The Argument – Quality V Price

07/05/2013
We were recently approached by a long standing customer, Zircon Flooring Ltd., regarding the possibility of refurbishing an elderly machine. The oldest of their CT250 Planers was performing as well as ever but over the fifteen years of regular use it had collected a few battle scars and was looking a little bit tired. Zircon Flooring always try to present a clean, tidy, professional image and were mindful that some of their older equipment was falling below their high standards of presentation. The question was whether a machine that has worked hard and given good service could be made presentable and restored to perfect working order at a reasonable cost.

We decided to investigate the possibilities. Would a small investment in time, parts and paint convert a tired fifteen year old machine into an “as new” machine with the potential to give good service for another five to ten years?
The CT250 Planer was dismantled down to the last nut, bolt and washer and then all major parts were inspected for wear and serviceability. A small crack was found on the handle bar assembly that required welding. All other components were in surprisingly good condition.

The motor and switchgear were the original items fitted from new and are probably good for another fifteen years hard use! The motor was cleaned, and resprayed while the switch gear was simply cleaned.
Front and back wheels were worn and considering the low cost for replacements new ones were fitted.
The bearings in the belt tensioning idler pulley were a little noisy and were replaced.

The height adjustment handle was damaged and the threaded mechanism was not operating smoothly. Nothing that a few minutes in the lathe couldn’t sort out! The result was a height control system that worked as smoothly as the day it was first fitted.

The drive shaft support bearing was replaced as the grease seal was showing signs of leaking. Far better to replace the bearing while the machine was stripped down, it is then a simple, quick, straightforward operation.
We decided to shot blast and powder coat the main chassis and ancillary parts. Powder coating is a very durable attractive finish and for a small investment the results are outstanding. The photograph surely justifies this expense!
 
The total cost of all replacement parts and the powder coating came to approximately £500. The end result surely vindicates the decision to go ahead with the renovation. Zircon Flooring have a machine that will not embarrass them on site and rather than the wasteful option of scrapping a basically sound machine they can now look forward to many more years of low cost ownership.

The question you must now consider is whether there is ever any justification for buying on price alone. Many times over the years we have lost sales for the CT250 based purely on price, usually the difference has been a few hundred pounds. How can saving a few hundred pounds of capital expenditure be justified over a life expectancy of fifteen plus years?

A short time after finishing this project another good customer phoned with a similar request. He had a perfectly good Delta II grinder that was used regularly and was is perfect working order. His only problem was the machine looked tired and he was afraid his company was projecting the wrong image. Age of the grinder – fifteen years. Just about the entire machine including the motor and bearings were the original components. The drive belt, dust skirt and flexible couplings are the only spare parts that have been required during a very productive fifteen years on site.

Austerity measures or not we can see a theme developing here…… As our grandparents have always told us “you get what you pay for”…..  What price quality when it comes to investing in surface preparation equipment  We will never have the lowest priced equipment but we are always happy to justify our prices and to back them up with low cost ownership and longevity.

A Guide to Industrial Vacuums For The Flooring Trade

A Guide to Industrial Vacuums For The Flooring Trade 

What is an industrial vacuum?

Basically an industrial vacuum has been designed to collect large volumes of material such as concrete dust, water, saw dust and rubbish over long periods of time often continuously 24/7. Depending on the application one specific vacuum might be better than another.

Vacuums come in a wide range of styles, models and specifications, it is vitally important that the machine specification is closely matched to the proposed application. The main differences in industrial vacuums are listed below.

• Designed for Wet or Dry pickup or both?
• How many motors does the vacuum have?
• Is a high airflow or high vacuum lift required?
• Power, does it use an 110v or 400v supply? Petrol?
• Filter type, sock, cartridge, star filter etc.
• Filter quality, HEPA filters, Teflon filters, paper etc.
• Built in Cyclone.
• Vacuum port size, 32mm, 38mm, 50mm, 70mm.
• Dust Collection method, i.e. drop down drum, internal drum, collection bags etc.
• Air Flow and Vacuum, performance selected to match the application.
• Filter cleaning, auto shaker, air pulse, manual shaker.
• Overall Size, weight, material.
• Specialised – anti static, anti explosive.
• Size and type of vacuum hose

All these considerations help to determine the correct vacuum configuration and specification to meet requirements of the application.

