Dust isn’t just a housekeeping issue—it’s a serious workplace challenge. Whether it’s sawdust, welding fumes, or silica dust, managing airborne particles is essential to protecting your employees, preserving your equipment, and staying compliant with industry standards.
That’s why, for nearly 50 years, Macy Industries has partnered with businesses across New England to design, fabricate, and install custom dust collection systems that tackle these challenges head-on. From small workshops to large industrial facilities, we customize every system we build to meet the unique needs of our clients.
Why Dust Is a Bigger Problem Than You Think
Dust is not as harmless as it may seem. Settling on surfaces and spreading through the air, dust contributes to serious risks such as:
- Health Concerns: Prolonged exposure to airborne particles, such as chromium fumes or silica dust, can lead to respiratory illnesses, skin irritation, and other long-term health problems. Employees exposed to hazardous dust may face reduced quality of life, increased sick days, and even chronic conditions.
- Equipment Damage: Dust buildup clogs machinery, decreases efficiency and increases wear and tear. In time, this can lead to costly repairs and more frequent downtime, disrupting production schedules and hurting your bottom line.
- Compliance Issues: Your business must meet dust control standards established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Noncompliance can lead to fines, legal problems, and reputation damage.
A custom dust collection system addresses these issues by capturing harmful particles at the source, improving air quality, and ensuring your facility is safe, clean, and compliant. These systems aren’t one-size-fits-all solutions—factors such as the type of dust, whether it’s explosive or non-explosive, its weight, coarseness, and the volume generated during a shift all impact the system’s design. These considerations ensure the dust collector operates effectively without creating new risks (something that is particularly important when working with combustible materials).
How Macy Industries Builds Better Dust Collection Systems
At Macy Industries, we approach every project with a focus on solving real-world problems. Here’s how our systems work:
- Hoods: Positioned at key dust-producing areas to capture particles at the source and stop them from spreading throughout your facility.
- Ductwork: Moves dust efficiently to the collection unit to keep workspaces clean and maintain consistent air quality.
- Filters: Remove harmful particles from the air so your team can breathe easier and work in a healthier environment.
- Collection Units: Safely contain and store dust for easy disposal, reducing the risk of secondary contamination.
- Safety Features: To address potential explosions, our systems include safety features such as explosion vents and dampers. These measures safely redirect pressure waves outside, protecting personnel and infrastructure while ensuring compliance with NFPA standards.
Because no two facilities are the same, our custom metal fabrication company customizes each system to each client’s specific needs, ensuring maximum performance and regulatory compliance.
Do You Need a Dust Collection System?
A custom solution could make all the difference if you’re dealing with persistent dust issues or struggling to meet air quality standards. Here’s how different industries benefit from dust collection systems:
- Metals: Traps welding fumes and grinding dust to protect equipment, create a cleaner workspace, and meet OSHA safety standards.
- Pharmaceuticals: Handles fine powders effectively to preserve sterile environments and comply with strict industry regulations.
- Food Manufacturing: Manages ingredient dust like flour and sugar to protect the cleanliness of the facility and keep products safe.
- Woodworking: Removes sawdust from the air to improve safety, keep surfaces clean, and reduce fire risk.
- Construction: Reduces silica dust exposure to prioritize worker health and comply with OSHA requirements.
If your facility has a single piece of equipment, like a table saw, an off-the-shelf dust collection system might suffice. However, a custom solution becomes essential for facilities managing multiple machines or requiring a centralized system. Custom systems are designed to handle complex setups, ensuring maximum efficiency and safety.
If you haven’t tested your facility’s air quality lately and are unsure whether you have adequate dust mitigation strategies in place, we recommend a professional evaluation. For companies based in New England, The Lawson Groupin Concord, NH, offers indoor air quality testing and assessments to help you identify risks and determine how well your current system performs.
Why Businesses Trust Macy Industries
When you work with our custom metal fabrication shop, you’re not just getting a dust collection system—you’re getting a partner committed to helping your business succeed. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Custom Design: Every project begins with an on-site evaluation of your facility to understand your business’s unique challenges. Our experts take the time to assess your operation, evaluate the type and volume of dust you’re producing, and design a system that meets your needs.
- Precision Fabrication: From hoods to ductwork, every component is crafted in-house by our skilled fabricators. We build with performance and durability in mind, ensuring your system stands up to the demands of your industry.
- Expert Installation: Our team handles every aspect of installation, from anchoring collection units to conducting post-installation testing. We won’t leave until your system is running smoothly.
- Ongoing Maintenance: Routine upkeep, like filter replacements and system inspections, is essential for keeping your dust collection system at peak performance. Our maintenance services ensure your system stays efficient and minimizes costly downtime.
Real-World Success Stories
Our custom dust collection systems have solved problems in workplaces across New England. Here are a few examples:
- GE Aerospace: We installed advanced weld booths with specialized dust collection systems to help GE Aerospace’s Hooksett, NH facility meet OSHA’s strict chromium fume standards. Our solution captures harmful fumes directly at the source to create a safer work environment and help ensure they meet regulatory requirements.
- onsemi: onsemi, a semiconductor company in Hudson, NH, faced significant black dust contamination and partnered with Macy Industries to design and implement a comprehensive dust collection system. This system included custom-engineered booths, downdraft tables, and hoods for five-operator workstations. The result? A cleaner, safer workspace that improved air quality.
These projects highlight our commitment to solving tough challenges with tailored solutions that deliver real, measurable results.
Let’s Solve Your Dust Challenges Together
If dust is disrupting your operations or putting your employees at risk, it’s time to take action. Macy Industries provides end-to-end solutions—from consultation to ongoing maintenance—to ensure your facility stays clean, safe, and compliant.
Schedule your on-site evaluation today and see why businesses across New England trust Macy Industries for their custom dust collection needs.