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Blasters Boast New Safety Innovations

Friday, April 1, 2011

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Axxiom Manufacturing Inc. has unveiled several significant new safety features as standard on its line of Schmidt brand bulk abrasive blast equipment.

The features include the company’s innovative Halok safety closure, which Axxiom’s Bill Nelson, vice president of production, recently discussed and demonstrated for PaintSquare News.

Halok Safety Closure

The Halok is a locking and sequencing mechanism installed on the fill port closure of a bulk blast vessel. The mechanism requires the operator to follow a specific series of steps to ensure that all pressure is released from the vessel before the closure can be safely opened or accessed.

The Halok controls the opening by permitting only the cam lock handles to be released while the Halok is in its initial position. All swing bolts remain in place, securing the lid until all of the handles have been disengaged.  After all of the handles are released and vessel depressurization is confirmed, the Halok can be freely rotated to allow access to the swing bolts, which can then be disengaged so that the lid can be opened safely. 

The feature has been tested in the field for several years and has received exceptional reviews from users, facility owners and safety inspectors, the manufacturer says.

Controlled Expansion Nozzle

Also now standard is Axxiom’s Controlled Expansion Nozzle (CEN), with silencer. This feature significantly reduces vessel blow-down time, which is often extended to mitigate the 140-150 dBA noise levels associated with rapid vessel depressurization.

The CEN design reduces vessel blow-down noise levels to about 92 dBA at a maximum depressurization rate, saving time associated with vessel fill cycles. Other engineering and manufacturing design elements of the CEN also mitigate the potential for icing of the ball-valve during rapid vessel de-pressurization.

Ergo-Ladder

Axxiom’s Ergo-Ladder allows safer and more comfortable access to the top of the vessel. Because of the ladder’s arched design, the operator does not position himself between its top rung and the vessel wall while leaning forward to gain access to the closure.

For additional fall protection, the ladder also allows the operator to hook onto a certified point of attachment welded to the top of the vessel, which also serves as a grab point.

More information: www.AxxiomMfg.com.