Industrial solutions for collecting fine dust, raw materials, glass fragments, cullet, and process residues generated during mixing, cutting, grinding, finishing, and recycling operations.
The glass industry includes a wide range of processes: raw-material preparation, mixing, melting, forming, cutting, grinding, drilling, satin finishing, decoration, assembly and cullet recovery. These operations can generate: mineral dust; silica sand and quartz; carbonates and other batch components;
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dust generated by cutting and grinding; fragments and splinters; glass cullet; abrasive residues; granular material; dust deposited on machinery; water containing glass particles; grinding sludge; residues from films, sealants and plastic materials; and airborne dust generated during unloading, dosing and mixing. These residues cannot be managed using a single type of industrial vacuum cleaner.
FEVI industrial vacuum cleaners and dust collectors suitable for the glass industry
The compatibility shown below is purely application-based. Final performance and internal configurations must be validated by the FEVI technical department according to the presence of water and the particle size of the splinters.
Criteria for selecting the glass-industry extraction system
The selection and correct configuration of FEVI machines must be structured by analysing three fundamental areas of the facility:
1. State of the Residue
Assessment of the material, whether extremely fine airborne dust, heavy sharp fragments and splinters or dense wet flows such as abrasive grinding sludge.
2. Production-Line Configuration
Calculation of hourly volumes, the diameter of the operating machine’s extraction inlets, total piping length, pressure losses and daily operating hours.
3. Safety and Chemical Risks
Mapping of risks associated with respirable crystalline silica in raw materials, the presence of heavy metals in special glass and verification of ATEX-classified areas.
Raw-material framework: silica, silicon and health risks
The batch composition varies according to the product, including flat, hollow or artistic glass, but may contain: silica sand or quartz, sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, dolomite, feldspars, oxides, colourants, refining agents, glass cullet and additives. Dust with varying characteristics is generated during receiving, dosing and mixing. The correct technical terms are silica sand, quartz or crystalline silica, not “silicon sand”. Silicon is a pure chemical element, whereas silica is the compound formed by silicon and oxygen. Cold raw materials can contain respirable crystalline silica, which is associated with silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. Some ceramic- and glass-production stages can generate dust containing respirable crystalline silica. The filtration and extraction system must be defined according to the actual composition of the material and the exposure assessment.
Finished glass is an amorphous material: It is essential not to confuse the raw material with the product after melting. Common glass is predominantly amorphous: the silica structure loses the crystalline organisation typical of quartz. Dust generated by grinding finished glass must therefore not automatically be described as respirable crystalline silica. The assessment must consider the composition of the glass, the presence of untransformed quartz, surface treatments and contamination by abrasives. Occupational-safety documentation expressly distinguishes crystalline silica from glass and fused silica in amorphous form.
Special glass and additional components: Optical, technical or artistic glass may contain lead, barium, cobalt, chromates and metallic pigments. Filter selection must be based on the actual chemical composition because processing may involve simultaneous exposure to mineral dust and toxic heavy metals.
Main process stages and FEVI extraction solutions
Raw-material unloading, dosing and mixing
Bulk components received in Big Bags, silos or tankers generate clouds and accumulations beneath hoppers and conveyor belts. Deposited material requires a high-vacuum industrial vacuum cleaner, while airborne clouds require a fixed hood connected to a dust collector. During manual weighing, dosing-system feeding and mixing, a mobile industrial vacuum cleaner supports routine line maintenance and machinery cleaning during formulation changes.
Furnace feeding and laminated-glass cutting
Furnace areas contain glass batches and crushed cullet. A standard industrial vacuum cleaner must never collect hot or incandescent material directly from a furnace. Dedicated high-temperature systems are required under these conditions. Cutting generates sharp splinters and small fragments that can puncture thin bags. Laminated glass also generates strips of flexible plastic film that may obstruct flexible piping.
Edge grinding, drilling and CNC processing
Dry processing generates fine dust and abrasive residues requiring PTFE-membrane cartridges and continuous automatic cleaning systems. Wet grinding and drilling instead generate a complex mixture of water, glass particles, abrasives and dense, sedimenting sludge. The choice between an industrial vacuum cleaner for fine dust and a multi-purpose liquids unit depends exclusively on the physical state of the workshop residue.
Satin finishing, blasting cabinets and cullet recycling
Mechanical abrasive blasting generates fine airborne glass dust inside the cabinet, requiring high-airflow dust collectors, and deposited heavy abrasive, requiring a high-vacuum industrial vacuum cleaner. Where the configuration includes abrasive recovery, cyclonic pre-separators, sieves and abrasion-resistant piping are required. The recycling and sorting of cullet from separate waste collection generate sharp fragments mixed with paper labels, plastic and ceramic material.
Technical distinction between Industrial Vacuum Cleaners, Dust Collectors and Ventilation
To operate in full compliance and with maximum efficiency, FEVI divides its industrial solutions into three separate categories:
- Industrial Vacuum Cleaner (High Vacuum): The appropriate solution for cleaning floors, recovering splinters and fine cullet, cleaning machinery and direct connection to portable tools. It generates the high vacuum pressure required to convey heavy abrasive materials through small-diameter piping.
