Fume Extraction Torch xFUME® PRO
Powerful welding with integrated welding fume extraction
Nowadays, health protection and occupational safety for welders are just as important as precise welding results with the most consistent quality possible. In addition to muscular strain, the risk of harmful welding fumes also comes into consideration. Anyone who employs manual welders must provide them with tools that, on the one hand, fit well in the hand and put as little strain as possible on the musculoskeletal system and, on the other hand, equipment that reliably extracts the harmful welding fumes produced during MIG welding and MAG welding. The gas cooled and liquid cooled fume extraction torches xFUME® PRO from ABICOR BINZEL are a further technical development of the well-known extraction torches RAB GRIP and RAB GRIP HE 2. This new generation of torches meets the current requirements for health and safety at work even more specifically and reliably.
The powerful fume extraction torches of the xFUME® PRO line from ABICOR BINZEL are ideal for use in tough industrial environments where welded at high amperages and powerful, reliable welding torches are needed. These extraction torches have been specially developed for spot extraction and mobile welding fume extraction – and set new standards in terms of ergonomics, efficiency and weight. In short: they enable healthy welding as if you were holding a standard MIG welding torch or a standard MAG welding torch in your hand.
All information at a glance
- Regulations for welding fume extraction
- Why extracting welding fumes with extraction at the source?
- The features of the xFUME® PRO fume extraction torch line
- Technical data of the xFUME® PRO fume extraction torches
- Functionality of the xFUME® PRO fume extraction torches
- Fume extraction torch & fume extraction unit: efficiency to the power of two
- Blogs about welding fume extraction
- Videos about welding fume extraction
- Documentation
Regulations for welding fume extraction
In 2018, the International Research Institute of Cancer (IARC) classified welding fumes as carcinogenic. Unfortunately, welding fume extraction in MIG welding and MAG welding was often the exception up to this point. Now it is an obligation for manufacturing companies to provide welders with a healthy workplace environment. The importance of health and safety at work is becoming noticeable in stricter regulations on welding fume extraction and has thus acquired a new significance. In this way, companies are forced to rethink or retrofit their existing welding workplaces.
Central or stationary extraction systems have been installed in many production halls for some time. These so-called low vacuum systems are either located on the ceiling of the hall and take up the entire exhaust air of the room or they are mounted above individual welding workplaces and extract the fumes that rise there. In this system, extraction hoods or extraction funnels absorb the ambient air under high volume flow and low negative pressure, which means that the static pressure and velocity of the air are lower than in a so-called high vacuum system such as extraction at the source, i. e. the collection of welding fumes directly at the point of origin. To capture the welding fumes almost completely and to achieve the highest efficiency, extraction at the source must be used. This system, which works in combination with mobile welding fume extraction units, enables companies to upgrade existing stationary systems such as room extraction systems or hall ventilation.
Why extracting welding fumes with extraction at the source?
With extraction at the source, welding fumes are extracted directly at the point of origin by the front end of the fume extraction torch and guided to a mobile extraction unit. This unit filters out the harmful particles and returns the cleaned air to the environment. Extraction at the source is the most efficient technology for capturing welding fumes. With this so-called high vacuum system, the integrated filter can filter out up to 99.95 % of all dust particles > 0.1 µm from the welding fumes.
A high vacuum system has a low flow rate at high negative pressure. Compared to a low vacuum system, the static pressure and velocity of the air are higher. With extraction at the source, there is often the concern that too much shielding gas is extracted. However, in combination with a suitable mobile fume extraction unit, a good welding fume extraction torch ensures sufficient shielding gas coverage at all times.
Please refer to the experience reports and references of companies that use ABICOR BINZEL welding fume extraction torches:
The features of the xFUME® PRO fume extraction torch line
Compared to the majority of fume extraction torches available on the market, the xFUME® PRO extraction torch line is extremely lightweight and handy. With these fume extraction torches it feels as if you are holding standard MIG torches or standard MAG torches in your hand. Usually welding fume extraction torches are not very popular among welders because they are considered rather heavy and unhandy – and indeed they are. The xFUME® PRO fume extraction torch line from ABICOR BINZEL, on the other hand, is not only much easier to handle, all fume extraction torches also have a comparatively slim front end, ensuring a good view to the process.
The advantages of the xFUME® PRO fume extraction torches at a glance:
- Highly efficient welding fume extraction
- Improved ergonomics and noticeable weight reduction
- Slim front end
- Optimised shielding gas cover
- Improved ergonomic handle
- Unique balance of torch neck to cable assembly
By the way: When welding with a xFUME® PRO fume extraction torch in combination with a mobile xFUME® extraction unit from ABICOR BINZEL such as the xFUME® ADVANCED, the FES-200 W3 as well as the FEC W3, there is also no risk of unintentionally extracting shielding gas! With the xFUME® PRO extraction torches and the correct adjustment to the welding fume extraction unit, optimum shielding gas coverage is guaranteed at all times.
Functionality of the xFUME® PRO fume extraction torches
The fume extraction torches xFUME® PRO from ABICOR BINZEL are part of a high vacuum system, in which a low volume flow passes at high negative pressure. Compared to a low vacuum system, the static pressure as well as the velocity of the extracted air is higher. The welding fumes produced in the process are collected and conveyed through the extraction hose into the mobile extraction unit. The integrated filter ensures that dirt particles are collected and retained and clean air is returned to the environment. With extraction at the source, as with the xFUME® PRO extraction torches, between 90 % and 99 % of harmful particles are absorbed and filtered out – depending on the torch position. However, with extraction at the source there is often the concern that too much inert gas is extracted. In order to be able to adjust the extraction rate more precisely, the handle of the xFUME® PRO fume extraction torches is equipped with an easy-to-operate external air slider control. Thus, in combination with a suitable mobile fume extraction unit, sufficient protective gas coverage is guaranteed at all times.
Technical data
| Type: | xFUME® PRO 24 | xFUME® PRO 36 | xFUME® PRO 501 |
| Cooling: | gas cooled | gas cooled | liquid cooled |
| Rating | |||
| CO2: | 270 A | 330 A | 500 A |
| Mixed gases M21*: | 250 A | 300 A | 450 A |
| DC (%): | 60 | 60 | 100 |
| Wire Ø (mm): | 0.8 - 1.2 | 0.8 - 1.2 | 1.0 - 1.6 |
| Volume flow m3/h | |||
| Extraction nozzle: | 70 | 58.7 | 58.7 |
| Connector: | 92.8 | 75.8 | 81.3 |
* according to DIN EN ISO 14175
Collecting welding fumes directly at the process via extraction at the source is the most efficient technology for welding fume extraction – and the best way to protect the welder's health. xFUME® PRO extraction torches used in combination with an ABICOR BINZEL fume extraction unit such as the xFUME® ADVANCED, the FES-200 W3 or the FEC W3 capture the welding fumes without affecting the shielding gas coverage. As a team, these high vacuum extraction systems offer efficiency to the power of two – and make an important contribution to health and safety wherever welding takes place.
Blogs about welding fume extraction
- The 11 most frequently asked questions about fume extraction
- 5 mistakes to avoid with a fume extraction torch
- What you should consider with welding fume filters
More information about extraction technology can be found in our »ABIBLOG«.
Explainer: xFUME® ADVANCED
xFUME® ADVANCED – Ideally suited for ABICOR BINZEL fume extraction torches
Explainer: xFUME® FLEX
More videos about welding fume extraction can be found on the »ABICOR BINZEL YouTube channel« .