Which AirBench is Right for You?

Effective control of harmful dust, fumes and mist is essential in manufacturing environments, where safety, precision and consistency are core requirements: airborne contaminants have a direct impact on employee health and product quality.

AirBench systems offer proven extraction solutions designed around real industrial processes, rather than generic airflow figures. Our dust and fume extraction systems use an approach built on a simple, yet powerful, idea – capturing contaminants as close to source as possible, filter them effectively and return clean air back into the workspace.

Image / AirBench

The same philosophy applies when working with many different types of materials such as aerospace dust extraction, epoxy fumes, composite dust extraction, aluminium grinding swarf, carbon fibre dust, or coolant mist from CNC machining.

All our air cleaning systems are built to order using standard modular components, enabling short lead times and reliable performance across thousands of installations worldwide.

Downdraught benches for hands-on processes

Downdraught benches are self-contained workbenches with built-in dust extraction and fume extraction capabilities. The operator works directly on the surface, while dust or fumes are pulled downwards, through the perforated tabletop, into internal filters. Clean air is then returned safely to the room, avoiding the need for ducting or external fans.

This downward airflow is particularly effective for aerospace and composite dust extraction, as materials such as carbon fibre, glass fibre and cured resin tend to fall naturally under gravity, making downdraught extraction one of the most efficient capture methods available.

AirBench relies on moving large volumes of air at low velocities, which allows the use of low power fans and keeps energy consumption under control, even in continuous production environments. Our wide range of downdraught bench models covers everything from compact units designed for light assembly and trimming work to heavy-duty models suited to aggressive sanding and grinding.

The AirBench BD and BB ranges are popular in composite finishing areas, while larger or higher-capacity variants are commonly used in component preparation and rework bays. Filter selection is critical, and with 14 standard configurations available, including HEPA and carbon options, each bench can be specified to match the exact dust or fume profile of the process.

With more than 10,000 downdraught extraction systems in service globally, they are a proven solution for operations that need reliable plug-and-play dust extraction, without the complexity of fixed installation.

VertEx cross-draught systems and booths

Not every task fits neatly onto a bench. Large parts, awkward geometries or processes that generate dust and fumes across a wider area call for a different approach. The VertEx cross-draught extraction systems are modular walls of extraction that draw dust or fumes horizontally through a perforated front face into internal filters. This cross-draught airflow creates a consistent capture zone across the entire working area, making it ideal for sanding, grinding, trimming and fume producing processes on large components.

Frequently used in aerospace MRO facilities and composite manufacturing cells, where operators need freedom of movement around large parts such as panels, fairings or structural sections; the modular nature of VertEx means systems can start small with a single 1,200 x 600mm extracted face, and expand into full walk-in booths with effectively no upper size limit.

Different filter sets allow systems to be configured as sanding booths for wood or composite dust, grinding booths for metalwork, or fume extraction booths using activated carbon filtration. High-efficiency, low-energy EC fans are used throughout the range, allowing even large booths to operate from a standard 13 amp socket. Energy efficient, this design is especially attractive for facilities looking to balance effective dust extraction with rising energy costs.

Coolant mist filters for machining environments

While dust and fumes are often the most visible contaminants, coolant mist can be just as hazardous. In aerospace machining environments, mist generated by cutting fluids and oils poses a significant health risk if left uncontrolled. Inhalation of oil and coolant mist can lead to respiratory irritation, asthma and more serious long-term conditions.

AirBench coolant mist filters are designed to connect directly to machine tools, capturing mist at source, filtering it and returning cleaned air to the workspace. This approach avoids the energy losses and wider environmental implications associated with venting air outside and supports a more sustainable manufacturing strategy.

The AOF Oil Mist Filtration range is a compact, machine-mounted solution ideal for individual CNC machines. Using a combination of prefiltration, coalescing filters and optional final HEPA filtration, it removes fine mist particles effectively. For larger installations or multiple machines, the OMF Oil Mist Filtration range offers central extraction capability, making it suitable for aerospace production lines with multiple machining centres operating simultaneously.

These fume extraction systems are among the most energy-efficient on the market and integrate seamlessly with existing machining processes.

Air cleaning systems for background contamination

AirBench air cleaning systems are designed to address potential background contamination by continuously filtering and recirculating air within the workshop. Our MF range of air cleaning units is well suited to smaller spaces, where atmospheric dust can build up over time, such as composite lay-up rooms or finishing areas. Running quietly in the background, these units gently clean the air and improve overall working conditions without disrupting production.

For larger factory environments, such as aerospace welding bays or fabrication halls, the AT range offers high-capacity air cleaning with integrated pulse-clean systems. These stand-alone units handle greater volumes of air continuously and are effective at reducing residual dust and fume levels, backing up your local extraction solutions.

AirBench air cleaning systems are available with multiple filter options, including F8 and H13 HEPA final filtration. With wall or floor-mounted options, depending on the available space; simple single phase operation and built-in filter condition monitoring make them easy to maintain and operate.

Matching the system to the industry

Manufacturers often use a combination of dust extraction, fume extraction and air cleaning systems to achieve the best results. Downdraught benches are ideal for detailed hand work and finishing; VertEx booths excel with large or awkward components; coolant mist filters protect operators in machining areas; and air cleaning systems provide an additional layer of protection for the wider environment.

We can tailor solutions to specific processes without long lead times or bespoke engineering costs. Whatever the workspace challenge, an AirBench system can be designed to fit. Investing in the right air cleaning and dust extraction systems is not only about compliance; it is also crucial to protect people, products and productivity for the long term.