applications

UK manufacturer Filtermist has been designing and building oil mist collectors since 1969. Its 10th generation FX and S Series units still use the same centrifugal impaction principle as the very first units, with efficiency and performance improved continuously over the decades. As modern enclosed machine tools run faster and high pressure coolant delivery becomes common, far more coolant mist is generated — the latest Filtermist systems and accessories are designed for exactly these demands.

Shanghai Elink MRO Co., Ltd. is the Filtermist distributor in China (Filtermist oil mist filters). This page gathers Filtermist installation galleries and customer case studies across eight typical processes.

1. EDM / Spark Erosion

Filtermist oil mist filter systems are in regular use extracting fume and mist from EDM applications.

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Case Study: Doncasters Precision Machining (United Kingdom, High precision machined components)

The Flexible Solution to Oil Mist and EDM Fume

Application: Grinding and eroding operations were generating large amounts of oil mist and fume that needed to be removed from open machines. oil mist filter units needed to combine extremely high performance with the flexibility of being stand alone systems that could be easily moved around the factory.

Solution: Filtermist oil mist filter units provide the proven, high performance required for the open machining operations. Loc-Line Vacuum hose is used to accurately position collection hoods over the grinding and eroding equipment, maintaining the freedom to position Filtermist units in the most convenient location adjacent to the machine.

Doncasters Precision Machining has had success in the removal of oil mist and fumes from its grinding and electro discharge machining operation in Shrewsbury by specifying a very flexible, high performance solution from Filtermist.

A specialist in machining cast and forged nozzle guide vanes and turbine blades for gas turbine engines, Doncasters Precision Machining undertakes a wide range of grinding and eroding operations. Bob Comley, the manufacturing engineer responsible for space and equipment planning at the Shrewsbury facility, comments:

"We require an oil mist filter system that can meet a wide range of demanding criteria. Highly efficient removal of oil mist and smoke together with performance powerful enough to cope with open machining operations are prerequisites. Our lean manufacturing policy also demands high flexibility and Filtermist are able to supply a proven stand-alone system that is extremely easy to move around the factory as the need arises."

"Filtermist are able to supply a proven stand-alone system that is extremely easy to move around the factory as the need arises."

The flexibility of the Filtermist oil mist filters includes stand-mounted versions that are supplied vertically mounted to suit each application. In addition, Loc-Line Vacuum Hose is used to accurately position collection hoods whilst maintaining the freedom to position the filter unit in the most convenient location adjacent to the machine. Offering 360° flexibility, this extremely resilient modular hose system does not creep out of position and can be simply pushed to one side when the operator requires access to the machine.

Filtermist were chosen to provide a large part of the fume and oil mist removal during the company's move from Crewe to Shrewsbury, and now provide a full service and maintenance package for all their filter units across the site. The stand-alone filter stays with the machine to which it is allocated, allowing Doncasters to plan re-commissioning without any concern about the availability of an effective extraction system at the new site.

2. Grinding

Filtermist oil mist filters can be used to extract coolant and dust created by open and enclosed grinding operations. A range of pre-filters offer customised systems designed for heavier grinding applications.

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Case Study: Multigrind Services (United Kingdom, Precision grinding services and CNC machined parts)

Filtermist oil mist filter transforms atmosphere in grinding workshop

Application: Large grinding machines create a lot of heat that instantly vaporises coolant. Open machines mean oil mist can easily enter the workshop atmosphere.

Solution: The Filtermist FX7000 large capacity oil mist filter has completely transformed the workshop, virtually eliminating all traces of oil mist in the atmosphere.

Filtermist has recently supplied Multigrind Services Ltd with a new oil mist filter unit, to compliment the company's twenty year old model. The new addition is the very latest design and the largest model available with airflow filtration at 2750m

Based in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, Multigrind provides a range of precision grinding services and CNC machined parts in both ferrous and non-ferrous metals and engineering plastics. The company's success has been through its innovative and flexible approach, coupled with the ability to be highly competitive for niche and specialist work.

The machine shop houses a vast array of both traditional and CNC machinery and has a highly skilled workforce that is able to react quickly to provide innovative machining solutions for its customers. Projects include: hydraulic and pneumatic parts, gear wheels for military tanks, racing and Indy car parts for Renault F1, Lola Cars and even Ferrari wheel hubs! More details can be found at

The company's largest centreless grinder, a Cincinnati 3EA, is a tremendously powerful machine that can grind a bar up to 150mm in diameter and 4m in length! However the open-sided nature of this type of machine allows oil mist to go directly into the workshop atmosphere.

"One of our other machines already uses a Filtermist oil mist filter that is at least 15 or 20 years old and still running like new!"

MD Steve Worsdall comments: "The big centreless grinder uses a lot of power and creates a lot of heat, it instantly vaporises coolant into an airborne haze that fogs the workshop up. One of our other machines already uses a Filtermist oil mist filter that is at least 15 or 20 years old and still running like new! We wanted to create a more pleasant environment from a health and safety perspective so we asked Filtermist to help."

"The new Filtermist FX7000 collector has made a significant difference. The old filter unit is still running perfectly after all this time, but the capacity of the new model is astounding, it's completely transformed the workshop."

