new image.

Our new mission statement is:

“Protecting People and the Environment with Innovative Technology”

This simple statement neatly summarises our environmental and health & safety credentials while at the same time reinforcing the point that we are innovators and technological leaders in our industry.

Our new logo is:

This clean and elegant design achieves several goals:

• It actually tells people what we do!
• The square symbol represents our 'fume extraction system' with contaminated air entering the 'fume extractor' and being purified
• The number of lines entering the ‘fume extraction system’ matches the three elements of our mission statement i.e. 'People, Environment, Technology'

The logo and the mission statement together will progressively replace the old triangle logo over the coming months.  The new logo has already been introduced to some customers who have commented that “it brings Purex's image more up to date” and “it helps to let people know who Purex are and what they do”.

I am sure that this new image will soon be widely adopted and recognised by our customers and that it will help us to promote our brand, products and core values in the future.

Paul Priestley
Managing Director - Purex
June 2008

Purex International Ltd is the global market leading manufacturer of fume extraction equipment for hand and machine soldering applications in the electronics production industry. Purex also supply fume extractors for laser marking, engraving and welding processes across a wide variety of industries. Based in Rotherham - UK, Purex currently turns over approximately £7m pa and employs 45 people in the UK and 4 people in Chicago, USA.

The acquired company, PAT Technology Systems Inc, is a highly renowned designer and manufacturer of fume extraction systems for the wide format inkjet printing industry. Their latest development, the innovative Captivair(tm) system, is designed to remove all of the odours created by wide format inkjet printing equipment. The company has developed solutions for all the major printer manufacturers including Mimaki, Roland, Seiko, HP, Vutek and Mutoh. PAT will also be releasing a new ultra violet light product at this weeks SGIA show in Atlanta USA. PAT currently turns over around £1m pa and employs 8 people.

Wayne Baird, President of PAT comments, "This acquisition allows Purex to enter the printing industry fume extraction market world-wide with an excellent range of products combined with a team of people who have expert knowledge of that market."

Purex's extensive distribution network will enable PAT products to be made available to a greater number of potential customers world-wide and provide greater local support to existing customers. The timely acquisition will also significantly increase Purex's presence in the USA and Canadian markets for Purex's existing product portfolio.

Paul Priestley, Managing Director of Purex said "This is an extremely exciting opportunity for Purex to enter into a new market space and at the same time provide greater presence and support for our existing customers. The philosophies and cultures of the two businesses are so similar that I expect great synergies from this acquisition".

Paul Priestley - Purex Managing Director

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Paul Priestley - Purex Managing Director
Building a Purex fume extractor
Purex Logo

Rotherham, UK, 19 February 2009

Purex have helped out the fantastic Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago by donating a Laserex fume extraction system to their Toymaker 3000 assembly line.

ToyMaker 3000 is an exciting exhibit that takes you through the entire manufacturing process of creating a toy. The exhibit consists of eight interactive stations, 12 moving robots, and a 2,000-square-foot automated assembly line that can assemble 300 toy tops per hour!

From gathering the toy parts, to assembling them, to packaging them, ToyMaker 3000’s Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is the culmination of human ability to streamline production. You can even personalize a gravitron toy top with your name, choose its color, and watch it be constructed!

The museum staff were having problems keeping the laser on the Toymaker line running and the enclosure clean using their old fume extractor until Purex helped out, as Roger Harris from the musem explains in a recent letter to Purex.

Dear Purex North America.

I wanted to write this letter to thank you for the donation of the Laserex 210i Fume Extraction System.

The unit took the place of our aging fume extraction system in the Toymaker 3000 assembly line exhibit here at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. The unit has been working without a hitch since your technician (Scott Snell) professionally installed it.

The system is quieter, has no odours, looks better and is more efficient than what we were using. In fact, since we cleaned the laser guard during the installation (something our techs had to do every few weeks), we haven’t needed to clean again!

Our technicians have also commented on how useful the Laserex’s ability to monitor both the filter condition and the exhaust air quality. I never would have guessed that a simple air cleaner could make that much difference to the appearance and operation of our laser.

With an exhibit that runs seven days a week, every little bit that does not require attention helps us keep the exhibit running that much better. We will keep Purex on the top of our list for future applications requiring fume extraction and air cleaning.

Sincerely, Roger Harris - Museum Director

For more information please visit www.purexltd.co.uk or call +44 (0)1709 763000.

Purex Logo
Fume extractor for toy museum - Word Doc
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Rotherham, UK, 19 February 2009

Purex International Ltd, manufacturer of fume extraction and filtration systems for electronics manufacture, laser processing and inkjet printing are delighted to announce the appointment of Tony Lockwood as Distributor Manager.

Tony has an enviable wealth of relevant experience having spent many years working in the UK electronics market – specifically in PCB manufacture and assembly before moving into sales and marketing roles.

Tony comments, “I am now in my twenty third year in sales and marketing having spent eleven years in international sales and distributor management, during which time I worked extensively in South America, the Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific.  

“My last five years were spent with a major printer and laser manufacturer, where I specialised in all aspects of inkjet printing and laser coding and marking. This will mean I can offer Purex distributors help, support and advice in these areas as well as in electronics manufacturing.”

“I’m delighted to join Purex in what are challenging but exciting times, and I look forward to the opportunity of working with our distributors to grow our business in all key markets.” For more information please visit www.purexltd.co.uk or call +44 (0)1709 763000.

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New Fume Extraction Distributor Manager - Word Doc

Sign & Digital UK, co-located with Screenprint and The Digital Signage Showcase is a leading event for today's vibrant UK visual communication industry. Spanning 3 days at the NEC, Birmingham, the exhibition attracts unprecedented levels of quality visitors from across the industry.

Purex fume extraction equipment was on show on several stands to extract process air from inkjet printers and laser engravers to keep the air at the show clean and odour free.

A Purex 800i extracting and filtering fumes from a large laser engraver from Laserite.

A Purex laser fume extractor keeping the Grafityp stand free from dust and fumes.

A Captivair™ fume extractor from Purex taking inkjet fumes from a Seiko Colour Painter wide format injet printer.

Graphics of the Americas Exposition and Conference, owned and operated by the Printing Association of Florida, is a premier trade show for the printing and publishing industry for North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Purex North America supported many of their customers with fume extraction equipment to remove dust and fumes from working laser engravers and inkjet printers.

A Purex Captivair™ filtering inkjet vapour from a Seiko printer

A Purex 400i connected to a Universal Laser Engraver

Extracting laser dust and fumes from a Universal Laser Engraving Machine

Removing odour from a Roland VersaUV inkjet printer.