Tackling top ten dust & odour issues

FERCELL’S managing director Mark Fletcher spoke to Skip Hire Magazine about the top ten issues facing the businesses within the dust and odour industry. Here are his answers to some quick fire questions which could help your company deal with dust and odour issues on a day-to-day basis.

1) What is the main issue to avoid any mishaps with any odour and dust equipment?

It is important to understand the scope of control required and ensure that the solution has been designed and correctly installed by properly trained engineers.

We have come across systems that haven’t been planned with the application in mind and as a result they fail in controlling odours and dust, a filter that is designed for one substance may not work with others.

2) How do you keep the equipment running efficiently?

We start with a sound design, which takes issues such as service intervals and ease of maintenance into account, as poorly designed equipment tends to required high frequency – high cost service intervention.

Along with this we recommend comprehensive planned, preventative maintenance when our team of qualified engineers regularly maintain systems replacing and upgrading parts as and when required.

Our client product support extends to occupational hygiene, how provide consultation on issues such as noise assessments, sampling (personal and stack) and Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) CoSHH testing.

3) Is price a big part of any business decisions when deciding on equipment in relation to odour and dust equipment or production of the equipment?

This depends entirely upon the client, however all clients are looking for the best solution at the best price. So although, as the saying goes, ‘you get what you pay for’ there isn’t a client who doesn’t want ‘value for money’.

Any project which we undertake we work from the solution rather than the budget, in this way we can ensure that the client is confident that the equipment will deliver what they require.

As manufacturers we do have some control over costs, having on eye on efficient production techniques, machinery and a keen eye when procuring materials and parts.  For those products that we do have to purchase, we believe that quality presides over cost and are confident that our customers feel the same.

4) What do you need to know as a supplier and producer of odour and dust solutions – anything specific?

As much as possible.  We are not simply selling products from a catalogue. We want to know about the client’s operation and what they want to achieve that way we can be confident that our clients will be happy with their decision to work with us.

We are acutely aware of the demands on our client’s time and so are flexible on how they wish to work, as a preference we would always like to visit site and assess the specifics at first hand.  Nevertheless for those who would rather supply a comprehensive brief we are happy to work from client documentation and or drawings.

Whether a single aspect or complete turnkey, we provide design, manufacture, supply, install and supply as required.

5) Internationally, where do you think is the next target to market? USA or stay within Europe, or maybe further far east?

A lot depends upon the outcome of negations linked to the UK’s exit from the European Union and how easy trading will be with other markets.

For the moment our concentration is on the UK, we do not have the option of uprooting our operations and relocating to a different country and for the present we are happy with the arrangements and growth we have with various European and international partners.

6) What do you think is the main cause for the rise in the odour and dust sector? Many have linked it to bio-waste and the potential damaging emissions bio-waste is creating?

There is clear understanding of the impact of pollution and the importance to control it both at a community and legislative level.

It is true that there is an increase in demand from new industries such as bio-waste, however demand from maturing markets remains strong, after all those hungry for success are always looking to improve and some want to go beyond best practice.

7) Is working alongside an insurance company of utmost importance with the dangers of fire and explosion risk?

Not necessarily, in our experience insurance companies don’t drive product development.

It is important that whatever we provide our clients meets with both their requirements and those of their insurers.

Effectiveness and efficiency for all aspects of the solution are ‘of the upmost importance’.

8) As well as foul odours and dust, what particular particles do these suppression systems prevent? i.e. silica and asbestos fibres.

Providing we know what substance needs to be controlled, we can design a solution to deal with the vast majority of materials, including carbon, cement, coffee, composite, fibre, flour, gypsum, metals, plastics, fumes and gases.

9) Why do you think the industry will grow further and does this relate to the government putting more pressure on companies to reduce impact on environment?

It’s safe to consider that the government, for the short to mid-term, will be preoccupied with the arrangements for the UK’s exit from the EU.

The environment is clearly high on the public’s and media’s agenda, and so should be so with the government.  We hope and expect that organisations will become more and more responsible for their outputs and their individual effects on it.

Considering that The Environmental Impact Act was passed in 1990, it is quite possible that this could be updated in the near future.

10) Is there anything buyers of such equipment can do to maintain their odour and dust equipment?

Much like any piece of equipment and machinery, if you look after it, it will look after you and the peace of mind a preventative maintenance contract gives over the unknown of reactive call outs always has to be the best option.