Dynamic Filtration

Pumper Show 2012

2012-02-29T07:50:00.002-08:00

Here at Dynamic Filtration, we’re not just content to call a filter a filter and move forward with a quality, if unchanging, inventory. We know that filters change, but more so, applications change, and it’s important to us and our customers that we keep up-to-date on those changes to maintain the best possible offering. Trade shows are one of the best ways to stay on the cutting edge of who is using filters, and what they’re using them for, and the 2012 Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo (you might know it better as the Pumper Show) suits that need for one of our core industries: vacuum trucks.

Occurring in Indianapolis this week, the Pumper Show will feature a host of fascinating filtration and vacuum truck topics: vacuum trucks used with drilling in the Marcellus Shale Region, and positive displacement blower vacuum equipment, to name a few. There will also be discussion of filter concerns in other wastewater applications beyond vacuum trucks, for instance, effluent filters used to protect drain fields. And, as any good business seminar should include, lots of talk of how to promote and market your services. We’re most looking forward to information on positive displacement blower-equipped trucks, and any other types of new or unconventional vacuum trucks – developments that will play a part in our inventory planning for the next year and beyond. As always, contact us with any questions on all types of filtration!

How Vacuum Trucks Keep the World Clean and Safe

2012-02-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

Vacuum trucks play a big role in a number of different industries and Dynamic Filtration plays an even bigger role in making these trucks work properly. Much like your household vacuum, these trucks pick up dust, dirt and liquids, only on a much larger scale. Both use the same basic filtration systems to get the job done. So why would you need a vacuum truck in the first place?

Safety and Protection

While construction crews rely on backhoes and other heavy-duty equipment to handle most of their digging, there are times when a much lighter touch is needed. When digging around electrical and gas connections, they will use a vacuum excavator truck to carefully remove and loosen dirt and soil. This not only protects the pipes and cables, but also the workers themselves.

Unclogging the Drain

Working with sewers is always tricky. Before you actually get to the job of cleaning out the sewer itself, you need to get to it. Vacuum trucks are helpful in removing all the debris that clogs the above-ground drains. Once this is accomplished, the vacuum truck will have access to the sewer so it can remove what it needs to remove. Pretty sure there is no need to say more than that!

Emergencies

While vacuum trucks play a role in everyday life, they also play a pivotal role in emergencies like sudden oil spills and unexpected flooding. If there is an accident in a large oil field, you need to be able to quickly access the area to limit both financial and environmental losses. A powerful but mobile vacuum truck is a great way to contain damage and loss, while all necessary repairs are being made. This is also the case with flooding from rain or snowmelt. These trucks can be used to keep major highways and streets passable for traffic and emergency vehicles.

Overall, vacuum trucks are clearly an invaluable tool. Of course, these trucks wouldn’t be able to do their jobs without the proper filtration systems. You wouldn’t run your household vacuum without a bag or a filter, and the same goes for these trucks. At Dynamic Filtration we supply a wide variety of these trucks with the filters necessary to function perfectly every time they are called upon. If you want to learn more about our industrial filters, visit our website or contact us today.

One More Option: All About Stainless Steel Filter Cartridges

2012-02-02T13:39:00.000-08:00

Not all filter cartridges are created equal. Most filtration applications are very well served by paper or synthetic plastic filter cartridges, which are fantastic for a wide range of general services including food, beverage and pharmaceuticals. Yet there are still those times when you need a cartridge that offers great levels of retention and can withstand higher temperatures and pressures. It’s for these more demanding projects that stainless steel filter cartridges are worth a look.

Stainless steel filter cartridges are typically made entirely of 304 or 316 stainless steel, and are completely cleanable and reusable. These two important traits allow our customers in the medical industry to not only maintain a higher level of sterility but to also save money on having to replace paper and plastic cartridges more often.

