Welding & Fabrications

welders take up arms!

The popular fume extraction method - an ‘open’ shutter door (one at each end if you are lucky) - used by so many welding workshops becomes a real problem as June temperatures drop. Not only does this leave staff exposed to the weather but this set up is dangerously inefficient, allowing both welders and any other staff in the building to potentially breathe in harmful fumes.

Truly efficient fume extraction that effectively removes fumes, smells and associated dusts must be operated as close to where these problems are generated as possible. It is well-documented that such fumes are hazardous to staff, giving immediate discomfort such as dry throats and itchy respiratory tract symptom. Many years later these can cause a range of untreatable respiratory illnesses.

A fume arm and hood connected to the right extraction, positioned correctly and constantly repositioned as the welder works, is the cheapest and best solution to solve these problems.

NZDUCT+FLEX has the largest range of fume arms in stock, starting with 75mm arms with a one-metre reach, up to 160mm diameter and a four-metre reach. The distinctive arms have blue powder-coated metal tubes (also available in stainless) with external hinging to make minimal maintenance possible. They originate from one of Europe’s leading suppliers and are incredibly good value, promises the company. Many major metal manufacturing companies are actively replacing their existing stock with these distinctive blue and yellow products because the down time for cleaning and un-jamming other brands just costs too much, says NZDUCT+FLEX.

The arms can be wall-mounted if the weld area is in bays or attached to a boom giving a ‘phenomenal’ eight-metre reach if required. Sometimes a static situation is not suited to a particular production line, so arms can be incorporated into a channel system and moved backwards and forwards to where they are needed; a perfect solution where production or assembly lines have a linear work flow, says the supplier. The hose trolley above the arm is equipped with six smooth-rolling nylon wheels, ensuring easy movement of the trolley and giving huge flexibility if shared between adjacent welding bays.

The fume arm range and fans that make up a welding/fume solution are all in stock at NZ DUCT +Flex, sourced from two major European suppliers. NZ Duct+Flex’s own installation team has installed hundreds over the last 10 years.

“Our suppliers have been around for decades and their products have been tried and tested and enhanced over this time. No other company can offer what we offer in New Zealand; a source of LIPLOCK modular ducting components, fans, and fume filtration units, guaranteed to work as a system efficiently and effectively,” says sales manager, Geoff Ebdon.