Filter type and quality

The most common filter types fitted to industrial vacuums are: Star, Sock and Cartridge. HEPA filters are most commonly available as cartridge filters. The filters are also available with a Teflon coating which improves filtration levels and also improves the filter cleaning process as the dust falls off the filters easier.

Star filters are shaped like a star with 5 points, the advantages of a star filer is that they offer increased filter area for a given diameter and they clean well by manual filter shaking. They are durable and easy to fit and replace.

Sock filters are cheaper and require more time to fit and replace, they also have less surface area.

Cartridge filters offer the highest surface area for a given diameter; they are often fitted as a secondary filter to remove the finest of dust particles. Ideal for blow back and vibration type filter cleaning systems.

HEPA Filters are designed to remove the super small particles that can pass through standard filters. The HEPA filter is often fitted on the exhaust of the vacuum. This is because most of the dust has been removed by the main filter system leaving only the very small particles to be removed by the more expensive HEPA filter. Typical applications could be in asbestos removal,  food processing plants, electronics or medical supplies. Nearly all our vacuums have a HEPA Filter option.

 

Wet or Dry Vacuum

This is an important question when looking to purchase an industrial vacuum. A wet/dry vacuum will always be a compromise and cannot perform to the best possible potential that could be expected of a dedicated wet or dry vacuum only.

A TV140 Wet Vac would be perfect for wet pickup, with its 2 motors there would be sufficient power to lift/suck the water up from the floor into the vacuum. Inside the vacuum is a polyester washable filter designed to prevent any vacuumed material from passing into the motors and causing damage. Since this vacuum is designed for wet pickup only there is no requirement for high specification filter system or cyclone.

Dry Vacuuming or Dust Collection – When collecting dust or trying to work dust free the size and power of the vacuum you need is determined by the amount of dust being created.

If using a 7” or 9” angle grinder to cut or grind concrete you would need a powerful 2 motor vacuum with a Teflon filter and ideally combined with a cyclone. If using a 5” cutter or grinder, a single motor vacuum with Teflon filter system would work well. The larger the quantity of dust created the bigger and more powerful the vacuum needs to be.

An example of a powerful 2 motor vacuum designed for 7”-9” grinding and cutting would be our TV120 vacuum, 110v, with manual shaker for filter cleaning, with a built in cyclone and Teflon filter this Industrial vacuum was designed to handle large quantities of dust while still being cost effective. For 5” Cutting / Grinding our TV50 vacuum would be ideal, the TV50 is a compact single motor vacuum with a pleated cartridge filter and internal cyclone featuring a blow back feature for dust removal on the filter.

 

Scabbling

The TV120 would also be able to handle the dust generated from small planers up to 200mm, and for diamond floor grinders of up to Ø300

Larger 250-320mm planers and Ø450-500mm grinders would require a 3 motor vacuum such as a TV150 or TV200. These vacuums have Teflon filters, a built in cyclone and are fitted with a manual shaker for filter cleaning.

 

Vacuums for Enclosed Blasting

Blasting in its smallest form (3kw machines) with an Elephant Blaster, you would require a 3 motor vacuum such as the TV200 industrial vacuum.

Moving onto the larger scale 200mm wide blasters like our Modul 200, with a larger 7.5kw motor you need larger scale vacuums with multiple filters with a good cyclone. For most 200mm wide blaster of this scale and power you can JUST get away with a 3 motor vacuum but a blaster of this size requires a 3 phase vacuum such as the Tornado or a TV400 to work optimally. Both 3phase vacuums come with large filters and 3kw motors providing large amounts of vacuum and airflow.

Larger blasters, 300-350mm require even more powerful vacuums such as an R2D2 vacuum, 5.5kw to handle the large amounts of dust, and provide the required vacuum to run a large 350 blaster. Due to the large scale of the vacuums required to run a 300-350 wide blasters, most come in separate units making them easy to transport. Another option is to mount these huge vacuums to the inside of a van, the best method we have found is the separate unit option which keeps things mobile.

