Have you heard what Nilfisk customers are saying about us? Things like, “It has reduced our labor, it has helped us keep the plant clean, it has helped us in the fight to keep the dust down. We’re very happy with it.” or “the best vacs in the world!”

These statements and many more are featured on our new customer testimonial page on our website, www.NilfiskIndustrialVacuums.com. Over the years, we’ve solved thousands of housekeeping challenges, and while we (Nilfisk employees) know we provide a quality vacuum with the expert know-how that far surpasses others, the ultimate compliment is when we hear statements from our customers that prove we’re accomplishing our goals to help manufacturers increase productivity, improve worker health & safety, meet industry guidelines, and produce a high quality product.

So don’t just take our word for it, see what our customers have to say about Nilfisk Industrial Vacuums!

But beware of impost0rs! There are fellow vacuum manufacturers who are “muddying the waters” by making false claims. One example is a company who has been touting their air-operated vacuum cleaners as approved by an OSHA NRTL (nationally recognized testing laboratory) and referring to them as “explosion-proof.” Unfortunately, this simply isn’t possible. At this point in time, only electric equipment can be approved or certified  “explosion-proof” for hazardous environments. There are no recognized product safety standards or organizations  in North America that certify air-operated or pneumatic equipment for use in hazardous locations.

 We’ve also heard companies mislead folks by stating or implying that their equipment is “OSHA Approved” or “OSHA certified.”  OSHA does NOT certify, recommend, or approve any type of equipment.  It is simply their role to develop, regulate and enforce health and safety rules and guidelines in the workplace. 

As a reminder, here is what you SHOULD look for when choosing an EXP vacuum for hazardous locations.

• True explosion-proof/dust ignition-proof vacuums should be engineered from the ground up to prevent combustible dust explosions.
• All parts should be grounded and built from non-sparking materials – from the outer shell to the switches, motor, filters, and accessories
• Manufacturers should be careful of vacuums that are promoted as explosion-proof, but are really only standard models with a few antistatic options added on
• OSHA does NOT certify or approve any vacuum cleaner. Only Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL), such as the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), has the authority to certify vacuum cleaners as explosion-proof or dust ignition-proof.
• When electricity is unavailable or undesirable, safe pneumatic vacuums are excellent alternatives to electric explosion-proof vacuums
• All pneumatic (air-operated) vacuums are not explosion-proof vacuums
• Safe pneumatic vacuums should be constructed of non-sparking materials, like stainless steel, with ignition-proof parts that meet the highest level of operational safety

Want to know more, visit www.explosionproof-vacuum.com.

Constructed of heavy duty steel and polypropylene, these reliable machines feature solid construction and strong performance at an affordable price. Ideal for collection of powders, liquids, dust and debris, the vacuums are easy to use and maintain, even in the most challenging environments. 

Features and benefits include:

• A manual filter shaker that quickly removes caked on dust from the filter’s surface, maintaining the vacuum’s maximum suction power and improving productivity.
•  A unique release lever lowers the wheeled collection container and acts as a handle for fast and easy disposal of collected debris.
• An optional HEPA filter ensures that 99.995% of particles are retained, down to and including 0.18 microns in size. This exceeds HEPA filter standards.
• For safe collection and easy disposal, the T Series machines are available with a dust bag, safe bag, or Longopac® Collection System, which allows for the collection of material in an “endless” bag that can be filled with the desired quantity, cut, sealed, disposed and immediately restored for a new use.

 The T26, T48 and T63 are compatible with a wide range of Nilfisk CFM attachments and hoses to meet specific application requirements. For more information, visit www.NewNilfiskVacuums.com.

Supplying hamburger buns for the fast food giant McDonalds, the Turano Bakery facility in Orlando, FL must run an exceptional operation in order to bake a quality and consistent product that billions have come to expect.

For nearly half a century, the Turano family has followed European traditions to bake the freshest, highest quality artisan-style breads such as Ciabatta, Focaccia, Hearth-baked Peasant breads, and a variety of rolls. Sharing a favorite family recipe from past generations, they use authentic time honored techniques to ensure exceptional old world flavor in each and every bite. Their extensive line of specialty breads and rolls are delivered fresh daily throughout the Chicagoland area. In addition, Turano Breads can be found across the United States on a frozen basis through food distributors and top national restaurant chains.

The bakery’s state-of-the-art facility, equipped with an automated inspection system and wireless data communications program that allows plant management to adjust the operation as needed, even from home, give Turano the ability to produce approximately 1,100 soft buns a minute, which are then distributed to nearly a thousand McDonalds in the southeast. With such high expectations, there’s no room for error or downtime, even when it comes to maintenance.

According to Jeff Benny, Sanitation Manager, Turano Bakery initially used shop-style vacuums for general cleaning of excess flour that decorates virtually any size baking operation. Unfortunately, these low-cost commercial vacuums frequently overheated, sparked, and broke down, resulting in workers having to take more trips to the dumpster than cleaning their 100,000 sq. ft. facility.  In fact, Jeff estimates they went through 6 to 10 shop-style vacuums in a 1 year period alone.

Fortunately, Jeff was familiar with Nilfisk Industrial Vacuums and his local Florida rep, Rick Stegbauer, from a previous job.  Jeff reached out to Stegbauer, hoping he could visit the plant and assess their needs for a high-quality vacuum that could stand up to their cleaning challenges and not end up in the trash. Stegbauer immediately scheduled a visit to demonstrate several of Nilfisk’s food industry vacuum cleaners. After trying several of them out, Turano settled on the Nilfisk CFM 118, single-phase, portable vacuum cleaner, a favorite in the industry.

