Husqvarna Homes In on Dust-Free Jobsites
Published: 15/1
Husqvarna is further expanding its dust management range with four new products aimed to help provide a healthier working environment.
With its product development and strategic acquisitions, Husqvarna Construction has built up a wide range of solutions ranging from power cutters to demolition robots for the construction and demolition industries. As heavy machinery is often found working on construction sites, and with work often taking place at heights with the risk of falling concrete and other materials, safety is a critical part of work. A perhaps less obvious safety aspect is the dangers from the inhalation of harmful airborne particles. Silica dust is today considered to be the biggest risk to construction workers after asbestos. Inhaling small dust particles over a long period of time increases the risk of developing diseases such as COPD, silicosis and cancer.
A complicating aspect is that the particles are often so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. Therefore, it is crucial that any equipment that collects dust can be trusted and that it is really as safe as it is claimed to be. It was this realisation that led Husqvarna to launch a major investment in dust management in 2022 with its new line of “H-rated” dust extractors. Husqvarna now is expanding the range with a new dust extractor and three air cleaners.
New dust extractor with automatic filter cleaning
The DE 130 H is a single-phase H13/HEPA dust extractor with Auto-Pulse, a new development for automatic filter cleaning. Together with a cone shaped pre-filter, which is divided into two chambers, it is possible to alternately keep the filter clean during work. This means that the user does not have to interrupt work to clean the filter manually.
The DE 130 H is the first model to use the Husqvarna technology that shifts between the two chambers and keeps the filter continuously clean. The fact that the pre-filter is conical facilitates efficiency and ensure that dust falls downwards and does not enter the filter again. The DE 130 H also uses E-flow, which adjusts the air speed automatically and is equipped with the Longopac system and a V-shaped tray developed to protect the dust bag and make it easily accessible. It has lift hooks, a pleat cover, robust rear wheels with integrated locking, as well as attachments for hoses and the metal wand floor too. The DE 130 H can also be used with a “blasting” application that requires continuous stable air flow, made possible by the automatic filter cleaning. Along with meeting the latest H-class standards, the DE 130 H is equipped with H13/HEPA filters with EN1822 and MIL-STD 282 certification, and is IP55-rated for safe washing with water. Machine dimensions are 46 in (1,175mm) high, 36.6 in (855mm) long, and 21.3 in (542mm) wide.
Three new air cleaners in different sizes
Husqvarna is also introducing three new air cleaners. The A 25, launched in September, will be followed by the A 45, which will be launched in early 2025. The numbers in the names correspond to how many square meters the product can clean, based on an air exchange rate of 10 times per hour and a ceiling height of 8.2 ft (2.5m). Later in 2025, a third model will be launched to cover an even larger area.
Both the A 25 and A 45 are stackable with a locking mechanism and are equipped with color-coded LED lights that show filter status. They come with pre-filters and H13/HEPA filters but can be converted to three stage filtration with a carbon filter. They can also be used to create negative pressure, for example to avoid dust spreading. They are IP54 and IPX4 rated and are equipped with a storage pocket. The A 45 is also equipped with wheels, a handle that can be raised or lowered, different fan speeds, and a test function for the H13/HEPA filter.
Not just products, but a system
Husqvarna Construction’s goal with its new focus is to provide something significantly more than just introducing products. The company wants to influence the construction industry at large and increase awareness of security among users. “Many customers ask, for example, how many horsepower the products have, but rarely how to use the products safely,” says Christian Nyberg, Husqvarna’s manager of research and development for the dust and slurry segment. “Unfortunately, we see that some use them in the wrong way. We want to tell them how to use them safely and change the mindset of contractors.”
Sr. vice president Stijn Verherstraeten, agrees. “In some applications, I can sometimes see that dust extractors are not used at all,” he says. “We want to act as advisors and support our customers. Our main task as a leader in the industry is to develop the market.”
Another important aspect is to create dust and slurry management solutions that work well with the rest of the range. “Using our equipment generates dust,” says Verherstraeten. “We see dust management as something that is central to far more application areas than floor preparation.”
During product development, reduced operator bound maintenance, reduced size and weight, and versatility with fewer products and more areas of use were highlighted as a priority. Most important, however, is safety.
“We want to make a statement about the risks that dust on construction sites can bring and that there are ways to address them,” says Nyberg.
Husqvarna’s history with dust and slurry equipment goes back a long way and received a major boost with the acquisitions of the companies Pullman-Ermator, Blastrac and HTC. Although the core of these companies has been retained, the goal has always been to continue to evolve.
“We have taken a big step forward since our acquisitions,” says Verherstraeten. “Dust and slurry management is a strategic area for us. We have worked dedicatedly on it and want to develop systems together with other products.”
The largest market for Husqvarna and its solutions is the US, followed by the Nordic countries and Australia. “Dust and slurry management is strongest in mature markets,” says Verherstraeten. “We are experiencing increasing sales in Latin America, and we hope that this will also spread to other regions with great growth potential.”
Rigorous testing for increased safety
One of the pillars of Husqvarna’s research and development is testing the products to ensure that the machines work as planned. Testing and research takes place in clinically clean test rooms at the company’s Jonsered, Sweden, headquarters. Here engineers start the machines and simulate a normal work setup. Their task is now to analyse the particle concentration of the room, especially those of 0.1-10micrometres. The focus is particularly on particles that cannot be seen, to ensure that the equipment is working as it should and meets requirements to provide a safe working environment.
“What we want to investigate is how well the products extract silica dust in the air,” says Nyberg. “Our filters as standard are significantly better than what the regulations regarding silica dust require.”
During the test, various parameters linked to performance such as vacuum and air flow are measured through different types of pipes using sensors, with resistance simulated through dampers that gradually close. Detemining which vacuum and flow are most effective ensures the machines achieve optimal performance with minimal energy consumption.
A special dust laboratory at Husqvarna is divided into two rooms: one without dust and one with dust and negative pressure. Here filters are tested and compared, with their ability to capture and release dust assessed along with the performance of temperature and leakage tests.
Regardless of where Husqvarna’s equipment is sold, there is a strong connection to the research and development that takes place in the small mill town in Sweden.
“What we do here spreads to other parts of the world,” says Nygard. “We have a global footprint.”
With a solid focus on creating efficient machines that are also safe, Husqvarna now hopes that its investment in dust management will be well received by the industry.
“‘Safe’ and ‘productive’ are our watchwords,” says Verherstraeten. “I am proud of our new range.”