- Dust Collector (High Airflow / Low Vacuum): The specific architecture for capturing and filtering lightweight airborne dust clouds. It is flanged to hoods, hoppers, mixers, discharge points or finishing benches requiring the movement of large volumes of air. It does not collect heavy fragments from floors.
- Ventilation for gases and chemical emissions: A conventional industrial vacuum cleaner for dust must never be presented as a system capable of generically eliminating “toxic fumes”. Furnace combustion gases or vapours emitted by solvents, resins, sealants and surface treatments require purpose-designed industrial forced ventilation, atmospheric monitoring and dedicated air-treatment systems.
Wear-protection systems and advanced filtration
Construction for splinters and abrasion-resistant piping: Glass fragments and mineral dust rapidly wear conventional flexible piping. FEVI uses reinforced abrasion-resistant hoses manufactured from thick polyurethane, with crush-resistant spirals and large-radius bends without restrictions. The tangential inlet gives the airflow a continuous rotating movement, separating heavy splinters and directing them towards the bottom of the high-strength rigid container, protecting the filter chamber and reducing the operator’s exposure to accidental cuts. For sharp fragments and large quantities of crushed glass, Longopac bag collection is not recommended because there is a genuine risk of puncture. Quick-release metal drums or industrial pre-separators with Big Bag discharge must be used.
PTFE membranes and automatic ICLEAN cleaning: Fine dust rapidly adheres to filters. FEVI cartridges with a PTFE membrane limit deep particle penetration into the filter media, facilitating complete release during cleaning cycles. The fully automatic ICLEAN system operates cyclically during use, temporarily isolating one cartridge at a time and regenerating it through mechanical micro-vibrations while maintaining continuous airflow through the system. Avoid the claim “the filter never clogs”. Secondary absolute HEPA filters are installed when the risk assessment identifies hazardous dust or heavy metals.
ATEX area classification and recycling management
The presence of glass, quartz or inert mineral material does not automatically make the environment ATEX-classified. A safety assessment becomes necessary only when the production process involves the use or storage of organic additives, polymer binders, protective plastic films, combustible coatings or mixtures containing metal dust capable of forming explosive atmospheres. When the facility risk assessment identifies a classified zone, our certified units can be considered: FEVI BSL 120 BASIC ATEX 22 for the localised collection of compatible dry dust in group IIIB; the pneumatic FEVI S PN ATEX Venturi range, suitable for cleaning in Zones 21 or 22 due to the complete absence of electric motors; the three-phase FEVI WT 75 BASIC ATEX range for solids and liquids; or the FEVI DTX 2500 AIRCLEAN ATEX centrifugal dust collector for suspended combustible dust in Zone 22. In the cullet-recycling sector, extraction separates dust and fragments, but reuse in melting furnaces as a secondary raw material strictly depends on sorting and purity levels, including colour separation and the absence of metals, ceramics or plastic films.
Quick configuration selection guide
Fine dust, clays and glazes
- Small portable tools or localised engraving: FEVI PULSE 11XM, 11XA or FEVI 220 ICLEAN;
- Extremely fine dry-grinding dust using single-phase power: FEVI 350 ICLEAN, or FEVI 221 PULSE for Longopac collection;
- Industrial dry-grinding machines and continuous automatic lines: FEVI TDC30 ICLEAN, or FEVI HDC 355 ICLEAN for maximum distances and loads.
Splinters, fluids and large systems
- Small fragments, sharp splinters and dry cullet deposited on floors: FEVI BT 753 BASIC, or the B configuration of the FEVI HDC 155 BASIC family with a rigid drum;
- Wet grinding, water spillages and fluid sludge: FEVI WM 375 BASIC for single-phase applications or FEVI WT 753 BASIC with a three-phase blower;
- Capturing airborne clouds from weighing, transfer operations or blasting cabinets: FEVI DTX 1500 BASIC for a single source or FEVI DTX 2500 AIRCLEAN;
- Large quantities of cullet or blasting abrasives: Industrial in-line pre-separators, hoppers or custom-designed centralised systems with Big Bag discharge must be integrated in coordination with the FEVI technical department.
Key parameters to verify before configuration
Before recommending the final model, we assess the glass-processing variables together: type of glass and process stage; raw-material composition, including the presence of quartz or crystalline silica; nature of the waste, such as fine dry dust, heavy sharp splinters, dense abrasive sludge or liquids; particle size, density and abrasiveness of the residues; temperature of pieces removed from furnaces; type of connected machine tool, including grinder, drilling machine, CNC machine or blasting cabinet; inlet diameters and required airflow or vacuum pressure; piping layout, including length, bends and vertical height differences; daily operating hours and simultaneous operation; HEPA-filter or PTFE-cartridge requirements; discharge system, including a rigid drum or Big Bag; and any ATEX classification.
