Why Lab Ventilation Systems Should Use PSP^® Fume Exhaust Duct

Fab-Tech’s proprietary fluoropolymer coated stainless steel fume exhaust duct carries clear benefits across an array of industrial and scientific research applications.

Given its status as the material of choice for venting corrosive fumes in semiconductor manufacturing, laboratory owners in private and university settings have taken note and are now following suit.

Production Employees Seize Professional Development Opportunity

Through the Strengthening Working Families Initiative (SWFI), two Fab-Tech employees have registered to take Certified Production Technician courses at CCV in Winooski. The 9-month CPT training program is a "nationally recognized credential" that affords both professional development and increased earnings potential.

Welcoming Design Engineer Mike Lucy

Fab-Tech is pleased to announce it has added Design Engineer, Mike Lucy, to its growing roster of engineers. 

Prior to joining Fab-Tech, Mike held the position of Design Engineer with Cascades Containerboard in Schenectady, New York, where he worked on design innovations for the packaging and containers industry.

Successful MFG Day Event at Fab-Tech

Manufacturing Day is a growing nationally-held event which allows modern process facilities to embrace groups and individuals that are on an early manufacturing career path. Across the nation, manufacturers open their doors to showcase their work and to provide a look into the state of the industry, all with the intent of sparking inspiration in the minds of incoming manufacturers and engineers.

Originating in 2011, MFG Day has been recognized on the first Friday of every October, and it is increasingly uniting manufacturers in a national effort to raise awareness on how and why manufacturing is the backbone of any vibrant economy.

Awarded for Significant Contributions to Workplace and Community

Fab-Tech Inc., Sales Operations Specialist, Bailey Gokey, has been recognized as a 2018 Rising Star by Vermont Business Magazine for her outstanding community service and exemplary work ethic. The award will be presented to her at a special reception and dinner to be held at the Trader Dukes Hotel on November 8th.

Bailey is among a select group of young Vermont professionals that were chosen by a panel of judges to be honored with the award this year. 

PSP^® On Display at WEFTEC 2018 

Fab-Tech Inc., will be attending the 91st annual WEFTEC Conference in New Orleans, joining nearly 21,000 registrants and 1000+ exhibitors from around the world. 

This event is "recognized as the largest annual water quality exhibition in the world... providing unparalleled access to the most cutting-edge technologies in the field."

Video Comparison of PSP^® Vent Pipe and FRP Duct Assembly

A common belief among engineers and facility designers is that coated stainless steel vent pipe is more expensive than FRP duct alternatives. While the upfront material costs of fiberglass may appear slightly cheaper on estimates, it is most important to compare equivalent systems, such as the resin and service type of FRP duct, and to include an evaluation of system installation time and cost.

Chad Whittemore is Promoted to Director of Operations

Fab-Tech and Pure Guard are looking to experience some exciting times during the next two years. We have been living in a digital world where semiconductors have been taken for granted. But, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing everything – and bringing semiconductors back into the spotlight. AI’s potential market of hundreds of zettabytes and trillions of dollars relies on new or refurbished chip manufacturing facilities. 

Differentiate Your Firm in Your Next WWTP Pitch 

The AE marketplace gets more competitive every day. AE firms competing for the larger and more valuable WWTP projects must stay ahead of the competition or become commoditized.

It's not every day that an advanced process solution presents itself in the wastewater treatment market which provides so many benefits to operators and allows specifying engineers to stand out.

So, how can adding PermaShield Pipe to an AE firm’s toolbox help them stand out and stay innovative?

Awarded for Service and Support of Vermont National Guard and Reserve Members

Colchester, Vermont - Scott Fine, President of Fab-Tech Inc., has been recognized by Vermont ESGR for his service and support of Vermont's Guard and Reserve members.

During their annual banquet held recently in South Burlington, Vermont, ESGR recognized Scott Fine as one of more than "40 employers who provided outstanding support to their citizen warrior employees over the past year. Guest speaker for the event was Major General Steven Cray, Vermont’s Adjutant General. State of Vermont Governor Phil Scott also participated in recognizing employers and providing brief comments. The event, hosted by Jean O’Sullivan, Vermont State ESGR Chair, was attended by several other senior uniformed Guard and Reserve members as well as key business and community leaders." ^[1]

PSP^® Vent Duct Safely Handles Hydrochloric Acid Fumes

Belvidere, NJ - During the manufacture of a pilot run of innovative Vitamin C products, Roche Vitamins set out to solve a long standing problem that many pharmaceutical manufacturers and research labs face with their process ventilation systems.