Stainless steel filter cartridges fit most cartridge-type housings, can withstand differential pressures up to 60 psi, and have a particle retention rating as fine as 5 microns. Plus, unlike other filtration media, seals are never glued onto the cartridge ends. Instead, they are custom shaped so they hold in place just like a grommet. This added measure reduces the chances that they will become dislodged and get lost in shipping. Here at Dynamic Filtration, our main business remains paper and synthetic filters, but we’re also committed to offering a wide range of knowledge to our customers. Keeping you informed of your options helps us to serve you better. Contact us with any questions.

Through Thick And Thin: Light Gauge Plasma Cutting

2012-01-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

A filter is a filter, you might think, and a plasma cutter is a plasma cutter. Filtration, however, is our business, and we can say with the utmost certainty that all filters are not created the same. And speaking of creating filters, we’re also well aware that new advances in plasma cutting technology are making filtration manufacturing easier than ever. As you’ve probably seen, the housings and mounts for filtration media, whether for air or liquid, are usually constructed from metal. In order to fit filters into tight spaces, and keep overall product weights down, this metal is often as thin as possible. Plasma cutting takes on a decidedly different aspect when applied to, for instance, 24 gauge sheet metal, but some of the latest cutters on the market keep the process as seamless as possible.

Even with cutters specifically designed for thin and light gauge metals, most of the typical precautions apply. When dealing with a process as energy=intensive as plasma cutting, one can’t be too careful. Be sure that these safety tips remain at the forefront of your checklist, no matter what equipment you’re using:

Keep a fire extinguisher nearby: One of the biggest dangers in plasma cutting is overheating the substrate metal. With thin, light materials, energy and heat levels can get to the point of ignition even more quickly. A working, inspected fire extinguisher on hand will help prevent a minor spark from becoming a major problem.

Ensure that the work area is free of other materials: Plasma cutting is designed for metal. This means, for instance, that paper filtration metal shouldn’t be anywhere near the cutting process - valuable inventory could be destroyed, not to mention the much lower flame temperature for those materials. These types of dangers should be either removed or, at the very least, protected from the cutter’s energy focus.

Keep an eye on the dial: Even with cutters specifically designed for thin gauge metals, there remains a need for fine tuning and monitoring of energy levels. Make sure to periodically stop and inspect notches and cuts made, to ensure that the correct widths and accuracies are being maintained.

Ever since the Fabtech conference of a few months ago, we’ve been keeping an eye on these and other advances in plasma cutting. Learning that the safety rules haven’t changed is probably the most important lesson to be gained. Contact Dynamic Filtration with any further questions!

China Develops 5-Year Plan for Filtration Textile Advances

2012-01-09T11:53:00.000-08:00

Filtration News recently featured a great piece on the continued growth of China’s filtration textile industry. While focusing in large part of financial projections and usage estimates, the article also showcased a five-year plan devised by the government, aimed at fostering innovation in filtration textiles. Most interesting to us was a goal of developing better high-temperature resistant and erosion resistant filtration material. In industries like power generation and raw material processing, all of which are rapidly expanding in China, there is a great need for these types of filters, able to handle harsh environments with acceptable performance and life cycle numbers.

Our last blog gave some pointers on choosing between paper or synthetic filters. As described in this article, man-made material is the only choice for high-temperature applications. Fibers that can withstand the high temperatures necessary for those industries include PPS, P84, PTEF, glass fiber, aramid fibers, and PSA fiber. Be sure to see the Filtration News website for full details on temperature capacities for those materials – PSA fiber can withstand temperatures up to 250° C, or 482° F! For any questions on these kinds of filters and applications, contact Dynamic Filtration.

Paper or…Polyester? A Guide to Air Filter Media Selection

2011-12-15T10:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, we’re all used to that question in the supermarket checkout line: “Paper or plastic?” We may mindlessly answer one way or another, just hoping to get home in time for the evening news, or we may think it over for a second, weighing a number of factors: How strong are the bags? How much can each one carry? Will I want to reuse them? Do I care about the environmental impact? Choosing air filtration media entails a similar analytical process, though some of the questions may be a little different. Read on for a few of the main concerns to take into account during your selection process:

Particle Size Ratings: This is probably the first thing to think about when choosing an air filter. Where will the filter be used, and what is it meant to remove from the air? For coarser material like, for instance, sawdust or pollen, filters rated to 100 microns or even more might do the trick (for reference, a human hair is 150 microns wide). Finer materials like dust would bring you down around the 50 micron range, and fume and smoke filtration requires a rating of 1 micron or less.

