BOMAG reducing milling dust emissions

First published in bauma Preview - March 21, 2019

BOMAG’s innovative Ion anti-dust system for its milling machines is said to minimise dust by 80%

BOMAG’s latest innovation for milling is designed to reduce dust levels around its machines. Called the Ion Dust Shield, this patented system uses ionisation to positively charge dust particles from milled cuttings. The firm claims that current dust extraction technology for milling machines focuses on minimising dust levels around the operator. These ensure that the working area is kept free from dust, with this retrieved material then being exhausted to the discharge conveyor, typically at a height of around 5m with a standard machine.

However, micro particles can remain in the air around the machine, taking several hours to fall back to the ground. And it is these micro particles that provide a hazard to human health with a potential for causing lung or heart damage once they enter the body. By ensuring that the micro particles are positively charged, BOMAG’s Ion Dust Shield ensures that the micro particles stick together so that they are larger and do not hang in the air. Moreover, as the particles are larger they will not enter the lungs or heart.

According to BOMAG, this patented system reduces dust by 80%. Any dust settling on the machine can be simply washed off at the end of a shift as the particles will remain stuck together.

The system is being introduced first on the firm’s smaller milling machines as these are typically used for operations in urban locations, where there may be concerns about dust.