Solar Whiz Commercial — Modular Cranes

Business

Modular Cranes – Gantry, Jib, Overhead Crane Manufacturers

Region

Derrimut, Victoria (3030)

Client’s Needs

Modular Cranes is proudly 100% Australian-owned and manufactures overhead, gantry, and jib cranes (along with a range of components for said cranes).

They sought us out to help reduce the fumes from fabrication and welding. The existing whirlybirds already installed on the building were simply not enough to remove the large volume of fumes being produced. The average industrial whirlybird is capable of moving up to 1,000m³ per hour, but only under ideal conditions, which are rare occurrences.

As a result, the roller doors had to be left open at all times, in order to remove the fumes from the interior. This meant that the interior was vulnerable to fluctuations in temperature as well as exposure to dust and other pollutants that could compromise the highly specialised welds of Modular Cranes’ products.

Melbourne’s western industrial area is relatively flat and lacks many forms of obstruction like trees and dense residential property clusters. With the doors being kept wide open to help ventilate out fumes for the entire day, regardless of the weather and season meant that the workshop was frequently uncomfortable to work in. Particularly during winter, when temperatures dropped and the open roller doors brought in cold and damp air.

Our Solution

We proposed installing 3× SW-AU-C-155 industrial roof exhaust fans. Modular Cranes had around 11 existing industrial whirlybirds already installed, which would reduce the effectiveness of our extraction fans. This is because the Solar Whiz roof exhaust fans draw replacement air from the closest available source, which in this case, would be the openings from the closest whirlybirds.

To solve this issue we suggested Modular Cranes remove 6 of the whirlybirds showing the most wear, and which would be in the closest proximity to the proposed SW-AU-C-155 industrial roof exhaust fans. The holes left by the removed whirlybirds were then patched to help improve ventilation.

Results

After the installation of the 3 SW-AU-C-155 industrial roof exhaust fans, the team at Modular Cranes has reported a definitive increase in fume extraction. The proper industrial ventilation has also meant that the roller doors no longer have to be left open, resulting in warmer, more stable conditions and temperatures in the workshop.