Mist removal clears the air for Bright Screw

A Filtermist International product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 11, 2005

The new FiltermistXcel2 range uses advanced centrifugal impaction techniques to remove oil mist at source and return it to the machine for reuse, while clean air is sent back into the workplace.

The relationship between an OEM, its customers and its key suppliers can be a critical factor in the success of the business.

In today's highly competitive manufacturing environment it makes sense for OEMs to focus on core activities and use specialist suppliers to provide ancillaries and value-added enhancements for their product range.

But it's not as easy as it sounds.

OEMs need to ensure that fitting ancillary equipment to their machinery will add value to the sale and enhance the product performance, without any quality or reliability consequences as a result.

And that can only be achieved through a first class supplier.

Similarly the "end user" needs trust in the OEM's choice of supplier and has to know that buying machinery with additional enhancements will be of major benefit to them - saving time, simplifying the process, and being confident of the results.

It's a bit like having a factory-fitted sunroof for your car: there's nothing wrong with an after-market retrofit, but it's far easier to buy the car with a sunroof already fitted.

One of these success stories can be clearly seen within the triangular relationship between Filtermist (supplier), Star Micronics GB (OEM) and The Bright Screw Company (end user).

Filtermist produces a range of industry-leading oil mist, smoke and dust filtration systems.

Star Micronics manufactures a wide range of sliding headstock CNC turn-milling machines, and The Bright Screw Company deals in stocks of all types of standard fasteners and manufactures specially turned parts on demand.

Star Micronics of Melbourne, Derbyshire is the wholly owned UK and Ireland subsidiary of Star Micronics Co, which produces sliding headstock lathes at its ultramodern Japanese Plant in Kikugawa.

Star selected Filtermist as its preferred supplier for the removal of oil mist, created when coolant vaporises against hot metal during the machining process.

Filtermist's range of centrifugal impaction units offers high filtration efficiency and combines compact size with lightness, and is a proven solution for meeting occupational health and safety requirements.

Stephen Totty, Engineering Manager at Star Micronics GB, comments: "Filtermist are probably seen as the industry standard".

"Customers say to me 'I want a Filtermist unit' because they're affordable, work well and provide good value for money".

"As a company Filtermist provides outstanding customer service and has the right work ethic and attitude, so we are happy to recommend them to our customers".

"I wish all of our suppliers were as good".

The Bright Screw Company has been situated in Rodley, Leeds for over 60 years and has had to continually expand its facilities to cope with an ever growing order book.

The company deals in standard fastener stock (screws, bolts, rivets, washers etc) and supplies a worldwide customer base with specially turned parts from its 13 Star machines.

Bright Screw previously suffered with slippery floors, heavily misted air plus coolant condensing and dripping from the ceiling.

With health and safety a top priority they turned to Star for advice.

Darren Greig, Production Manager, comments: "Star recommended Filtermist to us, so we tried one to prove the principle".

"Once we'd seen what the first one did, we retrofitted all of our machines, and now every new machine from Star has a Filtermist unit fitted at source, and the difference has been phenomenal".

"Until we installed the Filtermist units, you literally couldn't see the end of the corridor for mist".

Greig added: "Bright Screw has also been impressed with the near silent running and low maintenance aspect - with just an annual service required".

The new FiltermistXcel2 range uses advanced centrifugal impaction techniques to remove oil mist at source and return it to the machine for reuse, while clean air is sent back into the workplace.