Aerospace Manufacturer Reduces Backlogs With Flexible Clean Air Workspace
Situation
An aerospace manufacturer had an unusually large number of projects underway in the same facility, each of which required prep work, sanding and painting. With so many functions to perform, it was hard to balance the space needed at the same time for sanding and painting and the time required to get work done with the movement of work pieces. The result was a backlog of work for some functions.
The client needed more flexibility to paint and sand in the same area of the facility, and they needed more flexibility within that space.
Solution
Duroair designed a solution with up to three clean-air chambers, each with its patented six-stage DuroPure™ air filtration system. These portable enclosures serve as an all-in-one sanding, coating and painting booth where workers simply change out filters for each task.
The retractable enclosure does not disrupt other adjacent manufacturing or maintenance operations or require additional space. The aerospace manufacturer can now perform up to three separate clean-air operations in the same area at the same time, which reduces interruptions, saves material handling costs and improves the bottom line.
This solution is compliant to OSHA, EPA and NESHAP industrial air quality standards for work involving hazardous air pollutants such as hexavalent chromium, isocyanates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The entire unit is retractable and can even be installed on wheels.
Results
The aerospace manufacturer has the potential to triple its productivity while reducing material handling. The flexibility provides opportunities to eliminate or reduce backlogs, especially since some functions require more time than others. The time saved quickly adds up.
Among the flexibility realized:
- The aerospace manufacturer can place an aircraft engine in each of the three chambers, and each engine can be prepped, sanded and painted in the same space, even if the adjacent chambers are being used for a different function at the same time.
- If the manufacturer wants to dedicate each chamber to a specific function, the workpiece is moved the shortest possible distance for the next function.
- One or both of the interior walls can be removed to create a larger space to be used for a single function on a larger workpiece, such as a wing.
Contact our industrial clean air experts today for a free consultation on how we can create the most flexible solution possible to increase your operational efficiency and improve your bottom line while staying within your floor plan and space limitations.