TLDR: A North American starch processing facility eliminated 1-2 hours of daily cleaning and weekend overtime work with SonicAire fans. Mike reports the system prevents explosion hazards while dramatically improving air quality—dust that was previously visible in the air and accumulated up to an inch thick on rafters is now “nonexistent.”
Key Points:
• 30-year-old facility with persistent dust challenges
• Previously: inch-thick dust accumulation requiring weekend overtime
• Air quality improved from visible dust to clear air
• Eliminates explosion hazard concerns
• Additional benefit: air circulation for hot summer conditions
Transcript:
Christoph: Okay, so now we are in North America in a factory where they produce some starch and so on. This is Mike. Can you tell us: What did you experience with these fans?
Mike: When we first started – we’ve been here 30 years – but every day we spent an hour, two hours cleaning up. We had problems with the dust up on the rafters and on the equipment, which was an explosion hazard. Since we’ve installed the (SonicAire) fans it has been phenomenal. We don’t spend any time cleaning up, and we don’t have to worry about dust explosions or anything like that. It keeps the air cleaner.
Christoph: What about the workers who work here? The quality of air that they breathe: is it the same, or has it gotten a bit better?
Mike: It’s gotten better. It’s gotten a lot better. Used to, you could see it coming through the air; now you can’t.
Christoph: If, for example, we point out these shelves: before, you would have settlement of dust in the rafters?
Mike: Yes, probably up to an inch (25mm) or more.
Christoph: After a couple of weeks or so?
Mike: Right.
Christoph: And then what would you do?
Mike: We would have to come in on the weekend, pay overtime, and double time, and clean manually with air hoses or brooms. And that would take two days.
Christoph: Wow. Let’s quickly walk through the building, just to see how big and clean it is now.
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Christoph: So, here we can see the material. This is a kind of fine powder that they are processing. Something like corn starch or something like that.
Mike: Right.
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Christoph: Typically, when the light comes in the building, you will see all these particles. But now, it’s almost nothing.
Mike: Right. Exactly.
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Christoph: So, overall, are you happy with the SonicAire fans?
Mike: I mean, everybody is.
Christoph: Everybody – the workers…
Mike: Right. I’ve never had a complaint. And it keeps stuff moving, you know, with the hot summertimes here. But yeah, we love them.
Christoph: Thank you Mike.
Mike: You’re welcome. I appreciate it.
