Cleaner Air, Safer Workspaces: The AirBench Story

Established in 1993, AirBench is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of fume, mist and dust extraction equipment. With a reputation for reliability and excellence; to date, we have supplied more than 10,000 AirBench downdraught benches to customers in the UK and worldwide, building our own dust and fume extraction systems and filtration products to order at our East of England factory.

Founded by John Cook, our managing director Simon’s father, we set up initially as a general dust and fume extraction company. Then, a couple of years later, in 1995, we introduced AirBench.

Our ethos has always been to do whatever’s required to solve the client’s dust issue, whether that’s a £150 mini arm or a £500,000 fixed system. Key innovations have included taking an existing known solution and turning it into a standard product. This enables us to offer standard sizes and filter specifications, so clients can purchase a known solution to a known problem, rather than relying on someone to design a system specifically for them.

We offer the widest range of solutions, so we can solve almost any dust or fume issue with what is effectively an off-the-shelf product. Clients requiring a dust extraction system, fume extraction system or wet extraction systems can choose a solution that meets their exact requirements.

Meet the MD

Managing Director Simon joined the business in 2006, a move he described as “slightly unexpected”, as he worked in IT at the time. “Both my dad and I decided to change our lives around at the same time and I have run the business since then,” he explained. “I had previously worked here during summer holidays while at university – my first AirBench job was creating the cutting list spreadsheet that ran the production of the first few hundred AirBench machines.”

In 2006, there were five staff, including Simon’s parents, but since then, the company has grown significantly, with 25 people working across two sites. “We’ve shipped tens of thousands of units across the UK and worldwide in that time,” Simon added. “AirBench remains a family business, with my partner Diane taking an active role in the decision-making process and even my teenage boys occasionally helping out.”

Wider choice of products

With the growth has come a wider selection of products including downdraught benches, VertEx cross-draught systems, coolant mist filters and air cleaning systems.

Describing his role as MD, Simon explained, “At its heart, I’m dealing with customers and solving problems, whether that’s a complex dust issue that involves research into filtration techniques, or handling the occasional issues that arise in any customer facing business. “In the end, it all stops with me. I work on product development, sales, marketing and improving our web presence, but it’s all focused on delivering to customers.”

Meet the team

The AirBench management team are all key to the business, with Ryan Yates, our Sales Manager, leading the sales team and working across the UK and Europe to develop new business: Richard Herbert, our Operations Manager, runs the daily functions of the business including manufacturing, installation and servicing: Peter West, our Office Manager, makes sure customers receive properly processed orders and prompt deliveries.

With 31 years’ experience, AirBench specialises in high air volume, low velocity extraction systems, providing a working extraction solution to a wide range of dust and fume issues. In 2014, we purchased the OMF range from Air Cleaning Systems of Cardiff, broadening our coolant mist filtration range. We also distribute the AOF range of mist filtration units.

We provide dust and fume extraction systems for specific workplace problems, offering rapid delivery. Demonstrating our extraction systems onsite prior to purchase when possible, we are committed to ensuring clients are reassured they are purchasing the correct solution.

AirBench insists on service excellence, supporting every customer to ensure they are satisfied with the quality of our products and services.