Filtermist ensures clean air for GW Martin

Maintaining workplace health and safety is a top priority for leading manufacturing firms, which is why Eastleigh-based GW Martin has invested in oil mist extraction technology from Filtermist.

Serving customers in the defence, aerospace, automotive, vacuum filtration and medical sectors, GW Martin has pursued a continuous improvement programme that includes significant investment in plant and equipment – notably fitting Filtermist oil mist filtration units to new and existing machine tools.

Founded in 1959, GW Martin’s journey from traditional cam auto machines to advanced CNC technology reflects its adaptability. Today, its south coast facility houses machines from Mazak, CMZ, Citizen Miyano, YMT, Star, Doosan and Index – all retrofitted with Filtermist units.

Explaining the move, Managing Director Stuart Yalden says: “Back in the 70s we had a pretty oily factory; it was a completely different environment. Over the past 10 years, we’ve invested heavily: updating machines, lighting, even adding solar panels. But we didn’t want a return to the old, messy workshop. We needed a solution that could manage the oil and mist, and with Filtermist, we’ve got a great system to handle that. Some machines arrive with extraction units, but many don’t. We’ve retrofitted Filtermist units across our workshop. When our latest Mazak machine arrived, Filtermist installed the system within weeks.”

GW Martin predominantly uses the FX Series, particularly the FX4002, which is widely deployed across its turning centres. With an airflow of 1250 m³/hr at 50 Hz, the FX4002 is compact, versatile and easy to service, making it suitable for busy workshops.

“Maintenance is critical. We tried other systems with mixed results, but Filtermist units are easy to retrofit, run and maintain. We even had one of their engineers conduct a ‘smoke test’ – using a smoke machine to show just how fast the unit clears the air.”

Performance and compliance

Lydia Barber, Marketing & Customer Experience Director at Filtermist, says: “Any CNC machine using coolant or neat oil creates mist at high pressure and speed. This mist can harm employee health and pose fire risks. It’s not something you want in the air – you can taste it. At GW Martin, our units are fitted to Citizen, Miyano, Mazak and DN Solutions machines. We offer a full range of systems for different applications and airflow requirements.”

Meeting regulations

She also stresses the legal implications: “We’ve all been to workshops where the mist hangs in the air. But COSHH regulations make it a legal duty to remove that mist. The HSE recommends local exhaust ventilation (LEV) on every CNC machine. A clean, modern workshop isn’t just nicer to work in, it’s a legal and moral obligation.”

Though COSHH has existed since 1988, enforcement is increasing. HSE’s inspection programmes are more targeted than ever, which should serve as a warning for manufacturers to take compliance seriously.

GW Martin’s partnership with Filtermist reflects more than just technical improvement, it signifies a commitment to health, efficiency and environmental responsibility.

“Mist extraction is no longer optional, it’s an essential part of modern manufacturing,” concludes Stuart Yalden.