The context: a highly complex industrial environment
In the recovery and recycling of scrap metal and surface slag from hot-dip galvanising of steel, dust management is one of the most critical environmental and safety challenges. These plants handle powdery materials such as foams, mats and zinc ash, which generate significant fine dust emissions into the air during handling, shredding and processing.
When a company operating in this sector contacted us, it was clear from the first interview that they needed to find an effective and - above all - safe solution for their personnel and moving vehicles.
The challenge: dust at height, moving vehicles, zero safe spaces on the ground
The initial inspection immediately revealed a not insignificant operational criticality: there was no safe position on the ground within the production area where a conventional spray gun could be installed. The area was continuously occupied by heavy vehicles engaged in the handling of scrap and materials: mechanical shovels, trucks, overhead travelling cranes and operating machines alternated non-stop, making it impossible to permanently position a piece of equipment at ground level without creating real risks of interference and injury.
The solution could only be verticalInstalling the cannons at height, on existing structures, to completely clear the floor level and at the same time ensure optimal coverage of the dustiest areas.
The installed solution: C42 Bikini and Phoenix Bikini with radio control
The project involved the installation of two spray cannons:
- C42 Bikini, positioned at height on an existing structure, with a range of 40 metres. Thanks to its power and its bikini configuration (cannon at height and pump and controls on the ground), it is able to cover large areas with a fine, uniform fog, ideal for abating dust in the areas of greatest material handling.
- Phoenix Bikini, also installed in an elevated position, with a range of 20 metres, perfect for targeted coverage of more limited but equally dust-critical areas.
Both cannons were equipped with the radio control, which allows operators to orient, adjust and activate the cannons from a safe distance, without having to climb on the structures during operation. This solution guarantees the maximum operational flexibility and is perfectly suited to the ever-changing environment of a metal recovery plant.
For both machines we opted for high-pressure pumps to act with a finer mist, reducing water consumption and avoiding puddles or rivulets on the ground.
Results: dust abated, safety guaranteed
Today the plant has an effective, safe and perfectly integrated dust suppression system in its daily workflow. Zero interference with the internal road network, full coverage of critical areas and guaranteed operation in all conditions.
For us at Cannoni Conrad, this intervention confirms once again that there is no such thing as a universal solution: each system has its own specificities, and our work always begins with listening and analysis, even before installation.