Efficiency: Also a primary concern in terms of maintenance and effectiveness. A filter’s efficiency is the percentage of particles that it traps and holds as air passes through it. For instance, Dynamic Filtration’s heavy duty industrial thermoset paper filters have a 98%+ efficiency per the SAE fine dust test (for particles of 75 microns or more). Even more impressive, our polyester cloth filters are rated at 98% efficiency for 10 microns.

Material: Back to the original question: typically, options will be either paper or synthetic (polyester) media. The above questions will factor into your decision, as polyester can typically be engineered to capture finer particles. Cost is also a consideration: paper filters are generally less expensive than synthetics. Keep in mind, however, that synthetic filters are washable and reusable, up to 15 times or more. This can drive down the overall cost to less than that of paper filters, over a period of months of years.

Our experts are always ready to answer any additional questions! Contact us for more information.

Vacuum Trucks, Leaves, and Fall Safety

2011-11-28T14:27:00.000-08:00

Who doesn’t enjoy seeing the leaves on trees change colors as the weather starts to turn in the fall? And who doesn’t dread the idea of raking all those leaves a few weeks later, when, shed by the trees, they gather on lawns, sidewalks, and streets. Typically, we rake our leaves, bag them, and leave them by the curb on garbage pickup day. Vacuum trucks used by many cities in the fall and winter months have changed this equation a bit – and made the work just a little easier for homeowners.

In a very informal survey of several people at Dynamic Filtration’s facility, we heard tales of fifty, sixty, or even more bags of leaves gathered at peak foliage time. The use of municipal vacuum trucks can eliminate this costly, wasteful, and, let’s face it, just plain annoying step. Towns are now directing residents to rake their leaves in piles near the curb, for direct pickup by a vacuum truck. Even when this method is used, there are still a few safety measures to keep in mind:

Keep leaves out of the street – wet leaves are one of the biggest driving hazards.
Don’t rake leaves near fire hydrants.
Make sure that drains and sewers are also clear of leaves until pickup occurs.

As you might imagine, leaf pickup also includes lots of other debris – dust, dirt, tree branches, and more. Filters are an important part of vacuum truck construction, as they keep this foreign material from encountering the truck’s pump, wearing down the components and reducing efficiency and speed, which is important when you’re picking up 1,591 tonnes of leaves, as the city of Cambridge, ON did last year! In the meantime, try and enjoy that crisp fall air, and look forward to some piping hot cider at the end of your yard work.

On the Road Again: Our Fabtech 2011 Recap

2011-11-21T10:13:00.000-08:00

Dynamic Filtration had quite the week in Chicago! After a few days at Filtration 2011, our next stop was not too far down the lake shore, at the annual Fabtech expo and conference. From filter frames to vacuum equipment, the metalworking show housed an unparalleled level of expertise, knowledge, and cutting-edge technology, and we had plenty to see. One of the developments that we were most excited about, though, was a new line of portable welding smoke extractors by a longtime partner for whom we provide filter media.

Portable welding smoke extractors are an indispensable and ingenious creation that make workplace – and worker – safety as easy as plugging in a lightweight and moderately sized unit. Rather than installing an integrated, unwieldy, and costly extraction system, these units ease that burden, allowing for much greater flexibility to protect welding personnel. Like any suction system, filtration is important in keeping the vacuum chamber just that – a vacuum. Taking a look at these newer lines of portable smoke and fume extractors enables us to keep building the most effective filters possible, maintaining the highest level of operation for these machines.

Our week on the road was, as always, eye-opening, educational, and fun! Any other Fabtech attendees out there? Please share your stories with us!