Request a sizing assessment for your glass-processing facility
Do you need to collect dust, fragments or residues during glass processing?
Describe the type of glass being processed, the facility’s production stage, the nature of the material to be collected, whether the residues are dry or wet, dust particle size, maximum splinter dimensions, hourly quantities generated, type of connected operating machine, total piping length, daily operating hours and preferred discharge method. Our engineering department will assess the correct filtration, vacuum-pressure and airflow parameters, together with the most suitable abrasion-resistant protection, separation and collection systems. Contact us to configure the ideal industrial vacuum cleaner for your process.
Glass Industry Solutions FAQ
Which industrial vacuum cleaner should be used for fine glass dust?
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For small operations and localised finishing, the compact FEVI PULSE 11XA or FEVI 220 ICLEAN models can be considered. For larger industrial quantities and continuous dry processing, the higher-capacity FEVI 350 ICLEAN, TDC30 ICLEAN or HDC 355 ICLEAN models are recommended.
Does dust generated during glass grinding always contain crystalline silica?
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No. Finished glass generally has an amorphous structure. The possible presence of hazardous respirable crystalline silica, or quartz, must be monitored and verified in cold raw materials during storage, dosing and mixing before melting in the furnace.
What is the fundamental difference between common silica sand and molten glass?
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Silica sand contains crystalline quartz, whose microscopic geometric structure can cause pulmonary diseases such as silicosis when inhaled. During thermal melting in the furnace, silica changes physical state and is transformed into the amorphous, non-crystalline molecular structure characteristic of glass.
Which industrial vacuum cleaner should you choose for collecting small glass fragments and shards?
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For heavy sharp splinters and fragments, a model from the BASIC range equipped with a rigid metal drum, thick abrasion-resistant piping and deflector-protected inlets is preferable. For substantial quantities or long conveying distances, the heavy-duty three-phase FEVI HDC 155 BASIC is recommended.
Can the Longopac continuous bagging system be used to collect glass shards?
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No. It is not the primary or correct solution. Splinters and sharp edge residues can puncture the plastic bag during falling or handling. The Longopac system is specifically designed for extremely fine, dry dust that does not contain sharp objects.
Which industrial vacuum cleaner should be used with wet glass grinding machines?
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A machine specifically configured for the combined collection of solids and liquids is required, sized according to the quantity of water and the abrasiveness of the glass particles. FEVI WM 375 BASIC for single-phase applications, FEVI WT 753 BASIC with a three-phase blower or FEVI HDC W 155 BASIC can be considered.
Can a standard commercial wet and dry vacuum cleaner handle grinding sludge?
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No. Sludge generated by glass grinding or drilling is very dense, abrasive and tends to settle rapidly at the bottom of the container. Dedicated industrial configurations equipped with protective deflectors, suitable liquid filters and specific discharge systems for dense fluids are required.
Can a standard commercial wet and dry vacuum cleaner handle grinding sludge?
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In this scenario, a high-airflow centrifugal dust collector connected to hoods or articulated extraction arms must be installed. FEVI DTX 1500 BASIC is designed for individual limited sources, such as raw-material weighing or dosing, while FEVI DTX 2500 AIRCLEAN is suitable for intensive industrial processes.
Is the installation of a secondary HEPA absolute filter always recommended?
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No. The filtration class and final safety stage must be established according to the actual particle size of the mineral dust, the chemical composition of special glass, including the presence of metal oxides or lead, and the department’s specific exposure assessment.
Can an industrial dust vacuum remove toxic vapors from sealants?
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No. A conventional industrial vacuum cleaner transiently captures solid particles and dust but does not retain gaseous contaminants. Furnace-process gases or toxic vapours emitted by sealants, resins or solvents require dedicated gas ventilation and chemical-abatement systems.
Is it safe to vacuum hot glass residues or scrap directly from furnaces?
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No. This is strictly prohibited with standard machines. Hot or incandescent fragments damage the filters and sealing gaskets. The material must be allowed to cool on the floor, or a special high-temperature configuration must be implemented.
Does the glass processing industry always require ATEX-certified industrial vacuum systems?
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No. Pure minerals and glass are not explosive. An ATEX explosion-protected configuration becomes mandatory only when the risk assessment identifies potentially explosive atmospheres caused by flammable organic additives, polymer binders or protective plastic films.
Can vacuumed glass scrap and glass dust always be recycled and remelted?
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Recovery and reintroduction into the melting cycle are possible only when the cullet is thoroughly clean and separated by colour and after verifying the complete absence of foreign contaminants such as plastic labels, ceramics, metals or blasting abrasives that would compromise the quality of the melt.
Quale tipo di aspiratore conviene implementare in un grande impianto di riciclo vetro?Can glass scrap and glass dust collected by an industrial vacuum be recycled and remelted?
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It depends on the specific process stage. ICLEAN models are used for fine dust, high-vacuum BASIC models are preferable for removing heavy fragments from floors, dust collectors are installed for airborne dust, and large material quantities require industrial pre-separators and custom-designed centralised systems.
