ATEX approved industrial vacuums
October 1st 2006 Nilfisk-Advance has extended its range of ATEX approved industrial vacuum cleaners to reduce the risk of fire and explosions in hazardous working environments.The wider choice of models now available is designed to enable companies across a diverse range of industries, from paper and food processing plants to oil refineries and spray painting facilities, to comply with the latest ATEX safety legislation. The ATEX directive sets out technical requirements for equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres. If combined with oxygen and an ignition source, such as a spark from a motor or static discharge, certain types of dust will burn and possibly explode. Effective dust collection using an appropriate ATEX certified vacuum cleaner will prevent particles accumulating in the atmosphere and so create a safer working environment. New ATEX additions to Nilfisk's industrial cleaning collection include the A 500 and AS 1000 compressed air vacs.These flameproof, non-electrical models are certified for use in ATEX Zones 1 / 2 (gas and dust) and 21 / 22 (combustible dust) and are ideal for recovering solid debris and liquid spills in areas where no electricity is allowed for safety reasons.The compact A 500 combines a 23.6kPa vacuum with a 7,000cm2 filter area, while the larger A 1000 vac has a vacuum power of 44kPa and filter area of 19,500 cm2 for more demanding applications. The AS ATEX machines are complemented by Nilfisk's new single-phase IVB 7X vac with ATEX Zone 22 approval, which includes materials such as grain, peat, soot and cellulose.This latest addition features an EC (electronically commuted) drive motor for long product life and also incorporates Nilfisk's SoftStart technology for gentle motor startup, which keeps starting current low for additional safety.The 70-litre stainless steel container can either be tilted in its robust steel frame or lifted off for emptying.The M class filter version is equipped with a washable M-Class PET fleece filter element, which is simple and economical to maintain, says the company. The new models join Nilfisk's existing range of ATEX vacuum cleaners including the IV 040 threephase machine, certified for dry pick up in ATEX Zones 21 and 22, and the IV 022-1V 050 range, which is also three-phase and has Zone 22 approval. "The ATEX directive is mandatory and critical to safety, but it can also be rather confusing," says Karen James, sales and marketing director, Nilfisk-Advance."So in addition to extending our range of ATEX approved equipment we are also offering an advisory service to help customers understand the risks and their responsibilities and ensure that they select the right machine for their particular application." More articles from Nilfisk-ALTO: | 
