When lead pastes are doctored on X-ray matrices for the production of marking crosses and washed manually with solvents in the downstream process step, harmful substances are produced that make working conditions more difficult and require high safety standards. The company Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare from Schrobenhausen has to carry out this process in a separate ATEX room (Atmosphères Explosives) and at the same time equip its employees with respiratory masks. This leads to an increased workload for employees. "In order to improve the working conditions, we have developed a customized system solution that significantly improves the quality of the workplace and also meets the customer's increasing health and safety requirements," explains Gisela Klepp, Managing Director of Klepp Absauganlagen GmbH.
With this individual system solution, the specialists at Klepp have designed height-adjustable extraction tables with integrated edge slot extraction on the underside for 3 workstations. This means that the pollutants produced when using the solvents are collected directly at the table and fed to the Klepp ATEX filter system underneath the work surfaces for cleaning. The cleaned air is then returned to the work area.
When designing the work tables and selecting the right filter system, the experts paid particular attention to ensuring a smooth work process. "To ensure that the activities can continue to be carried out without restriction, we opted for an under-table extraction solution in the design, as this means that the heavier pollutants in the air are collected directly," adds Gisela Klepp. In addition, a small scale, which is used to weigh lead pastes, was also equipped with an under-table extraction system in order to completely capture and remove the pollutants as they arise.
"Thanks to the newly designed system solution, we were able to solve our challenges in the application of solvents and at the same time improve the working conditions of our employees, as from now on no respiratory masks need to be worn when cleaning the matrices," emphasizes Albrecht Grünwald, Production Manager at Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare. "The experts from Klepp have even exceeded our high standards with their experience of this solution."