Our Kind of Town: Chicago Winter Conferences 2011

2011-11-15T13:24:00.000-08:00

Dynamic Filtration hits the road this week, traveling to Chicago, IL, for not one, but two big industry events: Filtration 2011 at the Navy Pier, and Fabtech, occurring at McCormick Place. Next week, we’ll have a look back at Fabtech, but after a slice of deep dish pizza or three, our first stop is the Filtration event. Fabtech, a massive show, focuses on metal forming processes and products of all types. Filtration 2011, on the other hand, provides us with an opportunity to be around more specialized companies just like us.

We’re looking forward to all of the resources available at Filtration 2011, but a few aspects of the conference are especially appealing to us:

It addresses all industries that use filtration: automotive, HVAC, home, retail, cleanroom, and more
Cutting-edge topics, including eletrostatically charged filters vs. mechanical filters, will be discussed.
It’s a two-way conversation. Panels always devote plenty of time for Q & A.
Although we focus primarily on air filtration, it's a great opportunity to stay abreast of developments across the industry, in both air and liquid filtration media.

Check back next week for our Fabtech recap!

A Look Inside Our Filter Reclamation Process

2011-11-07T15:20:00.001-08:00

Filter reclamation, at first glance, seems like an almost too-good-to-be-true service. It cuts down turnaround times enormously for our customers, providing like-new filters in a fraction of the time that it would take to order and deliver them from the factory. Reclamation and recovery also benefit the environment greatly, and not just from a simple reduction in overall filter use. An important step, following the cleaning process, is the proper disposal of oil, dust, or other material. Often, filters are just disposed of without proper contaminant removal, leading to extremely environmentally-unfriendly waste material.
Because so many of our filters are used for applications like oil, it’s important that our recovery process properly accounts for transport and disposal.

Step one: Ensure that our customer has the proper packaging, including labels for shipping hazardous material.
Step two: Separate the filter from the housing.
Step three: Put the filter through multiple scrubbing and cleaning cycles.
Step four: Visually and mechanically test that the filter is fully cleaned.
Step five: Ship to the customer, again with proper packaging and shipping methods.

The benefits of filter reclamation make this involved process more than worth it to carry out. For more details, get in touch with Dynamic Filtration today.

The Benefits of Agility: Fast Turnarounds for the Oil Industry

2011-11-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

In an ideal world, our industrial filters would operate at perfect efficiency: operating to just their rated capacity, never failing unexpectedly, and generally staying unnoticed. Unfortunately, this kind of predictability just can’t be counted on, especially in high-intensity operations like oil and petroleum drilling and transportation. When equipment malfunctions do occur, it goes without saying that replacements and repairs should happen as quickly as possible, minimizing downtime for equipment and personnel.

With a roster of several large, national customers, it may come as a surprise that Dynamic Filtration maintains the flexibility and first-class service of the job shop next door. This is one of our great strengths, and a reason why our high-profile clients have continued to come to us when they need our products the most. We’ve had a longstanding relationship with one of Canada’s largest oil corporations, providing vacuum truck filter recovery and replacement services immediately – within a day or two – when typical turnarounds for other companies run to two weeks or more. Large or small, our expertise allows us to handle any filtration job, so contact us with any questions!

This Week's Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show

2011-10-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

This week brings the annual Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show to Toronto, and it promises to be as educational and exciting as ever. From innovative exhibitors to informative panelists, there’s always something to see and learn over the four-day event. Dynamic Filtration will be in attendance at the show, as it’s important to us to stay up-to-date on the latest developments and news across all the industries that we work with.

With so many great speakers and events, it’s going to be a difficult decision as to how to spend our time at CMTS2011. A few of the most interesting options include:

“Gain Competitive Advantage by Re-Using Existing Equipment for the Manufacturing of New Products” As a company well-versed in filter refurbishment for many of our clients, we have a special interest in this area.
“Beyond Energy Efficiency to Net Zero Energy (NZE) Buildings” Filtration can make a huge difference in efficient operation of any product where filters are used. Net-zero energy is a fascinating topic, and this session is sure to feature lots of great examples.
Exhibitors from industries including automation, EDM, material handling, plant engineering, and energy efficiency.

Check back with us for more information on the CMTS!