Aerospace manufacturer is clear for take-off with oil mist filters

In the aerospace industry, compliance with standards is not just a requirement but a culture embedded in every aspect of a business. Senior Aerospace Weston, accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, AS:9100 and multiple OEM approvals, prioritises workplace standards. This commitment led the Lancashire company to install over 50 Filtermist oil mist filters on its machine tools.

Working with OEMs such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, MTU Engines and Spirit Aerosystems, Senior Aerospace Weston manufactures aerofoil and aerostructure components for commercial aviation. Founded in 1937 and acquired by Senior plc in 2011, the Earby-based manufacturer is part of an FTSE 250-listed group with over 6,800 employees in 12 countries.

As a global specialist in aerospace manufacturing, the company employs three to five-axis machining, grinding, CADCAM, assembly, NDT, surface treatment and robotic polishing processes, making adherence to standards essential.

Gary Bell, HSE Manager at Senior Aerospace Weston, states: “We believe in maintaining good housekeeping and a clean working environment to ensure the production of high-specification components. We manufacture aerospace components for various aircraft programmes, working with materials like aluminium, titanium, bronze, Nimonic, Inconel and steel. Our facility includes a range of three-, four-, and five-axis CNC machining centres, each designated for specific component types.”

With Filtermist extraction units, including the FX6002 and FX7002 on 58 machines, oil mist extraction is essential.

“High-speed machining generates oil mist that needs to be removed,” explains Gary Bell. “We looked at industry-leading solutions and Filtermist stood out. Their team provided invaluable support, conducting a free on-site survey to specify the right equipment for our needs.”

Senior Aerospace Weston utilises machine tools from manufacturers such as Matsuura, DN Solutions (via Mills CNC), Grob and Hermle.

“Some machines require multiple Filtermist units to efficiently extract mist. Given our diverse machine types and sizes, the flexibility of Filtermist units is key to ensuring effective extraction. Filtermist systems are easily serviceable, whether stand-alone or mounted. Our service engineers can quickly replace components. Each unit is fitted with ‘F Monitors’, which use a traffic light system to indicate the extraction’s effectiveness.”

The F Monitor system alerts operators when servicing is required by measuring velocity pressure and airflow. The Bluetooth-enabled F Monitor 2 adds time tracking, while the F Monitor 2+ includes vibration and motor temperature monitoring. Existing customers can retrofit these systems to any Filtermist unit.

On the ease of use and maintenance, Gary Bell concludes: “We keep a stock of Filtermist equipment on-site, allowing our maintenance teams to ensure all units remain in optimal condition. Clean working areas are vital to producing high-quality parts, while maintaining a tidy workshop aligns with our position as a leading aerospace manufacturer.”