Aluminum is one of the most frequently used metals in manufacturing, yet welding it presents safety concerns due to fumes produced. Bancroft Engineering designs and builds robotic welding systems that combine productivity with precision for safely welding aluminum! Read on to discover how automation can make your shop floor a safer environment.
Hidden Health Hazards of Aluminum Welding
Aluminum welding poses several less-than-obvious health hazards. One such danger lies in the microscopic particles of aluminum oxide, manganese and copper produced during welding that may enter our bodies through breathing; they could eventually lead to short- and long-term health issues:
- Short term consequences include respiratory system problems, headaches and metal fume fever.
- Prolonged exposure to environments rich in manganese has been linked with chronic respiratory illnesses like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as well as neurological conditions like Parkinson’s Disease.
- Aluminum welding produces ozone, a combination of oxygen and light from the welding arc. While ozone has many beneficial uses here on Earth, high concentrations of ozone exposure can be harmful when inhaled directly, potentially leading to lung tissue damage over time.
How Robotic Welding Decreases Aluminum Fume Exposure
Our welding team designs and builds automated welding systems and robotic solutions with safety and efficiency as their top priorities. Moving away from manual aluminum welding towards robotic welding can significantly decrease worker exposure to harmful fumes released during welding processes—here’s how:
- Enclosed Work Cells: Our robotic systems can be fitted with work cells equipped with enclosed hoods and high-efficiency fume extraction systems that capture harmful particles at their source before they dissipate into the working environment
- Repetitive + Controlled Processes: Robots provide repetitively precise welding processes with low spatter production and excess fume emissions resulting in lower overall fume emissions.
- Remote Operation: Automation allows operators to safely monitor and direct welding processes outside the fume zone.
- Optimized Ventilation Integration: Bancroft systems are engineered with ventilation in mind, ensuring seamless integration with dust collection or air filtration systems.
Weld Automation That Combines Experience & Innovation
Our team brings decades of expertise in designing custom welding automation solutions. From retrofitting existing welding systems or creating brand new production lines, our team works closely with you to identify risks and devise creative solutions to improve safety, productivity and part quality. Our systems can accommodate welding of aluminum, other nonferrous metals and ferrous metals.
Make The Smarter Choice
An investment in welding automation goes beyond increasing throughput and bottom lines; it also contributes to safeguarding your workforce! Get in touch with our weld engineers to get started eliminating aluminum welding fumes for a safer working environment.
