Food Safety Hazards and Combustible Dust
Q. What are some of the applications of your vacuums in food plants?
Q. What features and benefits of industrial vacuums are beneficial to the maintenance needs of the food industry?
A. Aside from high-quality, reliable motors and superior filtration, industrial vacuums are available in many different models with a wide range of hoses and accessories to meet the diverse cleaning challenges of the food industry.
- Overhead cleaning kits for reaching pipes, vents and the tops of machinery
- Heat-resistant wands, nozzles and Nomex® filters that can withstand extreme oven temperatures
- Corrosion-resistant, stainless steel vacuums that can be quickly decontaminated with little to no trace of food residue
- Color-coded nozzles to prevent cross-contamination
- Explosion proof models and anti-static accessories to protect workers from potentially dangerous sparks
Q. Why are industrial vacuum cleaners better than low-cost mops, brooms and compressed air?
Mops, Brooms & Compressed Air vs. High-Quality Vacuum Cleaner
The efficiency of an industrial vacuum cleaner can cut cleaning time in half, and literally save thousands of dollars! Whether a plant operates 40 hours a week or 24/7, facilities would get a return on investment on a $2,000 vacuum cleaner in less than 2 months. Check out the chart below.

Q. We are tired of replacing our shop-style vacuums every time they break (which is a lot). How is an industrial vacuum different than a shop-style vac?
Aside from motor burn-up, shop-style vacuums also do an inadequate job of retaining collected materials due to poor filtration. Quality industrial vacuums are equipped with oversized filters which allow the vacuum to filter more efficiently. The larger the filter, the more space there is to trap particles that would otherwise clog or "blind" the filter, reducing suction and performance. Industrial vacuums also have graduated or multi-stage filtration systems. These systems require debris to pass through several steps of filtration, such as a paper bag, main cloth filter and/or HEPA, with each level acting as a barrier to the next. By the time the particles reach the last stage, the majority of debris has been trapped by previous filters. Shop-style vacuums are usually only equipped with single-stage filtration systems, allowing particles to pass through the motor and disperse back into the facility through the exhaust stream.
Unlike most shop-style vacuums, industrial vacuums are also available with many different features that increase run time and help prolong the life of the vacuum. For example, a manual or automatic filter cleaning system frees the filter from caked-on dust and debris before it can clog the filter and reduce vacuum suction. Industrial vacuums can also be customized for specific applications, such as machine integration or multiple users.
Shop-Style Vacuum vs. Quality Industrial Vacuum
Upgrading from a shop-style vacuum to an industrial vacuum will save you both money and trips to the dumpster, especially when collecting fine powders on a consistent basis. The table below doesn't even take into account the reduced labor costs associated with an industrial vacuum purchase as a result of time-saving features like self-cleaning filters.

Q. We collect sugar dust, which is an explosive dust. Do we need an explosion proof vacuum?
Q. When faced with an OSHA combustible dust fine, should I consider an explosion proof vacuum or dust ignition proof vacuum – or will mops and brooms do the job?
That's why specialized industrial vacuums are now generally accepted as the best way to combat combustible dust and other explosive materials. However, in many cases these vacuums – with electric motors and metal parts – could produce a dangerous spark. Simply put, when it comes to safe plant sanitation, not just any vacuum will do.