Page 40 - Australasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2023

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Sanding and Dust Extraction
PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2023 WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
RUPES DUST EXTRACTION SYSTEMS
DUST IS A COLLISION REPAIR WORKSHOP’S WORST ENEMY, BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE, THANKS TO RUPES.
FOR OVER 70 YEARS, RUPES HAS BEEN A
leading manufacturer of specialist tools, accessories and consumables for surface preparation, correction and refinishing, which includes mobile and centralised, dust extraction systems.
Dust reduces tool life, with fine particles infiltrating precision mechanisms, as well as abrasive life, and makes clean up harder, which increases costs and reduces efficiency. Most important of all, the inhalation of fine dust particles can cause long term health issues for staff and techs.
Working with hazardous materials, such as carbon fibre and aluminium, un- der Zone 22 classification, which poses ad- ditional risks of highly flammable dust particles, ATEX certification is also a strong consideration for dust management.
Depending on the specific workshop needs, the number of repair bays and the scope of the work it undertakes, RUPES can help.
It starts with the RUPES S2, the origi- nal, mobile dust extractor. It has a packed list of features, and includes the ability to run two pneumatic sanders – or a single electric sander – on the S245EPL.
Each S2 unit is a compact, manoeu- vrable workstation, with large castor wheels, sturdy handle and the unit top can accept multiple Systainer T-LOC toolboxes. They have auto and manual start up, self-cleaning filters, and dust bags that are easy to replace.
For a fully pneumatic solution, espe- cially when working with highly flam- mable materials and dust particles, the KX135AN is a fully automatic, mobile unit that works on air pressure, with no electrical parts.
Finally, in the mobile range, is the KR2A, mobile turbine dust extractor and workstation, which is also available for use in Zone 22 environments, is the jew- el in RUPES’ crown.
The KR2A turbine workstation is for
shops with the highest workload, where consistency of constant operation, and reduced running costs are paramount. Suction is via a powerful, 1500-watt tur- bine motor, with substantially lower maintenance costs.
There are no brushes, filter bags and brush motors to be replaced (only filters) and the start-up investment can be com- pletely recovered within one year (approx- imately 1,600 hours), when compared to non-turbine dust extraction units.
For situations where non-ATEX dust extraction is already installed, maybe a RUPES PFX50 ATEX pre-filter is the an- swer, and centralised turbine towers, drop control units and bespoke installa- tion is also available.
RUPES’ range of random orbital sand- ers, both electric and pneumatic – high- ly recommended for use in Zone 22 envi- ronments – with matching anti-static hoses to suit, include the Skorpio III pneumatic sanders in a choice of 3mm, 6mm and 9mm orbits, with Skorpio E of- fering a 3mm and 6mm orbit.
RUPES anti-static conic hose assem- blies are available in five and eight-me- tre lengths and offer 20 percentage bet- ter performance than standard hoses. They dissipate electrostatic charges gen- erated via the sanding process, more safely and efficiently, and are recom- mended where ATEX2014/34/EU stand- ard is required.
For more information call GNG Sales: on 1300 769 109 or visit www.workcleanandsafe.com.au.
Working with hazardous materials, such as carbon fibre and aluminium, under Zone 22 classification poses additional risks of highly flammable dust particles