 

Large Scale Grinding

600-700mm grinders require vacuums just as powerful as the ones that are needed for 300-350 blasting. Large industrial grinders such as the omega 700 have become very good alternative to blasting very quickly, with the huge improvements in diamond segments grinding is now the preference over blasting. Again these machines require the power of a Tornado vacuum 3.5kw at a minimum and work best with a 5.5k R2D2 vacuum being optimal.

Industrial Vacuums of this scale should come with a built in compressor which provides a blow back function inside the filters to keep them clean and allow continuous running.

 

If you would like some more information or some no obligation advice please free to contact us.

W: http://www.pwm-sales.co.uk

E: info@pwm-sales.co.uk

T: 01405 862688

F: 01405 862622

Making Machines Again!

Back at it!

We launched our Sabre 300 floor grinder, it felt good to be producing our own floor grinding equipment again.

Years ago we used to make all our own machines such as the FT250 scabbler, things changed and we started supplying readymade machines from another company.

As the years have passed and PWM has grown in size, becoming more widely known across the flooring industry. Paul (the director) decided the time was right, during an economic depression that we would start designing and making our own machines again.

2 months later and the first of the Sabre grinders came to life, with a few months of design and prep work and trial and error, drawing from over 30 years of experience, listening to the feedback of hundreds if not thousands of customer and contractors in the flooring trade. Paul designed a grinder specifically for the flooring trade that would be durable yet affordable, powerful and effective while still making the design as bomb (contractor) proof as possible.

The first design was ready for fabrication, orders where placed for all the tools, equipment and materials that we would need to make 5 machines. We were confident in the design and the quality of the materials selected, waiting for everything to arrive was exciting and slightly worrying at the same time.

Finally everything arrived and we started assembling everything together, everything went together smoothly with the only slight hiccup was a different shaped motor was needed to fit into the chassis.

Next came the moment of truth, we had a few questions running through our mind prior to testing, would it work? Would it be powerful enough? Would it be aggressive enough?

We where presently surprised! Its powerful, its aggressive, its reliable and it works even better than we expected, needless to say we are very happy with our latest machine, a week after our final test we sold our first Sabre 300.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CjaE3oKggw (demo video)

We are so happy with the Sabre 300 we are starting design work on a smaller 220mm grinder and 2 larger 450mm and 600mm wide machines all in the same style and design as our original Sabre 300.

To celebrate the launch of the Sabre 300 we are giving away a Hitachi G18-SE2 fitted with a 7” 2^nd generation G-Tec Dust Guard and a 7” Turbo Plus Grinding Disc (total £239) with every purchase until October 1^st.

http://www.pwm-sales.co.uk

info@pwm-sales.co.uk

T:01405 862688

F:01408 862622

Hard Man of the Industrial Vacuum World.

The TV50 (the vacuum in the middle)

The TV50 is the hard man of the vacuum world when you want a vacuum that can keep up with the hard work of a contractor, that can be thrown in the back of a van and it just asks for more abuse.

Then the TV50 is the vacuum for you, with its powerful 1400w head, light but incredibly strong body and chassis means it can get bashed and beaten and still do all your floor grinding, edging work and crack chasing dust free, you can even put the TV50 on anAlpha Floor grinder.

So you’re a professional contractor, you have all the big machinery that grinds concrete fast and effectively; you have the tools and equipment to work dust free.

You hit a problem, some edging work needs to be done but your big industrial vacuum is being used by your blaster or floor grinder. The TV50 can be pulled out of the van or the boot of a car and you can be grinding away in minutes, no setup time just plug the hose in, make sure the bag is on and away you go.

We have heard some pretty crazy war stories when it comes to the TV50 about the way people have abused them over the years and are amazed that the thing still works! People have knocked them over with forklifts, vans, car, we even heard a story of how one guy managed to knock a TV50 off the roof of a house where he was mortar raking.

The great thing was that it still worked! The frame was a little dented but the vacuum worked fine!

