Flextraction Supplies Fume Extraction Equipment for North Herts College

Flextraction Ltd, supplier and manufacturer of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) has recently delivered 6 wall mounted fume and dust extraction systems to Weldability-Sif in Letchworth Garden City and Flextraction Installation Engineers installed the equipment in the UK’s first specialist foundation level welder training facility at Stevenage Skills Centre, part of North Hertfordshire College (NHC).

These systems, two of which will be used with the College’s existing Flextraction systems, incorporate the Company’s latest totally self supporting Hood Positioning Devices (HPD) with 100mm diameter flared hoods equipped with mesh guards.

Managing Director Lee Darton said: “Weldability-SIF entered into partnership with The Welding Institute (TWI) and the College, to initiate foundation level welder skills training at the College as a step towards a full apprenticeship programme designed to meet demand and overcome the skills gaps in the UK welding industry. We have earlier installed our fume extraction equipment in 6 welding bays, but due to demand for welding courses, the College has built a further 6 bays, making 12 in total. This is the fourth order for fume extraction equipment for installation at this College. As an approved sponsor to the Weldability-Sif Foundation Charity set up to specifically encourage the development of new welder training facilities, Flextraction has now installed in each of the 12 welding bays; 2m standard telescopic HPDs, incorporating black polyester coated 100mm diameter PVC 371 hoses with a coated mild steel 100mm diameter flared hood and mesh guard.

Each HPD was supplied fully assembled with wall mounting bracket, control damper and with no internal components. Each bay was also fitted with an electronic airflow indicator attached to each hood to monitor the extraction air flow. In addition to the HPDs Flextraction also designed and installed the spiral galvanised sheet steel ductwork needed to safely extract the welding fumes and dust from the welding bays to a point outside the building. This was designed with inspection/access doors, flexible hose connections and supporting brackets, as well as being sized to give a good conveyance velocity throughout its length. These latest systems are an exact extension of the original contract to meet the growing demand for welder training.”