HLA Group, based in Boldon, created an advanced dust extraction system for the UK’s largest bakery chain.
The project, which cost £1.1 million at the production facility in Newcastle and £100,000 at a site in Leeds, aims to improve the air quality for bakery staff.
The system is designed to capture airborne particles, including flour dust, to enhance air quality and protect the health of bakery workers.
It also helps reduce operational costs and improve energy efficiency across the chain.
Michael Oliver, one of the lead local exhaust ventilation (LEV) designers at HLA Group, said: “The client has expressed a very clear satisfaction with the improvements made.
“Our system not only meets COSHH regulations but also reduces energy costs by recycling both air and heat, eliminating the requirement for an additional heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.”
The project took nearly a year to complete, with a team of 26 operatives, including designers, builders, fabricators, installers, pipe fitters, electricians, and a commissioning team, overseeing every aspect of the project.
As part of the installation, the dust extraction system employs a P602-certified design, ensuring compliance with the highest health and safety standards.
The system removes a variety of dust from the atmosphere and filters it through a main filter and then a HEPA filter.
The air, which is 99.97 per cent filtered, is then returned to the bakery, with recycled heat further increasing air quality and providing cost-saving benefits.
The project also helped to save man-hours spent on tasks such as cleaning floors.
Lee Kirby, another lead LEV designer at HLA Group, said: “The system we’ve installed can benefit a wide range of industries, from processing to manufacturing and beyond.
“Not only does it protect the health of operatives, especially those working within industrial environments, it also helps employers create a cleaner environment for their employees.”
HLA Group, a leading North East provider of mechanical, air conditioning, climate control, and temperature control solutions, operates across several sectors, including construction, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, education, and four of the North East’s five universities.
The company employs 130 staff and has satellite offices in Cumbria and a manufacturing hub in Seaham.
Mr Oliver said: “The positive feedback is a testament to the quality and effectiveness of the solution.
“We’re now in talks to extend this work to additional sites, which really highlights how valuable our client views our product and service.”
