In order to ensure the safe extraction of pollutants at the point of origin, the specialists for selective soldering processes at Eutect GmbH have been using extraction systems and filter systems from Klepp Absauganlagen GmbH since 2015. This not only serves to protect employees, but also ensures perfectly reproducible soldering processes.
"Solder fume extraction systems play an important role within our systems. Because even if the processes are carried out automatically, employees need to be protected from soldering fumes and other air pollution. In addition, we use optics and camera systems in our process systems, which also suffer from soldering fumes and the associated deposits," explains Lars Iwers, Sales Manager at Eutect GmbH. Particularly in precise soldering processes such as laser soldering, in which high-quality optics are installed and cameras are used to monitor parameters and therefore also control the process, it is essential to extract all disturbing particles.
Therefore, as part of a plant project, it is always checked which air pollutants can arise and how these affect the environment. The specifications of an extraction system and the associated filter system are ultimately defined on the basis of this test, as was the case in a joint project between Eutect and Klepp for an Austrian automotive supplier. For the supplier's three sites in Austria, the Czech Republic and Serbia, it was necessary to check which pollutants are produced in the selective soldering process. The experts from Eutect and Klepp came to the conclusion that, in addition to soldering fumes, other gases and particles produced during the soldering process must also be reliably filtered and extracted.
"During the evaluation, the solution expertise of Klepp's experts was the decisive factor for us to integrate the system," emphasized Matthias Fehrenbach, Managing Director of Eutect GmbH. The filtering and extraction of pollutants was achieved by means of a customized system that absorbs the pollutants directly at the point of origin. The planners focused on the type of pollutants and the point of origin in order to achieve the greatest possible extraction efficiency. "Especially when it comes to extraction, the considerations often start after the systems have been completed, so the space requirements and options for extraction are very limited and standard solutions don't work. Together with Eutect, we try to integrate the topic into the system development as early as possible so that we can avoid disruptive adjustments and changes," explains Gisela Klepp, Managing Director of Klepp GmbH.
In this project, the intended area for the system was dictated by the production line and offered no room for maneuver. However, the extraction of different pollutants, in this case soldering fumes, gases and particles, required a high extraction capacity, which was not allowed to change the air volume. By using thinner hoses with a diameter of 15 mm (standard 50-60 mm diameter), the system could be integrated in a space-saving manner, which, however, posed new challenges for the extraction system. "Thanks to our many years of experience, we were able to increase the extraction capacity from 2,000 pascals to 10,000 pascals with our own production and our understanding of the process using a more powerful fan, thus achieving the desired filtration," adds Ms. Klepp.
Finally, the Klepp KGF 803 AK extraction system, which is equipped with a high-pressure fan, was installed in the Eutect system. The extracted pollutants are fed to the filter unit via a hose system. The gaseous or vaporous air pollutants are "absorbed" with activated carbon filters. In this process, gases and vapors are bound to the surface of a solid, porous material, in this case activated carbon. The activated carbon is impregnated differently depending on the gas or contaminant. The purified air can remain in the working area.