“Rick was just great,” said Jeff Benny. “Following the sale, he played an active role in making sure the vacuum was set up right and our staff knew how to use it. He conducted onsite demos and training that really showcased the capabilities of our new investment.”

Since purchasing the Nilfisk vacuum, Jeff is just amazed at how it has transformed cleaning in the plant.

“Our mechanics use it to clean around the Larramore flour reclaimer system, which manages the dusting flour before the buns enter the proof box. Cleaning the Larramore used to be a 2 hour job. Now, it is done in 45 minutes.”

Jeff’s team has also found many other uses for the Nilfisk vacuum, including the packaging area, which now only takes 2 hours to vacuum, compared to the previous method of messy blow down which could take a several hours. He also estimates that overall general cleaning of the facility has decreased from three hours down to an hour and a half in the makeup areas.

With so many quality assurance procedures to implement and daily tasks to complete, Jeff  and the rest of the Turano Orlando team enjoy knowing they don’t have to worry about the vacuum cleaner failing. 

“The Nilfisk CFM 118 fits right into the strict efficiency requirements of this Turano facility,” Jeff remarks. “It’s a dream come true.”

Want to read another Nilfisk CFM 118 success story in the food industry? Check out Curds and Whey: Nilfisk CFM 118 Combats Dusty Whey Powder.

Our new headquarters, located at 740 Hemlock Road, Suite 100, will continue to support our three industrial vacuum cleaner brands: Nilfisk, Nilfisk CFM and Nilfisk ALTO. It is a larger facility that will enable us to keep growing as the industry’s preferred supplier of industrial vacuums.

According to Paul Miller, our VP and General Manager, “Our number one priority is to provide our customers with the best value, quality, and service. Relocating to this facility with increased warehouse space will allow us to meet our customer’s delivery expectations. Our customers can still expect the same quality products we have been offering for more than 100 years.”

The new facility in the Morgantown Business Park also consists of office space for our back office team (where this blog comes from!) that supports Nilfisk Industrial Vacuums’ 17 direct sales managers and large network of distributors, located across the United States and Canada. For more information on our big move, visit www.nilfiskindustrialvacuums.com/newaddress or call 1-800-645-3475. More pictures coming soon!!

Nilfisk CFM Local Reps Trained in Combustible Dust Housekeeping:

Kim Kanis: PA & parts of NY

Mike Piscetelli: NYC and surrounding areas, DE, NJ

Ray McCarthy: New England States

Steve Mitchell: D.C. area, VA, and WV

Rick Stegbauer: FL, GA, AL

John Vielhaber: MI, IN, OH

Scott Boersma: IL, WI, MN, IA, SD, ND

Mark Ramos: WY, NE, UT, CO, KS, OK, MO, AR

Bruce Gordon: AZ, NM, TX, LA

Craig Spence: Southern CA, HI

Rob Millard: NV, CA

Jim Brazil: WA, OR, MT, ID, Western Canada

Canada: Nick Polimeni in Toronto and Jean Francois Painchaud in Quebec and New Brunswick

Details: 

What:  “Clearing the Air: Preventing Combustible Dust Hazards with the Proper Cleaning Equipment”

When:  TODAY! Monday, May 24^th @ 2:30pm

Doors open at 2:20pm

Where: Hyatt Regency Denver (across the street from the convention center)

                Centennial C, Level 3

Details: Combustible dust-related fires and explosions are a constant threat for manufacturers. In fact, OSHA estimates that in the U.S. alone, over 30,000 facilities are at risk for major combustible dust explosions. While these incidents are not 100% preventable, they are certainly not inevitable. You can significantly reduce the risk of a combustible dust accident by instilling best engineering practices — practices that include a solid maintenance plan in order to reduce or eliminate dangerous dust that settles on floors, walls, machinery, and overhead areas.

This event will provide attendees with a basic understanding of combustible dust issues and discuss critical housekeeping tips and recommendations. We’ll answer your questions:

• How OSHA define combustible dust?
• How does the OSHA Combustible Dust NEP pertain to maintenance?
• Why is proper maintenance so critical?
• What are “properly-equipped” industrial vacuums to combat combustible dust?
• Are “explosion-proof” vacuums always necessary? 

P.S. Refreshments will be served!

Ideal for process-integration systems, central systems or for general maintenance, the three-phase 08 series, which includes the 3308, 3508, 3508W, and 3558, gives users the cleaning muscle they need for continuous duty applications, effectively collecting and retaining contaminants such as dust, bacteria, or packaging scraps. Features include:

• Efficient filtration: Graduated filtration, oversized filters and HEPA and optional ULPA filters that trap up to 99.999% of all ultra-fine particles, eliminate debris while keeping performance high.
• Ergonomic filter shaker: Safely and easily purge the filter to prevent clogging and downtime. Reverse purge and electric filter shakers are also available.
• Portable Design: Equipped with extra-large wheels and a wrap-around handle; users can push, pull, or maneuver the vacuum with ease.
• Low Noise Operation: The 08 series is quieter than ever, with a sound suppressor that reduces the speed of the exhaust air and muffles the sounds for increased worker comfort and safety.
• Stainless Steel models: prevent contamination from the vacuum itself; can be easily cleaned

In addition, the modular Nilfisk CFM 08 Series vacuums can be customized based on the type of materials being collected (i.e., fine dust/powders, debris, toxic materials, liquids, etc.) using dozens of interchangeable accessories, hoses, and filters—including those for overhead cleaning. Stainless steel models are also available.

For more information, visit http://www.nilfiskcfm.com.