The Filtermist filter uses centrifugal impaction to collect the oil mist as it is sucked through the core of the unit, expelling clean air into the atmosphere and safely returning oil to the machine's reservoir. In open-sided applications such as this, fishtail hoods are placed close to the grinding wheel to capture the oil mist at source.

3. Machining Centres

Filtermist oil mist filters are compatible with machining centres made by many of the world’s leading OEMs

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Case Study: Mills Manufacturing Technology (United Kingdom, Machine tool distributor)

Mills choose Filtermist Oil Mist Collectors for next generation machines

Application: New generation machines require increased coolant delivered at high pressures and flow rates. The result is significantly more oil mist generation.

Solution: Filtermist oil mist collectors fitted as an integral part of new TT machines, keeping machine shops clean and meeting the requirements of stringent health & safety legislation.

Highly successful machine tool distributor Mills Manufacturing Technology of Leamington Spa, has chosen an advanced oil mist filtration system from Filtermist to compliment their new range of sophisticated Twin Turret Mill-Turn Centres.

Mills is the fastest growing machine tool company in the UK and has an annual turnover exceeding £25M. It provides high-precision machining solutions for companies involved with aerospace, automotive, medical, power engineering, oil & gas, and mould making industries. Since 1979 Mills has been the UK distributor for Doosan Daewoo and has recently added the TT series of 8 axis Mill-Turn Machines to the range, bringing the total number of models in their range to over 150.

Mills have been using Filtermist oil mist filtration systems continuously for over 20 years. Filtermist install the oil mist collection units at the Mills factory before the machine is delivered, and then provide after sales support and field maintenance to Mills customers. Filtermist's advanced centrifugal impaction systems remove oil mist from the air by separating the oil with rotating vanes. The oil is collected and returned safely to the machine for re-use while clean air is pumped back into the atmosphere.

Nick Frampton, Operations Director at Mills, comments: "The Filtermist range of oil mist collector units will form an integral part of the new TT range. Filtermist have become the name synonymous with oil mist collection. Our customers ask for a 'Filtermist' in the same way that people ask for a Hoover rather than a vacuum cleaner".

"Filtermist have become the name synonymous with oil mist collection"

Managing Director at Mills, Mike Jenkins adds: "If an accessory fails in the field it reflects directly on us and the customer expects immediate help. Therefore it is absolutely imperative that our suppliers are 100% reliable and are able to respond immediately with full UK support. The Filtermist oil mist collectors are quiet and trouble free, the service we receive is absolutely first class and good value for money."

Improved cutting techniques, superior finishing, swarf removal from deep holes, extended tool life and the removal of heat generated from multifunctional high-speed machining are common factors which require increased coolant delivered at high pressures and flow rates. The result is significantly more oil mist generation. With stringent health and safety legislation combined with the need for machine shops to be clean and pleasant places to work; it is no surprise that an increasing number of companies are demanding oil mist filtration systems fitted at source.

Mike Jenkins explains: "Mills is a distribution and support operation, not a manufacturer, so it is vital for us to have partner relationships that we can rely on and trust. Filtermist specify and install oil mist collector units with minimum involvement from Mills, they know and understand our machinery and customer requirements. We have an ethos at Mills that it should be easy for our customers to deal with us and we expect the same from our suppliers. Filtermist certainly live up to all our expectations with installation and service engineers responding rapidly to any eventuality."

4. Industrial Saws

Filtermist oil mist filters can extract oil and coolant mist created by Industrial Saws.

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5. Food Processing

Stainless Steel Filtermist oil mist eliminators are available to extract vegetable and food oils from Food Processing applications.

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Case Study: Spray-on Technology (United Kingdom, Food and catering)

Helping the food industry to take control of their environment

Application: Spray-on Technology 'Ecodisc Midi' applying food coatings (releasing agents, fats, oils and flavours etc) directly onto food products using spinning discs and spray nozzles, creating an airborne mist.

Solution: Stainless Steel Filtermist centrifugal impaction collector unit fitted to remove mist for hygienic and cross-contamination reasons.

Filtermist has been selected to supply Spray-on Technology Ltd with oil mist collector units for the company's new top-of-the-range food spraying machine. Each 'Ecodisc Midi' is fitted with 24 separate disc sprayers and a stainless steel Filtermist FX4000.

Spray-on Technology manufacture a wide range of machinery for an international customer base. The machines apply different coatings (releasing agents, fats, oils and flavours etc) directly onto food products and into baking trays; typical applications include bread, pizzas, poultry, biscuits, cakes and confectionary.

The company uses two main principles of operation to apply the coatings; spinning discs, which evenly coat the entire food product, and spray nozzles for directional coatings. Both methodologies create airborne mist that needs to be removed for hygienic and cross contamination reasons.

The Filtermist collector units use centrifugal impaction to remove the residual mist and ensure the machines don't become sticky or gummed-up with the old coatings. Internal vanes are rotated at high-speed to impact against the mist droplets, condensing them back into a liquid as they are drawn through the collector unit and safely deposited into waste outlets. The collectors are manufactured in stainless steel for easy cleaning and extreme anticorrosive properties. collection airflows range from 180 m

"Filtermist took great care selecting the right collector unit for each application and they have been totally reliable from day one."

