Cleaner air from paint shops
A passion to stop pollution was the driving force that saw spray painter Mike Kennedy embark on a seven year journey that would result in the development of revolutionary air filtering system.
The development of Environmental Air Technologies International’s (EATI) Air Scrubber, featured on ABC TV’s The Inventors, stands to clean up the air in paint shops as well as significantly reducing the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) drifting into neighbour’s properties.
“Nana next door is happy because she’s not going to get poisoned anymore,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy was struck down by “paint poisoning” in 2004 and makes no apologies for describing the gaseous outputs from paint shops as poisonous.
It was while recovering he started working out a better way to filter the air from panel shops, and in doing so protect the health of the shop workers and that of neighbouring workers and residents, as well as clean up the environment.
Testing times
Kennedy has been testing a unit since 2005, developing and refining the the product.
Part of the process was to measure real VOC outputs. This was done using a “treated” and “untreated” stacks during two field trials.
For each field trial several different paint formulations were used to challenge the VOC reduction technology.
While the “untreated” stack showed considerable change in emitted VOCs during the application of various paints, the “treated” stack maintained a degree of consistency with low VOC emissions.
Greatest efficiency was found with gun wash comprising VOC solvents like toluene, xylene and other substituted benzene constituents. The “untreated” stack was measured in excess of 1000ppm but the “treated” stack remained in the vicinity of 40 to 60ppm, giving greater than 90 per cent reduction in VOCs.
Outputs comprising base coat, clear coat, primer or autothane materials generated a VOC emission of 200 to 800ppm at the “untreated” stack while the “treated” stack measured at 30 to 50ppm, or a 75 per cent reduction in VOCs.
How it works
The unit is a secondary filter that separates solid paint particles that have escaped through the initial filtering process as the stream of air and gas leaves the spray booth.
Kennedy said the purpose of this additional filtering is to allow a clean stream of gas to reach the VOC filters so they can operate effectively, without being blocked by any remaining solid particles of paint.
“The units have no mechanical or electrical parts as they operate using the existing air flow from the spray booths gas exhaust stream,” he said.
Changes in air direction and speed cause the paint particles to solidify and drop to the bottom of the unit where they can later be collected, while the clean gas stream heads upwards towards the VOC filters.
This means much reduced maintenance on the filtering system. Kennedy believes the average paint shop turning over about 20 vehicles a week would only have to replace their filters once a year.
Environmental passion
So passionate about the environment is Kennedy that the Cairns-based repair shop where he has based his business operations and trials in northern Queensland, Willmot Smash Repair Specialists, is declaring it will be the greenest shop in the southern hemisphere.
“We are very excited about our new technology and the success we have achieved in the reduction of harmful gases to improve our air quality for all to benefit,” he said.
“Not only will there be an improvement to our environment there will also be many benefits to the business owners and employees that use our filter system.”
The EATI filtration system is a fabricated sheet metal unit 1200 x 1200 x 1200 with four filters which can be retrofitted to most existing spray booths.
The units are to be manufactured in Australia with the Cairns manufacturing plant has recently employing eight people.
The EATI unit offers paint and panel shop owners best practice operation, covering a duty of care withing the umbrella of Occupational health and safety requirements.
Kennedy said he would be looking to the various state motoring industry bodies to assist with lobbying governments to look at pollution outputs and push for greater environment legislation to protect neighbouring businesses and residents and clean up the air.
Special offer
So far 12 EATI systems have been commissioned throughout Queensland and NSW.
Among them is a unit to be installed by Mark Theodore of Coastal Smash repair at Tumbi Umbi on the NSW Central Coast.
Theodore said the industry had to look at environmental issues and the system would offer his business, which turns over about 10 cars a week, many benefits apart from the environmental impact.
“We can still use our existing paint system, and not have to convert to waterbourne painting,” Theodore said.
He believes the cost of the EATI will be about a third of the cost for his business to convert to waterbourne.
Coupled with a 50 per cent tax break before the end of the year, Theodore sees only advantages by installing the unit.
Kennedy visited Coastal Smash Repairs during a recent trip to NSW to promote his product.
“I was appalled by the amount of pollution in Sydney,” Kennedy said. “I want to promote and sell these units and if shops order before Christmas, I’ll give them a 10 per cent discount.”
Information about the EATI system is available at www.eati.com.au
List of installations
•Willmont Smash Reapir, Cairns Qld 3
•Cairns Accident Repair Centre, QLD 3
•Coastal Smash, Tumbi Umbi, NSW 1
•Bear’s Bodyworks Smithfield Qld 1
•Marquis Bathroom Products, NSW 2
•Kingfisher furnishing Townsvill, Qld 1
•Cairns Hardware Paint shop, Qld 1