Apple wanted to find a cost-effective and compact solution to extract the spray paint overspray and fumes generated in their R&D lab.
The world’s largest technology company, Apple, has experienced substantial growth over the past decade and has outgrown its current headquarters in Cupertino California. In 2006, Steve Jobs announced that the company would be moving into a new campus with 2.8 million square feet of space to support their future growth. One of the key features of the new campus is a research & development lab where Apple creates and tests a variety of prototype electronic devices. Apple wanted to find a cost-effective and compact solution to extract the spray paint overspray and fumes generated in their R&D lab. After assessing their specific application, Diversitech custom designed a downdraft spray painting table & booth to capture paint fumes and to filter them from the air.
After reviewing their application, Diversitech designed a solution to solve Apple’s air quality issue resulting from it’s spray painting operation. This solution included: a spray painting downdraft table with a built-in a ventilation system, a cushion mat, paint arrestance prefilters, and a high-capacity canister for VOC removal.
First, Diversitech proposed a DD 4×8 extended overhang spray painting downdraft table, which includes an upgraded spray painting package. This table incorporates both downdraft and backdraft ventilation to remove paint overspray and VOC higher above the table surface. For safety concerns, the table includes an integrated 5000 CFM 10HP explosion-proof blower to protect against flammable paint vapors.
A blue cushion grid mat was selected to protect parts from damage on the steel bar grating. The minihelic differential pressure gauge was also installed to alert Apple when it is necessary to clean or change filters. Paint arrestance prefilters were installed in the downdraft and backdraft modules to capture the overspray before it clogs the primary and after filters.
Although the spray painting downdraft table was set up to direct all exhaust outdoors, Apple wanted to filter as much VOCs, odors and fumes from the airstream before venting the exhaust into the environment. For this to happen, Diversitech custom-designed a carbon canister enclosure with 220lbs of activated carbon. In order to properly purify the air, a large amount of carbon granules is necessary to remove the paint fumes and volatile organic compounds produced by spray painting.