That is, how to contain and convey highly corrosive acid exhaust without having to perpetually replace the vent duct system.

5 Lab Design Criteria for the Future of U.S. National Labs

Governments around the world rely on their national labs to conduct research that will keep them at the leading edge of scientific and technological advancement.

Considering that U.S. national labs were developed during the middle of the 20th century and their management model is only recently showing signs of change, a major concern is that our national lab system may be many times inadequate to keep pace with modern day research initiatives.

PSP^® Enhances lab Safety in State Of The Art MIT Nano-Complex

MIT is currently constructing a 200,000 square foot center for nanotechnology and nano-science at their campus in Cambridge, MA. Nicknamed MIT.nano, the facility will follow an open lab design concept to bring faculty, researchers and students together on a grand scale of collaboration. 

A Closer Look At The Class 1 Fire Rating And ASTM E-84 Results of PSP^® Fume Exhaust Duct

Prior to the appearance of 300 series fluoropolymer coated stainless steel, the most common materials for process ventilation were galvanized steel, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene and FRP duct.

In today's high-cost high-tech process facilities, strong regulations and higher standards for fire-safety are turning the attention of facility owners, engineers, and underwriting insurers alike toward PSP^® fluoropolymer coated fume exhaust duct. 

To understand why, let's take a look at how PSP^® gets its superior Class 1 fire rating.

Fume Hood Safety Protocols Should Be In Lockstep with a Safe Lab Design

Fume hoods serve as the literal and figurative birthplace for next generation research and scientific discovery. Within these clean, confined spaces, our world is discovering new ways to improve the quality of life for all.

Thomas Edison was known to utilize his fireplace chimney as a fume vent. Without it, chances are his work would have ended prematurely. 

These days, fume hoods are better ventilated, more chemically resistant, cleaner, and perform better than Edison’s fireplace, but they still require basic care and planning to ensure that lab safety is not compromised. 

Here’s what it takes to make an exhaust duct joint on FRP Duct

Joints on FRP duct are traditionally accomplished by means of a labor intense "butt and wrap" procedure. Duct ends are ground smooth, exposed ends are sealed with catalyzed resin, and the duct or fitting is "buttered-up" and overlaid with several layers of resin and reinforcing fiberglass.

Adhesive curing at an ambient temperature of 70°F would take at least 24 hours to complete, so electric heating blankets are often required to accelerate the time to cure each joint.

5 Advantages of A PSP^® Fume Exhaust Duct Installation

Today, savvy wastewater treatment plant owners, engineers, and managers are paying close attention to the potential risks and unforeseen costs of the materials that are being used in their facilities and systems. 

One area where material consideration can have both immediate and long lasting impacts is in the odor control systems of a wastewater treatment plant.

When it comes to exhaust duct installation, some materials like FRP duct may require a deep investment of time, money, and specialized labor. 

Wet scrubber Systems and lab Fume Exhaust

Laboratories are becoming increasingly necessary as more and more products require the controlled conditions that only labs can provide. For the purposes of advanced manufacturing, every process from research, to testing, to development, to cleaning must be conducted with precision and accuracy.

Within these environments, lab fume hoods serve as an integral safety feature to help maintain facility air quality. While fume hoods are typically the first line of defense against hazardous vapors in these settings, they're by no means the only defense.

Fluoropolymer Coating and Stainless Steel Fume Exhaust Duct Are a Perfect Combination 

There's no shortage of corrosive fumes and vapors generated by process industries which need to be safely and successfully vented.

Common exhaust duct materials that are tasked with this responsibility include stainless steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP). While special glass linings, metal alloys, and a wide range of polymers may be used individually or in combination to help meet particular demands, none seem to solve the breadth of corrosive application challenges like PermaShield Pipe (PSP^®) with its proprietary fluoropolymer coating.

5 Fundamentals For Dynamic Lab Air Quality Needs

In the face of exponentially changing technology and consumer demands, advanced manufacturing industries are driving research labs and clean rooms to accommodate multiple production flows.

As such, these facilities must contend with a wider spectrum of lab air quality requirements, including increased air supply, dynamic airflow patterns, room pressurization, and high-efficiency air filtration versus that of traditional labs and clean rooms.

Here we'll cover 5 fundamental lab air quality considerations that should be factored into every advanced manufacturing clean room or research lab design.