• Robust and highly portable – moulded body on a steel chassis. Highly durable, yet manageable size and weight.
• Efficient  – cyclonic action reduces the quantity of dust drawn against the filter.
• Low noise levels – TV50 features low noise levels
• Fast filter cleaning – reverse air pulse cleaning is fast and highly efficient – the filter is not removed for cleaning.
• Bagged waste – secure collection and safe disposal of waste

Testimonials

“Paul,

Spoke to Rob, very happy with the two TV50’s which he purchased from you 10 years ago. We have now supplied him a new motor & head for one of the units the other is still going strong.

Best regards

Jerry”

10 years! That’s an incredible lifespan for a vacuum of this price.

How about 11 years?

A.W. Fuller

“Best piece of kit I have ever bought!”

Mr Fuller has been using the TV50 11 years and today after years of use bought a new vacuum head for the first time!

“Hi Paul

I feel I must tell you that I am over the moon with the TV50 and C-Tec cutting cowl. I used it for the first time today, and was amazed how well it worked. It’s worth its weight in gold. Thanks very much.

Regards Phil Hone.”

These vacuums last a lifetime and after years of use the brushes sometimes need replacing, Mr Evans contacted asking for some brushes and we had them delivered the next day, he was quite pleased.

“Thank you very much for your prompt response and service, I received the parts today. Excellent service, got us back up and running.

Thanks

Gethin Evans”

Our aftercare service is second to non, you can count on us to deliver the parts you need when you need them.

Back to the TV50 its a light, robust very portable and a very hard working vacuum, with thousands sold we have never had to replace any chassis or moulded body’s, the cyclonic action of the vacuum body greatly reduces the amount of dust drawn against the filter, with its low noise and fast effective “reverse pulse” filter cleaning you can’t go wrong with the TV50 when it comes to dust free grinding, edging and concrete work.

TV50, TV50E, TV50P

The TV50 and the TV50E are almost exactly the same, with the TV50E having a smaller lighter chassis making it easier to manoeuvre and a bit cheaper to.

The TV50P is the bigger brother of the TV50, the TV50P sits on its own trolley with a pre separator which takes out a large amount of the dust and debris before it even reaches the TV50 which increases operating time between filter cleaning. We recommend using the TV50P when grinding very dusty concrete and floors.

Specifications

Motors	single
110 volt	1400W
230 volt	1400W
Filter	cartridge
Cleaning	reverse air pulse
Hose	38mm diameter
H x W x D	110 x 43 x 41 cm
Weight	19 kg TV5017 kg TV50E 39 kg TV50P

Cost and Packages

TV50	£482
TV50E	£413
TV50P	£740
Complete Edging Kit	£499 (save £100)
Dust Free Channel Cutting	£535 (Save £151.99)

For Distribution, Manufacturing and Sales please call us on: 01405 862688

New to the UK

Exclusively imported by PWM!

The Hurricane and the Tornado – New and Innovative in the world of Dust Free Grinding and Cutting.

The Hurricane

The Tornado

 

www.pwm-sales.co.uk

UK Supplier SoRoTo Equipment!

UK Supplier SoRoTo Equipment!

PWM are now a UK supplier of the wide range of equipment made by SoRoTo!

Pan Mixers – Conveyors – Hand Held Mixers

More information coming soon!

If you wish to know more feel free to contact us on 01405 862688.

 

www.pwm-sales.co.uk

Twitter – Facebook – Youtube

Friend us Tweet us Watch us! You’re part of it so we decided to join you, you can find us on  Twitter – Facebook and Youtube, why bother? Well we occasionally Tweet about new products or deals so you wont miss out, if you add us on Facebook or like our Fan page you will always be informed about our special offers or news topics.

Our YouTube page is something we love and hope you will to, its slowly getting filled with videos on our most popular products, ranging from product demonstrations to customers using our equipment, we felt this was the best way to show you how good our stuff works! You will be able to watch videos of our Grinders and Blaster etc  working on the job so you can get some kinda of idea about how quick they are etc.

Our most watched video and one we are most proud off is our Omega 700, if your into Surface Preparation its defiantly worth a watch.

We are getting more connected so we can better help you, friend us, follow us Tweet us.

www.pwm-sales.co.uk