Filtermist worked closely with Spray-on Technology to determine the correct collection levels for each type of machine. Mark Budden - Managing Director comments, "We use Filtermist collector units on several different machines as well as our new flagship model. Filtermist took great care selecting the right collector unit for each application and they have been totally reliable from day one. We have never had a problem with any of the Filtermist oil mist collectors in the field, they perform well and we're happy to continue using them."

Filtermist provide a world-leading range of oil mist collectors and coolant control products together with the most advanced and effective solutions available for removal of oil mist and other airborne contaminants. All Filtermist products are supplied with a comprehensive warranty and optional maintenance agreement.

6. Lathes

Filtermist oil mist filter systems can be used to extract coolant mists produced by turning and machining.

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Case Study: Tenable Screw Ltd (United Kingdom, High precision components)

Space saving designs for oil mist filtration system in a tightly packed workshop

Application: A highly effective and compact oil mist filtration system was required for CNC machining operations at a workshop in London where space is at a premium.

Solution: The compact Filtermist oil mist filter was combined with bespoke design, space saving brackets. Oil mist was virtually eliminated and there are no obstacles to inhibit the movement of machine operators around the machines.

In common with many UK machine tool workshops, space is often at a premium. London-based turning company Tenable Screw Limited discovered that size really does matter when installing its latest CNC equipment!

In this instance help was at hand from Filtermist, in the form of extremely compact Filtermist oil mist filtration units and bespoke design, ultra-slim mounting brackets.

Founded in 1940 and still family owned, Tenable Screw manufactures high precision components by the million from its three sites in London, Wiltshire and Coventry. These are produced in many materials and various grades of stainless steel. The company uses the Filtermist oil mist filter units to remove the mist produced when coolant meets hot metal. Surprisingly, it is the latest CNC machine installations that needed bespoke design work by Filtermist in order to maximise the space available!

Works Manager Trevor Peacock takes up the story; "We have been using Filtermist's range of oil mist filtration units for many years. With a tightly packed machine shop, we were especially pleased with the help we received from Filtermist in minimising the space required by these new machines. They listened to our needs and redesigned the mounting brackets to move the compact filter units to a more convenient location on top of the machine. This has made a huge difference to us, saving space, minimising potential health and safety issues and enabling our operators to move easily around the machine without any obstacles in the way."

"Filtermist is a responsive organisation that supplies reliable oil mist filtration equipment and good aftercare service."

Trevor further comments "In the short period before the Filtermist filter unit is fitted you really notice how much oil mist is being produced - in fact there are some jobs we simply couldn't run without one! Filtermist is a responsive organisation that supplies reliable equipment and good aftercare service."

7. Parts Washing

Stainless Steel Filtermist oil mist filter units are ideal for extracting steam created by Industrial Washing processes.

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Case Study: Clean-Tek (United Kingdom, Washing, degreasing and ultrasonic equipment)

Letting off steam at Clean-Tek

Application: Heat and steam needs to be removed from washing and degreasing equipment to prevent it from entering the workshop atmosphere.

Solution: Stainless steel Filtermist mist filters remove the heat and steam at source and successfully withstand the highly corrosive environment.

Filtermist has supplied a high temperature, corrosion resistant version of its renowned mist filter unit for the fast removal of steam from Clean-Tek's powerful aqueous cleaning systems.

Clean-Tek washing and degreasing machines are part of the product range of Wheelabrator Group a global manufacturer and supplier of surface preparation equipment. Clean-Tek offer a diverse range of washing, degreasing and ultrasonic equipment from cost effective bench top models to customised high volume machinery for automotive, aerospace and other industrial applications.

Filtermist's stainless steel version of its Filtermist FX6000 mist filter has been developed to cope with high temperatures and the volume of steam produced by applications such as front loading parts washers. The rotary washer heats a water based detergent solution to around 75 degrees and pumps it through distribution arms to spray-clean the parts as they are rotated inside the washer.

When an operative needs to open the machine, the heat and steam needs to be safely removed first. At the end of the wash cycle the mist filter unit starts up and extracts the heat and steam through the side of the washer. As the steam is drawn through the unit it impacts against rotating impellors, while cool air is pulled in through an open vent to aid the condensing process. The collected water is then returned to the machine's reservoir, whilst the heat is dispersed through the top of the filter.

"the very first mist filters we tested couldn't withstand the temperature or corrosiveness of the vapour. The current stainless steel version performs well and has proved to be reliable."

Clive Ward - General Sales Manager comments "there is a huge glut of heat and steam to deal with at the extraction point; the very first units we tested couldn't withstand the temperature or corrosiveness of the mist. The current stainless steel version performs well and has proved to be reliable."

"The Filtermist mist filter fits well with the machine's profile and performance, it's reflects the build quality, is space efficient, robust, reliable, and reasonably priced. It also looks an integral part of the washer, which is very important".

8. Special Purpose

Filtermist oil mist filters can be used on almost any application creating oil and coolant mists or steam.

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