Vacuum cleans up green bean dust

Green coffee beans come into the plant via bulk containers and are tipped into floor grills before being cleaned. Green bean dust is a potential allergen, so reducing /eliminating dust is important for the health of operators working in this area.

Prior to the project, operators were using brushes or compressed airlines to collect the dust, but a vacuum solution was deemed necessary to improve dust containment.   During a DSEAR assessment, blowing dust was identified as a problem as the fine dust has potential explosive qualities. As a result, the area is now classified as ATEX Zone 22 and any clean-up must be carried out with ATEX Zone 22 certified equipment.

Mondelez called in Nilfisk’s Industrial Vacuum Solutions area manager, Paul Gage. After a site survey, Gage specified a 415v CTS40 Z22 industrial vacuum with 15m of anti-static hose and tools. The 4 KW vacuum is fixed to the wall from where the hose can clean down the entire production area and the haulage containers.

The compact CTS40 is easy to use and suitable for confined areas where a powerful machine is required. The steel waste bin has a capacity of 50L; the wheeled design and quick release mechanism makes for easy disposal of hazardous products. 

Larry Parkes, warehouse shift lead for Mondelez in Banbury, commented: "We previously used compressed air lines to blow the dust out prior to collection but this was not ideal. The Nilfisk CTS40 is a much improved solution, the advice and support we have received from Nilfisk both pre and post-sale was excellent."