As an exporter of timothy hay and alfalfa to the Far East, Ward Rugh, Inc. in Ellensburg, WA generated much fugitive dust in their operation as they compacted bales for shipment. Expansion to the operation contributed to the housekeeping challenge and the increased processing of hay, a common allergen, contributed to worker discomfort.Hay dust presents challenges for dust collection similar to many fibrous dust types. It's lightweight and consists of a wide range of strand lengths and thicknesses. A low air-to-media ratio is called for to allow pulsing cleaning of the lightweight dust without re-entrainment back onto the filters. Nylon overbags on the filters prevent the strands from getting wedged in the pleats and bridging across. Read the full story of how Ward Rugh solved their dust issues, keeping the process area clean and letting everyone breathe easier.
