Rotator boxes are designed for use with rotating forklift attachments. They allow near-zero dumping and can be incredibly useful for handling small loads of wood chips, metal shavings, and other challenging materials that can stick.
While material handling significantly increases worker safety, there are still several risks that require mitigating, including dust control. Most of the dust control comes from the dump itself. When material falls out of rotator boxes, it pulls air with it, and that air carries fine particles where it lands, so dust control needs to happen at the discharge point.
Controlled Dumping
Controlled dumping is the biggest mitigation strategy. It’s tempting to go as fast as possible, especially on larger projects, but that makes cleanup harder and increases safety risks, such as forklift tipping.
Always rotate the attachment slowly and keep the box lip as close to the receiving container as possible. A shorter drop usually means less air pulled in, and therefore, less dust.
A fixed rotator box generally offers more control over material discharge speed and timing than a self-dumping hopper, so make the most of it. To ensure consistency, write rotation speed and lip position into the operating procedure and ensure all existing and new operators are trained on this procedure.
Customize With a Lid
Our rotator boxes can be customized with lids to protect materials during storage and control dust during transportation. Lidded boxes keep air currents from stripping fines off the top during transport and keep the material dry, especially during long-term outdoor storage.
Enclose & Ventilate the Receiving Dumpster
Many dumpsters, including Roura’s traditional hoppers, can be engineered with custom holes for seamless integration with a dust collection system, so when materials are dumped directly into the receiving hopper, dust will automatically be filtered into the collection system. Beyond that, hoods and partial enclosures with flexible curtains attached to the dump station can be exceptional dust mitigation solutions, especially for indoor material handling applications.
Talk to a Roura Representative Today
Roura Material Handling engineers made-to-spec material handling equipment, including self-dumping hoppers, rotator boxes, and bottom drop boxes. We frequently design hoppers and boxes for wood processing, stone fabrication, and other dust-heavy environments.
If you need help reducing dust during material handling, contact us today to learn more about our dust-control features.