Aerospace manufacturing requires clean air for high-performance production environments

Key clean-air challenges in aerospace manufacturing

Composite processing is particularly important within aerospace manufacturing. Cutting, routing, drilling, sanding and finishing carbon-fibre reinforced polymers, fibreglass and other composite materials can generate fine dust and fibres that must be effectively captured before they spread throughout the production environment. High-vacuum source extraction is particularly well suited to on-tool applications, hand-held tools and centralized extraction systems serving multiple workstations. Learn more about composite machining.

Metal fabrication and machining create different air-quality requirements. Welding generates hazardous fumes, while grinding, cutting and machining can produce dust, particles and oil mist. Low-vacuum dust collectors and fume filtration systems are typically suited to machines and processes requiring larger air volumes, while oil mist filtration can be applied to machining operations using coolants and lubricants. Explore our applications for welding fume extraction and oil mist filtration.

Clean production environments are also important for aerospace manufacturing quality and productivity. Effective source capture and industrial housekeeping help limit contaminant buildup around workstations, equipment and production areas while supporting cleaner conditions for sensitive processes such as surface preparation, bonding, coating and finishing. Understand the role of industrial housekeeping and different dust collection methods.

Aircraft and aerospace component manufacturing

Manufacturing fuselage structures, wings, control surfaces, engine and propulsion components, landing gear and other precision aerospace parts involves a broad combination of machining, fabrication, composites processing and finishing. Our solutions help control dust, fumes and airborne contaminants throughout these demanding production environments.

Composite and advanced-material manufacturing in aerospace engineering

Advanced composites help aerospace manufacturers reduce weight while achieving demanding performance requirements. The machining and finishing of these materials can generate significant quantities of fine dust and fibres. We provide both high- and low-vacuum extraction solutions for processes ranging from on-tool extraction and manual finishing to larger automated machining operations.

Space and advanced aerospace manufacturing

Launch vehicles, spacecraft structures and other advanced aerospace systems rely on many of the same high-performance materials and precision manufacturing processes found in aircraft production. Effective dust and fume control can support cleaner working environments across composite processing, precision fabrication, machining and large-component finishing. 

Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul

MRO operations regularly involve sanding, corrosion removal, grinding, composite repair, machining, welding, surface preparation and coating. Flexible source-capture, industrial cleaning and containment solutions can help facilities adapt clean-air control to changing aircraft, components and maintenance activities.

Large component handling

Aircraft structures, wings and other large aerospace components can be difficult and costly to move between dedicated process rooms. Sanding, grinding, surface preparation, painting and coating can therefore create unique challenges for both contaminant control and production flow.

Flexible and retractable clean-air enclosures can create controlled work areas around the component when required and retract when the process is complete. This allows manufacturers and MRO facilities to make better use of valuable production space and reduce unnecessary movement of large workpieces.