New Chief Fume Extractor Protects Body Shop Technicians from Weld Fume Particulates

CHICAGO, April 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Automechanika Chicago Booth #1402 -- As the perfect companion to its new line of welders, Chief Automotive Technologies introduces a heavy-duty weld fume extractor. The new Chief fume extractor collects weld fumes at their source, protecting technicians against breathing harmful airborne particulates.

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The Chief fume extractor is part of the company's product line expansion into "fusion" products shops need to properly repair collision-damaged vehicles. In addition to the fume extractor, the fusion group includes a new rivet gun as well as a full line of spot and MIG/MAG welders that had previously been marketed under the Elektron brand.

"Welding and brazing produce toxic fumes that can be harmful to the technician operating the welder or those working nearby," says Bob Holland, director of collision in North and South America for Chief parent company Vehicle Service Group (VSG). "Continued exposure can lead to illness, lost time and worker's compensation claims. Some facilities utilize overhead vacuum systems to clean the air, but the new Chief fume extractor offers superior protection by capturing weld fumes before they reach the technician's breathing zone."

The Chief fume extractor uses an electric motor to draw weld fumes through a cylindrical arm that leads to a large ProTura^® Nanofiber cartridge. The filter offers a MERV 15 efficiency rating. MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) ratings vary from 1 to 16, with higher ratings indicating greater efficiency in trapping airborne particles. The filters in the Chief fume extractor provide the ultimate combination of high efficiency, low operating costs and longer filter life. A built-in pressure gauge on the fume extractor shows when the filter should be replaced, and the machine's "Quick Seal" door release provides extremely fast filter removal and maintenance with no tools required.

While traditional fume extractor arms are made of plastic tubing, the Chief fume extractor's arm is manufactured of powder-coated aluminum with cast aluminum joints. This heavy-duty construction helps prevent wear and breakage in even the most demanding shop settings. The seven-foot arm holds a bell-shaped extraction hood with an integrated 360-degree handle for easy maneuvering, and an ember catcher prevents hot particles from reaching the filter.

The Chief fume extractor was designed and built specifically to meet the needs of the autobody repair industry. It features a compact design, long vertical reach and is very easy to use. The technician simply rolls the fume extractor to the work area, positions the extraction hood near the metal being welded, and turns the motor on. An optional arc detector will automatically turn on the fume extractor as soon as the technician strikes the arc.

Other options include a hood-mounted light kit to help illuminate the work area and an extended 10-foot arm for reaching vehicles loaded on frame racks or lifts.

"By equipping a shop with a Chief fume extractor, facility operators can not only protect their workers, but they can also help reduce injury downtime and improve productivity," says Holland.

To learn more about the new Chief fume extractor (models FE7 or FE10), stop by the Chief Automotive Technologies booth (#1402) at Automechanika Chicago, visit www.chiefautomotive.com/OnOurLines/ or call (800) 445-9262. Chief is active on Twitter, twitter.com/ChiefAutomotive and Facebook, www.facebook.com/ChiefAutomotive. For video, visit our Vimeo channel, http://vimeo.com/groups/chief.
 

About Chief Automotive Technologies

Chief Automotive Technologies, a Vehicle Service Group (VSG) brand, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of high-quality collision repair products and services, including frame-pulling equipment, vehicle-anchoring systems, measuring systems, and vehicle frame specifications. Chief is also a leading provider of comprehensive training on structural analysis, measuring, collision theory and design based repair.

VSG comprises nine global collision repair and vehicle lifting brands: Chief Automotive Technologies, Elektron, Rotary Lift^®, Forward^® Lift, Direct-Lift^®, Hanmecson^®, Revolution^® Lift, Blitz^® and nogra^®. Based in Madison, Ind., VSG has operations worldwide, including ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facilities on three continents.

SOURCE Chief Automotive Technologies

Related Links

http://www.chiefautomotive.com